How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost?

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The cost of a home warranty depends on the type of plan you purchase (i.e., appliance-only protection or appliance and home system coverage), the term (i.e., the duration of the contract), the size and type of your home and even where you live. 

A home warranty for a customer in the middle of the country may be roughly $450 for appliance protection and $600 for more comprehensive coverage, while a home warranty for a customer in New York may be between $900 and $1,100. These are annual costs, which means that monthly payments can range anywhere from $30 to $100.   

These costs do not reflect additional service fees or deductibles at the time of repair. Service fees are typically charged each time the service provider makes a visit to diagnose the problem. Service fees usually range from $75 to $125

Average annual costs may also fluctuate based on elective coverage, such as swimming pool or spa protection. Adding your swimming pool to your home warranty can bump up the price by several hundred dollars. 

What is the Best Home Warranty?

In our review of home warranty companies, we analyzed customer feedback and compared sample contracts across providers to get a better understanding of price, coverage and overall customer experience. We’ve determined that among home warranty providers, Choice Home Warranty provides the “Best Overall Service,” while Select Home Warranty provides the “Most Value for Your Money.” 

Choice Home Warranty: “Best Overall Service”

Choice Home Warranty provides extensive coverage under two home warranty protection plans, plus a host of additional add-ons—these, however, come at an extra price. Choice Home Warranty covers all types of homes, including mobile homes and older homes, so many different types of homeowners can benefit from protection. 

Customers can choose from two plans: Basic and Total. 

Basic Plan Coverage

Unlike some basic home warranty plans, which may only cover appliances, Choice Home Warranty includes both appliances and major home systems in its basic coverage. 

Coverage includes:

  • Heating
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Dishwasher
  • Stove/Oven/Cooktop
  • Ductwork
  • Ceiling and exhaust fans
  • Garage Door Opener

For additional coverage, customers can opt for the Total Plan. 

Total Plan Coverage

The Total Plan is Choice Home Warranty’s most comprehensive protection plan. It includes all of the items listed under the Basic Plan, as well as several more:

  • Air conditioning system
  • Refrigerator
  • Clothes washer
  • Clothes dryer

The only items that are not protected are lawn items, piping, permit fees and items listed in the contract that needed repairs before purchasing the home warranty. Some competitors, whose sample contracts we reviewed, may deny coverage for older homes, appliances and home systems. 

Optional Coverage

Homeowners can add additional coverage to their plans at an extra cost. What protection is available under optional coverage?

  • Pool/spa
  • Well pump
  • Sump pump
  • Septic system
  • Second refrigerator
  • Limited roof leak
  • Stand alone freezer

Service and Claims

Choice Home Warranty offers an easy claims process with 24/7 phone access to the Choice Home Warranty team. In the event of an emergency, a representative is always available to take your claim. A service technician will then be scheduled to visit your home and diagnose the issue. 

How Much Does a Warranty from Choice Home Warranty Cost? 

Choice Home Warranty offers affordable home warranty plans compared to competitors. Plans start at just $1 per day, which equates to roughly $30 per month. Customers who sign up for the payment plan will also receive their first month of coverage free. Service fees are $75 or less. 

For a free quote and to learn more about Choice Home Warranty, call 848.256.4657 or fill out the online form.

Select Home Warranty: Best Value for the Money

Select Home Warranty offers more coverage plan options than Choice Home Warranty, from basic appliance coverage to more complete coverage. The home warranty company also offers promotions and free perks, such as free roof leak coverage on all plans, that make it a good value for your money. 

Customers can choose from three protection plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care. 

Bronze Care Coverage

This is the most basic coverage level and therefore the most affordable. It is on-par with other appliance-only home warranties, and it includes:

  • Refrigerator
  • Clothes washer
  • Clothes dryer
  • Garbage disposal
  • Dishwasher
  • Stove/Oven
  • Built-in microwave oven

In addition to appliances, customers can also purchase add-ons, such as septic tank repair, for more personalized protection. Optional add-ons are available with all protection plans. 

Gold Care Coverage

The Gold Care protection plan offers coverage for your home’s major systems, rather than appliances. If you are more concerned with repairs related to these components of your home, then you can customize to your needs with Gold Care. 

Gold Care coverage includes:

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Water heater
  • Ductwork

Platinum Care Coverage

Considered the most popular plan among customers, Select Home Warranty’s most comprehensive plan is called Platinum Care. This plan includes all items listed under Bronze and Gold Care, as well as garage door openers and ceiling fans. 

Service and Claims Process

Similar to Choice Home Warranty, customers of Select Home Warranty also have 24/7 access to a customer representative for the purpose of making a claim. 

How Much Does a Select Home Warranty Cost?

Select Home Warranty offers plans starting at $36 per month, with a $60 service fee on the day of your technician’s visit. In addition to affordable premiums, common promotions include $100 off any plan and two months of free coverage. 

For a free quote and to learn more about Select Home Warranty, call 317.204.4697 or fill out the online form.

What Does a Home Warranty Cover?

If you’re going to spend several hundred dollars on a home warranty plan, you should know what is and isn’t covered before you buy. 

Home warranties are separate from homeowners insurance. They do not cover repairs or replacements as a result of external damage, loss/theft and personal injury caused by negligence. 

In addition, home warranties do not cover repairs or replacements as a result of poor maintenance, so homeowners should treat their appliances and home systems with care in order to get the most from their service contracts.

Home warranty plans typically cover:

  • Refrigerators
  • Dishwashers
  • Clothes washers and dryers
  • Trash compactors and garbage disposals
  • Ovens and stove tops
  • Built-in microwaves
  • Water heaters
  • Air conditioning
  • Plumbing system
  • Sump pump
  • Indoor electrical systems
  • Ductwork

Some plans offer optional coverage for the following:

  • Well pumps
  • Pools/spas
  • Garage door opener
  • Roof leaks

Where Can You Find a Home Warranty?

There are many third-party home warranty companies in the market, but not all home warranties are built the same. In fact, there are currently 181 home warranty companies to choose from. 

Photo Courtesy: Dragon Images/stock.adobe.com

When searching for a home warranty, you’ll want to look for a number of things within the contracts. In our research, we asked:

  • How much does a home warranty cost? Are plan premiums low? Do they start below $600?
  • Are service fees are below $100?
  • Are there multiple coverage options? 
  • Is there a generous coverage cap above $500? 
  • Is coverage available nationally?
  • Are exclusions and limitations clear?

In our research, we found that Choice Home Warranty and Select Home Warranty both offer affordable options and transparent, comprehensive coverage. 

Is a Home Warranty Worth the Cost?

Though a home warranty is an additional monthly cost, there are several reasons why both home buyers and sellers can benefit from a home warranty. 

Greater Peace of Mind

How much does a typical appliance or home system repair cost? According to Home Advisor, these are the average costs for common repairs:

If your home warranty costs somewhere between $360 and $600, then the cost of the warranty pays for itself in comparison to the much more costly repairs above. For homeowners who don’t have a large emergency fund at-the-ready, a home warranty may be worth the cost. 

Benefits to Buyers and Sellers

Anyone can purchase a home warranty, including both buyers and sellers. 

A buyer can get protection for peace of mind, but also to attract buyers when they decide to sell the home. Wells Fargo cites that a home warranty adds curb appeal to the home and gives homeowners an advantage over others selling in the area. 

In addition, real estate agents can purchase a home warranty for their clients as part of the closing deal. Not only is this a nice gesture to add value to the sale, but it also means that the buyer will look to the home warranty company rather than the seller when an appliance or major system breaks down. 

Determine the Cost of Your Next Home Warranty

Based on our research, we’ve identified two home warranty companies that offer exceptional value and service. Whether you no longer have coverage under a manufacturer’s warranty, you’re the owner of an older home, or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, then you’ll need to compare plan prices that fit your circumstances.  

You can get a free, customized quote from Choice Home Warranty by calling 848.256.4657 or filling out the online form.

Or, if you are looking for a value option, find out how much a home warranty costs with Select Home Warranty. Call 317.204.4697 or fill out the online form.