Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Being a homeowner in Lake Tapps is an excellent option for those who enjoy nature and quiet neighborhoods. However, as great as Lake Tapps is, homeownership always comes with its fair share of headaches, such as trying to pay for your appliance repairs yourself. 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 significantly lower and give you some peace of mind.
Finding the right warranty for your home can be difficult, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the top home warranty companies in Lake Tapps. Read on for our home warranty 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
In Lake Tapps, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. With a home warranty from AHS, you can enjoy the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,500 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting 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 Lake Tapps, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. With a home warranty from First American, you can enjoy very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Not to mention, 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 has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
First American Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage limits come out to around $1,500 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. Read more by visiting 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 Lake Tapps, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can enjoy a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage limits come out to around $1,000-$2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting 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 Lake Tapps, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. With a home warranty from HSC, you can enjoy quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting 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 | $6,668 |
| Heating | $4,445 |
| Electrical | $667 |
| Toilets | $556 |
| Washer/Dryer | $889 |
| Plumbing | $667 |
| Oven | $1,778 |
| Fridge | $667 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Lake Tapps homeowners lower the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then finds a contractor to handle the repair or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives security for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency repairs. They're particularly valuable for those who own older homes or ones with outdated systems. More modern homes with working appliances probably don’t require a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, garbage disposals, washers, dryers, and more. Covered systems are normally air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and heating. Many home warranty companies provide add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require Lake Tapps homeowners to wait 30 days before the plan will cover repairs. Additionally, policies normally only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. To help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to know before signing a contract, such as:
There are several important factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage varies widely in the items that are included. Most plans provide coverage for electrical, heating, plumbing, AC, and appliances. More comprehensive plans also include protection for other items such as spas, well pumps, pools, and roof leaks. Look for providers with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This helps you tailor protection to your home's needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-claim costs can add up, so some homeowners prefer using providers with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles when a homeowner goes a defined period without any repair requests.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as speed of repairs, contractor quality, approval rates for claims, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for quality service.
Home warranty providers keep networks of professionals to handle covered repairs. Wider networks improve the probability of getting qualified technicians to swiftly service your home. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Lake Tapps to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Home warranty companies may offer perks such as coverage for smart home devices, energy efficiency upgrades, and maintenance discounts. These can add value beyond just repair coverage. Added perks help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Since temperatures in Lake Tapps can hit the negatives in the winter, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your heating system. Getting a home warranty plan can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down all of a sudden.
Not only can a home warranty offer some savings, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks, the last thing you want to do is find a technician and schedule a repair. A home warranty takes care of the research by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Another added benefit of having a home warranty plan is that it can increase your home’s property value. If you ever decide to sell your home, you may be able to transfer your home warranty plan to the new homebuyer depending on the provider you purchased your home warranty through.
As for the disadvantages of home warranties, coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to read what each plan covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Another pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your claims being rejected, so it’s important to be sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Lake Tapps. Our top-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can reduce 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 kinds of damage they cover. Home warranties cover issues related to home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different kind of plan that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Lake Tapps. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system breakage.
A home warranty plan can help real estate agents, homeowners, investors, homebuyers, and home sellers. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different types of home warranties in Lake Tapps include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers almost all your systems and appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the items listed in the contract.
Home warranty plans generally provide coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually, the homeowner is the one who is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Lake Tapps, where the median home value is $557,783, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
