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A home warranty—also known as home appliance insurance or home repair insurance—is a service agreement that homeowners can purchase from a home warranty company to help cover the unexpected cost of repairing or replacing faulty systems and appliances.

The home warranty plan chosen by the homeowner determines the monthly cost, service fee, which systems and appliances are covered, and how much the company will pay for repairs and replacements. Most plans last for 12 months. At the end of the contract term, customers can renew their plan.

If one of your covered household items breaks unexpectedly, file a claim with your home warranty company either online or over the phone. Note: Most companies require customers to submit a claim within three days of the system or appliance breaking. The best home warranties are open 24/7/365 and approve claims within 24 to 48 hours, but other companies will make customers wait up to four days on weekends and holidays.

Once your claim is approved by the home warranty company, they’ll either send one of their approved technicians to your house to diagnose the issue or allow you to choose your own contractor for repairs. The contractor will recommend a repair or replacement for your broken system or appliance.

During this service visit, you’ll pay the contractor a service fee of $75–$100 and the warranty company will cover the rest of the repair or replacement costs.

When shopping around for a home warranty plan, you’ll want to consider the items you want covered and your budget.

1. Consider what coverage you need. Think about which items in your home you want coverage for. Are there certain systems or appliances that you couldn’t afford to replace? Make sure that those are included when choosing a plan.

2. Choose a monthly price you’re comfortable with. If you pay monthly for a home warranty instead of paying an annual premium, you’ll likely be paying anywhere from $25–$67 for each month of coverage. You’ll also want to check the service fees, usually costing from $75–$125, and is paid to the technician who comes to your home when a claim is approved. Choose a price point that makes sense for you to narrow down your options.

A Home Warranty is worth it to you if it covers your home’s needs. Everyone and every homeowner is different, so picking the right home warranty is all about finding the right fit. Much like when buying a home, you will want to look around before purchasing your first home warranty. Depending on the size of your home, the State you're in and how you want to process future claims should have a big impact on your decision. Always ensure that you purchase from a Home Warranty company that is licensed to operate in your State.

A good Home Warranty will offer you the added benefit of peace of mind. It’s hard to put a figure on not worrying about the potential cost of a certain appliance breaking down, but with the right home warranty, you can be at ease, knowing that your appliances, systems, or both, are covered.

“IN 2021 40% OF AMERICANS DO NOT HAVE CAPITAL TO COVER AN UNEXPECTED $1,000 BILL. TO US, $30 A MONTH SEEMS LIKE A SAFE BET IN COMPARISON”

Advice from the Industry Experts

Our advice is to always read and understand the contract you are signing. Your Home Warranty is a service contract that you take out with the company so that, in the event that something breaks down that is covered in the contract, it will be repaired or replaced. With this said, it is of paramount importance to read and understand the details of any contract you sign. What’s good for you, might not be the best solution for another.

Another tip from us is to speak with the companies before making a decision. Yes, your home warranty is a service contract, but at the end of the day, someone needs to provide the service. Customer support and claims processing are an integral part of the home warranty experience. Making a few calls before committing is the smart thing to do.

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