Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
As much as you may enjoy homeownership in Racine, there's always that concern about whether your appliances and systems are going to hold up during the next few years. A home warranty in Racine can help bring down your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be overwhelming, since there are lots of companies to choose from. That’s why the Today's Homeowner team did the research and made a list of the top home warranty companies in Racine 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
In Racine, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Racine 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 many major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit our Choice Home Warranty Review.
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 Racine, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Racine 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 many major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit our American Home Shield Review.
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 Racine, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Racine 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 many major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit our Cinch Home Services Review.
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 Racine, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has established itself as a company with quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. It also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Racine 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 many major systems and appliances, and 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. To read more, visit our The Home Service Club Review.
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 | $6,079 |
| Heating | $4,053 |
| Electrical | $608 |
| Toilets | $507 |
| Washer/Dryer | $811 |
| Plumbing | $608 |
| Oven | $1,621 |
| Fridge | $608 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Racine homeowners lower the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to make the repair 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 policy gives homeowners a sense of security since it can help avoid costly emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for buyers of 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. Common covered appliances include dishwashers, washers, refrigerators, dryers, garbage disposals, microwaves, and others. Covered systems include plumbing, air conditioning, heating, and electrical. Many home warranty plans offer add-on coverage for roof leaks, central vacuums, septic systems, and even locksmiths. Racine 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 address repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some key home warranty words to understand before signing a contract:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several important factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage can have major differences in what's included. Most plans include protection for electrical, plumbing, heating, AC, and appliances. More comprehensive plans also offer coverage on other items such as roof leaks, well pumps, spas, and pools. Focus on companies with wide-ranging coverage selections including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize protection for your 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 lower service fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some providers also do away with deductibles if a customer goes a period of time without filing any claims.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insights into factors such as claim approval rates, contractor expertise, repair speed, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to learn more about providers. Good feedback and ratings suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty businesses have networks of local professionals to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to learn how many repair professionals they have in Racine and get an idea for how fast your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. Larger networks increase the probability of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Some home warranty plans provide bonuses such as smart home device protection, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These can add value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Since temperatures in Racine can hit the negatives in the winter, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your heating system. Buying a home warranty plan can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down all of a sudden.
On top of saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can give you peace of mind and save you the headache of trying to find a qualified contractor to visit your home. Home warranties usually come with a network of pre-vetted contractors who can handle any repair issues you may come across. Another benefit of having a home warranty is when you’re selling your home, you can most likely transfer your home warranty policy to the new owners. It can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and may help your home sell faster.
Home warranties also have some drawbacks. While it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a repair person who handles the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they may want to choose their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty providers allow you to select a contractor.
Another potential pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that haven’t been properly maintained. This can lead to your repair requests being denied, so it’s important to be sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Racine. Our top-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can lower your monthly bill with some companies by opting for a higher service fee. Additionally, it's typically less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty plan covers normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. A homeowners insurance plan protects your home in case of a situation 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 dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Racine.
First-time homebuyers, homeowners, landlords, real estate agents, and home sellers are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty policy 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 useful if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans usually provide coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Typically, 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 is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Racine, where the median value of a home is $176,521, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
