6 Best Home Warranty Companies in Brooklyn Park, MN

How Does a Home Warranty Work?

A home warranty is a protection plan that helps reduce the high costs for Brooklyn Park homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.

Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind to homeowners because it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are particularly useful for older construction homes with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances may not need a home warranty.

What Does a Home Warranty Cover?

Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as microwaves, garbage disposals, washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, dryers, and others. Covered systems include heating, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing. Many home warranty providers also offer additional coverage for central vacuums, septic systems, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Brooklyn Park homeowners should know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day period you must wait before they can be used to cover 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, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, 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 the policy.

Key Home Warranty Terms to Know

Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to understand before signing, such as:

• Coverage limits: The maximum dollar amount that your warranty provider will pay for certain repairs or replacements. Check your contract's limits on repairs for things like roof leaks, appliances, and air conditioning units.
• Service fee: The amount you pay our of pocket per claim for access to a contractor and repair coverage.
• Claim approval: The process by which your provider determines whether a requested repair or replacement is covered under your warranty.
• Endorsements: Additional coverage for systems like pools, septic, and well pumps, which usually comes with a fee for each add-on.
• Contract rate: The pre-negotiated rate a home warranty company has with its contractors. This rate is usually less than typical retail costs.
• Trade call fee: An additional fee that some companies charge for appliance-related claims.
• Deductible: How much you pay for a covered repair before your warranty covers the rest. Deductibles can be per-claim or yearly.

If you remember these important factors, it’ll help you understand costs and select a home warranty tailored to protecting your most essential home systems. Make sure to talk to providers about the specifics of coverage during the quote process, so you can avoid unexpected fees.

Key Factors in Choosing a Home Warranty Company

There are several important factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:

Coverage Options

Home warranties have significant variation in what they include. Basic plans typically include AC, plumbing, heating, electrical, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover well pumps, pools, roof leaks, and spas. Look for providers with flexible coverage choices, including upgraded plans. This allows you to tailor protection to your needs.

Service Fees

Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-repair charges can potentially accumulate over time, so some homeowners prefer using providers with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles if a customer doesn't submit any claims in a set timeframe.

Reputation

A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, 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 quality service.

Contractor Network

Home warranty companies use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential businesses to ask how many repair professionals they have in Brooklyn Park and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Bigger networks improve the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.

Added Benefits

Home warranty providers may offer extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and coverage for smart home devices. These extras can add value beyond basic repair coverage. Additional perks help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.

Is a Home Warranty Worth it in Brooklyn Park?

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Benefits of a Home Warranty

Temperatures in Brooklyn Park can drop to the negatives in the winter, which means your heating system is likely to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Brooklyn Park, 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 need to be repaired or replaced.

A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours researching and selecting a technician to fix your appliance or system, home warranty companies do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. Additionally, having a home warranty can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty companies will allow you to transfer your plan to a new owner and give them the protection you’ve been receiving.

Downsides of a Home Warranty

One downside of buying a home warranty is that there are often exclusions. For instance, if you already have a manufacturer's warranty on one of your appliances, it may not be included in the home warranty, so it’s important to read over the contracts you’re considering carefully to understand what is included and what isn’t.

Another downside is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, such as those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if your house floods, the impacted systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.