Tuesday, December 10th
2024 Home Warranty Company Reviews
American Home Shield
- Prices from $39.99 to $89.99 per month
- Add-ons from $5 to $18 per month
- Trade service fees from $100 to $125 per service request
- Coverage for appliances, roof, and permits
- Add-ons for pool, septic, and more
- 30-day workmanship guarantee
- 4.1-star average
American Home Shield has been in business for over five decades, serving over two million customers nationwide. This company has a long history of providing home warranties to homeowners. American Home Shield's goal is to help you by protecting your home and also making potential repairs a breeze by connecting you with the best technicians for the job when needed. However, extra details about American Home Shield's history or mission are pretty minimal, making it harder to find out more about the company from its website.
Three plans and bonus coverage offered
American Home Shield provides three main plans, each with its unique set of benefits and coverage. The ShieldSilver plan covers essential systems like HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, while the ShieldGold plan adds protection for nine kitchen and laundry appliances. The ShieldPlatinum plan includes all the coverage from the previous two plans, plus additional features like roof leak repairs, complimentary HVAC tune-ups, unlimited AC refrigerant, and coverage for code violations and permits. You can customize your plan by adding optional coverage for electronics, pool/spa, roof leak repairs, guest units, septic pumps, and well pumps. When selecting a plan with American Home Shield, you'll want to review the sample contract available on their website. This will help you understand exactly what you're getting and avoid any surprises when you need to make a claim. For example, the contract clearly states that if your AC unit needs refrigerant and you're not on the Platinum plan, you'll be limited by how heavy your unit is. If you're over the weight limit, you'll pay an extra fee on top of your repair cost.
Pricing from $39.99 to $89.99 per month
The pricing for American Home Shield plans varies depending on your preferred trade service call fee. You can choose from two options: $100 or $125 per service request. This fee is essentially a co-pay for each service request you make under your warranty. For our location, with a $100 call fee, we were quoted $39.99/month for ShieldSilver, $59.99/month for ShieldGold, and $89.99/month for ShieldPlatinum. There was a promotion running that made ShieldSilver $20 per month, but it was unclear how long this discounted rate would last.
Add-ons from $5 to $18 per month
American Home Shield offers additional coverage options that can be added to any base plan. The cheapest add-on is coverage for a septic pump for $5 per month. On the other end, you can add on spa/pool coverage for $18 per month. With six total extras to choose from, you can add all or just one extra to your American Home Shield Plan.
30-day workmanship guarantee
American Home Shield offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee. This means that if you experience an issue with a repair completed within 30 days of service, the provider will send a professional technician back to fix the problem free of charge. By offering this guarantee, AHS stands behind the quality of their work and demonstrates their commitment to customer satisfaction.
Mixed reviews but improved customer service
Unfortunately, American Home Shield has received over 10,000 complaints in the last year alone. This is reflected in their "B" rating from the Better Business Bureau. Many customers have expressed frustration with delays in getting parts and repairs, difficulties in getting covered appliances replaced, and poor customer service. On the other hand, third-party reviews from ConsumerAffairs show a 4.1-star average rating, which is much better than the reviews on the BBB. While the BBB showed 10,000 complaints, American Home Shield has over 100,000 total reviews on ConsumerAffairs with over 70% of them being 4 stars or higher. It seems that in recent years submitting a claim has been simpler, and customers feel that American Home Shield is working hard to make the process seamless.
A good middle-tier option
American Home Shield has worked to impress us with its recent track record of customer satisfaction. While there are still thousands of complaints to consider, American Home Shield has greatly improved across the board with well over 50,000 positive customer reviews. However, given that there are still complaints to contend with, we still recommend you do your research. Make sure this is the best price possible before you settle with American Home Shield, and look at our higher-rated options before you decide.
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Where Can You Find the Best Home Warranty?
Being prepared for unexpected expenses is part of homeownership. Whether you're a landlord looking to reduce operating costs, a homeowner trying to sell your property, or just a regular homeowner who wants to be protected against surprise repairs, having a good home warranty can be a lifesaver. A home warranty is a type of insurance, separate from your home insurance, that covers the cost of repairs or replacements for major systems and appliances in your home.
By choosing the right plan, you can avoid the financial burden of costly repairs so that your home remains safe and functional. Home warranty plans typically offer different levels for different home concerns and budgets. Basic coverage might include protection for appliances and systems like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Home Warranty Company FAQ
Continued from above...
Premium plans, on the other hand, might cover more extensive components like electronics, septic systems, and pools and spas. Some providers offer add-on services for extra fees, such as coverage for sump pumps or water softeners.
When selecting a home warranty provider, you'll want to read the fine print and understand what's covered and what's not. Most policies have limits, exclusions, and caps on the amount they'll pay out over the contract's life. For example, some policies might only cover appliances up to a certain age or value. Others might exclude certain types of damage or wear and tear. Be sure to ask about these details before signing up. It's also important to note that most policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect. So, if you need to make a claim soon after purchasing the policy, you'll have to wait a month before it kicks in.
During the waiting period, many providers offer a money-back guarantee. This allows you to cancel your policy if you're unsatisfied with the coverage or if you discover something you didn't expect. Another important consideration is the trade call service fee, which is similar to a copay on medical insurance or a deductible on car insurance. This fee can vary depending on the provider and may apply per service call or per repair. Be aware that you could be charged multiple fees for a single repair if different tradespeople are needed to fix the issue.
While it's great that there are a lot of companies to consider for your home warranty, sifting through them all can be stressful. To help you avoid getting overwhelmed by the numerous plans and companies, we've put together some helpful criteria to guide you through your vetting process:
- Reputation. When considering a home warranty provider, it's essential to know what homeowners have to say about their experience with the company. You'll want to find out if claims are processed swiftly, with repair technicians arriving at your doorstep promptly. Does the company have a reputation for approving claims easily, or should you expect to navigate a lengthy and frustrating process?
- Value. Cost is always a concern. How much does the warranty itself cost? How much will you pay for trade service call fees? Make sure you figure out what your premium totals and fees might be each year and make sure you'll be getting a good deal on the cost for repairs vs. doing the same thing out of pocket.
- Coverage. What kind of coverage do you need? What kind of coverage is offered? Make sure that if you want extras or more extensive coverage, the company you choose offers plans that support your home the way you want.
To help keep your home safe from any eventuality, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the most popular home warranty providers out there today. We hope this information helps keep your home and appliances operating safely, and gives you a little extra financial peace of mind!
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