Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
The cost of maintaining a home in Rice Lake can be costly, especially as your home ages and your systems and appliances need to be updated. A home warranty plan can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important appliances and systems.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be quite a challenge because of the numerous options out there. If you're overwhelmed by trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the top home warranty companies in Rice Lake.
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 Rice Lake, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. With a home warranty from Choice, you can benefit from 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage caps come out to about $3,000 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Choice Home Warranty Review. 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 Rice Lake, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. With a home warranty from AHS, you can benefit from 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,500 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our American Home Shield Review. 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 Rice Lake, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can benefit from 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage caps come out to about $1,000-$2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our Cinch Home Services Review. 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 Rice Lake, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. With a home warranty from HSC, you can benefit from 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our The Home Service Club Review. 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 | $5,788 |
| Heating | $3,858 |
| Electrical | $579 |
| Toilets | $482 |
| Washer/Dryer | $772 |
| Plumbing | $579 |
| Oven | $1,543 |
| Fridge | $579 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Rice Lake homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial protection to repair or replace appliances and systems that break down from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the cost of the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance by helping avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for those living in older houses or houses with systems near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and functioning appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect both your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include garbage disposals, washers, dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, refrigerators, and others. Covered systems include air conditioning, heating, electrical, and plumbing. Many home warranty plans offer additional add-on coverage options for septic systems, locksmiths, central vacuums, and even roof leaks. Rice Lake should understand that most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repair claims will be approved. Most policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before signing a home warranty contract, you should learn key terms like:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several important factors to consider:
Home warranty policies differ significantly in terms of coverage. Most plans provide protection for electrical, AC, heating, plumbing, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer protection for other items such as spas, well pumps, pools, and roof leaks. Look for companies with an assortment of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a repair fee that typically ranges between $60 and $100, which is paid per repair request filed. These per-claim charges can add up. You may decide to look for providers with more affordable fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles for customers who don't file any claims over a certain timespan.
A home warranty company's reputation can provide insight into things such as repair timeliness, contractor quality, approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Browse review platforms such as TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research companies. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a company known for great service.
Home warranty companies use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential providers to ask how many repair technicians they have in Rice Lake and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Bigger networks increase the probability of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Some home warranty companies include perks such as energy efficiency upgrades, reduced maintenance fees, and smart home device coverage. These extras can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses let you enhance your home and get the most from your warranty policy.
Since temperatures in Rice Lake can hit the negatives in the winter, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your heating system. Getting a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances stops working suddenly.
A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours researching and selecting a repair person 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. In addition, though home warranty companies vary, some providers will let you transfer your warranty in the event that you sell your home. This can make your property more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
One downside of signing up for a home warranty is that there are usually exclusions. For example, if you already have a manufacturer's warranty on one of your appliances, it may not be covered under the home warranty, so it’s important to read through any contracts you’re considering carefully to get a sense of what is included and what isn’t.
Plus, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty in Rice Lake can cost between $30 and $60 a month. The higher-priced plans usually have higher coverage limits, a lower service fee, and broader coverage. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also lower your up-front costs when you opt for 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 plan covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects your home in case of a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With homeowners insurance, you won't be able to file a claim should you need a new dryer or air conditioner, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Rice Lake.
A home warranty policy can help home sellers, investors, homeowners, homebuyers, and real estate agents. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different kinds of home warranties in Rice Lake include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers many of your systems and appliances, including your refrigerator, washing machine, and heating and cooling systems. An appliance or system plan will cover only the specific items mentioned in the contract.
Generally, a home warranty lasts for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
Typically, the homeowner is the one who pays 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 will pay the service fees. In Rice Lake, where the median value of a home is $260,902, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
