Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
Homeownership in Sussex has lots of perks, but it also comes with worries and concerns. Your home’s appliances and systems will eventually need repairs, and this could mean a burdensome expense. A home warranty in Sussex can help bring down your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
The home warranty market has a variety of providers — all with different coverage — so the Today's Homeowner team has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Sussex.
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
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty for Sussex residents. Choice has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The 2 plans from Choice are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage. 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 Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Choice are an affordable $85. The coverage caps are also generally around $3,000.
To read more, visit our detailed review of Choice Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty for Sussex residents. AHS has more than 26 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The 3 plans from AHS are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage. 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.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that offer a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also generally around $2,500.
To read more, visit our detailed review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Sussex residents. Cinch has more than 44 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The 3 plans from Cinch are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage. 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 Home Services has 3 plans that offer a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also generally around $1,000-$2,000.
To read more, visit our detailed review of Cinch Home Services. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service for Sussex residents. HSC has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The 2 plans from HSC are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage. 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.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that offer a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also generally around $2,000.
To read more, visit our detailed review of The Home Service Club. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $6,343 |
| Heating | $4,228 |
| Electrical | $634 |
| Toilets | $529 |
| Washer/Dryer | $846 |
| Plumbing | $634 |
| Oven | $1,691 |
| Fridge | $634 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Sussex homeowners in reducing the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to replace or repair 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 arranges a contractor to handle the replacement or repair. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance, as it helps avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for owners of older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, people with newer homes and modern appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are dryers, washers, refrigerators, garbage disposals, dishwashers, microwaves, and more. Covered systems are typically heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and roof leaks. It's important for Sussex homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repairs are covered. The majority of policies also only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to learn before signing, such as:
There are several important considerations when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage differs significantly when it comes to what's covered. Most plans include protection for AC, plumbing, heating, electrical, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer coverage on other items such as spas, pools, roof leaks, and well pumps. Look for a provider that offers an extensive selection of coverage options, including upgraded plans. Flexibility is important when trying to fit a home warranty to your home's specific systems and needs.
You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These per-claim charges can quickly add up, so you may look for companies advertising lower service fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain companies may waive deductibles when a homeowner submits no claims in a defined period.
A home warranty company's track record gives you insight into things such as timeliness of repairs, claim approval rates, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research providers. Complimentary reviews and ratings indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty providers have networks of contractors that they use to tackle covered repairs. More extensive networks raise the probability of getting qualified contractors to your home quickly. Reach out to possible providers to ask how many contractors they have in Sussex to understand how long repairs might take in an urgent situation.
Home warranty companies might include extras such as coverage for smart home devices, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These extras can add value beyond basic repair coverage. Added perks help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Sussex can hit the negatives in the winter, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your heating system. Having a home warranty plan can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks suddenly.
In addition, having a home warranty can save you time by getting rid of the need to research contractors — most companies will send a trusted professional right to your door to carry out the repair or replacement. Plus, having a home warranty can help make your house more appealing to potential homebuyers if you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty companies will allow you to transfer your plan to a new owner and give them the protection you’ve been receiving.
Home warranties also have some downsides. Although it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a repair person who takes care of the repair for you, some may not like this, and they may want to select their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty companies allow you to choose a contractor.
Another thing to take into consideration is that some companies don’t cover pre-existing damage and may require an inspection before coverage begins. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about these things if you need more information or if this is an issue for you.
A home warranty in Sussex can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans tend to have a lower service fee, broader coverage, 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 policies cover problems with systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced 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 Sussex. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system breakage.
Homebuyers, real estate agents, home sellers, landlords, and homeowners are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different home warranties in Sussex include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan will cover many of your home systems and appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and plumbing. An appliance or system plan will cover only the specific items listed in the policy.
Generally, a home warranty plan offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some companies may offer month-to-month options.
In general, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Sussex, where the median value of a home is $440,174, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
