Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home in Oconomowoc 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 is a way to protect your savings account from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be significantly lower and give you some peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be overwhelming, as there are dozens 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 Oconomowoc 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 Oconomowoc residents. Choice has around 15 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an network of service professionals in the country. With a home warranty from Choice, you can enjoy very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The 2 plans from Choice are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Oconomowoc area.
To read more, visit our review of Choice Home Warranty. To get 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
American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty for Oconomowoc residents. AHS has around 26 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an network of service professionals in the country. With a home warranty from AHS, you can enjoy the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 plans from AHS are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. 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 Oconomowoc area.
To read more, visit our review of American Home Shield. To get 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
Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Oconomowoc residents. Cinch has around 44 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an network of service professionals in the country. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can enjoy a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The 3 plans from Cinch are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. 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 Oconomowoc area.
To read more, visit our review of Cinch Home Services. To get 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
The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service for Oconomowoc residents. HSC has around 15 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an network of service professionals in the country. With a home warranty from HSC, you can enjoy quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it 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 easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. 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 Oconomowoc area.
To read more, visit our review of The Home Service Club. To get 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 | $6,185 |
| Heating | $4,123 |
| Electrical | $618 |
| Toilets | $515 |
| Washer/Dryer | $825 |
| Plumbing | $618 |
| Oven | $1,649 |
| Fridge | $618 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Oconomowoc homeowners reduce the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial protection to repair or replace appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to make the fix or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs go over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty plan gives homeowners peace of mind since 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 typically include washers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, and others. Covered systems include plumbing, heating, electrical, and air conditioning. Many home warranty companies also offer add-on coverage for locksmiths, central vacuums, roof leaks, and septic systems. Most home warranty plans require Oconomowoc homeowners to wait 30 days before the plan will cover repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. To help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
There are several home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
There are several key considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty plans differ significantly in terms of coverage. Most plans provide protection for plumbing, heating, AC, electrical, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer protection for other items such as pools, spas, well pumps, and roof leaks. Look for companies with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This allows you to tailor protection to your 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 lower service fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain companies may eliminate deductibles after a customer goes a period of time with no claims filed.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, contractor quality, speed of repairs, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research providers. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for quality service.
Home warranty companies keep networks of contractors to handle covered repairs. More extensive networks raise the probability of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Oconomowoc to get a sense of how soon your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Some home warranty providers offer bonuses such as maintenance discounts, smart home device protection, and energy efficiency upgrades. These can add value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Since temperatures in Oconomowoc can hit the negatives in the winter, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your heating system. Buying a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down suddenly.
A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours researching and choosing a contractor to fix your appliance or system, home warranty companies do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. Additionally, having a home warranty can help make your house more appealing to potential homebuyers if you ever decide to sell in the future. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been receiving.
There are also some drawbacks to purchasing a home warranty plan, like the coverage exclusions. For instance, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that already have a manufacturer's warranty.
Additionally, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs or replacements due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Oconomowoc. Our high-rated home warranty providers' 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. 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 covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects your entire home in case of something such as a fire or natural disaster. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new washing machine or air conditioner, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Oconomowoc.
A home warranty policy can help homeowners, home sellers, real estate agents, investors, and homebuyers. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different kinds of home warranties in Oconomowoc include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers many of your systems and appliances, including your washing machine, drier, and HVAC. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items mentioned in the policy.
Home warranty plans generally last a year. Many companies let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually the one who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller 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. Considering that the average home value in Oconomowoc is $437,705, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
