Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Being a homeowner in Salem is a great option for those who love up-and-coming areas. However, as great as Salem is, homeownership always comes with its fair share of difficulties, such as trying to finance your appliance repairs yourself. A home warranty is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and give you some peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be challenging, since there are dozens of companies to decide between. That’s why our team at Today's Homeowner did the research and put together a list of the top home warranty companies in Salem for you.
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 Salem, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty has about 6 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. 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 quick and easy.
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 with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are an affordable $75.
Read more by visiting our full review of Liberty Home Guard. To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, 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
In Salem, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has about 15 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. 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 quick and easy.
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 with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are an affordable $85.
Read more by visiting our full review of Choice Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, 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
In Salem, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has about 11 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. 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 quick and easy.
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 with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are a reasonable $60.
Read more by visiting our full review of Select Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, 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
In Salem, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has about 26 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. 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 quick and easy.
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 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.
Read more by visiting our full review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 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
In Salem, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has about 39 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. 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 quick and easy.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American has coverage caps of around $1,500 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 a reasonable $85.
Read more by visiting our full review of First American Home Warranty. To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 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
In Salem, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has about 44 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. 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 quick and easy.
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 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.
Read more by visiting our full review of Cinch Home Services. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, 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
In Salem, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has about 15 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. 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 quick and easy.
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 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.
Read more by visiting our full review of The Home Service Club. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, 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 | $5,993 |
| Heating | $3,996 |
| Electrical | $599 |
| Toilets | $499 |
| Washer/Dryer | $799 |
| Plumbing | $599 |
| Oven | $1,598 |
| Fridge | $599 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Salem homeowners cut the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to repair or swap out 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 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 security for homeowners by helping them avoid expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly useful for those who live in older homes or ones with aging systems. More modern homes with modern appliances probably don’t require a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard both your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include dryers, refrigerators, washers, microwaves, dishwashers, garbage disposals, and more. Covered systems include heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical. Many home warranties offer additional add-on coverage options for septic systems, locksmiths, central vacuums, and even roof leaks. Salem homeowners should know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day period you must wait before they can be used to cover repairs. Additionally, most policies only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover problems such as cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or improper use of a system or appliance. You need to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by your policy.
There are multiple home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
There are several key considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranties vary widely in terms of included coverage. Basic policies typically cover heating, electrical, plumbing, AC, and appliances, while more comprehensive options may also cover roof leaks, well pumps, pools, and spas. Focus on providers with wide-ranging coverage selections including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize protection for your home's needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee, usually falling in the $60 to $100 range, which is paid per repair request filed. The per-request costs can add up. You may decide to look for companies with more affordable fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles for customers who don't file any claims over a certain timespan.
A home warranty company's reputation can give you insight into things such as contractor quality, repair timeliness, approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Check review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research providers. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a provider known for great service.
Home warranty companies have networks of local technicians to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to learn how many repair technicians they have in Salem and get an idea for how fast your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. More extensive networks improve the chances of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Some home warranty companies provide extras such as smart home device protection, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These perks add value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Salem can be quite cold in the winter, the weather can put a lot of strain on your HVAC system. Buying a home warranty plan can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down suddenly.
A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours researching and choosing a repair person 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. A home warranty can also give value in other ways. For example, some plans can be transferred to another owner during a home sale.
Home warranties also have some drawbacks. Although it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a repair technician who carries out the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would rather choose their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty providers allow you to select a contractor.
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 denied, so it’s important to be sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Salem. Our top-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 opting for a higher service fee. In addition, it's often cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover issues with 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 the entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Salem. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
A home warranty plan can help home sellers, investors, homebuyers, real estate agents, and homeowners. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different home warranties in Salem include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover almost all your home systems and appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and plumbing. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the plan.
Generally, a home warranty offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some companies may offer month-to-month options.
Generally, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Salem, where the median value of a home is $423,162, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
