Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Homeownership in St. Joseph can be exciting for many, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Home repairs can be an unexpected financial burden for many homeowners. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be significantly lower and give you some peace of mind.
Finding the best protection for your home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the best home warranty companies in St. Joseph. Read on for our home warranty recommendations.
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 is the most trustworthy home warranty for St. Joseph residents. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can enjoy 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Liberty Home Guard: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage caps from Liberty are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is cheaper than other providers in the St. Joseph area.
To read more, visit our thorough review of Liberty Home Guard. 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
Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty for St. Joseph residents. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Choice, you can enjoy 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the St. Joseph area.
To read more, visit our thorough review of Choice Home Warranty. 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
Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty for St. Joseph residents. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Select, you can enjoy 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: 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 St. Joseph area.
To read more, visit our thorough review of Select Home Warranty. 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
American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty for St. Joseph residents. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from AHS, you can enjoy 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps from AHS are around $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is cheaper than other providers in the St. Joseph area.
To read more, visit our thorough review of American Home Shield. 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
First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage for St. Joseph residents. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from First American, you can enjoy 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage caps from First American are around $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the St. Joseph area.
To read more, visit our thorough review of First American Home Warranty. 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
Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for St. Joseph residents. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can enjoy 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. The coverage caps from Cinch are around $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is cheaper than other providers in the St. Joseph area.
To read more, visit our thorough review of Cinch Home Services. 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
The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service for St. Joseph residents. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from HSC, you can enjoy 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps from HSC are around $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is cheaper than other providers in the St. Joseph area.
To read more, visit our thorough review of The Home Service Club. 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 | $5,849 |
| Heating | $3,899 |
| Electrical | $585 |
| Toilets | $487 |
| Washer/Dryer | $780 |
| Plumbing | $585 |
| Oven | $1,560 |
| Fridge | $585 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps cut costs for St. Joseph homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company then arranges 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 homeowners reassurance, as it helps 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 working appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect both your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include washers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, dryers, microwaves, refrigerators, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and heating. Many home warranties offer additional add-on coverage options for central vacuums, septic systems, locksmiths, and even roof leaks. It's important for St. Joseph homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repair claims will be approved. Most policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are multiple home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
There are several important considerations when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranties vary widely in terms of included coverage. Basic plans typically cover AC, plumbing, electrical, heating, and appliances, while more comprehensive options may also cover pools, roof leaks, well pumps, and spas. Focus on providers with wide-ranging coverage selections including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for your needs.
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.
A home warranty company'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 TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research companies. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers have networks of technicians that they use to tackle covered repairs. Bigger networks raise the chance of getting skilled contractors to your home swiftly. Contact possible providers to learn how many technicians they have in St. Joseph. This helps you understand how long repairs could take in an urgent situation.
Some home warranty plans offer extras such as smart home device protection, energy efficiency upgrades, and maintenance discounts. These can add value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Home warranties are an inexpensive way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in St. Joseph hitting an average high of 63℃F, you may find that certain appliances, such as your air conditioning system, get a lot of use. A home warranty can remarkably lower out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system break down.
Not only can a home warranty give you some financial relief, 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 deals with this process by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Another added benefit of having a home warranty policy is that it can raise your home’s property value. If you ever decide to sell your home, you may be able to transfer your home warranty plan to the new homebuyer depending on the company you have your home warranty with.
One of the main drawbacks of a home warranty is not everything you care about may be covered. It’s important to weigh the different policies and choose one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another drawback is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, such as those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if a tree falls onto your house and damages the roof, the impacted systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty in St. Joseph can cost between $30 and $60 a month. Higher-priced plans tend to have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also decrease your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover problems related to systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different plan that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in St. Joseph. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
A home warranty policy can help investors, home sellers, real estate agents, homeowners, and homebuyers. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different home warranties in St. Joseph include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers almost all your systems and appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and plumbing. An appliance or system plan will cover only the specific items listed in the plan.
Generally, a home warranty policy lasts for a year and can be renewed annually. Some companies may offer month-to-month plans.
Typically, the person who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the person who is selling the home may buy a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in St. Joseph is $148,340, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
