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 Mercer Island can be costly, particularly as your home ages and your systems and appliances have to be updated. A home warranty can offer you the peace of mind you need and shield your savings account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major systems and appliances.
Finding the best protection for your home can be challenging, so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in Mercer Island. Read on for our top provider 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 Mercer Island, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been in the home warranty business for around 26 years. AHS offers 3 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you buy a home warranty from AHS, you will get the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. American Home Shield also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,500 per covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can 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
In Mercer Island, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has been in the home warranty business for around 39 years. First American offers 2 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you buy a home warranty from First American, you will get very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. First American Home Warranty 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage limits come out to around $1,500 per covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can 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
In Mercer Island, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been in the home warranty business for around 44 years. Cinch offers 3 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you buy a home warranty from Cinch, you will get a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Cinch Home Services also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. 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 system or appliance.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can 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
In Mercer Island, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been in the home warranty business for around 15 years. HSC offers 2 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you buy a home warranty from HSC, you will get quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. The Home Service Club also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,000 per covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can 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 | $7,603 |
| Heating | $5,069 |
| Electrical | $760 |
| Toilets | $634 |
| Washer/Dryer | $1,014 |
| Plumbing | $760 |
| Oven | $2,028 |
| Fridge | $760 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Mercer Island homeowners in reducing the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial coverage to replace or repair appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
When something stops working, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then finds a contractor to handle the replacement or fix. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty plan gives homeowners a sense of security and can help avoid costly emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for people purchasing older homes or homes with systems near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with modern appliances and fixtures may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include dishwashers, microwaves, washers, garbage disposals, dryers, refrigerators, and more. Included systems are normally air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and heating. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, locksmiths, central vacuums, and roof leaks. It's important for Mercer Island homeowners to know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day period you must wait before they can be used to cover repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements that result from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover problems such as natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by your policy.
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 selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage differs significantly when it comes to what's covered. Most plans provide coverage for electrical, AC, heating, plumbing, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer coverage on other items such as spas, well pumps, roof leaks, 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 repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These per-claim charges can quickly add up, so you may look for companies advertising lower service fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain companies may eliminate deductibles when a homeowner submits no claims in a defined period.
A home warranty company's reputation can provide insight into things such as approval rates, contractor quality, repair timeliness, and customer service. Use review platforms such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research providers. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a company known for great service.
Home warranty companies use networks of local repair professionals to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential companies to learn the number of repair technicians they have in Mercer Island and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Bigger networks increase the probability of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty providers may include perks such as energy efficiency upgrades, reduced maintenance fees, and smart home device coverage. These extras can provide extra value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses let you enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.
Mercer Island’s frigid winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty will cover your home’s appliances and systems if 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 repairs, preventing you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and choosing a repair person to fix your appliance or system, home warranty providers do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. A home warranty can also yield value in other ways. For example, some policies can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
One downside of a home warranty is that there are often exclusions. For example, if one of your appliances already has a manufacturer's warranty, it may not be covered under the home warranty, so it’s important to read through the contracts you’re considering thoroughly to understand what is included and what isn’t.
In addition, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs or replacements due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Mercer Island. 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 choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's often less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty protects against normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects a home in case of something such as a fire or natural disaster. With a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new dryer or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Mercer Island.
A home warranty can help homeowners, homebuyers, real estate agents, home sellers, and investors. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty plan can cover your home’s appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are great 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 companies let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually the person who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the home seller may buy 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 Mercer Island is $2,082,588, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
