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 Allouez can be costly, particularly as your home ages and your appliances and systems need to be repaired or replaced. A home warranty in Allouez can help bring down your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear.
Finding the best warranty for your home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the top home warranty companies in Allouez. Keep reading for our recommendations.
Over 10 years of experience
24/7 customer service team
Home inspections aren’t required
90-day repair guarantee
Plans aren’t customizable
Customers can’t choose their own contractor
Not available in washington
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty for Allouez residents. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders, which have various system and appliance coverage options. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are an affordable $85.
For more information, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.
Basic Plan
Total Plan
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 offers the most customizable home warranty for Allouez residents. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various system and appliance coverage options. 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 3 plans from American Home Shield 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 be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
For more information, read our review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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 offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Allouez residents. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various system and appliance coverage options. 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 3 plans from Cinch Home Services 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 be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
For more information, read our review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can 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 offers the best home warranty with the quickest service for Allouez residents. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders, which have various system and appliance coverage options. 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 2 plans from The Home Service Club 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 be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
For more information, read our review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can 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 | $5,865 |
| Heating | $3,910 |
| Electrical | $586 |
| Toilets | $489 |
| Washer/Dryer | $782 |
| Plumbing | $586 |
| Oven | $1,564 |
| Fridge | $586 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Allouez homeowners in reducing the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to replace or repair appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
When something stops working, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to handle the replacement or repair. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs go over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives reassurance to homeowners, as it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are the most useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances include garbage disposals, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, washers, refrigerators, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, electrical, heating, and plumbing. Many home warranty plans offer additional coverage for central vacuums, roof leaks, septic systems, and even locksmiths. Allouez 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 due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover things like pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or improper use of a system or appliance. You need to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by your policy.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to learn before signing, such as:
There are several key factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty policies differ significantly in terms of coverage. Most plans provide protection for plumbing, AC, heating, electrical, and appliances. More robust plans also include coverage for other items such as roof leaks, pools, well pumps, and spas. Focus on companies with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for your needs.
You'll pay a service fee, typically $60–100, 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 providers may eliminate deductibles after a customer goes a period of time with no claims filed.
A home warranty provider's reputation can give you insight into things such as repair timeliness, contractor quality, approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Check review platforms such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research providers. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a provider known for exceptional service.
Home warranty providers maintain networks of local professionals to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to find out how many repair contractors they have in Allouez and get an idea for how quickly your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. Larger networks improve the chances of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Some home warranty providers may include perks such as smart home device coverage, energy efficiency upgrades, and reduced maintenance fees. These can provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses allow you to enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.
Allouez’s frigid winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can help cover your home’s appliances and systems in the event they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner fails 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 can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and selecting 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. Additionally, though home warranty companies vary, some providers will let you transfer your warranty in the event that you sell your home. This can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and maybe even help your home sell faster.
Home warranties also have some drawbacks. Although it can be convenient that the home warranty sends out a contractor who carries out the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would prefer to select their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty companies allow you to choose a contractor.
Another pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your claims being rejected, so it’s important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Allouez can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans typically have higher coverage limits, a lower service fee, and broader coverage. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also lower your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty covers normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects the entire home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new dryer or stove, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Allouez.
First-time homebuyers, home sellers, real estate agents, homeowners, and landlords can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty plan will cover your 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 want to save some money.
Home warranty plans usually last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Generally, the homeowner is the one who is responsible for paying 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 has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Allouez, where the median value of a home is $279,940, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
