Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home in Wisconsin Rapids has a lot of great benefits, but there are some negatives. Cold weather and snow can cause problems in a home and lead to wear and tear on systems like your HVAC. A home warranty in Wisconsin Rapids can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
Finding the best warranty for your home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in Wisconsin Rapids. Read on for our recommendations.
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 is the best overall home warranty for Wisconsin Rapids residents. Choice has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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 has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are an affordable $85.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Choice Home Warranty full review.
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 is the most customizable home warranty for Wisconsin Rapids residents. AHS has more than 26 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. For a more detailed breakdown, read our American Home Shield full review.
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 is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Wisconsin Rapids residents. Cinch has more than 44 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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 has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
The 3 plans from Cinch Home Services are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch has coverage caps of around $1,000-$2,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Cinch Home Services full review.
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 is the best home warranty with the quickest service for Wisconsin Rapids residents. HSC has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443. For a more detailed breakdown, read our The Home Service Club full review.
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 | $5,800 |
| Heating | $3,866 |
| Electrical | $580 |
| Toilets | $483 |
| Washer/Dryer | $773 |
| Plumbing | $580 |
| Oven | $1,547 |
| Fridge | $580 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Wisconsin Rapids homeowners reduce the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or swap out 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 company 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 go over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives security for homeowners by helping them avoid expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly useful for those who live in older homes or ones with aging systems. Newer builds with working appliances probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect both your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include refrigerators, garbage disposals, dishwashers, microwaves, dryers, washers, and others. Covered systems include heating, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing. Many home warranty plans also offer add-on coverage options for central vacuums, septic systems, locksmiths, and even roof leaks. Wisconsin Rapids homeowners should know that most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only cover the cost of repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some essential home warranty words to understand before signing a contract:
There are several key factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranties differ greatly in the items covered. Basic policies typically provide protection for electrical, AC, plumbing, heating, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover roof leaks, pools, well pumps, and spas. Focus on providers with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for your home's 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 after periods where a customer files no claims.
A home warranty provider's reputation can give you insight into things such as repair timeliness, contractor quality, approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Use review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research providers. Good ratings and feedback indicate a company known for exceptional service.
Home warranty providers keep networks of local technicians to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to learn how many repair contractors they have in Wisconsin Rapids and get an idea for how fast your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. More extensive networks raise the probability of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty companies include extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, smart home device protection, and maintenance discounts. These add value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Home warranties are an affordable way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Wisconsin Rapids reaching an average high of 53℃F, you may find that some appliances, like your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can remarkably decrease out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system stop working.
Not only can a home warranty save you some money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of needing to vet contractors on your own, home warranty providers do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. Another benefit of having a home warranty is if you want to sell your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty plan to the new owners. It can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and may help your house sell faster.
One of the main drawbacks of a home warranty is not every home system and appliance may be covered. It’s important to weigh the different plans and get one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another stipulation is that home warranties typically only cover repairs needed due to normal wear and tear. They commonly won’t cover systems or appliances that have stopped working due to natural disasters, improper maintenance, animal infestations, etc.
A home warranty costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Wisconsin Rapids. Our top-rated home warranty providers' 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. In addition, it's usually cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover problems related to home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different kind of plan that protects your entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Wisconsin Rapids. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system breakage.
A home warranty policy can help real estate agents, investors, homebuyers, home sellers, and homeowners. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different home warranties in Wisconsin Rapids include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover almost all your systems and appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and plumbing. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the plan.
Home warranty plans generally provide coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Usually, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Wisconsin Rapids, where the median home value is $190,429, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
