Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home can have a lot of benefits, but it can also come with some negatives like maintenance. The older your house’s appliances and systems are, the more likely it is that you'll benefit from a home warranty. A home warranty can help protect homeowners by lowering the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important appliances and systems.
Choosing the best home warranty on the market can be quite a challenge because of the many options available. If you're frustrated with trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the top home warranty companies in Hillsborough.
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 in Hillsborough. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from Liberty, you will get a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Liberty Home Guard also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
Liberty Home Guard offers 3 plans for Hillsborough homeowners. The Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Liberty are an affordable $75. The coverage caps are also generally about $3,000.
To read more, visit our thorough review of Liberty Home Guard. To get 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 offers the best overall home warranty in Hillsborough. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan 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 Hillsborough homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Choice are an affordable $85. The coverage caps are also generally about $3,000.
To read more, visit our thorough review of Choice Home Warranty. To get 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 offers the most cost-effective home warranty in Hillsborough. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from Select, you will get a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Select Home Warranty also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
Select Home Warranty offers 3 plans for Hillsborough homeowners. The Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Select are a reasonable $60. The coverage caps are also generally about $2,000.
To read more, visit our thorough 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 offers the most customizable home warranty in Hillsborough. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from AHS, you will get the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. American Home Shield also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Hillsborough homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also generally about $2,500.
To read more, visit our thorough review of American Home Shield. To get 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 offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Hillsborough. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from Cinch, you will get a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Cinch Home Services also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Hillsborough homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also generally about $1,000-$2,000.
To read more, visit our thorough review of Cinch Home Services. To get 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 offers the best home warranty with the quickest service in Hillsborough. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from HSC, you will get quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. The Home Service Club also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Hillsborough homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also generally about $2,000.
To read more, visit our thorough review of The Home Service Club. To get 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 | $7,114 |
| Heating | $4,743 |
| Electrical | $711 |
| Toilets | $593 |
| Washer/Dryer | $949 |
| Plumbing | $711 |
| Oven | $1,897 |
| Fridge | $711 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Hillsborough homeowners in lowering the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial coverage to swap out or repair appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to handle the replacement or fix. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty provides peace of mind for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly useful for those who live in older homes or ones with aging systems. Newer homes with working appliances probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as refrigerators, dryers, garbage disposals, washers, dishwashers, microwaves, and others. Covered systems include heating, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing. Many home warranty companies also provide add-on coverage for central vacuums, locksmiths, roof leaks, and septic systems. Hillsborough homeowners should know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day period you must wait before they will cover the cost of any repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover things like cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or damage caused by improperly using a system or appliance. You need to keep up with preventative maintenance to ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by the policy.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to know before signing, such as:
There are several important considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty policies vary widely in what they include. Most plans provide protection for plumbing, heating, electrical, AC, and appliances. More robust plans also offer protection for other items such as spas, pools, well pumps, and roof leaks. Look for a provider that offers comprehensive coverage choices, including upgraded plans. Flexibility is important when trying to fit a home warranty to your home's specific systems and 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 provider with more affordable fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some companies also do away with deductibles when customers have a claim-free period.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insights into factors such as repair speed, contractor expertise, claim approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to learn more about providers. Favorable feedback and ratings suggest a company known for delivering quality service.
Home warranty companies use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential companies to ask how many repair professionals they have in Hillsborough and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. More extensive networks raise the probability of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Home warranty providers often offer extras such as coverage for smart home devices, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These extras add value beyond basic repair coverage. Added perks maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Home warranty plans are an affordable way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Hillsborough reaching an average high of 60℃F, you may find that certain appliances, like your air conditioning system, get a lot of use. A home warranty can significantly decrease out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system break down.
Not only does a home warranty offer some savings, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks, the last thing you want to do is find a repair person and schedule a repair. A home warranty takes care of the research by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Another added benefit of having home warranty coverage is that it can increase your home’s real estate value. If you ever decide to sell your house, you may be able to transfer your home warranty plan to the new homebuyer depending on the company you purchased your home warranty through.
One drawback of a home warranty is that there are usually exclusions. For example, if you already have a manufacturer's warranty on one of your appliances, it may not be covered under the home warranty, so it’s important to read over any contracts you’re considering thoroughly to understand what is included and what isn’t.
Another potential 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.
A home warranty in Hillsborough can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans tend to have broader coverage, a lower service fee, and higher coverage limits. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also decrease your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty plan helps protect against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects your entire home in case of something such as a natural disaster or fire. With a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new refrigerator or stove, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Hillsborough.
A home warranty policy can help real estate agents, investors, homeowners, home sellers, and homebuyers. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different kinds of home warranties in Hillsborough include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers many of your home systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and plumbing. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the plan.
Generally, a home warranty plan offers coverage for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
In general, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Hillsborough, where the median value of a home is $558,653, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
