Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Buying a home is a big step for many, but the cost of maintaining it can get expensive over time, especially if your home in East Renton Highlands is on the older side. A home warranty can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by reducing the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
Finding the best protection for your home can be difficult, so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in East Renton Highlands. 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
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty in East Renton Highlands. AHS has over 26 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians nationwide. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: 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 for each 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 American Home Shield Review.
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 East Renton Highlands. First American has over 39 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians nationwide. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, this is the home warranty for you. 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage caps come out to around $1,500 for each 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 First American Home Warranty Review.
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 East Renton Highlands. Cinch has over 44 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians nationwide. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: 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 for each 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 Cinch Home Services Review.
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 East Renton Highlands. HSC has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians nationwide. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy. 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, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: 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 for each 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 The Home Service Club Review.
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 | $7,405 |
| Heating | $4,937 |
| Electrical | $741 |
| Toilets | $617 |
| Washer/Dryer | $987 |
| Plumbing | $741 |
| Oven | $1,975 |
| Fridge | $741 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps East Renton Highlands homeowners in reducing the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to swap out or repair appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
When something stops working, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges 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 policy gives homeowners a sense of security since it can help avoid costly emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for buyers of older homes or homes with systems near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with modern appliances and fixtures may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as dishwashers, washers, dryers, microwaves, refrigerators, garbage disposals, and others. Covered systems include electrical, air conditioning, plumbing, and heating. Many home warranty providers also offer add-on coverage for roof leaks, septic systems, locksmiths, and central vacuums. East Renton Highlands homeowners should know that most home warranty plans impose a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only address repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before signing a home warranty contract, you should know key terms like:
There are several key factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans provide coverage for electrical, heating, AC, plumbing, and appliances. More extensive plans may also include additional items such as roof leaks, well pumps, spas, and pools. Look for providers with an assortment of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. You'll want to tailor your protection for your home’s needs.
You'll pay a standard service fee of around $60 to $100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These fees to accumulate quickly with each claim, so you may look for companies advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may eliminate deductibles if homeowners don't submit any claims within a set period of time.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insights into factors such as claim approval rates, repair speed, contractor expertise, and customer satisfaction. Check review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to learn more about companies. Good feedback and ratings suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair technicians to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential businesses to learn the number of repair specialists they have in East Renton Highlands and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Wider networks raise the chance of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty plans include extras such as smart home device protection, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These can add value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Temperatures in East Renton Highlands can drop to the negatives in the winter, which means your heating system is most likely going to get a decent amount of use. As a homeowner in East Renton Highlands, one benefit of having a home warranty is that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they need to be repaired or replaced.
In addition to saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can give 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 issues you may have. A home warranty can also provide value in other ways. For instance, some plans can be transferred between owners when you sell your home.
As for the downsides of home warranties, coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to understand what each policy covers and excludes in the contract.
Additionally, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty in East Renton Highlands can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans usually have broader coverage, higher coverage limits, and a lower service fee. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also reduce 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 warranty policies cover issues related to systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different plan that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in East Renton Highlands. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system repairs.
Homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, landlords, and home sellers are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different home warranties in East Renton Highlands include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers your home systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and heating and cooling systems. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items listed in the plan.
Home warranty plans typically last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Typically, the person who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the one selling the home may buy 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. Since the average home value in East Renton Highlands is $829,394, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
