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Last Updated: February 25, 2025
Being a homeowner in Des Moines is a great option for those who love nature and quiet neighborhoods. However, as great as Des Moines is, homeownership always comes with its fair share of difficulties, such as trying to finance your appliance and system repairs yourself. A home warranty plan can help protect homeowners by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important appliances and systems.
Finding the right protection for your home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the best home warranty companies in Des Moines. Read on for our top provider recommendations.
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 Des Moines, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. 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. The 3 plans from AHS are comprehensive and offer 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 caps come out to around $2,500 per covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. To read more, visit 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 Des Moines, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. 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. The 2 plans from First American are comprehensive and offer 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 caps come out to around $1,500 per covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. To read more, visit 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 Des Moines, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. 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. The 3 plans from Cinch are comprehensive and offer 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 caps come out to around $1,000-$2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. To read more, visit 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 Des Moines, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. 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. The 2 plans from HSC are comprehensive and offer 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 caps come out to around $2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. To read more, visit 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 | $6,719 |
| Heating | $4,480 |
| Electrical | $672 |
| Toilets | $560 |
| Washer/Dryer | $896 |
| Plumbing | $672 |
| Oven | $1,792 |
| Fridge | $672 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Des Moines homeowners in reducing the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to swap out or fix appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear. When something breaks down, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to handle the replacement or repair. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs go over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives security for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency repairs. They're particularly useful for those who live in older homes or ones with outdated systems. More modern homes with functional fixtures probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include garbage disposals, dryers, washers, microwaves, dishwashers, refrigerators, and more. Included systems are typically heating, plumbing, electrical, and air conditioning. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, roof leaks, locksmiths, and central vacuums. It's important for Des Moines homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Most policies also only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should learn key terms like:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several important things to take into account:
Home warranty plans vary widely in what they include. Most plans provide protection for electrical, plumbing, heating, AC, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer protection for other items such as spas, well pumps, roof leaks, and pools. Look for a provider that offers comprehensive coverage choices, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific 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 provides insights into factors such as contractor expertise, repair speed, claim approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Check review sites like TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn more about providers. Favorable reviews and ratings suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty providers have networks of technicians that they use to tackle covered repairs. Larger networks raise the likelihood of getting skilled contractors to your home quickly. Contact possible providers to ask how many technicians they have in Des Moines to understand how long repairs may take in an urgent situation.
Some home warranty plans provide bonuses such as smart home device protection, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These perks can add value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Des Moines’s frigid winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty will cover your home’s appliances and systems in the event they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner fails in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the necessary repairs, preventing you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and choosing a repair person 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 added benefit of having home warranty coverage 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 company you purchased your home warranty through.
There are also some negatives to getting a home warranty policy, like the coverage exclusions. For instance, home warranties may not cover systems or appliances that already have a manufacturer's warranty.
Another consideration is that home warranties usually only cover repairs needed due to normal wear and tear. They commonly won’t cover home systems or appliances that have stopped working due to animal infestations, improper maintenance, natural disasters, etc.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Des Moines. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can decrease 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 policies cover issues related to home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different kind of insurance that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Des Moines. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system damage.
Homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, landlords, and real estate agents are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty will cover your home’s systems, appliances, or both. Combination plans are great 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.
Generally, a home warranty offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some companies may offer month-to-month options.
Generally, the homeowner is the one who pays 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 will pay the service fees. In Des Moines, where the median value of a home is $572,230, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
