Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Although homeownership in Rapid City has many benefits — such as the convenience of city life — there are also not so glamorous sides. One major issue many homeowners have to deal with eventually is updating or repairing their home appliances and systems. A home warranty can offer you the peace of mind you need and guard your bank account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
The home warranty market is saturated with many providers — all with different offerings — so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Rapid City.
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 Rapid City, Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty. 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.
Liberty Home Guard has 3 plans that offer a combination of appliance and system coverage. The coverage limits from Liberty are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is cheaper than other providers in the Rapid City area.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. Read more by visiting 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
In Rapid City, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. 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.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a combination of appliance and system coverage. The coverage limits from Choice are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Rapid City area.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting 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
In Rapid City, Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty. 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.
Select Home Warranty has 3 plans that offer a combination of appliance and system coverage. The coverage limits from Select are about $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is cheaper than other providers in the Rapid City area.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. Read more by visiting 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
In Rapid City, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. 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.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that offer a combination of appliance and system coverage. The coverage limits from AHS are about $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is cheaper than other providers in the Rapid City area.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting 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
In Rapid City, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. 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.
First American Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a combination of appliance and system coverage. The coverage limits from First American are about $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Rapid City area.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. Read more by visiting 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
In Rapid City, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. 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.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that offer a combination of appliance and system coverage. The coverage limits from Cinch are about $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is cheaper than other providers in the Rapid City area.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting 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
In Rapid City, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. 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.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that offer a combination of appliance and system coverage. The coverage limits from HSC are about $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is cheaper than other providers in the Rapid City area.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting 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 | $5,971 |
| Heating | $3,981 |
| Electrical | $597 |
| Toilets | $498 |
| Washer/Dryer | $796 |
| Plumbing | $597 |
| Oven | $1,592 |
| Fridge | $597 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps cut costs for Rapid City homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company then finds a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance by helping avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for those living in older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and working appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Covered appliances normally include garbage disposals, washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, dryers, and more. Covered systems include plumbing, heating, electrical, and air conditioning. Many home warranty companies also provide additional coverage for roof leaks, central vacuums, septic systems, and locksmiths. Most home warranty plans require Rapid City homeowners to wait 30 days before they can use the policy to pay for repairs. Moreover, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements resulting from 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.
There are multiple home warranty terms to learn 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 varies, although most plans provide coverage for plumbing, heating, AC, electrical, and appliances. More comprehensive options may also provide protection for extra things such as spas, roof leaks, well pumps, and pools. Look for companies with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This helps you customize your plan to 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 providers with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles after periods where a customer files no claims.
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. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty companies have networks of local contractors to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to ask how many repair technicians they have in Rapid City and get an idea for how fast your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. Larger networks increase the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Home warranty companies sometimes offer perks such as maintenance discounts, coverage for smart home devices, and energy efficiency upgrades. These add value beyond just repair coverage. Additional perks can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Home warranties are a great way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Rapid City hitting an average high of 58℃F, you may find that certain appliances, like your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can significantly lower out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system break down.
A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and choosing 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 a home warranty plan is that it can raise 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 purchased your home warranty through.
One of the main drawbacks of a home warranty is not everything you care about may be covered. It’s important to compare the different plans and choose one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that haven’t been properly 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.
A home warranty costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Rapid City. 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 less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
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 case of something such as a fire or natural disaster. Under homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new dryer or dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Rapid City.
A home warranty plan can help home sellers, homebuyers, homeowners, real estate agents, and investors. It can provide peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty plan will cover your home’s appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you need 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 usually offer coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Usually the person who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller may purchase a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Rapid City is $419,148, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
