Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home in Fitchburg has tons of great benefits, but there are some downsides. Cold weather and snow can cause problems in a home and lead to wear and tear on systems like your HVAC. A home warranty in Fitchburg can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be time-consuming, as there are lots of companies to decide between. That’s why our team at Today's Homeowner did the research and made a list of the top home warranty companies in Fitchburg 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 for Fitchburg residents. Choice offers very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Plus, it also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Choice Home Warranty full review.
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 for Fitchburg residents. 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. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are close to the $2,500 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For a more detailed breakdown, read our American Home Shield full review.
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 for Fitchburg residents. 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. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Cinch Home Services full review.
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 Fitchburg residents. 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. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For a more detailed breakdown, read our The Home Service Club full review.
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 | $6,349 |
| Heating | $4,232 |
| Electrical | $635 |
| Toilets | $529 |
| Washer/Dryer | $846 |
| Plumbing | $635 |
| Oven | $1,693 |
| Fridge | $635 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Fitchburg homeowners in lowering the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to replace or repair appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to handle the replacement or fix. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty plan gives homeowners a sense of security because it can help avoid expensive emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for people purchasing older homes or homes with systems near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with appliances and fixtures in good condition may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Covered appliances normally include refrigerators, garbage disposals, microwaves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and electrical. Many home warranty companies also provide add-on coverage for roof leaks, central vacuums, septic systems, and locksmiths. It's important for Fitchburg homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. The majority of policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before signing a home warranty contract, you should understand key terms like:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranties have significant variation in what they include. Basic policies typically provide protection for plumbing, electrical, AC, heating, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover well pumps, roof leaks, spas, and pools. Look for companies with an array of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your home’s needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee that can range from $60 to $100, which gets paid per service call made. The per-request costs 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 if a homeowner doesn't submit claims for repairs for a specified period of time.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research companies. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for quality service.
Home warranty companies maintain networks of professionals to handle covered repairs. More extensive networks improve the probability of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Fitchburg to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Some home warranty providers include bonuses such as smart home device protection, energy efficiency upgrades, and maintenance discounts. These add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses can 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 Fitchburg reaching an average high of 55℃F, you may find that certain appliances, such as your air conditioning system, get a lot of use. A home warranty can significantly bring down out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system break down.
Not only can a home warranty save you money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time too. Instead of needing to vet service technicians on your own, home warranty providers do the work for you and send pre-screened technicians right to your door when you need them. Plus, though home warranty companies vary, some providers will allow you to transfer your warranty if you sell your home. This can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and maybe even help your home sell faster.
As for the disadvantages of home warranties, coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to read what each plan covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Another drawback is that home warranties may not include some repairs, like those due to natural disasters. For example, if your HVAC system is damaged from an animal infestation, the impacted systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Fitchburg. Our top-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can decrease your monthly bill with some companies by opting for a higher service fee. Additionally, it's usually less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranties cover problems with home systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different plan that protects your entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Fitchburg. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system breakage.
First-time homebuyers, homeowners, home sellers, real estate agents, and landlords can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different home warranties in Fitchburg include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover many of your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items mentioned in the policy.
Home warranty plans usually provide coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Typically, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Fitchburg, where the median home value is $453,389, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
