Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
With a variety of seasons in Medford, your home systems can go through quite a bit of wear and tear. There’s nothing worse than having your heater go out in the middle of winter. A home warranty can offer you the peace of mind you need and shield your bank account from large expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
Finding the right warranty for your home can be challenging, so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the top home warranty companies in Medford. Read on for our top provider 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 offers the most trustworthy home warranty for Medford residents. Liberty has around 6 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an network of service technicians 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. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Liberty Home Guard: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage caps associated with Liberty’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit 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 for Medford residents. Choice has around 15 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an network of service technicians 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. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit 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 for Medford residents. Select has around 11 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an network of service technicians 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. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage caps associated with Select’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit 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 for Medford residents. AHS has around 26 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an network of service technicians 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. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are close to the $2,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit our review of American Home Shield.
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 offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage for Medford residents. First American has around 39 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an network of service technicians 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. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage caps associated with First American’s plans are close to the $1,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. To read more, visit our review of First American Home Warranty.
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 offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Medford residents. Cinch has around 44 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an network of service technicians 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. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit 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 for Medford residents. HSC has around 15 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an network of service technicians 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. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit 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 | $6,214 |
| Heating | $4,143 |
| Electrical | $621 |
| Toilets | $518 |
| Washer/Dryer | $829 |
| Plumbing | $621 |
| Oven | $1,657 |
| Fridge | $621 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Medford homeowners lower the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind to homeowners because it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are the most useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with modern appliances may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard both your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include washers, dryers, microwaves, garbage disposals, dishwashers, refrigerators, and more. Covered systems include electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. Many home warranty plans offer additional add-on coverage options for central vacuums, septic systems, locksmiths, and even roof leaks. It's important for Medford homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repairs are covered. The majority of policies also only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are multiple home warranty terms to understand before signing an agreement, including:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several important things to take into account:
Home warranty coverage can have major differences in what's included. Most plans include protection for plumbing, electrical, AC, heating, and appliances. More robust coverage options also cover other items such as pools, spas, well pumps, and roof leaks. Look for providers with flexible coverage choices, including upgraded plans. This allows you to customize your plan to your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee that can range from $60 to $100, which is paid per claim you submit. These per-claim charges can add up. You may decide to look for companies with lower service fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles when customers go a period with no claims filed.
A home warranty provider's reputation can provide insight into things such as contractor quality, approval rates, repair timeliness, and customer service. Browse review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research companies. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a provider known for exceptional service.
Home warranty companies use networks of local repair professionals to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential providers to learn the number of repair professionals they have in Medford and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Larger networks increase the probability of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Home warranty providers might offer bonuses such as maintenance discounts, coverage for smart home devices, and energy efficiency upgrades. These add value beyond just repair coverage. Additional perks maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Medford’s cold winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can cover your home’s appliances and systems if they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner stops working in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the repairs, saving you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
Not only can a home warranty give you some savings, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks down, the last thing you want to do is find a contractor and schedule a repair. A home warranty deals with this process by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Another good thing about having a home warranty is while selling your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty plan 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 company, so it’s important to understand what each policy covers and excludes in the contract.
Another stipulation is that home warranties usually only cover malfunctions due to normal wear and tear. They most likely won’t cover systems or appliances that have been damaged due to improper maintenance, natural disasters, animal infestations, etc.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Medford. Our high-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's typically 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 with home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a larger insurance that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Medford. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
First-time homebuyers, real estate agents, landlords, homeowners, and home sellers can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different types of home warranties in Medford include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers your systems and appliances, including your refrigerator, washing machine, and HVAC. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items mentioned in the plan.
Generally, a home warranty lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. 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. In Medford, where the median home value is $399,169, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
