Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
With a variety of seasons in Greendale, your home systems can go through quite a bit of wear and tear. There’s nothing worse than having your heater go out in the middle of winter. A home warranty policy can help protect you by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
Choosing the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the numerous options available. If you're frustrated with trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the best home warranty companies in Greendale.
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 Greendale residents. 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 home warranty plans that Choice offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Greendale area.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. For a more detailed breakdown, read our full 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 offers the most customizable home warranty for Greendale residents. 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 home warranty plans that AHS offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps 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 Greendale area.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. For a more detailed breakdown, read our full 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 offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Greendale residents. 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 home warranty plans that Cinch offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage caps 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 Greendale area.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. For a more detailed breakdown, read our full 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 offers the best home warranty with the quickest service for Greendale residents. 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 home warranty plans that HSC offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps 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 Greendale area.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443. For a more detailed breakdown, read our full 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 | $6,363 |
| Heating | $4,242 |
| Electrical | $636 |
| Toilets | $530 |
| Washer/Dryer | $848 |
| Plumbing | $636 |
| Oven | $1,697 |
| Fridge | $636 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Greendale homeowners reduce the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance by helping avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with systems near the end of their life span. However, people with newer homes and functioning appliances may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties protect many household systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, garbage disposals, washers, and others. Protected systems include plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, and heating. Various home warranty plans offer additional coverage for central vacuums, septic systems, roof leaks, and even locksmiths. Greendale homeowners should know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day period you must wait before they can be used to cover repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover things like cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or improper use of a system or appliance. You need to keep up with preventative maintenance to ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by your policy.
There are several home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty policies vary widely in what they include. Most plans provide protection for plumbing, AC, heating, electrical, and appliances. More robust plans also include coverage for other items such as well pumps, roof leaks, pools, and spas. Look for companies with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This allows you to tailor protection to your home's needs.
Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. With these per-request costs adding up over time as you file claims, you may want to choose a provider with more affordable fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some companies also remove deductibles if a customer goes a period of time without filing any claims.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as speed of repairs, contractor quality, approval rates for claims, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research companies. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers maintain networks of local professionals to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to ask how many repair technicians they have in Greendale and get an idea for how fast your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. Bigger networks improve the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Home warranty providers often include extras such as coverage for smart home devices, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These can add value beyond repair coverage. Added perks help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Greendale’s frigid winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can cover your home’s appliances and systems if they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the needed repairs, saving you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and selecting a contractor 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. Plus, having a home warranty can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers if you ever decide to sell in the future. Many home warranty companies will allow you to transfer your plan to a new owner and give them the protection you’ve been benefiting from.
Home warranties also have some cons. Although it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a contractor who does the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would prefer to choose a contractor themselves. If that’s important to you, some home warranty companies allow you to choose a contractor.
Also, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they were damaged 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 Greendale. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's typically cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty plan helps protect against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects a home in a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. With a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new refrigerator or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Greendale.
Homebuyers, landlords, real estate agents, home sellers, and homeowners can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different home warranties in Greendale include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan will cover your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and plumbing. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items mentioned in the plan.
Home warranty plans typically offer coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Typically, the homeowner is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the one selling the home may buy a home warranty and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Since the average home value in Greendale is $350,156, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
