Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Owning a home in Walla Walla has tons of great benefits, but there are some downsides. The weather throughout the four seasons can cause problems in a home and lead to wear and tear on systems like your HVAC. A home warranty plan can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by cutting the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important appliances and systems.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be difficult because of the many options available. If you're frustrated with trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the top home warranty providers in Walla Walla.
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
American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty for Walla Walla residents. AHS is a home warranty provider with 26 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Walla Walla homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are close to the $2,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
For more information on this provider, read our detailed review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
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
First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage for Walla Walla residents. First American is a home warranty provider with 39 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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 Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Walla Walla homeowners. The Basic Plan and Premier Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with First American’s plans are close to the $1,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
For more information on this provider, read our detailed review of First American Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164.
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
Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Walla Walla residents. Cinch is a home warranty provider with 44 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Walla Walla homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
For more information on this provider, read our detailed review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505.
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
The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service for Walla Walla residents. HSC is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it 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 offers 2 plans for Walla Walla homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
For more information on this provider, read our detailed review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443.
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 | $6,126 |
Heating | $4,084 |
Electrical | $613 |
Toilets | $510 |
Washer/Dryer | $817 |
Plumbing | $613 |
Oven | $1,633 |
Fridge | $613 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps reduce the high costs for Walla Walla homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to make the repair 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 delivers security for homeowners by helping them avoid expensive emergency repairs. They're particularly useful for those who own older homes or ones with aging systems. Newer builds with functional fixtures probably don’t require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include microwaves, dryers, garbage disposals, washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and more. Protected systems include electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, and heating. Many home warranty plans offer extra coverage for central vacuums, roof leaks, septic systems, and even locksmiths. It's important for Walla Walla homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repair claims will be approved. The majority of policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or improperly using a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should understand key terms like:
There are several important considerations when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans provide coverage for heating, electrical, plumbing, AC, and appliances. More comprehensive options may also provide protection for extra things such as pools, well pumps, roof leaks, and spas. Focus on providers with broad coverage options including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a repair fee that typically ranges between $60 and $100, which gets paid per claim you submit. The costs from multiple fees can add up. You may decide to look for providers with lower service fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles when customers go a period with no claims filed.
A home warranty company's reputation gives you insight into things such as timeliness of repairs, claim approval rates, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research providers. Favorable reviews and ratings indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty providers maintain networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. Bigger networks raise the probability of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Walla Walla to get a sense of how soon your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Certain home warranty providers offer extras such as discounts on maintenance, energy-efficient upgrades, and protection for smart home devices. These bonuses provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks enhance your home and help maximize your home warranty.
Home warranty policies are an affordable way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Walla Walla reaching an average high of 63℃F, you may find that some appliances, like your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can remarkably decrease out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system break down.
Additionally, having a home warranty can save you time by removing the need to research repair people — most providers will send a trusted professional right to your door to carry out the repair or replacement. A home warranty can also have value in other ways. For instance, some policies can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
One of the major drawbacks of a home warranty is not every home system and appliance you care about may be covered. It’s important to weigh the different policies and purchase one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another consideration is that home warranties typically only cover malfunctions due to normal wear and tear. They commonly won’t cover systems or appliances that need repairs or replacements due to improper maintenance, natural disasters, animal infestations, etc.
A home warranty in Walla Walla can cost between $30 and $60 a month. The higher-priced plans tend to have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also lower your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranty plans cover issues 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 kind of plan that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Walla Walla. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system damage.
A home warranty plan can help homeowners, homebuyers, real estate agents, investors, and home sellers. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different types of home warranties in Walla Walla include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers your systems and appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items mentioned in the plan.
Home warranty plans usually last a year. Many companies let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Usually the person who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the one selling the home may buy a home warranty policy and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then have to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Walla Walla is $405,038, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.