4 Best Home Warranty Companies in Stevens Point, WI

How Does a Home Warranty Work?

A home warranty is a protection plan that helps reduce the high costs for Stevens Point homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working due to 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 fix 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 plan gives homeowners a sense of security and 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 modern appliances and fixtures may not need a home warranty.

What Does a Home Warranty Cover?

Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Covered appliances normally include refrigerators, microwaves, garbage disposals, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and heating. Many home warranty companies also offer additional coverage for central vacuums, locksmiths, roof leaks, and septic systems. It's important for Stevens Point homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repair claims will be approved. The majority of policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.

Key Home Warranty Terms to Know

Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to understand before signing a contract, such as:

• Claim approval: The process by which your provider determines whether a requested repair or replacement is covered under your warranty.
• Trade call fee: An additional fee that some companies charge for appliance-related claims.
• Contract rate: The rate that your home warranty provider has pre-negotiated with its contractors. Normally, this rate is lower than what you'd pay retail.
• Service fee: The amount you pay our of pocket per claim for access to a contractor and repair coverage.
• Deductible: How much you pay for a covered repair before your warranty covers the rest. Deductibles can be per-claim or yearly.
• Coverage limits: The maximum dollar amount that your warranty provider will pay for certain repairs or replacements. Check your contract's limits on repairs for things like appliances, roof leaks, and air conditioning units.
• Endorsements: Optional add-ons that expand coverage for additional systems like septic, well pumps, pools, and more. Endorsements typically cost an additional fee.

Keeping these terms and key points in mind will help you understand home warranty contracts and pricing, so you can pick the right plan and protect your most important home systems. Make sure to discuss coverage details with potential companies when getting a quote, so you can avoid surprise fees.

Key Factors in Choosing a Home Warranty Company

There are several important factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:

Coverage Options

Home warranty coverage can have major differences in what's included. Most plans cover heating, plumbing, AC, electrical, and appliances. More robust coverage options also offer coverage on other items such as spas, roof leaks, pools, and well pumps. Look for companies with a range of coverage choices, such as upgraded plans. You'll want to tailor your protection for your home’s needs.

Service Fees

You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These fees to accumulate quickly with each claim, so you may look for companies advertising lower service fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may waive deductibles if homeowners don't submit any claims within a set period of time.

Reputation

A home warranty provider's rating gives you insight into things such as contractor quality, timeliness of repairs, claim approval rates, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research companies. Favorable reviews and ratings indicate a provider known for stellar service.

Contractor Network

Home warranty providers have networks of local contractors to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to ask how many repair technicians they have in Stevens Point and get an idea for how fast your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. Wider networks increase the chances of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.

Added Benefits

Some home warranty providers include extras such as maintenance discounts, energy efficiency upgrades, and smart home device protection. These can add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.

Is a Home Warranty Worth it in Stevens Point?

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Benefits of a Home Warranty

Temperatures in Stevens Point can drop to the negatives in the winter, which means your heating system is most likely going to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Stevens Point, one of the benefits of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered if they need to be repaired or replaced.

Not only does a home warranty give you some savings, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks, the last thing you want to do is find a repair person and schedule a repair. A home warranty deals with this process by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. A home warranty can also offer value in other ways. For example, some policies can be transferred to another owner when you sell your home.

Downsides of a Home Warranty

One of the main drawbacks of a home warranty is not everything you care about may be covered. It’s important to weigh the different plans and choose one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.

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 besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.