Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
The cost of maintaining a home in Kent can be expensive, particularly as your home ages and your systems and appliances need to be updated. A home warranty can help protect you 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 a challenge because of the sheer number of options out there. If you're overwhelmed by trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the best home warranty companies in Kent.
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 Kent, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also typically around $2,500 at the maximum.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For a more detailed breakdown, read 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 Kent, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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.
First American Home Warranty has 2 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also typically around $1,500 at the maximum.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. For a more detailed breakdown, read 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 Kent, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also typically around $1,000-$2,000 at the maximum.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For a more detailed breakdown, read 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 Kent, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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 Home Service Club has 2 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also typically around $2,000 at the maximum.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For a more detailed breakdown, read 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 | $7,084 |
| Heating | $4,723 |
| Electrical | $708 |
| Toilets | $590 |
| Washer/Dryer | $945 |
| Plumbing | $708 |
| Oven | $1,889 |
| Fridge | $708 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Kent homeowners lower the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to repair or replace 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 provider then arranges a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty provides security for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency repairs. They're particularly useful for those who own older homes or ones with outdated systems. Newer homes with working fixtures probably don’t require a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include dryers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, washers, and more. Covered systems are usually heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical. Many home warranty companies offer add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, roof leaks, and locksmiths. It's important for Kent homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repairs are covered. The majority of policies also only cover 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. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are several home warranty terms to understand before signing an agreement, including:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans cover heating, AC, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. More comprehensive options may also provide protection for additional items such as well pumps, roof leaks, spas, and pools. Look for providers with an array of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your needs.
You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These fees to accumulate quickly with each claim, so you may look for providers advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may eliminate deductibles when a homeowner submits no claims in a defined period.
A home warranty company's reputation gives you insight into things such as claim approval rates, timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research companies. Favorable reviews and ratings indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies keep networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. Bigger networks raise the probability of getting qualified technicians to promptly service your home. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Kent to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Certain home warranty providers include extras such as energy-efficient upgrades, protection for smart home devices, and discounts on maintenance. These can provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Extra perks enhance your home and maximize your home warranty.
Temperatures in Kent can drop to the negatives in the winter, which means your heating system is most likely going to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Kent, one benefit of having a home warranty is that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they have to be repaired or replaced.
A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and choosing a technician 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 benefit of having a home warranty is while selling your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty policy to the new owners. This can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your house sell faster.
Home warranties also have some cons. Although it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a contractor who carries out the repair for you, some homeowners may not like this, and they may want to select their own contractor. If that’s the case for you, some home warranty companies let you choose a contractor.
Another possible pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that haven’t been properly maintained. This can lead to your claims being rejected, so it’s important to make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Kent can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans usually have higher coverage limits, a lower service fee, and broader coverage. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also decrease 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 plans cover problems with 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 your entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Kent. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system damage.
First-time homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, landlords, and real estate agents can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty will cover your home’s appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are great if you'd like 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.
Home warranty plans generally last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Kent, where the median home value is $610,168, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
