Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Owning a house can have lots of advantages, but it can also come with some downsides like maintenance. The older your house’s appliances and systems are, the more you may want to consider getting a home warranty. A home warranty policy can help protect you by cutting 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 sheer number of options available. If you're tired of trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the best home warranty companies in Clayton.
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 Clayton, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty has been in business for more than 6 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage caps from Liberty are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is cheaper than other providers in the Clayton area.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or give them a call at 866-451-2281. Read our comprehensive review of Liberty Home Guard to learn more.
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 Clayton, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has been in business for more than 15 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Clayton area.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. Read our comprehensive review of Choice Home Warranty to learn more.
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 Clayton, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has been in business for more than 11 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage caps from Select are around $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is cheaper than other providers in the Clayton area.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-370-3953. Read our comprehensive review of Select Home Warranty to learn more.
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 Clayton, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been in business for more than 26 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps from AHS are around $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is cheaper than other providers in the Clayton area.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. Read our comprehensive review of American Home Shield to learn more.
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
In Clayton, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has been in business for more than 39 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, First American is the perfect provider for you. 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. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
The plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage caps from First American are around $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Clayton area.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 833-204-7164. Read our comprehensive review of First American Home Warranty to learn more.
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
In Clayton, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been in business for more than 44 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage caps from Cinch are around $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is cheaper than other providers in the Clayton area.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. Read our comprehensive review of Cinch Home Services to learn more.
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 Clayton, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been in business for more than 15 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps from HSC are around $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is cheaper than other providers in the Clayton area.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443. Read our comprehensive review of The Home Service Club to learn more.
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 | $6,141 |
Heating | $4,094 |
Electrical | $614 |
Toilets | $512 |
Washer/Dryer | $819 |
Plumbing | $614 |
Oven | $1,638 |
Fridge | $614 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Clayton homeowners cut the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company 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 exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind to homeowners, as it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for owners of older homes or homes with aging systems. New homes with modern appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, garbage disposals, and more. Covered systems are typically air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and heating. Many home warranty companies offer add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require Clayton homeowners to wait 30 days before they can use the policy to pay for repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or misusing a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should understand key terms like:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranty coverage differs significantly when it comes to what's covered. Most plans provide coverage for AC, heating, electrical, plumbing, and appliances. More robust coverage options also offer coverage on other items such as roof leaks, spas, well pumps, and pools. Focus on companies with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize your plan to meet your home's needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-claim costs can add up, so some homeowners prefer using companies with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles if a customer doesn't submit any claims in a set timeframe.
A home warranty company's track record gives insight into things such as timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, claim approval rates, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research providers. Positive reviews and ratings indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies maintain networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. More extensive networks improve the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Reach out to potential providers and ask how many contractors they have in Clayton to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Certain home warranty providers offer extras such as discounts on maintenance, energy-efficient upgrades, and protection for smart home devices. These bonuses can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Extra perks enhance your home and maximize your home warranty.
Clayton’s hot summers can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can help cover your home’s appliances and systems in the event they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the necessary repairs, preventing you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
Along with saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can give you peace of mind and save you the pain of trying to find a qualified repair person to visit your home. Home warranties usually come with a network of pre-vetted contractors who can handle any repair problems you may experience. Another good thing about having a home warranty is if you want to sell your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty to the new owners. This can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your house sell faster.
As for the disadvantages of home warranties, coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to review what each policy covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
In addition, 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 besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Clayton. Our top-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can lower your monthly bill with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's usually less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover issues 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 different plan that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Clayton. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system repairs.
First-time homebuyers, homeowners, landlords, real estate agents, and home sellers are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more appealing 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 beneficial if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be useful if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans generally last a year. Many companies let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Typically, the one who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the person who is selling the home may buy 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. Since the average home value in Clayton is $367,627, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.