Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Although homeownership in Ocean City has a great number of benefits — such as being surrounded by nature — there are also not so glamorous sides. One major hassle many homeowners have to deal with eventually is updating or repairing their home systems and appliances. A home warranty can offer you the peace of mind you need and shield your bank account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major systems and appliances.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the sheer number of options available. If you're overwhelmed by trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the top home warranty companies in Ocean City.
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 Ocean City, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty is a home warranty provider with 6 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, Liberty is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. Liberty offers 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are 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 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. Read more by visiting our Liberty Home Guard full review.
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 Ocean City, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, Choice is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice offers 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage caps come out to about $3,000 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting our Choice Home Warranty full 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
In Ocean City, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select is a home warranty provider with 11 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, Select is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. Select offers 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are 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 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. Read more by visiting our Select Home Warranty full review.
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 Ocean City, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS is a home warranty provider with 26 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, AHS is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS offers 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are 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 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting our American Home Shield full review.
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 Ocean City, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch is a home warranty provider with 44 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, Cinch is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch offers 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are 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 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting our Cinch Home Services full review.
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 Ocean City, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, HSC is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. HSC offers 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are 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 for each covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting our The Home Service Club full review.
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 | $6,491 |
| Heating | $4,328 |
| Electrical | $649 |
| Toilets | $541 |
| Washer/Dryer | $866 |
| Plumbing | $649 |
| Oven | $1,731 |
| Fridge | $649 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Ocean City homeowners in lowering the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer coverage to replace or repair appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to handle the replacement or repair. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs go over 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 own older homes or ones with aging systems. Newer homes with modern appliances probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances include garbage disposals, dishwashers, microwaves, dryers, refrigerators, washers, and others. Protected systems include air conditioning, plumbing, heating, and electrical. Many home warranty plans offer extra coverage for roof leaks, central vacuums, septic systems, and even locksmiths. Ocean City 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, most policies only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover problems such as natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or improper use of 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.
Here are some key home warranty terms to know before signing a contract:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage varies widely in the items that are included. Most plans provide coverage for heating, electrical, plumbing, AC, and appliances. More robust coverage options also include protection for other items such as pools, spas, well pumps, and roof leaks. Look for a provider that offers an extensive selection of coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific needs.
Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. As this charge applies to every separate claim, you may want to choose a company with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some providers also remove deductibles when customers have a claim-free period.
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. Look at third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research companies. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers keep networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. Bigger networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to quickly service your home. Contact potential providers to find out how many contractors they have in Ocean City to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Home warranty providers often include bonuses such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and coverage for smart home devices. These extras can add value beyond repair coverage. Additional perks maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Ocean City’s cold winters 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 repairs, saving you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
Not to mention, 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 complete the repair or replacement. Additionally, having a home warranty can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers if you ever decide to sell in the future. Many home warranty companies will allow you to transfer your plan to a new owner and give them the protection you’ve been benefiting from.
Home warranties also have some downsides. Though it can be convenient that the home warranty sends out a service technician who takes care of the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they would rather select their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty providers let you choose a contractor.
Another thing to consider is that some companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions and may require an inspection before your coverage can start. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about it if you need more information or if this is an issue for you.
A home warranty costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Ocean City. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. Additionally, it's typically cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranties cover issues with home systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a larger plan that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Ocean City. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system breakage.
Homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, home sellers, and landlords can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty will cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you need more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be useful if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Generally, a home warranty plan offers coverage for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some companies may offer month-to-month plans.
Generally, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees when using the policy. In Ocean City, where the median home value is $727,778, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
