6 Best Home Warranty Companies in St. Francis, MN

How Does a Home Warranty Work?

A home warranty is a protection policy that assists St. Francis homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial protection to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.

Homeowners file 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 reassurance to homeowners, as 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 might not require a home warranty.

What Does a Home Warranty Cover?

Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, garbage disposals, dryers, microwaves, and more. Included systems are usually heating, electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require St. Francis homeowners to refrain from making claims for 30 days before the plan will cover repairs. Moreover, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, cosmetic issues, or misusing a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.

Key Home Warranty Terms to Know

Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to know before signing a contract, such as:

• Claim approval: The process a provider uses to validate that a requested repair or replacement is covered under your plan.
• Service fee: The amount you pay our of pocket per claim for access to a contractor and repair coverage.
• Trade call fee: An additional fee that some companies charge for appliance-related claims.
• 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.
• Deductible: The amount you pay toward a covered repair before the warranty covers the rest. Some plans have per-claim or yearly deductibles.
• Contract rate: The rate that your home warranty provider has pre-negotiated with its contractors. Normally, this rate is lower than what you'd pay retail.
• Endorsements: Optional add-ons that expand coverage for additional systems like septic, well pumps, pools, and more. Endorsements typically cost an additional fee.

With these important details in mind, you'll be able to understand pricing and choose the right home warranty to protect your most essential home systems. When getting a quote, make sure you review coverage details with potential companies to help avoid unexpected fees.

Key Factors in Choosing a Home Warranty Company

When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several important things to take into account:

Coverage Options

Home warranty policies differ significantly in terms of coverage. Most plans provide protection for heating, AC, electrical, plumbing, and appliances. More inclusive options also extend protection to other items such as roof leaks, pools, well pumps, and spas. Focus on companies with broad coverage options including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize your plan to meet 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 companies with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles if a customer doesn't submit any claims in a set timeframe.

Reputation

A home warranty provider's reputation gives insight into things such as contractor quality, approval rates, repair timeliness, and customer service. Use review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research companies. Good ratings and feedback indicate a company known for great service.

Contractor Network

Home warranty companies have networks of contractors that they use to tackle covered repairs. Larger networks improve the probability of getting skilled contractors to your home promptly. Reach out to possible providers to learn how many technicians they have in St. Francis to understand how long repairs could take in an urgent situation.

Added Benefits

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

Is a Home Warranty Worth it in St. Francis?

---

Benefits of a Home Warranty

Home warranties are an inexpensive way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in St. Francis hitting an average high of 52℃F, you may find that certain appliances, such as your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can significantly bring down out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system break down.

Not only can a home warranty give you some savings, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks, the last thing you want to do is find a contractor and schedule a repair. A home warranty takes care of this process by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. In addition, though home warranty companies vary, some providers will let you transfer your warranty if you sell your home. This can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.

Downsides of a Home Warranty

Home warranties also have some downsides. Although it can be convenient that the home warranty sends out a contractor who handles the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they would rather choose their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty providers allow you to choose a contractor.

Another possible pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that haven’t been properly maintained. This can lead to your repair requests being denied, so it’s important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.