Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Homeownership in North Lynnwood has many positives, but it also comes with worries and concerns. Your home’s appliances and systems will eventually need repairs, and this could mean a burdensome expense. A home warranty can offer you the peace of mind you need and safeguard your bank account from large expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
The home warranty market is saturated with a lot of providers — all with different offerings — so the Today's Homeowner team has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in North Lynnwood.
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 North Lynnwood, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. 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. AHS has 3 plans for you to decide between.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage limits from AHS are around $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is lower than other providers in the North Lynnwood area.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read our detailed 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 North Lynnwood, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. 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 has 2 plans for you to decide between.
The plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage limits from First American are around $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is lower than other providers in the North Lynnwood area.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. Read our detailed 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 North Lynnwood, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. 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 has 3 plans for you to decide between.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage limits from Cinch are around $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is lower than other providers in the North Lynnwood area.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read our detailed 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 North Lynnwood, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. 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. HSC has 2 plans for you to decide between.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage limits from HSC are around $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is lower than other providers in the North Lynnwood area.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read our detailed 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 | $6,666 |
| Heating | $4,444 |
| Electrical | $667 |
| Toilets | $555 |
| Washer/Dryer | $889 |
| Plumbing | $667 |
| Oven | $1,778 |
| Fridge | $667 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists North Lynnwood homeowners cut the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that malfunction 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 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 gives reassurance to homeowners because it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are the most useful for older construction homes with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are microwaves, garbage disposals, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and more. Covered systems include plumbing, air conditioning, heating, and electrical. Various home warranty plans offer additional coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, roof leaks, and even locksmiths. North Lynnwood homeowners should know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day waiting period before they can be used to cover repairs. Additionally, most policies only cover repairs and replacements needed due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover things like pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. You need to keep up with preventative maintenance to ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by your policy.
There are several home warranty terms to understand before signing an agreement, including:
There are several important considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty policies vary widely in what they include. Most plans cover AC, heating, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. More inclusive options also extend protection to other items such as spas, roof leaks, well pumps, and pools. Focus on companies with wide-ranging coverage selections including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for 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 companies with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles after periods where a customer files no claims.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as contractor quality, speed of repairs, approval rates for claims, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research companies. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for quality service.
Home warranty companies maintain networks of contractors to handle covered repairs. More extensive networks improve the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to swiftly service your home. Contact potential providers to find out how many contractors they have in North Lynnwood to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Home warranty providers often include extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and coverage for smart home devices. These extras can add value beyond basic repair coverage. Added perks maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Home warranty plans are an inexpensive way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in North Lynnwood reaching an average high of 51℃F, you may find that some appliances, such as your air conditioning unit, get a lot of use. A home warranty can significantly decrease out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system stop working.
Not only can a home warranty save you money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of vetting technicians on your own, home warranty providers do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. Plus, having a home warranty can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your plan to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been benefiting from.
Home warranties also have some downsides. Although it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a contractor who carries out the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they would prefer to choose a contractor themselves. If that’s important to you, some home warranty providers let you select a contractor.
Another drawback is that home warranties may not include some repairs, like those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if your HVAC system is damaged from an animal infestation, the impacted systems and appliances probably won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in North Lynnwood. Our high-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 usually less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty plan helps protect against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects your entire home in case of a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. With a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new washing machine or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which isn't that common in North Lynnwood.
First-time homebuyers, home sellers, real estate agents, landlords, and homeowners are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different home warranties in North Lynnwood include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan will cover many of your systems and appliances, including your refrigerator, washing machine, and plumbing. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the policy.
Generally, a home warranty policy lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
Typically, the homeowner is the one who pays 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 will pay the service fees. In North Lynnwood, where the median home value is $807,917, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
