Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
With cold winters in Fergus Falls, your home systems can go through quite a bit of wear and tear. There’s nothing worse than having your heater go out in the middle of winter. A home warranty is a way to protect your budget from unexpected home repairs and expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be significantly lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the numerous options available. If you're frustrated with trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the best home warranty companies in Fergus Falls.
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
Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty for Fergus Falls residents. Liberty has been in the home warranty industry for around 6 years. If you’re looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. The 3 plans from Liberty are easy to understand and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Liberty Home Guard: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage limits from Liberty are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is less than other providers in the Fergus Falls area.
For more information, read our thorough review of Liberty Home Guard. To get 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
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty for Fergus Falls residents. Choice has been in the home warranty industry for around 15 years. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The 2 plans from Choice are easy to understand and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage limits from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is less than other providers in the Fergus Falls area.
For more information, read our thorough review of Choice Home Warranty. To get 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
Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty for Fergus Falls residents. Select has been in the home warranty industry for around 11 years. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. The 3 plans from Select are easy to understand and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage limits from Select are around $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is less than other providers in the Fergus Falls area.
For more information, read our thorough review of Select Home Warranty. To get 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
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty for Fergus Falls residents. AHS has been in the home warranty industry for around 26 years. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 plans from AHS are easy to understand and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage limits from AHS are around $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is less than other providers in the Fergus Falls area.
For more information, read our thorough review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Fergus Falls residents. Cinch has been in the home warranty industry for around 44 years. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The 3 plans from Cinch are easy to understand and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage limits from Cinch are around $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is less than other providers in the Fergus Falls area.
For more information, read our thorough review of Cinch Home Services. To get 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
The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service for Fergus Falls residents. HSC has been in the home warranty industry for around 15 years. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The 2 plans from HSC are easy to understand and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage limits from HSC are around $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is less than other providers in the Fergus Falls area.
For more information, read our thorough review of The Home Service Club. To get 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 | $5,657 |
| Heating | $3,771 |
| Electrical | $566 |
| Toilets | $471 |
| Washer/Dryer | $754 |
| Plumbing | $566 |
| Oven | $1,509 |
| Fridge | $566 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Fergus Falls homeowners in reducing the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to replace or repair appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
When something stops working, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider 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 goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives reassurance to homeowners, as it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with modern appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include microwaves, dryers, garbage disposals, dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, and more. Covered systems are usually plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, roof leaks, and locksmiths. Fergus Falls homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only cover the cost of repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or improperly using a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are multiple home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranties differ greatly in the items covered. Basic policies typically include AC, electrical, plumbing, heating, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover pools, roof leaks, well pumps, and spas. Look for a provider that offers robust coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-claim costs can add up, so some homeowners prefer using providers with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles if a customer doesn't submit any claims in a set timeframe.
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. Look at third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research companies. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for quality service.
Home warranty companies have networks of contractors that they use to tackle covered repairs. Bigger networks increase the chance of getting qualified contractors to your home quickly. Contact possible providers to learn how many technicians they have in Fergus Falls. This helps you understand how long repairs may take in an urgent situation.
Some home warranty companies may include perks such as reduced maintenance fees, energy efficiency upgrades, and smart home device coverage. These can offer extra value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses allow you to enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.
Temperatures in Fergus Falls can drop to the negatives in the winter, which means your heating system is most likely going to get a good bit of use. As a homeowner in Fergus Falls, one of the benefits of having a home warranty is that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they need to be repaired or replaced.
A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours researching and choosing a contractor 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. Another benefit of having a home warranty is while selling your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty plan to the new owners. This can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your house sell faster.
One of the major drawbacks of home warranties is not every home system and appliance may be covered. It’s important to weigh the different policies and select one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Additionally, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides 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 Fergus Falls. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can lower your monthly bill with some companies by opting for a higher service fee. Additionally, it's often cheaper 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 protects against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects the entire home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With homeowners insurance, you won't be able to file a claim should you need a new washing machine or stove, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Fergus Falls.
A home warranty policy can help homebuyers, homeowners, real estate agents, home sellers, and investors. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different kinds of home warranties in Fergus Falls include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan will cover your home systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and heating and cooling systems. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the contract.
Generally, a home warranty lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some companies may offer month-to-month options.
Usually the homeowner is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the one selling the home may purchase a home warranty policy and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then have to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Fergus Falls is $186,017, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
