Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
Buying a home is a big step in many people’s lives, but maintaining it can be costly over time, especially if your home in Wausau is on the older side. A home warranty plan can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be challenging, as there are dozens of companies to choose from. That’s why the Today's Homeowner team did the research and compiled a list of the best home warranty companies in Wausau 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
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty in Wausau. Choice has been in the home warranty business for about 15 years. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. 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.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage limits from Choice are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is lower than other providers in the Wausau area.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. For more information, read our review of Choice Home Warranty.
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 in Wausau. AHS has been in the home warranty business for about 26 years. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. 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.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. 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 Wausau area.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. For more information, read our review of American Home Shield.
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 in Wausau. Cinch has been in the home warranty business for about 44 years. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. 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.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. 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 Wausau area.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. For more information, read our review of Cinch Home Services.
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 in Wausau. HSC has been in the home warranty business for about 15 years. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. 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.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. 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 Wausau area.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443. For more information, read our review of The Home Service Club.
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 | $5,776 |
| Heating | $3,850 |
| Electrical | $578 |
| Toilets | $481 |
| Washer/Dryer | $770 |
| Plumbing | $578 |
| Oven | $1,540 |
| Fridge | $578 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Wausau homeowners lower the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial protection to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners peace of mind by helping avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is especially helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, people with newer homes and modern appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard both your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include garbage disposals, dishwashers, washers, refrigerators, microwaves, dryers, and others. Covered systems include heating, plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical. Many home warranties offer additional add-on coverage options for central vacuums, locksmiths, septic systems, and even roof leaks. Wausau homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure 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 selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage varies widely in the items that are included. Most plans cover AC, electrical, heating, plumbing, and appliances. More comprehensive plans also cover other items such as pools, spas, roof leaks, and well pumps. Look for providers with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This allows you to customize your plan to your home's needs.
Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. As this charge applies to every separate claim, some homeowners prefer to choose a company with lower service fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some providers also remove deductibles for homeowners who don't file claims in a certain period.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, contractor quality, speed of repairs, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for quality service.
Home warranty providers have networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. Bigger networks improve the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Reach out to potential providers and ask how many contractors they have in Wausau to get a sense of how soon your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Certain home warranty providers offer extras such as energy-efficient upgrades, protection for smart home devices, and discounts on maintenance. These bonuses can provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks enhance your home and help maximize your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Wausau can hit the negatives in the winter, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your heating system. Purchasing a home warranty plan can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks suddenly.
A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and choosing a technician 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. Plus, though home warranty companies vary, some providers will let you transfer your warranty if you sell your home. This can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
One of the main drawbacks of home warranties is not everything may be covered. It’s important to research the different plans and select one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
In addition, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs or replacements 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 Wausau can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans tend to have a lower service fee, higher coverage limits, and broader coverage. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some providers 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 helps protect against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects your entire home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new washing machine or stove, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Wausau.
A home warranty can help investors, homeowners, home sellers, real estate agents, and homebuyers. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different home warranties in Wausau include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers almost all your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and plumbing. An appliance or system plan will cover only the specific items mentioned in the policy.
Generally, a home warranty offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some companies may offer month-to-month options.
Typically, the one who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the one selling the home may purchase a home warranty policy and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then have to pay the service fees when using the policy. Since the average home value in Wausau is $209,864, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
