Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
With cold winters in Oregon, your home systems can experience 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 is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected home repairs and expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be significantly lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
The home warranty market is saturated with a lot of providers — all with different offerings — so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Oregon.
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 Oregon residents. Choice has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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, Choice is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it 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. Choice has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are an affordable $85.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting our 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 is the most customizable home warranty for Oregon residents. AHS has over 26 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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, AHS is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it 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. AHS has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting our 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 is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Oregon residents. Cinch has over 44 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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, Cinch is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it 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. Cinch has coverage caps of around $1,000-$2,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting our 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 is the best home warranty with the quickest service for Oregon residents. HSC has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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, HSC is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it 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. HSC has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting our 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 | $6,049 |
| Heating | $4,033 |
| Electrical | $605 |
| Toilets | $504 |
| Washer/Dryer | $807 |
| Plumbing | $605 |
| Oven | $1,613 |
| Fridge | $605 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Oregon homeowners lower the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to handle the repair or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind to homeowners because it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are the most useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, washers, refrigerators, garbage disposals, and more. Included systems are normally air conditioning, plumbing, heating, and electrical. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, roof leaks, central vacuums, and locksmiths. Oregon homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or improperly using a system or appliance. Remember to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some key home warranty terms to know before signing a contract:
There are several key factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranties differ greatly in the items covered. Basic plans typically cover electrical, plumbing, AC, heating, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover roof leaks, spas, pools, and well pumps. Look for a provider that offers an extensive selection of coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific 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, some homeowners prefer to choose a company with more affordable fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some providers also do away with deductibles when customers have a claim-free period.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insights into factors such as claim approval rates, repair speed, contractor expertise, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to learn more about companies. Favorable reviews and ratings suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair technicians to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential providers to ask how many repair professionals they have in Oregon and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Larger networks raise the chance of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Home warranty companies might include perks such as energy efficiency upgrades, coverage for smart home devices, and maintenance discounts. These extras add value beyond repair coverage. Additional perks help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Oregon’s cold 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 fails in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the necessary repairs, saving you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
Not only can a home warranty save you some money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of having to vet 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, 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 policy to a new owner and give them the protection you’ve been benefiting from.
As for the downsides of home warranties, coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to review what each plan covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Another consideration is that home warranties usually only cover repairs needed due to normal wear and tear. They commonly won’t cover systems or appliances that have been damaged due to improper maintenance, animal infestations, natural disasters, etc.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Oregon. 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 kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty plan covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects a home in case of something such as a fire or natural disaster. With homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new washing machine or air conditioner, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Oregon.
A home warranty policy can help homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, investors, and home sellers. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty plan will cover your home’s systems, appliances, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you need more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be a good idea if you want to save some money.
Generally, a home warranty lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some companies may offer month-to-month options.
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 given to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Oregon, where the median value of a home is $426,440, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
