Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Homeownership in Manhattan comes with many positives, but it also comes with worries and concerns. Your home’s appliances and systems will eventually need repairs, and this could mean a burdensome expense. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings account from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be significantly lower and give you some peace of mind.
Finding the right warranty for your home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the top home warranty companies in Manhattan. Keep reading 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 for Manhattan residents. The 3 home warranty plans that Liberty offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options. When you purchase a home warranty from Liberty, you will get a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Liberty Home Guard also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are 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.
For more information, read our review of Liberty Home Guard. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can 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
Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty for Manhattan residents. The 2 home warranty plans that Choice offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options. When you purchase a home warranty from Choice, you will get very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Choice Home Warranty also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are 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.
For more information, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can 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
Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty for Manhattan residents. The 3 home warranty plans that Select offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options. When you purchase a home warranty from Select, you will get a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Select Home Warranty also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are 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.
For more information, read our review of Select Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can 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
American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty for Manhattan residents. The 3 home warranty plans that AHS offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options. When you purchase a home warranty from AHS, you will get the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. American Home Shield also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are 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.
For more information, read our review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can 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
Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Manhattan residents. The 3 home warranty plans that Cinch offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options. When you purchase a home warranty from Cinch, you will get a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Cinch Home Services also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are 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.
For more information, read our review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can 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
The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service for Manhattan residents. The 2 home warranty plans that HSC offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options. When you purchase a home warranty from HSC, you will get quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. The Home Service Club also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are 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.
For more information, read our review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can 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 | $8,250 |
| Heating | $5,500 |
| Electrical | $825 |
| Toilets | $688 |
| Washer/Dryer | $1,100 |
| Plumbing | $825 |
| Oven | $2,200 |
| Fridge | $825 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps reduce the high costs for Manhattan homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide coverage to fix 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 cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives reassurance to homeowners because it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are particularly useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances are dryers, microwaves, garbage disposals, washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and others. Protected systems include electrical, air conditioning, heating, and plumbing. Many home warranty plans offer add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, roof leaks, and even locksmiths. Manhattan 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 cover the cost of repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or improperly using a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before signing a home warranty contract, you should learn key terms like:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans include protection for plumbing, AC, heating, electrical, and appliances. More extensive plans may also include additional items such as pools, spas, well pumps, and roof leaks. Look for a company that offers robust coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific needs.
You'll pay a service fee, typically $60–100, for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These per-claim charges can quickly add up, so you may seek out companies advertising lower service fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may eliminate deductibles after a customer goes a period of time with no claims filed.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as contractor quality, approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, and customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers have networks of technicians that they use to tackle covered repairs. Wider networks increase the likelihood of getting skilled contractors to your home quickly. Reach out to possible providers to ask how many repair professionals they have in Manhattan to understand how long repairs may take in an urgent situation.
Home warranty providers may include bonuses such as energy efficiency upgrades, coverage for smart home devices, and maintenance discounts. These add value beyond basic repair coverage. Additional perks can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Temperatures in Manhattan can vary greatly throughout the year, which means your air conditioner and heating systems are most likely going to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Manhattan, one of the benefits 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 researching and selecting a technician to fix your appliance or system, home warranty providers do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. Another added benefit of having home warranty coverage is that it can increase your home’s property value. If you ever decide to sell your home, you may be able to transfer your home warranty plan to the new homebuyer depending on the provider you have your home warranty with.
There are also some downsides to purchasing a home warranty policy, like the coverage exclusions. For example, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that already have a manufacturer's warranty.
Another thing to keep in mind 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 these things if you need more information or if this is a problem for you.
A home warranty in Manhattan can cost between $30 and $60 a month. The higher-priced plans typically have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also reduce your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects a home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new washing machine or dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which can be a threat in Manhattan.
Homebuyers, home sellers, landlords, homeowners, and real estate agents can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty policy can 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're concerned about one more than the other.
Home warranty plans generally provide coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Typically, the homeowner pays for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the one selling the home may purchase a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then have to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Manhattan is $585,751, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
