Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
With frigid winters, keeping your home systems and appliances — particularly your HVAC — in working order is very important for homeowners in Essex. A home warranty can offer you the peace of mind you need and protect your savings account from large expenses by covering your home’s major systems and appliances.
Finding the right protection for your home can be challenging, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the top home warranty companies in Essex. Read on for our home warranty 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 in Essex. Liberty has been in business for about 6 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. Liberty offers a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Plus, it also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. Liberty has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage caps associated with Liberty’s plans are around the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $75.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Liberty Home Guard Review. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Essex. Choice has been in business for about 15 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. Choice offers very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Plus, it also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice has 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are around the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Choice Home Warranty 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 offers the most cost-effective home warranty in Essex. Select has been in business for about 11 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. Select offers a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Plus, it also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. Select has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage caps associated with Select’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Select Home Warranty Review. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Essex. AHS has been in business for about 26 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. 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 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are around the $2,500 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our American Home Shield Review. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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 Essex. Cinch has been in business for about 44 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. Cinch offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Plus, it also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are around the $1,000-$2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Cinch Home Services Review. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Essex. HSC has been in business for about 15 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. HSC offers quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Plus, it also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. HSC has 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our The Home Service Club Review. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $6,633 |
| Heating | $4,422 |
| Electrical | $663 |
| Toilets | $553 |
| Washer/Dryer | $884 |
| Plumbing | $663 |
| Oven | $1,769 |
| Fridge | $663 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Essex homeowners in lowering the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to swap out or fix 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 company then finds a contractor to handle the replacement or fix. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty plan gives homeowners a sense of security and can help avoid costly 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 need a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include dishwashers, microwaves, dryers, garbage disposals, washers, refrigerators, and others. Covered systems include electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, and heating. Many home warranty plans also offer add-on coverage options for locksmiths, central vacuums, septic systems, and even roof leaks. Essex homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only address repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some essential home warranty terms to learn before signing a contract:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranties vary widely in terms of included coverage. Basic policies typically cover AC, plumbing, heating, electrical, and appliances, while more comprehensive options may also cover roof leaks, well pumps, spas, and pools. Look for companies with flexible coverage choices, including upgraded plans. This helps you tailor protection to your needs.
You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. This fee is charged per request and can quickly add up, so you may look for providers advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain companies may waive deductibles when a homeowner submits no claims in a defined period.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insight into things such as repair timeliness, approval rates, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Use review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research providers. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a provider known for exceptional service.
Home warranty companies maintain networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. More extensive 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 Essex to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Home warranty providers may offer bonuses such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and coverage for smart home devices. These can add value beyond repair coverage. Added perks maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Home warranties are an inexpensive way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Essex reaching an average high of 51℃F, you may find that certain appliances, such as your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably 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 researching and selecting a technician to fix your appliance or system, home warranty companies do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. Another benefit of having a home warranty is when you’re selling your home, you can most likely transfer your home warranty policy to the new owners. This can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and may help your home sell faster.
Home warranties also have some cons. Although it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a service technician who does the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they may want to select a contractor themselves. If that’s the case for you, some home warranty plans let you choose a contractor.
Another thing to bear in mind is that some providers don’t cover pre-existing damage and may require an inspection before coverage begins. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about it if you need more information or if this is an issue for you.
A home warranty costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Essex. Our high-rated home warranty companies' 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 usually cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranties cover issues related to 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 might not be too much of a concern in Essex. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system repairs.
A home warranty can help homeowners, home sellers, real estate agents, homebuyers, and investors. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty will cover your systems, appliances, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you need more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be helpful if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Home warranty plans typically offer coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Typically, the homeowner pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller may purchase a home warranty policy and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then be responsible for the service fees when using the policy. Since the average home value in Essex is $460,437, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
