Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home in Franklin Lakes has tons of great benefits, but there are some downsides. The weather throughout the four seasons can cause problems in a home and lead to wear and tear on systems like your HVAC. A home warranty can offer you the peace of mind you need and shield your savings account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
The home warranty market is filled with many providers — all with different price points — so the Today's Homeowner team has done the research to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Franklin Lakes.
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 Franklin Lakes residents. Liberty has been operating for over 6 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. Liberty has established itself as a company with a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. 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 easy.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Liberty Home Guard: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Liberty’s service fees are an affordable $75, and the coverage caps come out to about $3,000 per covered system or appliance.
Read our review of Liberty Home Guard to learn more. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Franklin Lakes residents. Choice has been operating for over 15 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage caps come out to about $3,000 per covered system or appliance.
Read our review of Choice Home Warranty to learn more. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Franklin Lakes residents. Select has been operating for over 11 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. Select has established itself as a company with a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. It also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Select’s service fees are a reasonable $60, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,000 per covered system or appliance.
Read our review of Select Home Warranty to learn more. To receive 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 for Franklin Lakes residents. AHS has been operating for over 26 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,500 per covered system or appliance.
Read our review of American Home Shield to learn more. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Franklin Lakes residents. Cinch has been operating for over 44 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage caps come out to about $1,000-$2,000 per covered system or appliance.
Read our review of Cinch Home Services to learn more. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Franklin Lakes residents. HSC has been operating for over 15 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. 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. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,000 per covered system or appliance.
Read our review of The Home Service Club to learn more. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $8,250 |
| Heating | $5,500 |
| Electrical | $825 |
| Toilets | $688 |
| Washer/Dryer | $1,100 |
| Plumbing | $825 |
| Oven | $2,200 |
| Fridge | $825 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps lower expenses for Franklin Lakes homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that break due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance, as it helps avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for owners of older houses or houses with systems near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and modern appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are dishwashers, dryers, garbage disposals, microwaves, refrigerators, washers, and more. Covered systems are normally air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and electrical. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, roof leaks, locksmiths, and central vacuums. It's important for Franklin Lakes homeowners to 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 due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover things like cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or damage caused by improperly using a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure that your next repair or replacement will be covered by your policy.
Before signing a home warranty contract, you should learn key terms like:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several important factors to consider:
Home warranty policies differ significantly in terms of coverage. Most plans cover plumbing, electrical, heating, AC, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer protection for other items such as well pumps, roof leaks, spas, and pools. Focus on providers with broad coverage options including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize your plan to meet your home's needs.
Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. As this charge applies to every separate claim, some homeowners prefer to choose a company with lower service fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some companies also remove deductibles when customers have a claim-free period.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insight into things such as contractor quality, repair timeliness, approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Use review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research companies. Good ratings and feedback indicate a company known for exceptional service.
Home warranty providers have networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. More extensive networks raise the probability of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Contact potential providers to find out how many contractors they have in Franklin Lakes to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Some home warranty plans offer extras such as maintenance discounts, smart home device protection, and energy efficiency upgrades. These perks can add value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Franklin Lakes can be quite hot in the summer, the weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioning unit and HVAC system. Getting a home warranty policy can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks unexpectedly.
Additionally, having a home warranty can save you some time by eliminating the need to research technicians — most companies will send a trusted professional right to your door to carry out the necessary repair or replacement. Plus, having a home warranty can help make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers if you ever decide to sell in the future. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the protection you’ve been getting.
Home warranties also have some downsides. Though it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a repair person who takes care of the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they may want to select a contractor themselves. If that’s important to you, some home warranty plans allow you to select a contractor.
Plus, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs or replacements due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty in Franklin Lakes can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans typically have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also decrease your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranties cover issues with systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different kind of insurance that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Franklin Lakes. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system damage.
A home warranty policy can help investors, homeowners, homebuyers, real estate agents, and home sellers. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
A home warranty policy will cover your systems, appliances, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be a good idea if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Generally, a home warranty plan lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
In general, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees when using the policy. In Franklin Lakes, where the median home value is $1,376,439, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
