Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Homeownership in Middleton can be gratifying for many people, but it also comes with its fair share of difficulties. Home repairs can be an unforeseen financial burden for many homeowners. A home warranty policy can help protect homeowners by lowering the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
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 best home warranty companies in Middleton. Keep reading for our top provider 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
In Middleton, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. Choice has been in the home warranty industry for around 15 years. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that provide a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are around the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our comprehensive review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 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 Middleton, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been in the home warranty industry for around 26 years. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that provide a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are around the $2,500 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our comprehensive review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 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 Middleton, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been in the home warranty industry for around 44 years. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that provide a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are around 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.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our comprehensive review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 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 Middleton, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been in the home warranty industry for around 15 years. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that provide a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our comprehensive review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 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 | $6,345 |
| Heating | $4,230 |
| Electrical | $634 |
| Toilets | $529 |
| Washer/Dryer | $846 |
| Plumbing | $634 |
| Oven | $1,692 |
| Fridge | $634 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Middleton homeowners reduce the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty plan gives homeowners peace of mind since it can help avoid costly 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 modern appliances and fixtures may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are washers, dryers, microwaves, refrigerators, garbage disposals, dishwashers, and more. Covered systems are typically electrical, air conditioning, heating, and plumbing. Many home warranty companies offer add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require Middleton homeowners to wait 30 days before the plan will cover repairs. Moreover, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Here are some key home warranty words to learn before signing a contract:
There are several important factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranties have significant variation in what they include. Basic policies typically cover heating, AC, electrical, plumbing, and appliances, while more comprehensive options may also cover spas, pools, roof leaks, and well pumps. Look for a company that offers comprehensive coverage choices, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific systems and needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee, usually falling in the $60 to $100 range, which gets paid per repair request filed. The per-request costs can add up. You may decide to look for providers with more affordable fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some firms 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 provides insights into factors such as contractor expertise, repair speed, claim approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to learn more about providers. Good feedback and ratings suggest a company known for delivering quality service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential companies to ask how many repair technicians they have in Middleton and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Larger networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty providers include perks such as smart home device coverage, energy efficiency upgrades, and reduced maintenance fees. These can offer extra value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses allow you to enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.
Home warranties are an inexpensive way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Middleton hitting an average high of 55℃F, you may find that some appliances, like your air conditioning system, get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably lower out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system break down.
Plus, having a home warranty can save you some time by eliminating the need to research repair people — most providers will send a trusted professional right to your door to complete the repair or replacement. A home warranty can also offer value in other ways. For example, some plans can be transferred to another owner when you sell your home.
One main drawback of home warranties is not every home system and appliance may be covered. It’s important to research the different policies and opt for 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 carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Middleton can cost between $30 and $60 a month. The higher-priced plans tend to have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also lower 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 covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects the entire home in case of a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new washing machine or stove, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Middleton.
First-time homebuyers, real estate agents, home sellers, landlords, and homeowners 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.
A home warranty plan will cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are great if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be helpful if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans usually offer coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually, the homeowner is the one who is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Middleton, where the median home value is $530,523, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
