Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Buying a home is a big step for many, but maintaining it can be expensive over time, especially if your home in Northfield is on the older side. A home warranty can give you the peace of mind you need and protect your bank account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major systems and appliances.
Finding the best protection for your home can be challenging, so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in Northfield. Keep reading 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
In Northfield, Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty has been in the home warranty business for over 6 years. The 3 plans that Liberty offers include options for appliance and system coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Liberty Home Guard: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Liberty has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are an affordable $75.
Read more by visiting our full review of Liberty Home Guard. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, 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
In Northfield, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. Choice has been in the home warranty business for over 15 years. The 2 plans that Choice offers include options for appliance and system coverage. 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are an affordable $85.
Read more by visiting our full review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, 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
In Northfield, Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has been in the home warranty business for over 11 years. The 3 plans that Select offers include options for appliance and system coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Select has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are a reasonable $60.
Read more by visiting our full review of Select Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, 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
In Northfield, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been in the home warranty business for over 26 years. The 3 plans that AHS offers include options for appliance and system coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
Read more by visiting our full review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 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
In Northfield, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been in the home warranty business for over 44 years. The 3 plans that Cinch offers include options for appliance and system coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch has coverage caps of around $1,000-$2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
Read more by visiting our full 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
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 Northfield, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been in the home warranty business for over 15 years. The 2 plans that HSC offers include options for appliance and system 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
Read more by visiting our full review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, 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 | $7,219 |
| Heating | $4,813 |
| Electrical | $722 |
| Toilets | $602 |
| Washer/Dryer | $963 |
| Plumbing | $722 |
| Oven | $1,925 |
| Fridge | $722 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps reduce the high costs for Northfield homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that break due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file 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 repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives reassurance to homeowners, as it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are particularly useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with modern appliances may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home's systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances include dryers, garbage disposals, washers, refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, and others. Covered systems include electrical, air conditioning, plumbing, and heating. Many home warranty plans offer extra coverage for roof leaks, septic systems, central vacuums, and even locksmiths. It's important for Northfield homeowners to know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day waiting period before they can be used to cover repairs. Additionally, most policies only cover repairs and replacements needed due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover things like pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. It's important to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure that your next repair or replacement will be covered by the policy.
There are a number of home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranties vary widely in terms of included coverage. Basic plans typically cover plumbing, electrical, AC, heating, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover pools, spas, well pumps, and roof leaks. Focus on providers with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize your plan to meet your home's needs.
You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These fees to accumulate quickly with each claim, so you may seek out providers advertising lower service fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain companies may waive deductibles if homeowners don't submit any claims within a set period of time.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as speed of repairs, contractor quality, approval rates for claims, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research companies. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty companies have networks of technicians that they use to tackle covered repairs. Larger networks raise the chance of getting qualified contractors to your home quickly. Reach out to possible providers to find out how many technicians they have in Northfield. This helps you understand how long repairs could take in an urgent situation.
Certain home warranty providers include extras such as energy-efficient upgrades, discounts on maintenance, and protection for smart home devices. These can provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Extra perks can enhance your home and help maximize your home warranty.
Northfield’s relatively mild winters and hot summers can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can cover your home’s appliances and systems in the event they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner fails in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the needed repairs, preventing you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
Along with saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can provide you peace of mind and save you the hassle of trying to find a qualified repair person to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted contractors who can handle any repair problems you may come across. Plus, having a home warranty can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been getting.
Home warranties also have some drawbacks. While it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a repair person who takes care of the repair for you, some homeowners may not like this, and they may want 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 items 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.
A home warranty in Northfield can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans usually have broader coverage, a lower service fee, and higher coverage limits. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also lower your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover issues related to systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different insurance that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Northfield. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system damage.
A home warranty policy can help homebuyers, investors, homeowners, real estate agents, and home sellers. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different home warranties in Northfield include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers your home systems and appliances, including your washing machine, drier, and heating and cooling systems. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the contract.
Generally, a home warranty plan offers coverage for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
Typically, 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 has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Northfield, where the median home value is $339,674, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
