Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Being a homeowner in Salem Lakes is an excellent option for those who love nature and quiet neighborhoods. However, as great as Salem Lakes is, homeownership always comes with its fair share of headaches, such as trying to pay for your appliance and system repairs yourself. A home warranty is a way to protect your bank 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 time-consuming, as there are so many companies to decide between. That’s why our team at Today's Homeowner did the research and made a list of the best home warranty companies in Salem Lakes 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 Salem Lakes, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has been in business for over 15 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. 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. The 2 plans from Choice are comprehensive and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Salem Lakes homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage limits from Choice are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is lower than other providers in the Salem Lakes area.
To read more, visit our review of Choice Home Warranty. 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 Salem Lakes, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been in business for over 26 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. 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. The 3 plans from AHS are comprehensive and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Salem Lakes homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage limits from AHS are about $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is lower than other providers in the Salem Lakes area.
To read more, visit our review of American Home Shield. 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 Salem Lakes, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been in business for over 44 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. 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. The 3 plans from Cinch are comprehensive and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Salem Lakes 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 limits from Cinch are about $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is lower than other providers in the Salem Lakes area.
To read more, visit our review of Cinch Home Services. 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 Salem Lakes, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been in business for over 15 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. 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. The 2 plans from HSC are comprehensive and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Salem Lakes 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 limits from HSC are about $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is lower than other providers in the Salem Lakes area.
To read more, visit our review of The Home Service Club. 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 | $6,165 |
| Heating | $4,110 |
| Electrical | $616 |
| Toilets | $514 |
| Washer/Dryer | $822 |
| Plumbing | $616 |
| Oven | $1,644 |
| Fridge | $616 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Salem Lakes homeowners cut the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that stop working 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 fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners peace of mind by helping avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is especially helpful for those living in older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and working appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are dishwashers, washers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dryers, microwaves, and more. Included systems are typically air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and heating. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, locksmiths, central vacuums, and roof leaks. Salem Lakes homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only address repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. Remember to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are a number of home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several important factors to consider:
Home warranties vary widely in terms of included coverage. Basic plans typically include electrical, heating, AC, plumbing, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover well pumps, roof leaks, pools, and spas. Look for providers with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This allows you to tailor protection to your home's needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee that can range from $60 to $100, which is paid per service call made. The per-request costs can add up. You may decide to look for companies with lower service fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles if a homeowner doesn't submit claims for repairs for a specified period of time.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as contractor quality, approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research companies. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for quality service.
Home warranty businesses keep networks of local professionals to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to find out how many repair professionals they have in Salem Lakes 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 promptly service your home.
Home warranty companies might include perks such as maintenance discounts, coverage for smart home devices, and energy efficiency upgrades. These add value beyond repair coverage. Additional perks can maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Since temperatures in Salem Lakes can be quite cold in the winter, the weather can put a lot of strain on your HVAC system. Getting a home warranty plan can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks all of a sudden.
On top of saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can offer you peace of mind and save you the pain of trying to find a qualified repair person to visit your home. Home warranties usually come with a network of pre-vetted technicians who can handle any repair issues you may have. Additionally, having a home warranty can make your house more appealing to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your plan to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been getting.
Home warranties also have some drawbacks. While it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a contractor who handles the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they would rather choose their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty plans let you choose a contractor.
Another consideration is that home warranties usually only cover repairs needed due to normal wear and tear. They often won’t cover systems or appliances that need repairs or replacements due to animal infestations, natural disasters, improper maintenance, etc.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Salem Lakes. Our top-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. Additionally, it's usually cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranties cover issues with home systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different plan that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Salem Lakes. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
First-time homebuyers, landlords, homeowners, home sellers, and real estate agents are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different types of home warranties in Salem Lakes include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan will cover your systems and appliances, such as your refrigerator, washing machine, and plumbing. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the items mentioned in the contract.
Home warranty plans typically offer coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Generally, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees when using the policy. In Salem Lakes, where the median value of a home is $392,580, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
