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.
Good
Sears Home Warranty's long-standing success is a testament to its expertise. For over a century, it has provided trusted service to over 150 million homes, demonstrating its ability to deliver high-quality results. What sets it apart is its unique approach, as it is the only nationwide service that employs its own team of expert technicians rather than partnering with outside providers. With over 2,500 manufacturer-trained technicians at their disposal, the company is well-equipped to handle a wide range of issues. If a repair is not possible, the company offers to replace the item, so you are never left without a functional solution. You can also benefit from exclusive perks, including HVAC tune-ups, water filters, and appliance part discounts, as well as discounts on non-covered appliance repairs.
5 plans to choose from
Sears Home Warranty offers five different plans to help you customize your protection to include only what you need. The HVAC Plan covers essential heating and cooling systems, including ductwork. The System Plan takes it a step further by covering a broader range of systems, such as electrical, plumbing, garage door openers, and water heaters. Meanwhile, the Appliance Plan focuses on common household appliances like refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges, and dishwashers. The Whole Home Plan covers all of the above-mentioned systems and appliances. Finally, the Appliance + HVAC Plan combines the appliance and HVAC coverage of the Whole Home Plan with additional heating and ductwork protection.
Pricing from $59.99 to $109.99 per month
Now, when you put in your details for pricing, the total number of plans may change. For our area, we were only offered prices for the Appliance Plan, the System Plan, and the Whole Home Plan. The two HVAC-focused plans weren't options in the location we tested. The Appliance Plan was the least expensive, coming in at $59.99 per month, followed by the System Plan for $69.99 per month. The most expensive plan was the Whole Home Plan for $109.99 per month. The website also noted that there is a $100 service fee for each visit.
No extras available
Oddly, we did not see anywhere to add extras to your overall package. While this will keep costs down, if there's something not included in the Whole Home Plan like a sump pump or pool/spa, there appears to be no way to add this to your plan during checkout. The coverage is otherwise very complete with things like water softeners and heaters being included in the initial price, but for some of those extras, you may need to plan to pay out of pocket.
180-day workmanship guarantee
When you purchase a home warranty from Sears Home Warranty, you're not only getting a 30-day money-back guarantee if you decide to cancel during the initial waiting period, but also an industry-leading guarantee that sets them apart. Sears Home Warranty offers a highly competitive 180-day workmanship guarantee. So, if you experience the same issue within 180 days, you won't have to pay a deductible for the (new) repair.
High praise from the BBB but mixed reviews
As one of the few companies in our review that has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, Sears Home Warranty stands out from the pack. However, beyond that solid rating, the reviews for Sears Home Warranty are mixed. Between industry professionals and third-party review sites, Sears Home Warranty has earned an average rating of 2.9 stars. Customers love the 24/7 claims filing option, so they can get things handled right away. However, as a result of Sears Protect's recent acquisition by Transformco, it's challenging to gauge customer satisfaction as there are almost no customer reviews on third-party sites. Some complaints we found included worries about not being able to choose your own technician, as well as concerns about extras not included in the total coverage options.
Competitive for overall coverage
Despite the mixed reviews, the competitive pricing and total protection at Sears Home Warranty make it an option worth considering. However, with such a long-standing presence in the industry, we would love to see more reviews for Sears Home Warranty to help it be more competitive. For this reason, it earns a higher-than-average rating. It's definitely worth considering, but Sears could use a little work on its customer service to rank higher in the future.
Continued from above...
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.
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:
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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