Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By Todays Homeowner Local Pros
Last Updated June 2023
Make the most of your home warranty with the best home warranty companies in Berkeley. There are many benefits of homeownership in Berkeley. But, major home systems and appliances, like your electrical systems and kitchen appliances, can malfunction due to normal wear and tear, leaving you with pricey repairs.
A home warranty is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected large 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 quite overwhelming as there are so many companies to choose from. That's why our team at Today's Homeowner did the research and made a list of the best home warranty companies in Berkeley for you.
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 Berkeley, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a policy from Choice, you will get very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Choice Home Warranty also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Berkeley homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Choice has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are an affordable $85.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. For more information on this provider, read our Choice Home Warranty Review.
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 Berkeley residents. Select has been in the home warranty industry for over 11 years. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. 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 plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage caps from Select are around $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is cheaper than other providers in the Berkeley area.
Read more by visiting our review of Select Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the most customizable home warranty in Berkeley. AHS has been in the home warranty business for about 26 years. The 3 plans from AHS are comprehensive and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage. If you're looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage limits from AHS are about $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is lower than other providers in the Berkeley area.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read our review of American Home Shield to learn more.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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 Berkeley, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. The 2 plans from HSC are easy to understand and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
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.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For a more detailed breakdown, read our thorough review of The Home Service Club.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
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
Isn’t available in 2 states
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
In Berkeley, Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty offers a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Plus, it also 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 comprehensible.
The 3 plans from Liberty Home Guard are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Liberty's service fees are an affordable $75, and the coverage limits come out to about $3,000 for each covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. For more information, read our comprehensive review of Liberty Home Guard.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
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 Berkeley, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. The 2 plans from First American are easily comprehensible and offer both system and appliance coverage. When you purchase a plan from First American, you will get very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. First American Home Warranty 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.
The 2 plans from First American Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also generally about $1,500.
For more information, read our First American Home Warranty Review. To get 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 Berkeley, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been in the home warranty industry for about 44 years. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various system and appliance coverage options. 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.
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 about $1,000-$2,000.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our comprehensive review of Cinch Home Services. 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
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 | $5,970 |
| Heating | $3,980 |
| Electrical | $597 |
| Toilets | $498 |
| Washer/Dryer | $796 |
| Plumbing | $597 |
| Oven | $1,592 |
| Fridge | $597 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that covers the cost of repairing or replacing major home systems and appliances when they malfunction over time due to normal wear and tear. Having a home warranty in place can provide some peace of mind and prevent you from paying big out-of-pocket costs. Most home warranty plans take effect about 30 days after buying the home warranty policy.
When you have a system or appliance that experiences an issue, you file a claim with your service provider. You can do so online or by calling customer support, and then a contractor will come and fix the problem.
The claim is then processed, and a homeowner will pay a predetermined service fee to schedule the repair for their home. This repair will typically occur within 24 to 72 hours and should only cost the homeowner the price of the service fee. Most service fees are between $60 and $150.
A home warranty provides coverage on your home's major appliances and systems and it can help cut back on the cost of maintenance on your home. Appliances covered under a home warranty plan are usually the microwave, dryer, garbage disposal, dishwasher, refrigerator, and more. Systems that are covered include air conditioning, plumbing, heating, and electrical systems.
The add-on coverage options can include roof leak, septic system, pool, spa, and sometimes even things like locksmith or pest control.
A home warranty will only cover normal wear and tear that occurs on your home systems and appliances. Things like lack of maintenance, misuse, cosmetic damages, and pre-existing conditions are not included in the home warranty policy.
Home warranty plans are a great way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Berkeley reaching an average high of 65℃F, you may find that some appliances, such as your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can remarkably bring down out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system break down.
Additionally, having a Berkeley home warranty can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers if you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your plan to a new owner and give them the same protection you've been receiving.
Home warranties also have some cons. Although it can be convenient that the home warranty sends out a repair technician who takes care of the repair for you, some homeowners may not like this, and they would prefer to select their own contractor. If that's important to you, some home warranty plans allow you to select a contractor.
Another 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 claims being denied, so it's important to make sure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
After researching the basics of home warranties in Berkeley, the next step is to figure out which company you'd like to get a free quote from. Plans can vary, so consider the following factors when choosing a home warranty policy:
Our pick for the best overall home warranty company in Berkeley is Choice Home Warranty, but the perfect company for you will depend on factors such as what appliances and systems you need coverage for.
A home warranty is a contract that covers repairing and replacing major home system components and appliances.
A home warranty can help real estate agents, homeowners, homebuyers, investors, and home sellers. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
Generally a home warranty plan lasts for a year and you can renew it every year. In Berkeley where many rely on heating and A.C., renewing your policy could help mitigate large, unexpected expenses if your HVAC system needs repairs.
Most home warranties will cover replacement costs as well as repair costs. The coverage cap varies from one plan to the next. You can expect that home warranties will give you some money towards a replacement but the entire replacement may not be paid for.
In general, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Berkeley, where the median value of a home is $84,292, when the seller pays for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
When living in a town like Berkeley, you may be wondering if problems like natural disasters will be covered under a home warranty policy. Home warranties usually don't cover damage due to natural disasters, lack of proper maintenance, or intentional breakage.
