Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Homeownership in Lakeland North can be satisfying for many people, but it also comes with its fair share of difficulties. Home repairs can be an unforeseen financial burden for many homeowners. A home warranty in Lakeland North can help bring down 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.
The home warranty market has many providers — all with different offerings — so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the best home warranty companies in Lakeland North.
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 Lakeland North, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been operating for over 26 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. The 3 plans from AHS are easy to understand and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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 plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read our review of American Home Shield to learn more.
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 Lakeland North, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has been operating for over 39 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. The 2 plans from First American are easy to understand and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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 plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American has coverage caps of around $1,500 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are a reasonable $85.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. Read our review of First American Home Warranty to learn more.
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 Lakeland North, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been operating for over 44 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. The 3 plans from Cinch are easy to understand and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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 plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch has coverage caps of around $1,000-$2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read our review of Cinch Home Services to learn more.
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 Lakeland North, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been operating for over 15 years, making it a well-respected company in the industry. The 2 plans from HSC are easy to understand and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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 plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read our review of The Home Service Club to learn more.
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 | $6,786 |
| Heating | $4,524 |
| Electrical | $679 |
| Toilets | $565 |
| Washer/Dryer | $905 |
| Plumbing | $679 |
| Oven | $1,810 |
| Fridge | $679 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Lakeland North homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file 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 repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners peace of mind by helping avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with systems near the end of their life span. However, people with newer homes and working appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your household systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include garbage disposals, dryers, washers, refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, and more. Covered systems include heating, electrical, air conditioning, and plumbing. Many home warranty plans offer additional coverage for roof leaks, septic systems, central vacuums, and even locksmiths. Lakeland North homeowners should know that most home warranty plans impose a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only address repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some essential home warranty words to know before signing a contract:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans cover plumbing, electrical, AC, heating, and appliances. More extensive plans may also cover extra things such as roof leaks, pools, spas, and well pumps. Look for companies with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This allows you to tailor protection to your needs.
You'll pay a standard service fee of around $60 to $100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These per-claim charges can quickly add up, so you may look for providers advertising lower service 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 provider's reputation provides insight into things such as repair timeliness, approval rates, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Use review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research providers. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a company known for great service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential businesses to ask how many repair professionals they have in Lakeland North and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. More extensive networks increase the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty plans offer extras such as maintenance discounts, energy efficiency upgrades, and smart home device protection. These perks can add value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Since temperatures in Lakeland North can hit the negatives in the winter, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your heating system. Purchasing 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 save you some money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time too. Instead of vetting contractors yourself, home warranty providers do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. Another added benefit of having home warranty coverage is that it can raise your home’s real estate 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 company you purchased your home warranty through.
One downside of a home warranty is that there are generally exclusions. For example, if one of your appliances already has a manufacturer's warranty, it may not be included in the home warranty, so it’s important to read over the contracts you’re considering carefully to get a sense of what is included and what isn’t.
Another potential pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your repair requests being denied, so it’s important to carefully 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 Lakeland North. Our top-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 choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's typically less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranty plans 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 insurance that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Lakeland North. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system breakage.
A home warranty can help real estate agents, home sellers, homebuyers, homeowners, and investors. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty will cover your 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 usually last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually the one who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller may purchase a home warranty plan 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 Lakeland North is $564,214, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
