Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Athens gives homeowners some great neighborhoods and the opportunity to enjoy bright warm summers. However, scorching temperatures can do a number on your home’s systems, such as your HVAC. A home warranty plan can help protect you by reducing the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
Choosing the best home warranty on the market can be difficult because of the many options out there. If you're frustrated with trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the top home warranty companies in Athens.
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 in Athens. Liberty is a home warranty provider with 6 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. Liberty has established itself as a company with a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. It also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. Liberty offers 3 plans for you to choose from.
Liberty Home Guard has 3 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps from Liberty are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is less than other providers in the Athens area.
To read more, visit our review of Liberty Home Guard. To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can 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
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty in Athens. Choice is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice offers 2 plans for you to choose from.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps from Choice are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is less than other providers in the Athens area.
To read more, visit our review of Choice Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can 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
Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty in Athens. Select is a home warranty provider with 11 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. Select has established itself as a company with a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. It also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. Select offers 3 plans for you to choose from.
Select Home Warranty has 3 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps from Select are about $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is less than other providers in the Athens area.
To read more, visit our review of Select Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can 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
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty in Athens. AHS is a home warranty provider with 26 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS offers 3 plans for you to choose from.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps from AHS are about $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is less than other providers in the Athens area.
To read more, visit our review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can 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
First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage in Athens. First American is a home warranty provider with 39 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. First American has established itself as a company with very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. It also 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 offers 2 plans for you to choose from.
First American Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps from First American are about $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is less than other providers in the Athens area.
To read more, visit our review of First American Home Warranty. To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can 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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Athens. Cinch is a home warranty provider with 44 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch offers 3 plans for you to choose from.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps from Cinch are about $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is less than other providers in the Athens area.
To read more, visit our review of Cinch Home Services. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can 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
The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service in Athens. HSC is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. 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. HSC offers 2 plans for you to choose from.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps from HSC are about $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is less than other providers in the Athens area.
To read more, visit our 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
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 | $5,878 |
| Heating | $3,919 |
| Electrical | $588 |
| Toilets | $490 |
| Washer/Dryer | $784 |
| Plumbing | $588 |
| Oven | $1,567 |
| Fridge | $588 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps cut costs for Athens homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that break due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file 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 cost of the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty policy gives homeowners peace of mind because it can help avoid expensive emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for buyers of older homes or homes with appliances near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with appliances and fixtures in good condition may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect both your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include garbage disposals, washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, electrical, heating, and plumbing. Many home warranties also offer add-on coverage options for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and even roof leaks. It's important for Athens homeowners to know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day waiting period 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 things like natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. You need to keep up with preventative maintenance to ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by the policy.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should learn key terms like:
There are several important factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty policies can have major differences in covered items. Most plans provide protection for AC, plumbing, heating, electrical, and appliances. More inclusive options also include coverage for other items such as spas, roof leaks, pools, and well pumps. Look for a provider that offers an extensive selection of coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee that can range from $60 to $100, which gets paid per service call made. 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 firms also offer disappearing deductibles if a homeowner doesn't submit claims for repairs for a specified period of time.
A home warranty provider's rating gives insight into things such as contractor quality, claim approval rates, timeliness of repairs, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research companies. Favorable ratings and reviews indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies keep networks of contractors to handle covered repairs. Bigger networks raise the probability of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Reach out to potential providers and ask how many contractors they have in Athens to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Some home warranty companies provide extras such as smart home device protection, energy efficiency upgrades, and maintenance discounts. These perks add value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Athens’s hot summers can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty is designed to cover your home’s appliances and systems if 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 needed repairs, saving you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
On top of saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can provide you peace of mind and save you the hassle of trying to find a qualified repair person to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted contractors who can handle any repair problems you may have. A home warranty can also yield value in other ways. For instance, some policies can be transferred between owners when you sell your home.
Home warranties also have some drawbacks. Though it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a repair person who carries out the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they may want to select their own contractor. If that’s the case for you, some home warranty companies let you choose a contractor.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions and may require an inspection before your coverage can start. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about these things if you aren’t sure or if this is an issue for you.
A home warranty in Athens can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans usually have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also decrease your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranties 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 insurance that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Athens. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system damage.
Homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, landlords, and real estate agents can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty plan can cover your 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 a good idea if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Generally, a home warranty policy offers coverage for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some companies may offer month-to-month options.
Typically, the homeowner is the one who 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 transferred to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees. In Athens, where the median home value is $238,663, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
