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 people, but maintaining it can get costly over time, especially if your home in Portales is on the older side. A home warranty is a way to protect your budget from unexpected home repairs and expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
Finding the right warranty for your home can be challenging, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the top home warranty companies in Portales. Read on for our 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
Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty in Portales. Liberty has more than 6 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can benefit from a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Not to mention, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. The 3 policies that Liberty offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
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 limits come out to around $3,000 for each covered system or appliance.
For more information, read our review of Liberty Home Guard. 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 in Portales. Choice has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. With a home warranty from Choice, you can benefit from very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The 2 policies that Choice offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage limits come out to around $3,000 for each covered system or appliance.
For more information, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. 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 in Portales. Select has more than 11 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. With a home warranty from Select, you can benefit from a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Not to mention, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. The 3 policies that Select offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
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 limits come out to around $2,000 for each covered system or appliance.
For more information, read our review of Select Home Warranty. 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 in Portales. AHS has more than 26 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. With a home warranty from AHS, you can benefit from the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 policies that AHS offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
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 limits come out to around $2,500 for each covered system or appliance.
For more information, read our review of American Home Shield. 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
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 Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage in Portales. First American has more than 39 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. With a home warranty from First American, you can benefit from very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Not to mention, 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. The 2 policies that First American offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
The plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage limits come out to around $1,500 for each covered system or appliance.
For more information, read our review of First American Home Warranty. To receive 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 Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Portales. Cinch has more than 44 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can benefit from a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The 3 policies that Cinch offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
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 limits come out to around $1,000-$2,000 for each covered system or appliance.
For more information, read our review of Cinch Home Services. 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 in Portales. HSC has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. With a home warranty from HSC, you can benefit from quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The 2 policies that HSC offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
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 limits come out to around $2,000 for each covered system or appliance.
For more information, read our review of The Home Service Club. 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 | $5,803 |
| Heating | $3,869 |
| Electrical | $580 |
| Toilets | $484 |
| Washer/Dryer | $774 |
| Plumbing | $580 |
| Oven | $1,548 |
| Fridge | $580 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Portales homeowners cut the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial coverage to repair or swap out 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 fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty policy gives homeowners peace of mind because it can help avoid expensive emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for people purchasing older homes or homes with systems near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with modern appliances and fixtures may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as refrigerators, garbage disposals, microwaves, dishwashers, dryers, washers, and others. Covered systems include plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical. Many home warranty companies also offer additional coverage for roof leaks, locksmiths, central vacuums, and septic systems. Most home warranty plans require Portales homeowners to wait 30 days before they can use the policy to pay for repairs. Additionally, policies normally only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. To help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
There are a number of home warranty terms to understand before signing an agreement, including:
There are several key factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranties differ greatly in the items covered. Basic policies typically include plumbing, electrical, AC, heating, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover roof leaks, spas, well pumps, and pools. Look for providers with flexible coverage choices, including upgraded plans. This allows you to tailor protection to your 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 look for companies advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may waive deductibles when a homeowner submits no claims in a defined period.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research providers. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty companies keep networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. Wider networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Reach out to potential providers and ask how many contractors they have in Portales to get a sense of how soon your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Some home warranty plans offer bonuses such as maintenance discounts, energy efficiency upgrades, and smart home device protection. These perks can add value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses can maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Temperatures in Portales can get quite high in the summer, which means your air conditioner is likely to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Portales, one benefit of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered if they need to be repaired or replaced.
A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and choosing a contractor to fix your appliance or system, home warranty companies do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. A home warranty can also give value in other ways. For instance, some plans can be transferred to another owner when you sell your home.
There are also some negatives 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.
Another possible pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your repair requests being rejected, so it’s important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Portales can cost between $30 and $60 a month. Higher-priced plans typically 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 lower your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranties cover problems related to systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a larger insurance that protects your entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Portales. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system breakage.
A home warranty policy can help real estate agents, homebuyers, homeowners, home sellers, and investors. It can provide peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different home warranties in Portales include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan will cover your home systems and appliances, including your refrigerator, washing machine, and heating and cooling systems. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the items listed in the contract.
Home warranty plans typically provide coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
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 will pay the service fees. In Portales, where the median home value is $132,612, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
