Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a house can have lots of advantages, but it can also come with some downsides like maintenance. The older your house’s systems and appliances are, the more you may want to consider getting a home warranty. A home warranty can give you the peace of mind you need and safeguard your bank account from large expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
The home warranty market is saturated with a lot of providers — all with different price points — so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in North Valley.
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 has more than 6 years of experience in the industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. Liberty offers 3 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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 about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is lower than other providers in the North Valley area.
For more information, read our detailed 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 has more than 15 years of experience in the industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. Choice offers 2 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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 about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is lower than other providers in the North Valley area.
For more information, read our detailed 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 has more than 11 years of experience in the industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. Select offers 3 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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 about $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is lower than other providers in the North Valley area.
For more information, read our detailed 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
AHS has more than 26 years of experience in the industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. AHS offers 3 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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 about $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is lower than other providers in the North Valley area.
For more information, read our detailed 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
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 has more than 39 years of experience in the industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. First American offers 2 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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 about $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is lower than other providers in the North Valley area.
For more information, read our detailed review of First American Home Warranty. To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 has more than 44 years of experience in the industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. Cinch offers 3 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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 about $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is lower than other providers in the North Valley area.
For more information, read our detailed 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
HSC has more than 15 years of experience in the industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. HSC offers 2 plans for you to decide between. 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, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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 about $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is lower than other providers in the North Valley area.
For more information, read our detailed 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 | $6,254 |
| Heating | $4,169 |
| Electrical | $625 |
| Toilets | $521 |
| Washer/Dryer | $834 |
| Plumbing | $625 |
| Oven | $1,668 |
| Fridge | $625 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps cut costs for North Valley homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide 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 finds a contractor to make the fix 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 peace of mind by helping avoid high-priced 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 might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances are dryers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, microwaves, and others. Protected systems include air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and heating. Many home warranty plans offer add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, roof leaks, and even locksmiths. North Valley homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to learn before signing, such as:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranties differ greatly in the items covered. Basic plans typically provide protection for plumbing, heating, electrical, AC, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover pools, spas, roof leaks, and well pumps. Look for companies with an array of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your 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 more affordable fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some providers also remove deductibles if a customer goes a period of time without filing any claims.
A home warranty company's reputation gives insight into things such as contractor quality, timeliness of repairs, claim approval rates, and overall customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research companies. Favorable reviews and ratings indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential businesses to ask how many repair specialists they have in North Valley and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Bigger networks increase the chance of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Some home warranty plans include bonuses such as energy efficiency upgrades, smart home device protection, and maintenance discounts. These add value beyond just 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 North Valley reaching an average high of 66℃F, you may find that some appliances, such as your A.C., 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 save you money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of vetting service technicians by yourself, home warranty companies do the work for you and send pre-screened technicians right to your door when you need them. A home warranty can also give value in other ways. For example, some plans can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
There are also some drawbacks to buying a home warranty plan, such as the coverage exclusions. For example, home warranties may not cover systems or appliances that are already covered under a manufacturer's warranty.
Plus, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything other than normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty in North Valley can cost between $30 and $60 a month. The higher-priced plans usually have a lower service fee, broader coverage, 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 agree to a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover issues with systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced 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 North Valley. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system damage.
First-time homebuyers, landlords, home sellers, real estate agents, and homeowners can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty policy will cover your home’s appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are great if you need more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be a good idea if you want to save some money.
Generally, a home warranty plan offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
Generally, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In North Valley, where the median value of a home is $451,806, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
