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Last Updated: February 25, 2025
Although homeownership in Oakland has a great number of benefits — such as being surrounded by nature — there are also not so glamorous sides. One major headache many homeowners have to deal with inevitably is replacing or repairing their home appliances and systems. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and give you some peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be challenging, as there are lots of companies to decide between. That’s why the Today's Homeowner team did the research and made a list of the top home warranty companies in Oakland for you.
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 Oakland, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty has been in the home warranty industry for about 6 years. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can benefit from a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Not to mention, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage caps associated with Liberty’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $75.
Read our review of Liberty Home Guard to learn more. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can 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 Oakland, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has been in the home warranty industry for about 15 years. With a home warranty from Choice, you can benefit from very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
Read our review of Choice Home Warranty to learn more. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can 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 Oakland, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has been in the home warranty industry for about 11 years. With a home warranty from Select, you can benefit from a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Not to mention, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage caps associated with Select’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
Read our review of Select Home Warranty to learn more. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can 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 Oakland, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been in the home warranty industry for about 26 years. With a home warranty from AHS, you can benefit from the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are close to the $2,500 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
Read our review of American Home Shield to learn more. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can 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 Oakland, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has been in the home warranty industry for about 39 years. With a home warranty from First American, you can benefit from very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Not to mention, it 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. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable.
The plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage caps associated with First American’s plans are close to the $1,500 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
Read our review of First American Home Warranty to learn more. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can 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 Oakland, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been in the home warranty industry for about 44 years. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can benefit from a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
Read our review of Cinch Home Services to learn more. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can 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 Oakland, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been in the home warranty industry for about 15 years. With a home warranty from HSC, you can benefit from quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
Read our review of The Home Service Club to learn more. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can 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 | $6,120 |
| Heating | $4,080 |
| Electrical | $612 |
| Toilets | $510 |
| Washer/Dryer | $816 |
| Plumbing | $612 |
| Oven | $1,632 |
| Fridge | $612 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Oakland homeowners in reducing the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to swap out or fix appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear. When something stops working, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to handle the replacement or repair. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance by helping avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is especially helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, people with newer homes and functioning appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as washers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, microwaves, dryers, and more. Covered systems include heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical. Many home warranty providers also offer additional coverage for locksmiths, septic systems, central vacuums, and roof leaks. Oakland homeowners should know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day period you must wait before they will cover the cost of any repairs. Additionally, most policies only cover repairs and replacements needed due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover things like cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or improper use of a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by your policy.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to know before signing, such as:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several important factors to consider:
Home warranties vary widely in terms of included coverage. Basic plans typically cover AC, heating, plumbing, electrical, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover roof leaks, well pumps, spas, and pools. Look for companies with flexible coverage choices, including upgraded plans. This helps you customize your plan to your home's needs.
You'll pay a standard service fee of around $60 to $100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. This fee is charged per request and can quickly add up, so you may look for providers 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 provider's rating gives you insight into things such as timeliness of repairs, claim approval rates, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research providers. Favorable ratings and reviews indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies maintain networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. Wider networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Reach out to potential providers and ask how many contractors they have in Oakland to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Some home warranty companies provide extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and smart home device protection. These perks can add value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses can maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Temperatures in Oakland can vary greatly throughout the year, which means your air conditioner and heating systems are most likely going to get a decent amount of use. As a homeowner in Oakland, one of the benefits of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they have to be repaired or replaced.
Not only can a home warranty provide some financial relief, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks, the last thing you want to do is find a repair person and schedule a repair. A home warranty takes care of the research by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Additionally, having a home warranty can make your house more appealing to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell in the future. Many home warranty companies will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been benefiting from.
There are also some downsides to purchasing a home warranty plan, like the coverage exclusions. For instance, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that are already covered under a manufacturer's warranty.
Another downside is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, like those due to natural disasters. For example, if your HVAC system is damaged from an animal infestation, the impacted systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Oakland. Our top-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 plan helps protect against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects a home in case of a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. Under homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new refrigerator or air conditioner, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Oakland.
A home warranty can help investors, homeowners, home sellers, homebuyers, and real estate agents. It can provide peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty plan can cover your systems, appliances, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be a good idea if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans generally offer coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Typically, the homeowner is the one who is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Oakland, where the median value of a home is $577,355, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
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