Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Being a homeowner in Oakton is a great option for those who like up-and-coming areas. However, as great as Oakton is, homeownership always comes with its fair share of headaches, such as trying to deal with your appliance and system repairs yourself. A home warranty can bring you the peace of mind you need and safeguard your bank account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
The home warranty market is saturated with a lot of providers — all with different price points — so the Today's Homeowner team has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Oakton.
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 Oakton, Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty. If you’re looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. The 3 plans from Liberty are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Liberty’s service fees are an affordable $75, and the coverage limits come out to about $3,000 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. For more information, read our detailed 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 Oakton, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The 2 plans from Choice are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage limits come out to about $3,000 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. For more information, read our detailed 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 Oakton, Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. The 3 plans from Select are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Select’s service fees are a reasonable $60, and the coverage limits come out to about $2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. For more information, read our detailed 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 Oakton, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 plans from AHS are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
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 appliance or system.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For more information, read our detailed 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 Oakton, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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. The 2 plans from First American are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage limits come out to about $1,500 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. For more information, read our detailed 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 Oakton, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The 3 plans from Cinch are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage limits come out to about $1,000-$2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For more information, read our detailed 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 Oakton, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The 2 plans from HSC are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage limits come out to about $2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For more information, read our detailed 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 | $7,471 |
| Heating | $4,981 |
| Electrical | $747 |
| Toilets | $623 |
| Washer/Dryer | $996 |
| Plumbing | $747 |
| Oven | $1,992 |
| Fridge | $747 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Oakton homeowners reduce the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that stop working from 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 fix 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 peace of mind to homeowners because it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are particularly useful for older construction homes with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect both your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, garbage disposals, washers, dryers, and more. Covered systems include electrical, air conditioning, plumbing, and heating. Many home warranties offer additional add-on coverage options for central vacuums, locksmiths, septic systems, and even roof leaks. Oakton should understand that most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repairs are covered. Most policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should know key terms like:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several important factors to consider:
Home warranty plans can have major differences in covered items. Most plans cover AC, plumbing, electrical, heating, and appliances. More inclusive options also include coverage for other items such as well pumps, pools, spas, and roof leaks. Focus on companies with broad coverage options including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for your needs.
You'll pay a service fee, typically $60–100, for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These fees to accumulate quickly with each claim, so you may look for providers advertising lower service fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may eliminate deductibles when a homeowner submits no claims in a defined period.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, contractor quality, speed of repairs, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for quality service.
Home warranty businesses maintain networks of local technicians to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to find out how many repair technicians they have in Oakton and get an idea for how quickly your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. Larger networks improve the probability of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty companies include bonuses such as smart home device protection, energy efficiency upgrades, and maintenance discounts. These can add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Since temperatures in Oakton can be quite hot in the summer, the weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioning unit and HVAC system. Purchasing a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down unexpectedly.
As well as saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can offer you peace of mind and save you the pain of trying to find a qualified repair person to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted technicians who can handle any repair issues you may have. Another added benefit of having a home warranty policy is that it can raise your home’s real estate 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 company you purchased your home warranty through.
There are also some drawbacks to purchasing a home warranty plan, such as the coverage exclusions. For example, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that already have a manufacturer's warranty.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some providers don’t cover pre-existing problems and may require an inspection before coverage begins. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about this if you need more information or if this is a problem for you.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Oakton. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can reduce your monthly bill with some companies by opting for a higher service fee. In addition, it's often less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranty plans cover issues with systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different plan that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Oakton. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system repairs.
A home warranty plan can help homeowners, real estate agents, home sellers, investors, and homebuyers. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different home warranties in Oakton include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers many of your home systems and appliances, such as your refrigerator, washing machine, and heating and cooling systems. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the items listed in the plan.
Home warranty plans typically offer coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Generally, 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 when using the policy. In Oakton, where the median value of a home is $964,814, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
