Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
There are a lot of benefits of owning a home, but as your Waukesha home ages, you may have to update or repair your appliances and systems. A home warranty can give you the peace of mind you need and shield your bank account from large expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
The home warranty market is filled with many providers — all with different plans — so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Waukesha.
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 Waukesha, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has 2 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, this is the plan for you. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Waukesha homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Choice are an affordable $85. The coverage caps are also typically about $3,000 at the maximum.
Read more by visiting our review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, 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 Waukesha, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has 3 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, this is the plan for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Waukesha homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also typically about $2,500 at the maximum.
Read more by visiting our review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, 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 Waukesha, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has 3 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, this is the plan for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Waukesha homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also typically about $1,000-$2,000 at the maximum.
Read more by visiting our review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, 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 Waukesha, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has 2 plans for you to decide between. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, this is the plan for you. Plus, it 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 offers 2 plans for Waukesha homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also typically about $2,000 at the maximum.
Read more by visiting our review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, 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 | $6,247 |
| Heating | $4,165 |
| Electrical | $625 |
| Toilets | $521 |
| Washer/Dryer | $833 |
| Plumbing | $625 |
| Oven | $1,666 |
| Fridge | $625 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Waukesha homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that stop working 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 fix 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 gives homeowners peace of mind, as it helps avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and modern appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are washers, refrigerators, garbage disposals, dishwashers, microwaves, dryers, and more. Protected systems include air conditioning, plumbing, heating, and electrical. Various home warranty plans offer extra coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, roof leaks, and even locksmiths. It's important for Waukesha homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. 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 improperly using a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are several home warranty terms to understand before signing an agreement, including:
There are several key considerations when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty policies vary widely in what they include. Most plans cover AC, heating, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer protection for other items such as well pumps, roof leaks, spas, and pools. Look for a company that offers robust coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific systems and needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-repair charges can potentially accumulate over time, so some homeowners prefer using providers with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles when a homeowner goes a defined period without any repair requests.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insights into factors such as claim approval rates, contractor expertise, repair speed, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to learn more about providers. Good ratings and feedback suggest a company known for delivering quality service.
Home warranty companies have networks of contractors that they use to tackle covered repairs. Wider networks increase the chance of getting skilled contractors to your home swiftly. Reach out to possible providers to ask how many repair professionals they have in Waukesha. This helps you understand how long repairs could take in an urgent situation.
Some home warranty companies include perks such as reduced maintenance fees, energy efficiency upgrades, and smart home device coverage. These extras can offer extra value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses help you enhance your home and get the most from your warranty policy.
Home warranty plans are an inexpensive way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Waukesha reaching an average high of 54℃F, you may find that certain appliances, like your air conditioner, get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably decrease out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system stop working.
Not to mention, having a home warranty can save you some time by getting rid of the need to research service technicians — 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 attractive to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell in the future. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been benefiting from.
One disadvantage of a home warranty is that there are usually exclusions. For example, if one of your appliances already has a manufacturer's warranty, it may not be included in the home warranty, so it’s important to read through any contracts you’re considering thoroughly to understand what is included and what isn’t.
Another possible pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your repair requests being rejected, so it’s important to make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Waukesha can cost between $30 and $60 a month. Higher-priced plans usually have broader coverage, a lower service fee, and higher coverage limits. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also reduce 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 kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty plan protects against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects a home in case of something such as a fire or natural disaster. Under homeowners insurance, you won't be able to file a claim should you need a new refrigerator or dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Waukesha.
A home warranty policy can help home sellers, investors, homeowners, homebuyers, and real estate agents. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty plan 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 helpful if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans generally last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually the homeowner is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller may buy a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Waukesha is $332,418, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
