Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Homeownership in Merton comes with many positives, but it also comes with its difficulties. Your home’s appliances and systems will inevitably need repairs, and this could mean a burdensome expense. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings account from unexpected 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.
Finding the best protection for your home can be difficult, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the top home warranty companies in Merton. Read on 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 is the best overall home warranty for Merton residents. Choice is a home warranty company with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. The 2 plans from Choice are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps from Choice are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is less than other providers in the Merton area.
For more information on this provider, read our Choice Home Warranty full review. To receive 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
American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty for Merton residents. AHS is a home warranty company with 26 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. The 3 plans from AHS are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps from AHS are about $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is less than other providers in the Merton area.
For more information on this provider, read our American Home Shield full review. To receive 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
Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Merton residents. Cinch is a home warranty company with 44 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. The 3 plans from Cinch are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage caps from Cinch are about $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is less than other providers in the Merton area.
For more information on this provider, read our Cinch Home Services full review. To receive 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
The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service for Merton residents. HSC is a home warranty company with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. The 2 plans from HSC are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps from HSC are about $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is less than other providers in the Merton area.
For more information on this provider, read our The Home Service Club full review. To receive 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 | $6,291 |
| Heating | $4,194 |
| Electrical | $629 |
| Toilets | $524 |
| Washer/Dryer | $839 |
| Plumbing | $629 |
| Oven | $1,678 |
| Fridge | $629 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps lower expenses for Merton homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that stop working due to 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 fix or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance by helping avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is especially helpful for those living in older houses or houses with systems near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and modern appliances might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many home systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as garbage disposals, washers, dryers, microwaves, dishwashers, refrigerators, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and heating. Many home warranty companies also offer add-on coverage for central vacuums, septic systems, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require Merton homeowners to refrain from making claims for 30 days before they can use the policy to pay for repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. To help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to know before signing a contract, such as:
There are several key considerations when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranties have significant variation in what they include. Basic policies typically provide protection for AC, heating, electrical, plumbing, and appliances, while more comprehensive options may also cover spas, well pumps, roof leaks, and pools. Look for a provider that offers comprehensive coverage choices, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific systems and needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-claim costs can add up, so some homeowners prefer using companies with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles after periods where a customer files no claims.
A home warranty company'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 providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair technicians to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential companies to learn the number of repair professionals they have in Merton and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Larger networks raise the chance of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Some home warranty companies include extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, smart home device protection, and maintenance discounts. These can add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Merton’s frigid winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty will cover your home’s appliances and systems if 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 needed repairs, saving you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
Not only does a home warranty give you some financial relief, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks down, the last thing you want to do is find a contractor and schedule a repair. A home warranty deals with the research by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Another good thing about having a home warranty is if you want to sell your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty policy to the new owners. It can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
One of the major drawbacks of home warranties is not every home system and appliance may be covered. It’s important to weigh the different policies and purchase one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another possible pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that haven’t been properly maintained. This can lead to your claims being rejected, so it’s important to be sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Merton can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans typically have a lower service fee, higher coverage limits, and broader coverage. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also decrease your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty plan protects against normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects a home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. Under homeowners insurance, you won't be able to file a claim should you need a new washing machine or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Merton.
A home warranty plan can help homeowners, real estate agents, investors, home sellers, and homebuyers. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different kinds of home warranties in Merton include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover your home systems and appliances, including your washing machine, drier, and heating and cooling systems. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the items mentioned in the policy.
Generally, a home warranty lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
In general, the homeowner is the one who is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought 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 when using the policy. In Merton, where the median home value is $629,169, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
