Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Madison offers homeowners some great housing options. However, unexpected repair and replacement costs on your home’s systems and appliances can get quite expensive. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings from unexpected home repairs and expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
The home warranty market has a lot of providers — all with different coverage — so the Today's Homeowner team has done the research to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Madison.
Very highly rated among customer service reviews
Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
Extensive list of 20+ add-on coverages
Easy claims process
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
In Madison, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty is a home warranty provider with 6 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. Liberty offers 3 plans for you to choose from. Liberty has established itself as a company with a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. It also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Liberty Home Guard: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Service fees from Liberty are an affordable $75. The coverage caps are also generally around $3,000.
Read our review of Liberty Home Guard to learn more. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
Over 10 years of experience
24/7 customer service team
Home inspections aren’t required
90-day repair guarantee
Plans aren’t customizable
Customers can’t choose their own contractor
Not available in washington
In Madison, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. Choice offers 2 plans for you to choose from. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. Service fees from Choice are an affordable $85. The coverage caps are also generally around $3,000.
Read our review of Choice Home Warranty to learn more. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.
Basic Plan
Total Plan
Low service fees compared to other home warranty providers
Two months of free coverage
Has an appliance-only, systems-only, and combo plan option
90-day repair guarantee
Has a $75 cancellation fee
Low coverage caps
In Madison, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select is a home warranty provider with 11 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. Select offers 3 plans for you to choose from. Select has established itself as a company with a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. It also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Service fees from Select are a reasonable $60. The coverage caps are also generally around $2,000.
Read our review of Select Home Warranty to learn more. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953.
Bronze Care Plan
Gold Care Plan
Platinum Care Plan
The oldest and most trusted company in the industry
Allows customers to build their own plans
Ability to choose the service fee you want to pay
Broad coverage on up to 33 appliances and systems
Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
Doesn’t provide coverage in alaska
In Madison, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS is a home warranty provider with 26 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. AHS offers 3 plans for you to choose from. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also generally around $2,500.
Read our review of American Home Shield to learn more. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
Established company with a bbb accreditation
Doesn’t have a coverage cap on heating, cooling, or ductwork
24/7 service calls available
Offers replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair
Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor
According to some customer reviews, the technical jargon in contracts is confusing
In Madison, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American is a home warranty provider with 39 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. First American offers 2 plans for you to choose from. First American has established itself as a company with very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. It also has a unique add-on alongside common ones called the First Class Upgrade, which covers fees associated with the use of lifting equipment, up to $250 per local building permits, haul away services, and appliances and systems that have been insufficiently installed or modified.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also generally around $1,500.
Read our review of First American Home Warranty to learn more. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164.
Basic Plan
Premier Plan
Offers home insurance deductible of $500
Extra long 180-day workmanship guarantee
Offers free cancellation in the first 30 days
Charges high service fees of $75-$150
Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
Isn’t available in hawaii or alaska
In Madison, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch is a home warranty provider with 44 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. Cinch offers 3 plans for you to choose from. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also generally around $1,000-$2,000.
Read our review of Cinch Home Services to learn more. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home Plan
Policy starts in ten days
24/7 customer service support
Generous coverage caps on important systems and appliances
30-labor guarantee and 90-day parts guarantee
Offers utility and home service outside line coverage
Higher service fee of $95
Not accredited by the better business bureau (bbb)
Only 2 plan options
In Madison, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. HSC offers 2 plans for you to choose from. HSC has established itself as a company with quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. It also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also generally around $2,000.
Read our review of The Home Service Club to learn more. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on home warranty companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
| Home Appliance | Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Air Conditioner | $5,861 |
| Heating | $3,907 |
| Electrical | $586 |
| Toilets | $488 |
| Washer/Dryer | $781 |
| Plumbing | $586 |
| Oven | $1,563 |
| Fridge | $586 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Madison homeowners in lowering the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial coverage to swap out or repair appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to handle the replacement or fix. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind to homeowners, as it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for older construction homes with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are garbage disposals, washers, microwaves, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and more. Included systems are normally electrical, air conditioning, plumbing, and heating. Many home warranty companies offer add-on coverage for septic systems, locksmiths, roof leaks, and central vacuums. Madison homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are several home warranty terms to understand before signing an agreement, including:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage differs significantly when it comes to what's covered. Most plans include protection for electrical, heating, plumbing, AC, and appliances. More robust coverage options also include protection for other items such as spas, well pumps, roof leaks, and pools. Focus on companies with wide-ranging coverage selections including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize your plan to meet your home's needs.
You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. This fee is charged per request and can quickly add up, so you may seek out companies advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may waive deductibles when a homeowner submits no claims in a defined period.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as speed of repairs, approval rates for claims, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, TrustPilot, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research providers. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty companies keep networks of contractors to handle covered repairs. More extensive networks increase the probability of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Madison to get a sense of how soon your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Home warranty providers often offer extras such as coverage for smart home devices, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These can add value beyond basic repair coverage. Additional perks help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Madison’s cold winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty will cover your home’s appliances and systems in the event they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner stops working in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the needed repairs, preventing you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
Not only can a home warranty save you some money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of having to vet contractors on your own, home warranty providers do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. A home warranty can also provide value in other ways. For example, some plans can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
There are also some negatives to buying a home warranty plan, such as the coverage exclusions. For instance, home warranties may not cover systems or appliances that are already covered under a manufacturer's warranty.
In addition, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs or replacements due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything other than normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Madison. Our high-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. Additionally, it's typically less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects your home in case of a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new refrigerator or stove, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Madison.
First-time homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, landlords, and real estate agents are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different kinds of home warranties in Madison include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover many of your systems and appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and heating and cooling systems. An appliance or system plan will cover only the specific items mentioned in the policy.
Home warranty plans usually last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Usually the one who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the person who is selling the home may buy a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then be responsible for the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Madison is $195,143, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
