Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home in Elk Plain has tons of great advantages, but there are some downsides. Cold weather and snow can cause problems in a home and lead to wear and tear on systems like your HVAC. A home warranty can help protect homeowners by covering 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 numerous options out there. If you're tired of trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the best home warranty companies in Elk Plain.
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 is the most customizable home warranty for Elk Plain residents. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, AHS is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS offers 3 plans for homeowners to choose from.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Elk Plain homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,500 for each covered system or appliance.
Read our detailed review of American Home Shield to learn more. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, 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 is the best home warranty for appliance coverage for Elk Plain residents. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, First American is the perfect provider 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. First American offers 2 plans for homeowners to choose from.
First American Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Elk Plain homeowners. The Basic Plan and Premier Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage caps come out to about $1,500 for each covered system or appliance.
Read our detailed review of First American Home Warranty to learn more. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, 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 is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Elk Plain residents. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, Cinch is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch offers 3 plans for homeowners to choose from.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Elk Plain homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage caps come out to about $1,000-$2,000 for each covered system or appliance.
Read our detailed review of Cinch Home Services to learn more. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, 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 is the best home warranty with the quickest service for Elk Plain residents. 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, HSC is the perfect provider 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. HSC offers 2 plans for homeowners to choose from.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Elk Plain homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,000 for each covered system or appliance.
Read our detailed review of The Home Service Club to learn more. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, 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 | $6,499 |
| Heating | $4,332 |
| Electrical | $650 |
| Toilets | $542 |
| Washer/Dryer | $866 |
| Plumbing | $650 |
| Oven | $1,733 |
| Fridge | $650 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps lower expenses for Elk Plain homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company then arranges 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 exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty policy gives homeowners peace of mind because 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 appliances and fixtures in good condition may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances include dishwashers, dryers, refrigerators, garbage disposals, microwaves, washers, and more. Protected systems include air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and heating. Many home warranty plans offer extra coverage for roof leaks, central vacuums, septic systems, and even locksmiths. Most home warranty plans require Elk Plain homeowners to wait 30 days before they can use the policy to pay for repairs. Moreover, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. To help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Here are some key home warranty terms to know before signing a contract:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several important factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage can have major differences in what's included. Most plans include protection for heating, electrical, AC, plumbing, and appliances. More comprehensive plans also offer coverage on other items such as roof leaks, well pumps, pools, and spas. Look for a provider that offers robust coverage options, 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-repair charges can potentially accumulate over time, so some homeowners prefer using providers with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles after periods where a customer files no claims.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insights into factors such as repair speed, claim approval rates, contractor expertise, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn more about companies. Positive feedback and ratings suggest a company known for delivering quality service.
Home warranty providers have networks of professionals that they use to tackle covered repairs. Bigger networks improve the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to your home quickly. Reach out to possible providers to learn how many contractors they have in Elk Plain. This helps you understand how long repairs might take in an urgent situation.
Certain home warranty providers include perks such as discounts on maintenance, energy-efficient upgrades, and protection for smart home devices. These can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks help improve your home and help maximize your home warranty.
Elk Plain’s frigid winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can cover your home’s appliances and systems in the event 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 repairs, saving you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
Not only can a home warranty save you some money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of vetting service technicians on your own, home warranty companies do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. A home warranty can also provide value in other ways. For example, some policies can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
One major drawback of a home warranty is not every home system and appliance may be covered. It’s important to compare the different policies and get one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another downside is that home warranties may not include some repairs, such as those due to natural disasters. For example, if your house floods, the affected systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty in Elk Plain can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans tend to have a lower service fee, broader coverage, and higher coverage limits. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also decrease your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranties cover problems 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 kind of insurance that protects your entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Elk Plain. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system breakage.
Homebuyers, landlords, home sellers, homeowners, and real estate agents are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more attractive 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 a good idea if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans generally offer coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually the homeowner pays for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the home seller may purchase a home warranty and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then have to pay the service fees when using the policy. Since the average home value in Elk Plain is $497,665, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
