Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Baldwin offers homeowners some beautiful housing options. However, unanticipated repair and replacement costs on your home’s appliances and systems can get quite expensive. A home warranty policy can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by reducing the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be quite a challenge because of the numerous options available. If you're tired of trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the best home warranty companies in Baldwin.
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 Baldwin. 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 choose from.
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 some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are an affordable $75.
To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. Read more by visiting our review of Liberty Home Guard.
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 Baldwin. 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 choose from.
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 some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are an affordable $85.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting our review of Choice Home Warranty.
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 Baldwin. 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 choose from.
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 some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are a reasonable $60.
To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. Read more by visiting our review of Select Home Warranty.
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 Baldwin. 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 choose from.
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 some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting our review of American Home Shield.
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 Baldwin. 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 choose from.
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 some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting our review of Cinch Home Services.
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 Baldwin. 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 choose from.
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 some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To receive 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 review of The Home Service Club.
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 | $7,308 |
| Heating | $4,872 |
| Electrical | $731 |
| Toilets | $609 |
| Washer/Dryer | $974 |
| Plumbing | $731 |
| Oven | $1,949 |
| Fridge | $731 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Baldwin homeowners reduce the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to handle the repair or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives reassurance to homeowners because it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home's systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include microwaves, washers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers, and more. Protected systems include air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and heating. Many home warranty plans offer add-on coverage for septic systems, roof leaks, central vacuums, and even locksmiths. Baldwin homeowners should know that most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, cosmetic issues, or improperly using a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some essential home warranty words to understand before signing a contract:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranties differ greatly in the items covered. Basic plans typically provide protection for AC, electrical, plumbing, heating, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover spas, well pumps, roof leaks, and pools. Focus on providers with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for your home's needs.
Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. With these per-request costs adding up over time as you file claims, you may want to choose a company with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some companies also eliminate deductibles when customers have a claim-free 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 Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research providers. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers have networks of contractors to handle covered repairs. Bigger networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Contact potential providers to find out how many contractors they have in Baldwin to get a sense of how soon your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Some home warranty companies may include perks such as smart home device coverage, reduced maintenance fees, and energy efficiency upgrades. These extras can provide extra value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses allow you to enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.
Home warranties are an inexpensive way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Baldwin reaching an average high of 59℃F, you may find that some appliances, such as your air conditioning system, get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably bring down out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system stop working.
In addition to saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can give you peace of mind and save you the headache of trying to find a qualified contractor to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted contractors who can handle any repair issues you may come across. Another good thing about having a home warranty is while selling your home, you can most likely transfer your home warranty policy to the new owners. This can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
As for the disadvantages of home warranties, home system and appliance coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to read what each policy covers and excludes in the contract.
Another drawback is that home warranties may not include some repairs, like those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if your house floods, the affected systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty in Baldwin can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The 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 decrease 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 warranty policies cover problems related to 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 your entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Baldwin. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
A home warranty plan can help real estate agents, homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, and investors. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different types of home warranties in Baldwin include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers many of your systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and plumbing. An appliance or system plan will cover only the specific items mentioned in the policy.
Home warranty plans usually last a year. Many companies let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Generally, the homeowner is the one who is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, when buying 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 Baldwin, where the median home value is $617,529, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
