Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Buying a home is a big step for many people, but maintaining it can be costly over time, especially if your home in Portage is on the older side. A home warranty in Portage can help lower your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
The home warranty market is saturated with many providers — all with different offerings — so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the best home warranty companies in Portage.
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 Portage, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. Choice has been in the home warranty business for about 15 years. 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. Choice offers 2 plans for you to choose from.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Portage homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. For more information, read our detailed 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
In Portage, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been in the home warranty business for about 26 years. 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. AHS offers 3 plans for you to choose from.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Portage homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are close to the $2,500 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For more information, read our detailed 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
In Portage, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been in the home warranty business for about 44 years. 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. Cinch offers 3 plans for you to choose from.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Portage homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For more information, read our detailed 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
In Portage, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been in the home warranty business for about 15 years. 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. HSC offers 2 plans for you to choose from.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Portage homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For more information, read our detailed 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 | $5,911 |
| Heating | $3,941 |
| Electrical | $591 |
| Toilets | $493 |
| Washer/Dryer | $788 |
| Plumbing | $591 |
| Oven | $1,576 |
| Fridge | $591 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Portage homeowners in reducing the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial coverage to replace or fix 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 replacement or repair. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives reassurance to homeowners, as it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for older construction homes with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include washers, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, refrigerators, garbage disposals, and more. Covered systems are typically plumbing, heating, electrical, and air conditioning. Many home warranty companies provide add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Portage homeowners should know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day waiting period before they will cover the cost of any repairs. Additionally, most policies 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 damage caused by improperly using a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure that your next repair or replacement will be covered by your policy.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should know key terms like:
There are several important considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans cover plumbing, heating, AC, electrical, and appliances. More comprehensive options may also include other things such as well pumps, spas, roof leaks, and pools. Focus on providers with wide-ranging coverage selections including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize your plan to meet your 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 providers with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles when a homeowner goes a defined period without any repair requests.
A home warranty provider's rating gives insight into things such as timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, claim approval rates, and overall customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research companies. Complimentary reviews and ratings indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty businesses keep networks of local technicians to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to find out how many repair contractors they have in Portage and get an idea for how fast your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. Wider networks raise the probability of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Some home warranty companies include perks such as energy efficiency upgrades, smart home device coverage, and reduced maintenance fees. These extras can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses allow you to enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.
Temperatures in Portage can drop to the negatives in the winter, which means your heating system is likely to get a decent amount of use. As a homeowner in Portage, one benefit of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they have to be repaired or replaced.
In addition, having a home warranty can save you some time by getting rid of the need to research contractors — most providers will send a trusted professional right to your door to complete the repair or replacement. A home warranty can also provide value in other ways. For instance, some plans can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
There are also some downsides to purchasing a home warranty plan, like the coverage exclusions. For instance, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that are already covered under a manufacturer's warranty.
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 in Portage can cost between $30 and $60 a month. Higher-priced plans tend to have broader coverage, a lower service fee, and higher coverage limits. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also decrease your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranty plans cover problems related to systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different insurance that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Portage. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system breakage.
Homebuyers, homeowners, landlords, real estate agents, and home sellers can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty will cover your systems, appliances, 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 one who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the person who is selling the home may purchase a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then be responsible for the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Portage is $249,047, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
