Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home can have a lot of benefits, but it can also come with some downsides like maintenance. The older your house’s systems and appliances are, the more you may want to consider getting a home warranty. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings account from unexpected home repairs and expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
The home warranty market is filled with a lot of providers — all with different coverage — so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Caledonia.
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
In Caledonia, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. Choice has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. When you purchase a plan from Choice, you will get very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Choice Home Warranty also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice has 2 plans for you to decide between.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners 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.
Read more by visiting our full review of Choice Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Caledonia, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has over 26 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. When you purchase a plan 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. AHS has 3 plans for you to decide between.
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 be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
Read more by visiting our full review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Caledonia, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has over 44 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. When you purchase a plan 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. 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. 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.
Read more by visiting our full review of Cinch Home Services. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Caledonia, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a a skilled network of service professionals nationwide. When you purchase a plan 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. HSC has 2 plans for you to decide between.
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 be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
Read more by visiting our full review of The Home Service Club. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $6,091 |
| Heating | $4,060 |
| Electrical | $609 |
| Toilets | $508 |
| Washer/Dryer | $812 |
| Plumbing | $609 |
| Oven | $1,624 |
| Fridge | $609 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Caledonia homeowners lower the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial protection to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs go over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance, as it helps avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, people with newer homes and modern appliances might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include garbage disposals, refrigerators, dryers, washers, dishwashers, microwaves, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and electrical. Many home warranties also offer add-on coverage options for central vacuums, locksmiths, septic systems, and even roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require Caledonia homeowners to wait 30 days before the plan will cover repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. To help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should know key terms like:
There are several key considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty policies differ significantly in terms of coverage. Most plans provide protection for electrical, heating, plumbing, AC, and appliances. More robust plans also offer protection for other items such as spas, well pumps, roof leaks, and pools. Look for companies with a diverse range of coverage options, including upgraded plans. This allows you to tailor protection to 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 fees to accumulate quickly with each claim, so you may seek out providers advertising lower service fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may waive deductibles after a customer goes a period of time with no claims filed.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insight into things such as contractor quality, repair timeliness, approval rates, and customer service. Check review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research companies. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a company known for great service.
Home warranty providers keep networks of local professionals to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to learn how many repair contractors they have in Caledonia and get an idea for how quickly your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. Bigger networks increase the probability of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty plans provide extras such as smart home device protection, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Caledonia’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 stops working in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the repairs, preventing you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
As well as saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can provide you peace of mind and save you the headache of trying to find a qualified contractor to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted technicians who can handle any repair issues you may experience. A home warranty can also give value in other ways. For instance, some plans can be transferred to another owner during a home sale.
Home warranties also have some downsides. Though it can be convenient that the home warranty sends out a repair person who carries out the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they may want to select their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty companies allow you to select a contractor.
Another consideration is that home warranties typically only cover damage from normal wear and tear. They commonly won’t cover home systems or appliances that have stopped working due to improper maintenance, animal infestations, natural disasters, etc.
A home warranty in Caledonia can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans typically have broader coverage, higher coverage limits, and a lower service fee. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also lower your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranty policies 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 larger insurance that protects your entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Caledonia. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system damage.
A home warranty plan can help home sellers, real estate agents, homebuyers, investors, and homeowners. It can provide 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 want to save some money.
Home warranty plans typically provide coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Typically, the person who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the person who is selling the home may purchase a home warranty plan 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 Caledonia is $332,187, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
