Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By Todays Homeowner Local Pros
Last Updated June 2023
Maximize your home warranty with these top home warranty providers in Columbia. With hot summers, working home appliances and systems, especially HVAC, are very important for homeowners in the Columbia area of South Carolina.
A home warranty policy can help protect you by cutting the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home's appliances and systems. Choosing the best home warranties on the market can be quite a challenge because of the sheer number of options out there. If you are overwhelmed by trying to compare the different options, keep reading for our guide to the best home warranty providers in Columbia.
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 in Columbia. Choice is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy. 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.
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 company. Service fees are an affordable $85.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Choice Home Warranty full review. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Columbia residents. When you buy 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. Select has 3 plans for you to choose from.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Service fees from Select are a reasonable $60. The coverage caps are also around $2,000.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. Read our 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
American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty in Columbia. AHS has more than 26 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided great customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. AHS offers the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Plus, it also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS's service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage limits come out to about $2,500 per covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. For a more detailed breakdown, read our American Home Shield Review.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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 Columbia, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. The 2 plans from HSC are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage. HSC has established itself as a company with quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. It also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also generally around $2,000 at the maximum.
Read more by visiting our thorough review of The Home Service Club. To get 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
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
Isn’t available in 2 states
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
In Columbia, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty has more than 6 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an network of service professionals nationwide. The 3 plans from Liberty are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. When you buy a policy 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 provider. Service fees are an affordable $75.
To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or give them a call at 866-451-2281. Read our Liberty Home Guard Review to learn more.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
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 Columbia residents. First American has around 39 years of industry experience and in that time has built a impressive network of service technicians in the country. With a home warranty from First American, you can enjoy 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 plans for you to decide between.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American's service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage caps come out to around $1,500 for each covered system or appliance.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our First American Home Warranty Review. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Columbia, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been on the market for about 44 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 3 plans from Cinch are easy to comprehend and offer both system and appliance coverage.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that provide a mix of appliance and system coverage. Cinch's service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage caps come out to around $1,000-$2,000 per covered system or appliance.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. Read our detailed review of Cinch Home Services to learn more.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home 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 | $6,190 |
| Heating | $4,127 |
| Electrical | $619 |
| Toilets | $516 |
| Washer/Dryer | $825 |
| Plumbing | $619 |
| Oven | $1,651 |
| Fridge | $619 |
A home warranty is a service contract that covers the cost of repairing or replacing major home systems and appliances when they stop working over time due to normal wear and tear. Having a home warranty in place can give you some peace of mind and prevent you from paying exorbitant out-of-pocket costs. Most home warranty plans start about 30 days after paying for the home warranty policy.
When you have a problem with one of your appliances or systems, you can file a claim with your home warranty company. Then, a customer service representative will contact you about a contractor coming over to look at the issue.
At this point, you'll pay the service fee, which is generally between $60 and $150, depending on what plan you have. After the service fee is paid, a repair person will come to your home, assess the issue, and repair it. As long as the repair is covered under the warranty and the coverage cap is not reached, most homeowners will not have any other out-of-pocket costs .
Home warranties help protect your home systems and appliances. A home warranty can cover repairs and replacements that are a result of normal wear. The appliances usually covered under a home warranty plan are the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, refrigerator, microwave, dryer, and more. System coverage typically includes air conditioning, plumbing, electrical systems, heating, and more.
The add-on coverage options can include pool, septic system, spa, roof leak, and sometimes even things like locksmith or pest control.
Columbia homeowners should know that a home warranty plan will only cover repairs and replacements that arise from normal wear and tear. Home warranties do not cover things like cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. You have to keep up with preventative maintenance on your home systems and appliances to make sure that your next repair or replacement-related problem will be covered by the policy.
Temperatures in Columbia can get quite high in the summer, which means your air conditioner is likely to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Columbia, one benefit of having a home warranty is that these home systems and major appliances can be covered if they have to be repaired or replaced.
Plus, though home warranty companies vary, some providers will let you transfer your warranty if you sell your home. This can make your property more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
As for the drawbacks 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 possible pain point of home warranties is that they don't cover items that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your claims being rejected, so it's important to make sure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
Deciding on the right home warranty in Columbia for you and your family depends on the type of coverage you want, the home warranty provider you go with, and where you live, among other factors. Plans can vary, so consider the following factors when choosing a home warranty company:
The top home warranty provider in Columbia is Choice Home Warranty. Choice Home Warranty has an expansive network of professional contractors and a tremendous reputation in the Columbia area.
A home warranty plan covers the normal wear and tear of systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects your entire home in a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. Under homeowners insurance, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new dryer or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which are somewhat common in Columbia.
Homebuyers, homeowners, real estate agents, home sellers, and landlords are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty plan can cover either your home's systems and appliances, or both. Combination plans are great if you need more coverage for your home, but a systems or appliance plan can be useful too if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Many homeowners find a home warranty is a good investment since it helps protect against unforeseen expenses, and saving money is important with the cost of living going up a lot in Columbia. If you're worried about your finances and your ability to keep your home in good working order, getting a home warranty can help. One of the big positives of a home warranty is that it can give you some financial peace of mind.
Usually the person who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the person who is selling the home may purchase a home warranty 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 Columbia is $153,202, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
When living in a city like Columbia, you may be wondering if events like natural disasters will be covered under a home warranty plan. Home warranties generally don't cover damage from intentional breakage, lack of proper maintenance, or natural disasters.
