Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home can have lots of benefits, but it can also come with some negatives like maintenance. The older your house’s appliances and systems are, the more you may want to consider getting a home warranty. A home warranty in Fife can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the numerous options available. If you're tired of trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the best home warranty providers in Fife.
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 Fife, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has 3 plans for you to choose from. AHS offers the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Plus, it also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are around the $2,500 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
Read more by visiting our comprehensive review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Fife, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has 2 plans for you to choose from. First American offers very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Plus, 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 Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage caps associated with First American’s plans are around the $1,500 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
Read more by visiting our comprehensive review of First American Home Warranty. To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Fife, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has 3 plans for you to choose from. Cinch offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Plus, it also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
The 3 plans from Cinch Home Services 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 most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
Read more by visiting our comprehensive review of Cinch Home Services. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Fife, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has 2 plans for you to choose from. HSC offers quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Plus, 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 The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
Read more by visiting our comprehensive review of The Home Service Club. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $6,469 |
| Heating | $4,313 |
| Electrical | $647 |
| Toilets | $539 |
| Washer/Dryer | $863 |
| Plumbing | $647 |
| Oven | $1,725 |
| Fridge | $647 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Fife homeowners reduce the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that break down from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company then arranges 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 reassurance to homeowners, as it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for owners of older homes or homes with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Covered appliances typically include dryers, washers, microwaves, garbage disposals, dishwashers, refrigerators, and others. Covered systems include electrical, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing. Many home warranty providers also offer add-on coverage for locksmiths, roof leaks, septic systems, and central vacuums. Most home warranty plans require Fife 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 misuse of a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to understand before signing a contract, such as:
There are several important considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty plans vary widely in what they include. Most plans cover AC, heating, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. More comprehensive options also extend protection to other items such as roof leaks, spas, well pumps, and pools. Focus on providers with broad coverage options including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize 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. This fee is charged per request and can quickly add up, so you may look for companies advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain companies may eliminate deductibles if homeowners don't submit any claims within a set period of time.
A home warranty company's track record provides insight into things such as claim approval rates, contractor quality, timeliness of repairs, and overall customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research companies. Favorable ratings and reviews indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential providers to ask how many repair technicians they have in Fife and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Larger networks raise the chance of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Some home warranty companies include perks such as energy efficiency upgrades, reduced maintenance fees, and smart home device coverage. These can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses allow you to enhance your home and get the most from your warranty policy.
Since temperatures in Fife can hit the negatives in the winter, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your heating system. Having a home warranty policy can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down all of a sudden.
As well as 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 contractor to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted contractors who can handle any repair issues you may experience. In addition, though it varies by company, some providers will allow you to transfer your warranty if you sell your home. This can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
There are also some downsides to purchasing a home warranty policy, like the coverage exclusions. For example, home warranties may not cover systems or appliances that are already covered by a manufacturer's warranty.
Another drawback is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, like 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 policy costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Fife. Our high-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can decrease your monthly bill with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. Additionally, it's often cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
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 larger insurance that protects your entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Fife. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system damage.
First-time homebuyers, landlords, real estate agents, homeowners, and home sellers can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty plan will cover your home’s appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you need more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be a good idea if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Home warranty plans generally offer coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Typically, the one who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller may purchase a home warranty policy and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Fife is $536,597, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
