Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
With frigid winters, maintaining your home appliances and systems, particularly your HVAC, is very important for homeowners in Elkhorn. A home warranty can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be difficult, since there are dozens of companies to choose from. That’s why the Today's Homeowner team did the research and put together a list of the top home warranty companies in Elkhorn for you.
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 is the best overall home warranty in Elkhorn. Choice has been on the market for over 15 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage limits from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Elkhorn area.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting our review of Choice Home Warranty.
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 is the most customizable home warranty in Elkhorn. AHS has been on the market for over 26 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 AHS are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield 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 cheaper than other providers in the Elkhorn area.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting our review of American Home Shield.
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 is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Elkhorn. Cinch has been on the market for over 44 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The 3 plans from Cinch Home Services 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 cheaper than other providers in the Elkhorn area.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting our review of Cinch Home Services.
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 in Elkhorn. HSC has been on the market for over 15 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. 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 HSC are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club 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 cheaper than other providers in the Elkhorn area.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting our review of The Home Service Club.
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 | $5,972 |
| Heating | $3,982 |
| Electrical | $597 |
| Toilets | $498 |
| Washer/Dryer | $796 |
| Plumbing | $597 |
| Oven | $1,593 |
| Fridge | $597 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Elkhorn homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file 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 cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty policy gives homeowners a sense of security and can help avoid expensive emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for people purchasing older homes or homes with appliances near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with modern appliances and fixtures may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as refrigerators, garbage disposals, dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, washers, and others. Covered systems include electrical, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing. Many home warranty companies also offer additional coverage for central vacuums, septic systems, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Elkhorn homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should understand key terms like:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranties vary widely in terms of included coverage. Basic plans typically provide protection for electrical, plumbing, heating, AC, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover spas, roof leaks, well pumps, and pools. Look for a company that offers an extensive selection of coverage options, including upgraded plans. Flexibility is important when trying to fit a home warranty to your home's specific needs.
You'll pay a standard service fee of around $60 to $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 more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may waive deductibles when a homeowner submits no claims in a defined period.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insights into factors such as contractor expertise, repair speed, claim approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Check review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to learn more about companies. Good ratings and feedback suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty companies have networks of contractors that they use to tackle covered repairs. Larger networks increase the likelihood of getting skilled contractors to your home swiftly. Contact possible providers to find out how many contractors they have in Elkhorn. This helps you understand how long repairs could take in an urgent situation.
Some home warranty companies may include perks such as reduced maintenance fees, smart home device coverage, and energy efficiency upgrades. These extras can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses help you enhance your home and get the most from your warranty policy.
Home warranty policies are a great way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Elkhorn reaching an average high of 55℃F, you may find that certain appliances, like your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can remarkably decrease out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system stop working.
On top of saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can offer you peace of mind and save you the headache of trying to find a qualified technician to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted contractors who can handle any repair problems you may come across. A home warranty can also have value in other ways. For instance, some plans can be transferred to another owner during a home sale.
Home warranties also have some drawbacks. Although it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a contractor who handles the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would prefer to select their own contractor. If that’s the case for you, some home warranty providers allow you to select a contractor.
In addition, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything other than normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Elkhorn. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can lower your monthly bill with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, 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 covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects your entire home in case of something such as a natural disaster or fire. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new refrigerator or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Elkhorn.
A home warranty plan can help homebuyers, real estate agents, investors, home sellers, and homeowners. It can provide peace of mind and savings 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 useful if you want to save some money.
Generally, a home warranty plan lasts for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
Typically, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Elkhorn, where the median home value is $311,249, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
