Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
There are a lot of perks of owning a home, but as your Fairwood home gets older, you may find yourself needing to update or repair your systems and appliances. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings from unexpected home repairs and expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be time-consuming, since there are dozens of companies to choose from. That’s why our team at Today's Homeowner did the research and made a list of the best home warranty companies in Fairwood for you.
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 for Fairwood residents. AHS has been on the market for over 26 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. 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 easily comprehensible and offer both system and appliance coverage.
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.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For more information on this provider, read our American Home Shield full 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 for Fairwood residents. First American has been on the market for over 39 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. 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 easily comprehensible and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage caps associated with First American’s plans are around the $1,500 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. For more information on this provider, read our First American Home Warranty full 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 for Fairwood residents. Cinch has been on the market for over 44 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. 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 easily comprehensible 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. 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.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For more information on this provider, read our Cinch Home Services full 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 for Fairwood residents. HSC has been on the market for over 15 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. 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 easily comprehensible and offer both system and appliance coverage.
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.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For more information on this provider, read our The Home Service Club full 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 | $7,081 |
| Heating | $4,721 |
| Electrical | $708 |
| Toilets | $590 |
| Washer/Dryer | $944 |
| Plumbing | $708 |
| Oven | $1,888 |
| Fridge | $708 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Fairwood homeowners reduce the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial protection to repair or swap out 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 cost of the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance by helping avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and functioning appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are refrigerators, dryers, washers, dishwashers, microwaves, garbage disposals, and more. Covered systems are typically electrical, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, locksmiths, roof leaks, and central vacuums. Fairwood homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help 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 coverage varies, although most plans cover plumbing, AC, heating, electrical, and appliances. More extensive plans may also include additional items such as spas, well pumps, roof leaks, and pools. Focus on companies with broad coverage options including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a repair fee that typically ranges between $60 and $100, which is paid per repair request filed. The costs from multiple fees can add up. You may decide to look for companies with lower service fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some firms also offer disappearing deductibles for customers who don't file any claims over a certain timespan.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insights into factors such as contractor expertise, claim approval rates, repair speed, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn more about companies. Good reviews and ratings suggest a company known for delivering quality service.
Home warranty companies use networks of local repair professionals to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential businesses to ask how many repair technicians they have in Fairwood and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. 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 perks can add value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Fairwood’s frigid winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty is designed to 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 needed repairs, saving you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and selecting 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. A home warranty can also give value in other ways. For instance, some plans can be transferred to another owner during a home sale.
As for the drawbacks of home warranties, system and appliance coverage varies by company, so it’s important to read what each policy covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Another potential pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your claims being denied, so it’s important to make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Fairwood. 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 opting for a higher service fee. In addition, it's usually cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranties cover problems related to home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a larger insurance that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Fairwood. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system damage.
First-time homebuyers, homeowners, real estate agents, landlords, and home sellers are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty policy will cover your home’s appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be useful if you want to save some money.
Generally, a home warranty offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
Generally, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Fairwood, where the median value of a home is $652,659, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
