Buying a home is one of the biggest experiences of our lives. Whether you’ve bought homes before or this is your first, there is one thing that all homeowners can relate to: the bad luck of appliances or home systems seemingly breaking down as soon as we move in. Nothing is more frustrating, especially after you just spent a lot of money on purchasing the home.
So, what should you do? A home warranty protects you financially from these thousands of dollars of repairs and replacement costs and softens these frustrating blows. However, if you’re like many homeowners (myself included), most of us are skeptical because some shady companies take advantage of consumers. Fortunately, there are reliable companies on the market that have Better Business Bureau accreditations, hundreds of positive reviews, and a good track record of accepting most claims. I’ve put in the time researching, so you don’t have to spend hours reading dense sample contracts from these providers (at least not until you find one you’re sure you want).
After dozens of hours spent investigating, secret shopping, and scrutinizing these companies, here are the best home warranty companies for buyers. I’ve used Today’s Homeowners’s unique criteria and ranked these companies based on plans and coverage, availability, affordability, reputation, and customer experience to give you a nuanced look at each provider. And I won’t hold back on my criticism because even the best of the best have their weak points.
Here’s how we ranked and reviewed the nation’s top home warranty companies to bring you the most accurate information.
Our team of experts reviewed over 70 home warranty providers to compare plan options, coverage limits, prices, and customer feedback.
We collected over 100 sample quotes from dozens of home warranty companies to give you an accurate look at industry pricing.
Our rating system scores providers based on 6 key factors: coverage options, affordability, customer experience, reputation, claims processes, and availability.
Read our full Home Warranty Review Methodology for more details.
Top 5 Home Warranty Companies for Buyers
- Some home warranty companies require maintenance records to prove that you properly maintained your appliance or home system before it broke. However, this is a big problem if you’ve just moved in and don’t have records from the previous owner. As a result, I recommend American Home Shield, which doesn’t require any maintenance records and doesn’t deny claims based on unknown preexisting conditions that you may not even know about.
- I’ll be honest. Here’s a case where a home warranty really isn’t necessary: When you have a manufacturer’s warranty covering normal wear and tear, you don’t need a home warranty on top of that. Save your money.
- Almost all homeowners can benefit from roof leak coverage (which Select Home Warranty includes for free in all of their plans and is the only provider on this list to claim that), whether you live in a snowy, humid, or rainy climate. All of these contribute to your roof wearing down faster.
My Expert Recommendation
As a home buyer, you may not have the previous owner’s maintenance records, so you don’t want a home warranty company that requires these for all or most appliances or systems. American Home Shield and Elite Home Warranty don’t require maintenance records, making them two of my top picks. If I were to choose one, I’d go with American Home Shield because it has high coverage levels and doesn’t deny claims based on unknown preexisting conditions, meaning you don’t have to stress that your appliance has a condition that could get your claim denied even when you didn’t know about it. However, buyers purchasing a home with a lot of unique features may want to consider Liberty Home Guard for its 40+ additional add-ons and positive customer reviews.
Home Warranty Companies for Buyers I Didn’t Include
I didn’t include US Home Guard on this list because it has an F rating with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB even issued current alerts, sharing that they’ve received a pattern of consumer complaints around US Home Guard’s marketing, noting scam-like tactics. Their website also lacks information for homeowners, with the homeowners’ plan page coming up with an “Oops! That page can’t be found message.”
Compare The Highest Rated Home Warranties for Buyers
| Company | Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Response Time | BBB Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$50-$60 |
$75 |
12-48 hrs. |
NR |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$35–$75 |
$100–$125 |
24-72 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$44.99-$58.99 |
$70 |
48 hours |
A+ |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$46–$55 |
$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$52–$58 |
$60 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$62 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$48 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$17–$60+ |
$65–$100 |
2–24 hrs |
A- |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$28–$68 |
$100–$150 |
2–24 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE |
Quote and cost data gathered January 2024. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
Our Reviews of the Best Home Warranties for Buyers
Liberty Home Guard
4.6
Our Rating
If your new home has unique features like a casita guest unit, a second refrigerator, or an instant hot water dispenser, Liberty Home Guard is the best in the industry for receiving coverage on things that aren’t commonly covered. You can choose from over 40 add-on options, which is critical to protect yourself financially if you don’t want to end up with a hefty repair bill to fix your second refrigerator. I also love Liberty’s maintenance add-ons, like carpet cleaning, gutter cleaning, and pest control, as they can help you keep up with your new home and establish a regular cleaning and pest prevention schedule.
When you first buy a home, you’re not acquainted with all the ins and outs of how well certain appliances and home systems work. You may have a mix of old and new appliances or end up with a stove that just never seems to work. There’s a lot of uncertainty, and Liberty doesn’t cover preexisting conditions, which means if your appliances have any current problems, they would be excluded from coverage for new issues that arise. This may not be a dealbreaker if you have a good grasp of your new home’s appliance’s health or your home has all new appliances. But if you have older appliances, you’ll want to have a technician assess them for preexisting conditions to ensure you’re not left without coverage when that leaky refrigerator finally gives out.
Another downside is Liberty’s lower-than-average coverage caps. Liberty only provides coverage on some systems and appliances up to $2,000. Some, like your electrical or plumbing systems, receive as little as $500, which simply isn’t enough for most extensive repairs or replacements. Exclusions and lower coverage caps like these are the most common causes of dissatisfaction among home warranty customers. So, closely read your sample policy for a better look at what is and isn’t covered and the maximum reimbursement for each system or appliance.
This provider has exceptional customer reviews from third-party websites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau, giving me a lot of faith in their sustainable, consistent handling of customer issues. They offer availability to buyers in all 50 states and have a speedy claim turnaround time of only 12 hours. This means you’ll be greeted and helped by an “LHG-certified” technician much faster when you need repairs than providers like American Home Shield, which takes 24 to 48 hours to process claims.
Not only does Liberty have standout customer service, but other companies can’t beat their additional coverage options. You can choose from unique options like a casita guest unit, reverse osmosis filter, and many maintenance options like pest control and gutter cleaning. This mix-and-match plan customization allows you to curate your plan to your exact needs so you’re not overpaying for coverage you don’t need or not receiving enough coverage for unique features in your new home. However, Liberty does have lower coverage caps that max out at only $2,000 for some items. If you need an expensive replacement or repair, this may leave you footing part of the bill. Another con is that Liberty excludes preexisting conditions. If your home has new appliances and systems, this likely won’t be a dealbreaker for you. Still, if you’re aware of current appliance issues, you’ll want to look at another provider, like American Home Shield, which covers preexisting conditions.
Liberty has a perfect score in this category for good reason. Between its flexible plan options, which feature an appliance-only, systems-only, and comprehensive plan offering protection for both, Liberty has more options and comprehensive coverage than many providers. For example, Choice Home Warranty’s Basic Plan doesn’t even cover your dishwasher or laundry machines, which are essential appliances that you may want covered. However, you can receive coverage for these machines with the Appliance Guard or Total Guard plan through Liberty.
For buyers, I recommend looking into the Total Home Guard plan because you may not know exactly how old or how often certain appliances or systems in your new home need repairs. This will give you greater peace of mind that your primary appliances and systems, like electrical and HVAC, are covered, so you don’t need to lay awake at night worrying about your air conditioning going out during a heat wave. If you’ve bought a condo, consider the Appliance Guard plan instead, as your HOA likely covers most major systems for the entire complex, so you may only need an appliance-only policy.
The following table doesn’t factor in available discounts.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Appliance Guard | $49.99 | $125 | Two months free, free limited roof leak protection, $200 off coupon (website or phone) |
| Systems Guard | $54.99 | $125 | Two months free, free limited roof leak protection, $200 off coupon (website or phone) |
| Total Home Guard | $59.99 | $125 | Two months free, free limited roof leak protection, $200 off coupon (website or phone) |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe, NM. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
If your new home has unique items and features, like a casita guest unit, saltwater pool, or wine cooler, Liberty is an excellent choice. I especially like that you can add maintenance coverage to your plan, such as carpet cleaning, pest control, or gutter cleaning, which reduces the maintenance you need to put into your new house yourself.
- Pool and spa: $19.99/month
- Additional spa: $9.99/month
- Lawn sprinkler system: $9.99/month
- Saltwater pool: $23.99/month
- Generator: $19.99/month
- Casita guest unit: $35.99/month
- Sump pump: $8.99/month
- Well pump: $12.99/month
- Septic system pumping: $12.99/month
- Ejector pump: $14.99/month
- Grinder pump: $14.99/month
- Limited roof leak: $11.99/month
- Re-key: $9.99/month
- Gutter cleaning: $14.99/month
- Pest control: $14.99/month
- Carpet cleaning: $19.99/month
- Window washing/cleaning: $19.99/month
- Power washing (exterior flooring): $19.99/month
- Central vacuum: $8.99/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $5.99/month
- Water softener: $13.99/month
- Swamp cooler: $14.99/month
- Second refrigerator: $7.99/month
- Trash compactor: $7.49/month
- Ice maker (in-fridge): $3.99/month
- Freestanding ice maker: $14.99/month
- Wine cooler/fridge: $11,99/month
- Water dispenser water line: $4.99/month
- Instant hot water dispenser: $9.99/month
- Reverse osmosis water filter system: $14.99/month
- Lighting fixtures: $7.99/month
- Plumbing fixtures: $7.99/month
- Electronics protection: $19.99/month
- TV mounting (up to 65-inch TVs): $14.99/month
- TV mounting (up to 85-inch TVs): $19.99/month
- Pro-series refrigerator: $14.99/month
- Pro-series stand-alone freezer: $14.99/month
- Pro-series range/oven/cooktop: $12.99/month
- Pro-series dishwasher: $7.99/month
- Pro-series microwave: $4.99/month
- Pro-series washing machine: $4.99/month
- Pro-series clothes dryer: $4.99/month
Exclusions
Liberty Home Guard has a large number of exclusions, and some of these may be a dealbreaker for you, depending on how new your home’s appliances and systems are. For example, Liberty doesn’t cover preexisting conditions. While this isn’t uncommon, it can be a problem for you if your appliances are older and have existing issues. Before moving in, assess your home’s appliances and systems so you can decide if the coverage is worth it or if you have too many systems with preexisting conditions to benefit from Liberty’s coverage.
- Preexisting conditions
- Flues, vents, chimneys, and exhaust lines
- Electronics, computerized, “smart,” or Internet/enabled components and parts
- Filters associated with any covered items
- Remote receiving and transmitting devices
- Radon and other leak detection monitoring systems
- Fire sprinkler systems
- Lighting
- Solar systems and applications
- Cosmetic defects
- Disposal of appliances, systems, or components
- Cranes or other specialty vehicles required to install, remove, or access your appliances or home systems
- Glass parts
- Noise
- Malfunction due to storms or other acts of God
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Liberty Home Guard has competitive pricing, with the quotes I received for a two-bedroom home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, costing less than $60 monthly. On top of their affordable pricing, Liberty offers several discount options, including a $200 off deal on their website I found during secret shopping. When I lingered on Liberty’s website for a couple of minutes and then switched to another tab in my web browser, I was immediately offered $200 off my annual plan when I returned to Liberty’s website. This is a significant savings, as most of their plans cost less than $800 per year (without factoring in add-ons).
However, Liberty falls short with pricier add-ons. While they offer a wide variety of add-ons, which can help you as a home buyer truly customize the coverage to unique features in your home, like a reverse osmosis water filter, their add-ons are expensive. Most add-ons cost between $20 to $25 a month or $240 to $300 a year, which can cause a significant drain on your budget. Still, you’re unlikely to find another home warranty company with a more diverse range of add-ons, so if you have unique features and want coverage, Liberty is your best choice.
Whenever I’ve spoken with an agent, I’ve found the representative professional, informative, and pleasant. I’ve never had a pushy sales experience, which is a nice change from other providers like American Home Shield. Another benefit of Liberty is its workmanship guarantee. This 60-day guarantee is double the industry standard of 30 days, giving you more time to test your recently repaired appliance to ensure the repair was sufficient. Plus, I like that Liberty thoroughly vets all of their technicians, and these contractors must maintain specific standards to stay “LHG-certified” to work through the company. Liberty shares that most of their technicians can solve the initial problem on their first visit, which gives you a faster turnaround time with repairs, so you’re not left waiting for a second appointment while your dishwasher leaks everywhere.
Liberty Home Guard has one of the best company reputations of all the providers in this guide, with a 4.7-star overall rating from over 2,500 Trustpilot reviews. This rating is superior to most providers, like American Home Shield or Choice Home Warranty, who receive two to three-star scores. While customer ratings aren’t everything, these positive reviews give me peace of mind. Few providers, other than Elite Home Warranty, rival these high scores, according to my experience researching dozens of home warranty companies.
Positive reviews typically praise Liberty for its professional technicians, fast claim turnaround times, and impressive customer service, which supports a top-notch company reputation, even if it’s only been in business for six years. In contrast, negative reviews highlight issues with exclusions, lower coverage limits, and unexpected additional service fee charges.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | NR*/4.5 | 2,496 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 | 2,847 |
| Yelp | 1.5 | 63 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
*Note (04/17/2024): Recently, the Better Business Bureau shifted LHG’s A+ rating to “NR” (Not Rated). We reached out to a representative from LHG for comment, and they shared this statement: “Despite the BBB’s alert, our customer satisfaction levels remain by far the highest relative to our scale. Last month, we had the lowest percentage of customer cancellation requests in our entire history. On the BBB’s own platform, Liberty Home Guard has achieved a star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 2,500 reviews. For added context, the approximately 480 resolved complaints on Liberty Home Guard’s BBB profile equate to an extremely low fraction of a percentage relative to the size and scale of our total customer base. As we navigate this situation, which we believe will be resolved in time, we want to assure you that we remain committed to our customers and their satisfaction; they are the key stakeholders we orient all our efforts around.”
If you’re worried about claim turnaround time, Liberty is one of the best providers on the market. Liberty Home Guard has a standout 12-hour average response time after they receive a claim — a significant improvement over the industry standard of 48 hours. For example, American Home Shield typically takes one to two days to respond to a claim, while Liberty often takes only half a day. This can make a massive difference when you’re without a working HVAC unit on a hot summer day, so this is something that I’d definitely factor into my decision-making process. On top of this excellent claim response time, you can file claims in more ways than most providers. Liberty has phone service, an online portal, and a mobile app, which I rarely see other companies offer, giving you more choices than most for handling urgent claims.
Liberty Home Guard provides coverage for buyers in all 50 states, demonstrating its fantastic availability. This home warranty company also receives excellent reviews throughout the United States, showcasing its consistently positive service.
American Home Shield
4.3
Our Rating
American Home Shield has high coverage limits of up to $4,000 on appliances and up to $5,000 on home systems like your HVAC. What I love about these caps is that they are more than double what many home warranty providers offer and ensure your coverage is enough for most total replacements or large repairs. If your new home has older appliances, higher coverage like this is incredibly reassuring because you’ll likely need new appliances in the near future.
The other standout benefit of enrolling in a plan with AHS is that they don’t exclude you based on unknown preexisting conditions, normal wear and tear, or old appliances. You don’t even have to worry about providing maintenance records when you submit a claim, which is critical if you’ve just bought the house and don’t have records from the previous owner. Many providers deny claims based on these factors, so I deeply appreciate American Home Shield’s understanding approach to covering items with unknown preexisting conditions or no maintenance records — because who has time to assess every appliance in their home and keep up with every recommended maintenance perfectly?
While I think the good outweighs the bad with this provider, AHS’s higher prices aren’t ideal for many homeowners, especially if you’ve just bought a home and are investing in furniture and other changes to the house. One of the quotes I received was for as much as $139.99 per month, which is a significant investment (although the coverage is definitely better than almost all providers on the market, so this may be worth it to you, depending on your priorities).
Another con is their costly service fee options of $100 or $125. Home warranty providers charge a service call fee every time they send out a technician for a claim, which can quickly add up if you have many claims within a year. Providers like Select Home Warranty offer more affordable service call fees of $75 and cheaper monthly premiums, so look into them if you’re on a tight budget.
American Home Warranty is one of my preferred providers for recent home buyers because they don’t discriminate against preexisting conditions or require maintenance records to prove you’ve kept up with maintenance over the years. Some companies, like Select Home Warranty, require up to three years of maintenance records for HVAC coverage, which is next to impossible for most people who just bought a home to provide. Another plus is their high coverage caps of up to $4,000 for appliances and up to $5,000 for home systems, double what many providers offer.
However, all of these benefits come at a higher cost. Your monthly premium may be as much as double the national average of $50 per month with AHS, and they have high service fee options of $100 and $125. Another con is their lower customer ratings on websites like Trustpilot and Yelp, two to three stars lower than what Liberty Home Guard or Elite Home Warranty receives. Still, you want to take customer reviews with a grain of salt because most customers who take the time to review a company are either very pleased or upset with the service, which can skew the overall scores. This provider is BBB-accredited, giving them more credibility and negating some of my worries about their lower customer rating scores.
For home buyers, I’d opt for the ShieldPlatinum plan because it covers appliances and systems and comes with free roof leak protection for up to $1,000 — a significant perk that most providers make you pay extra for. Water damage is incredibly expensive, so this coverage can save you. The plan even comes with a free annual HVAC tune-up that can save you additional money in repairs and up to $50,000 in total coverage limit per agreement term, which is ample enough for most homes and enough to give me peace of mind. Even your garage door opener and all of its parts, the extension, and torsion springs are part of this plan, so you won’t have to worry about this often-forgotten home feature that you’d undoubtedly miss once it stops working.
The following table doesn’t factor in available discounts into the provided monthly cost.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| ShieldSilver | $59.99 – 89.99 | $100 – $125 | Same-day discount of $125 off first year (website) |
| ShieldGold | $79.99 – 109.99 | $100 – $125 | Same-day discount of $125 off first year (website) |
| ShieldPlatinum | $109.99 – 139.99 | $100 – $125 | Same-day discount of $125 off first year(website) |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe, NM. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
American Home Shield offers affordable add-ons but lacks the variety that providers like Elite Home Warranty or Liberty Home Guard have. However, they do offer roof leak repair protection, which gives you up to $1,000 in protection. If you don’t opt for the ShieldPlatinum plan (which has free roof leak repair coverage), opt for this add-on, as most parts of the country experience enough rain or snow that your roof takes a beating.
- Roof leak repair: $10/month
- Electronics protection plan: $14/month
- Pool & built-in-spa equipment: $18/month
- Guest unit: $15.99/month
- Septic pump: $5/month
- Well pump: $8/month
Exclusions
None of American Home Shield’s exclusions are a red flag to me. This provider shines for its lack of a maintenance or preexisting condition exclusion, which providers like Select Home Warranty do exclude. This leads to more claim denials if you don’t perfectly maintain your appliances or your systems already have existing issues.
- Construction or carpentry costs
- Restoration of walls
- Flues, chimneys, venting, and exhaust lines
- Repairs or replacements due to cosmetic defects
- Repairs due to mold
- Natural disasters
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers must review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
If you’re on a tight budget after purchasing your new home, AHS may not be the right option for you. While it advertises plans with rates starting at $39.99 per month, I’ve personally only received quotes for many states with rates starting at $59.99 or more. Some plans, like the sample price above, cost $139.99 per month, which is no small fee. However, you are receiving above-average coverage and value because American Home Shield’s coverage caps are high enough to cover most appliance or home system problems. I like that you can choose a higher service fee if you’re interested in a lower monthly premium and recommend this to homeowners with newer appliances and systems, as you’ll probably need fewer service visits, so the lower monthly premium will likely save you more.
American Home Shield has an average workmanship guarantee of 30 days, which is standard. A workmanship guarantee prevents situations where you have to pay an additional service fee to have someone sent out to address a repair or replacement that was just performed within the last 30 days. While AHS’ workmanship guarantee isn’t as impressive as Liberty’s 60-day guarantee, it’s industry standard and enough for most situations. Otherwise, I enjoy American Home Shield’s quick, user-friendly quote process, which is easy to navigate. This is a big help when you’re shopping around multiple providers. During my secret shopping, AHS agents were polite and knowledgeable, but I did experience a barrage of follow-up calls and voicemails, which was a pain.
AHS is BBB-accredited (rare in this industry), which gives it a significant boost in terms of company reputation. This provider also has 53 years of industry experience, which is far more than providers like Elite Home Warranty, which only has four years of experience. On the negative side, AHS has lousy ratings from third-party websites like Yelp and Trustpilot, with reviews speaking up about issues with customer service, contract cancellations, and not enough technicians locally, which led to slower repairs. These are issues I wouldn’t personally want to deal with on top of the aggravation of having a broken appliance. Positive reviews generally spoke about satisfaction with AHS’ above-average coverage levels, which was enough to cover large repairs or big replacements and saved some customers from going into credit card debt, which is encouraging to read as we all want home warranties with enough coverage to save us from paying for these expenses out-of-pocket.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B/2.11 | 11,119 |
| Trustpilot | 2.1 | 5,290 |
| Yelp | 1.1 | 1,282 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
American Home Shield’s standard claim processing time is approximately 24 to 48 hours, which is fine for most situations. Depending on your preference, you can submit a claim through their online portal or over the phone 24/7/365 — this above-and-beyond availability reassures me when I think about dealing with a broken heater in the middle of the night.
Home buyers can take advantage of AHS’ coverage in 48 states, excluding Califonia and Hawaii. I love that American Home Shield has a vast network of over 17,000 contractors, allowing them to handle many claims efficiently. They have over two million policy members and counting, demonstrating their steadfast business model, especially considering that they’ve paid out over four billion dollars in home warranty claims in the last seven years alone.
Choice Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
No homeowner wants to worry about their home warranty provider denying their claims. After all, it’s stressful enough when your fridge breaks down, and you’re worried about all your food spoiling — we don’t want to worry about arguing with our home warranty company about accepting our claim, too. Fortunately, Choice Home Warranty is known for their high claim acceptance rate, meaning you won’t be left arguing for a claim to be accepted or giving up and paying for the repair out of pocket in most cases.
In addition, CHW has a superior 90-day workmanship warranty for parts and a 60-day guarantee for labor. These guarantees ensure you have plenty of time to use your fixed appliance or system and report any issues before the 60 or 90-day mark to have them addressed again, if necessary, without paying an additional service fee. I love the peace of mind this provides personally, and this guarantee is two to three times the industry average of 30 days, making it a solid value.
Choice Home Warranty doesn’t offer the best coverage on the market (certainly not next to providers like American Home Shield and Elite Home Warranty). Some of their coverage caps are shockingly low and won’t be sufficient for your new home if it has premium appliances or many older appliances and systems that’ll need total replacement soon.
For example, you can opt for well pump coverage with Choice, but it only covers up to $500 in total for access, diagnosis, repair, and replacement. This is far from enough because the average cost to repair a well pump is around $750, with a total replacement costing closer to $1,600. Either way, you’ll end up paying for part of a significant repair or replacement for a well pump yourself, which I don’t love.
As a home buyer, you’ll want to note that Choice won’t cover known or unknown preexisting conditions, and all appliances or home systems eligible for coverage must be in proper working order on the effective date of your home warranty with Choice. So, you’ll want to have your new home checked out by a contractor or have proof on your home purchase paperwork that these appliances or systems were in good working condition. I recommend reading your policy closely, as some items have particularly low coverage caps. For example, your stand-alone ice maker, roof leaks, septic systems, and well pumps are only covered up to $500, which isn’t enough coverage for a complete replacement or extensive repair in many cases. If you’re interested in higher coverage caps, look at American Home Shield or Elite Home Warranty instead.
On the positive side, CHW has a high claim acceptance rate and a fantastic workmanship guarantee that covers parts for 90 days and labor for 60 days after a repair or replacement. This gives you ample time to assess the repair and ensure your home system or appliance is working properly.
Choice Home Warranty isn’t as customizable as Liberty Home Guard because it offers fewer add-ons and plan options. But, their Total Plan can be affordable for home buyers wanting coverage for appliances and home systems. I’d recommend skipping the Basic Plan altogether because common appliances like kitchen appliances, AC units, and clothes washers and dryers aren’t covered in this policy, which is a dealbreaker for me and many homeowners. The Total Plan has more comprehensive coverage for all those appliances, plus plumbing stoppages, garbage disposals, exhaust fans, and cooktops, making it my favorite plan from this company.
| Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Basic Plan | $46.67 | $100 | 5% discount, annual payment discounts, and 1 month free (online or phone) |
| Total Plan | $54.75 | $100 | 5% discount, annual payment discounts, and 1 month free (online or phone) |
*The monthly cost figures provided include the 5% discount offered at the time of writing. Choice Home Warranty has been running this promotion since the beginning of this year.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
CHW doesn’t have a large selection of add–ons, at least not next to providers like Liberty Home Guard, which has more than 40 choices. However, they offer limited roof leak protection, which I recommend for most homeowners since roof repair is notoriously costly.
- Central vacuum: $3.33/month
- Limited roof leak: $5.83/month
- Pool: $15/month
- Second Refrigerator: $3.33/month
- Septic System: $10/month
- Septic Tank Pumping: $5.42/month
- Spa: $15/month
- Additional Spa: $15/month
- Sprinkler system: $8.33/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $3.33/month
- Sump pump: $3.33/month
- Well pump: $8.33/month
Exclusions
None of Choice’s exclusions stood out as unusual to me. If you have a pool in your new home, note that pool accessories aren’t covered, even if you have the pool add-on coverage.
- Audio or visual equipment
- Internet connection components
- Upgrades or modifications to original systems or appliances
- Pool accessories
- Fireplaces
- Doorbell
- Central vacuum ductwork, accessories, hoses, and blockages
- Portable or above-ground spas and pools
- Act of God incidents
- Known or unknown preexisting conditions
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Choice Home Warranty is one of the industry’s most affordable home warranty companies (following Select Home Warranty). During my secret shopping, I received quotes for less than $55 per month for a two-bedroom home in New Mexico, about $10 less than the average home warranty monthly premiums for home buyers based on my research. On top of this, Choice’s add-ons are largely inexpensive and cost about half as much as many of Liberty Home Guard’s options, making it easier for homeowners on a budget to stay within that budget but receive extra coverage for unique features like their sprinkler system, pool, or second refrigerator.
A smooth customer experience is key to satisfaction with just about any company in the service industry, and Choice delivers this. For starters, they vet all local contractors, which leaves me with less work as I hate having to suddenly drop everything to scramble to research, vet, and make an appointment with a contractor when something breaks down. Once you submit your claim and it’s approved, Choice handles this by choosing a contractor from their network and scheduling the appointment with you.
Plus, Choice has a user-friendly website and instant quote generator that are easy to navigate and very educational. My only criticism is you have to go back and forth between web pages in the quote generator to see what different plans cost, rather than all of the information being on one page, as Liberty Home Guard offers.
Choice Home Warranty has a solid company reputation with a strong B rating from the Better Business Bureau and close to four-star rating from nearly 40,000 reviewers on Trustpilot. These scores are much better than American Home Shield’s 2.1-star rating from Trustpilot, giving me more faith in their process. They also have 14 years of experience in the industry, more than most home warranty companies on this list, and a plethora of positive reviews. Customers cited good experiences with professional customer service agents, fast home repairs, and a high claim acceptance — all things I want from my home warranty provider. On the other hand, negative reviews criticized problems with repeatedly opening claims to have it approved, which bothers me, as I don’t want to stress about claim denial when my plumbing is on the fritz.
Finally, I want to mention that Choice Home Warranty is involved in a consumer fraud lawsuit initiated by the Arizona Attorney General. Although this case is pending, it’s not reassuring.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B/1.04 | 4,373 |
| Trustpilot | 3.7 | 38,925 |
| Yelp | 1.0 | 144 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Choice Home Warranty shines for their user-friendly claims process. You can submit a claim through their online account center or over the phone 24/7/265. If you’re concerned about claim denial, I recommend Choice for their high claim acceptance rate. Between what our team at Today’s Homeowner found and the many customer reviews online praising them for their excellent claim acceptance rate, this is a provider that you don’t have to worry about finicky claim denials and resubmissions with — which is something that I don’t want to deal with when I’m already frustrated about my broken dishwasher. On top of this, Choice has a standout 90-day workmanship guarantee for parts and 60 days for labor. This is two to three times the industry standard of 30 days and gives you far more time to notice anything amiss with your appliance after a repair. CHW also claims to handle all claims and complaints within 24 hours, which I find reassuring as a customer.
CHW provides home warranty coverage in 48 states, except California and Washington. With over 14 years of experience and a steadfast business model, they provide coverage for over two million homes in the United States.
Select Home Warranty
4.2
Our Rating
If you’re on a budget, Select Home Warranty is more affordable than most home warranty providers, with most plans costing less than $50 per month — this is $14 less per month than the average quote I received for this article and a grand total of $168 per year in savings. I also love that their service fees are cheaper at only $75 per call. Some providers, like Elite Home Warranty, may charge up to $150 for a service visit, which is double what Select charges and is certainly less affordable.
If your new home has older appliances or systems, Select Home Warranty doesn’t exclude them from coverage. As long as the items are in good working condition when your home warranty policy takes effect and you properly clean and maintain them, they are eligible for coverage. Plus, if your home has appliances with older brands that are out of business, these are also covered, as all makes and models are included in Select coverage.
Select has a lot of frustrating exclusions, notably their specific exclusions regarding maintenance records. It’s up to their discretion, but Select can require up to three years’ worth of maintenance records (even images) to prove that you’ve properly maintained and cleaned your HVAC over the years before they pay out. This is extremely aggravating for a new home buyer who had no control over whether or not their HVAC or other appliances were properly maintained before they purchased the home. Now, if your home has many new appliances or systems, this won’t be a problem, but otherwise, you may want to look at a provider like American Home Shield, which doesn’t require maintenance records.
Another con is some of their specific exclusions, like any damage to the electrical system caused by rust, flood, fire, or water. You may be unaware of many of these exclusions, such as a power failure.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your new mortgage and other expenses around your home, like buying new furniture or painting, Select is a budget-friendly choice. They offer some of the most affordable monthly premiums (usually less than $50 per month) and many discounts, including a discount if you sign up for a multi-year plan. You also receive free roof leak coverage (a $99 value), which is critical for protecting your new home from expensive roof repairs and resulting water damage.
On the negative side, Select has many exclusions, including frustrating policies around maintenance and cleaning. At any time, Select may require you to provide maintenance records and pictures for the last three years to qualify for the maximum reimbursement for an appliance or system. If you’ve just bought your home, this poses a significant problem unless the previous homeowners passed on maintenance records to you. For example, if you don’t periodically clean and replace your HVAC filters, Select may only reimburse you $150 in coverage, not $3,000, so these records are critical.
Select Home Warranty scores well in this category for their flexible plan options, including a systems-only, appliance-only, and comprehensive plan featuring both. I recommend the comprehensive plan, the Platinum Care plan, because you receive the greatest coverage and up to $3,000 in HVAC coverage, which is one of the most costly repairs or replacements home buyers face. Amazingly, the Platinum Care plan only costs about $3 more monthly than the appliance or systems-only plans. So, it’s my preferred choice for greater peace of mind.
| Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Bronze Care | $44.42 | $75 | $150 off (website), two extra months free (website), multi-year coverage discount (phone) |
| Gold Care | $44.42 | $75 | $150 off (website), two extra months free (website), multi-year coverage discount (phone) |
| Platinum Care | $47.75 | $75 | $150 off (website), two extra months free (website), multi-year coverage discount (phone) |
*Monthly cost figures provided include the discounted rate offered at the time of writing. Select Home Warranty has been running this promotion since the beginning of this year.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe, NM. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
A standout benefit of Select’s plans is they all come with free roof leak coverage (valued at $99). Otherwise, their add-ons are pretty standard:
- Central vacuum: $3.33/mo
- Lawn sprinkler system: $5.83/mo
- Pool: $8.33/mo
- Roof leak: $0/mo
- Septic system: $5.83/mo
- Spa: $5.83/mo
- Stand-alone freezer: $3.33/mo
- Sump pump: $3.33/mo
- Well pump: $3.33/mo
Exclusions
Buyers should pay close attention to Select’s maintenance and cleaning exclusion. Essentially, you must maintain and clean all your appliances and systems regularly, or Select can deny your claim, especially regarding your HVAC system. If you just bought the home, you may not have maintenance records that go back three years to prove they were maintained, so consider this as you compare providers.
- Secondary damage (i.e., your home warranty may cover roof damage but won’t cover water damage caused by the leak)
- Incorrect installation or malfunctions due to construction damage or improper wiring
- Issues with systems or appliances related to hazardous or toxic materials (e.g., mold, asbestos, and gas leaks)
- Common areas in condominiums or family homes
- Failure to properly maintain or clean systems or appliances
- Electrical surges
- Solar heating systems
- Foundation or structural issues
- Damage caused by natural disasters and rust
- Defects or damages caused by the foundation and structure of the home
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Select Home Warranty is one of the most affordable providers on the market, and all the quotes I received cost less than $50 per month. This is fantastic as many providers, like Liberty Home Guard, have their cheapest plan starting at around $50 per month.
You can sign up for Select’s most comprehensive plan at less than $50 per month based on the quotes I received. Plus, Select has a plethora of available discounts, including a discount if you pay for multiple years at once and ongoing sales on their website. Another fantastic value that enhances their affordability is the free roof leak coverage with all Select plans. Every other provider on this list makes you pay for a roof leak coverage add-on, so the fact that this comes with the plan is a notable benefit.
Select has a user-friendly website and truly instant quote calculator, which boosted my opinion of their customer experience after I dealt with providers like Elite Home Warranty, who only give quotes over the phone. This instant quote helps you shop faster and collect prices from multiple companies to weigh your options faster.
Select Home Warranty receives mostly positive reviews from third-party websites like Trustpilot, giving it a 3.8-star rating from nearly 5,000 reviewers. They have over 12 years of experience in the industry and a B rating from the BBB. Customers praise them for budget-friendly pricing, professional customer service agents, and an easy claims process, all critical factors for continuing satisfaction with a provider. On the other hand, I don’t love that negative reviews cited issues with HVAC coverage. I’m guessing this is due to Select’s policy about providing maintenance records for your HVAC, which can lead to claim denial or lower reimbursement rates if you can’t demonstrate that you kept up with HVAC maintenance.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B/1.38 | 2,100 |
| Trustpilot | 3.8 | 4,831 |
| Yelp | 1.0 | 9 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Select Home Warranty has an average claims process, with about a 48-hour wait period to hear back after submitting a non-emergency claim. This is a little slower than I’d like to see, especially when knockout providers like Liberty Home Guard average a 12-hour response time, which is great for those freezing days when your heater breaks. As for the process itself, you can submit claims through the online portal or by calling customer service.
Home buyers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia can enroll in a plan with Select Home Warranty. This gives them a perfect score in this category for their excellent availability and demonstrative ability to service customers on a large scale.
Elite Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
Elite Home Warranty has exceptional customer satisfaction, with the Better Business Bureau accrediting it and giving it a fantastic A+ rating. Other third-party review websites, like Trustpilot, give it nearly five stars — an almost perfect score, giving me a lot of faith in the company’s customer service. On top of this, Elite has amazing coverage caps (the maximum a provider will pay out for an item) of up to $6,000 for appliances and up to $10,000 for home systems. This is two to three times more than most home warranty providers allot, with some providers like Select Home Warranty having only $500 in coverage for some items.
If you have old appliances, Elite may not be the best choice. Their sample policy includes an age restriction. If your item is older than 10 years, you’re limited to repairs only, and there aren’t any full replacements. If the appliance is broken beyond repair, you’ll receive a cash payout, which could be less than the original appliance’s worth.
Check how old your appliances are before signing on with Elite to see how this would impact your new home. Many appliances aren’t built to last and often need complete replacements after three to five years, so this policy may not impact you too much, depending on your situation.
If you bought a home with many professional-grade appliances, Elite isn’t the provider for you because they charge an automatic $150 service fee per visit rather than their standard $100 service fee, which is very expensive. Homes with appliances older than 10 years may also suffer since full replacements are off the table due to their age restriction policy.
However, I love that Elite doesn’t require maintenance records like Select Home Warranty does for some home systems. This means you don’t have to provide service records and photos before having a claim approved and a technician sent out to address the problem. This can be a major benefit if you’re not great about staying on top of maintenance. Plus, you don’t have to worry about securing these records from the previous owners (who may not even have them).
Elite has unique benefits for customers that I haven’t seen many providers offer without an extra charge. For example, Elite will pay up to $100 per term for disposing of any covered items (which Liberty Home Guard won’t cover). If you need replacements in the coming year, this $100 allowance saves you from paying for that out-of-pocket. Another example is Elite’s policy around paying up to $250 for cranes or other lifting equipment if needed to replace an appliance. Again, many providers won’t cover this cost, even for a covered replacement, so this is a BIG deal that helps you save money. They’ll even reimburse you up to $100 for the cost of spoiled food if they don’t repair your refrigerator fast enough and your food spoils. All of these benefits reassure me of Elite’s dedication to customer service above all else.
Elite Home Warranty has excellent plan options, with my recommendation for buyers being the Elite Complete plan, as it only costs around $10 to $15 more than Elite’s other plans and covers both appliances and home systems — giving you less to worry about. I certainly don’t want to move into my new home and immediately worry about not having enough money to replace a significant appliance like my fridge.
The following quotes don’t include available discounts.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Elite Appliance | $44.99 | $100 | $150 sign-up, first month free, 30-day free trial (phone) |
| Elite Systems | $49.99 | $100 | $150 sign-up, first month free, 30-day free trial (phone) |
| Elite Complete | $59.99 | $100 | $150 sign-up, first month free, 30-day free trial (phone) |
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe, NM. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Next to Liberty Home Guard, Elite Home Warranty has the biggest range of add-ons I’ve seen available from a home warranty provider. I’m incredibly impressed with their HVAC maintenance option, which can help you keep up with necessary maintenance and keep your HVAC running better for longer. Buyers would significantly benefit from limited roof leak protection (particularly if you don’t know the exact state of your new home’s roof).
- Attic exhaust fan: $69.99/year
- Central vacuum: $49.00/year
- Effluent pump: $99.99/year
- Ejector pump: $99.99/year
- Freestanding freezer: $59.99/year
- Freestanding ice maker: $59.99/year
- Freestanding spa equipment: $119.99/year
- Generator: $99.99/year
- Geothermal heating and cooling system: $299.99/year
- Grinder pump: $99.99/year
- Guest house: $299.99/year
- HVAC annual maintenance: $299.99/year
- Jetted/hot tub: $99.99/year
- Lawn sprinkler system: $99.99/year
- Lift pump: $99.99/year
- Limited roof leak repair: $99.99/year
- Pool & spa equipment: $199.99/year
- Pool equipment: $149.99/year
- Premium appliances: $249.99/year
- Premium benefits: $199.99/year
- Premium systems: $299.99/year
- Premium systems Plus: $499.99/year
- Septic system: $129.99/year
- Service lines: $349.99/year
- Sump pump: $99.99/year
- Swamp cooler: $149.99/year
- Water filtration system: $99.99/year
- Water softener: $99.99/year
- Well pump: $99.99/year
- Wine cooler: $69.99/year
Exclusions
Buyers will be happy to note that Elite’s exclusions are standard. The only exception is if you have commercial-grade appliances.
- Natural disaster-related damages
- Acts of God
- Commercial-grade appliances
- Units in a rental property (i.e. apartments)
- Cosmetic damage
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers must review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Elite’s plans are competitively priced. I received quotes for a two-bedroom single-family home for between $44.99 and $59.99, which is right in the average for industry prices (about $50 per month nationwide or $64 per month for buyers based on my research in this article).
Elite’s add-ons are priced reasonably, with most costing between $15 and $20 a month while often providing better coverage than providers like Liberty Home Guard, who charges $20+ per month for most add-ons. Where Elite falls short in their affordability is their costly service fees. Elite usually charges $100 per service visit, and any weekends, after-hours, or professional-grade appliance service visits cost $150 by default — double what Select charges for a service visit regardless of the time of day or day of the week.
For more information about the difference between homeowners insurance and a home warranty, watch Elite’s video here:
Many customer reviews pointed out positive, informative experiences with Elite customer service agents, particularly in the sense that they weren’t pushy or trying to upsell them over the phone. This echoed my experience with customer representatives and enhanced my experience with Elite, as I wasn’t stressed out about agents continuing to call and push me to purchase a plan.
Elite offers unique benefits that enhance the customer experience beyond what I’ve seen many in the industry offer. For example, Elite has a lodging coverage benefit that reimburses you up to $125 for documented lodging expenses per day for up to three days (a total of up to $375) if your home system or appliance breaks down and makes staying in your home safely impossible. Examples of this situation include if your HVAC dies in the winter or hot summer or if your furnace leaks carbon monoxide. I like this benefit and feel it demonstrates an above-and-beyond dedication to customers as people, not just another number. However, Elite does score a bit lower for their lack of follow-through. Sometimes, I would communicate with an agent, ask a follow-up question, and never hear back over the phone or text.
This BBB-accredited provider has a fantastic A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and nearly perfect scores on Trustpilot and Yelp. During my extensive research into home warranty companies, I’ve only seen Liberty Home Guard rival these scores, as most providers have around a three-star average. Positive reviews share that Elite’s customer service is above average and that clients are typically happy with the high coverage limits. I couldn’t find enough negative reviews to summarize them effectively. The only downside to Elite’s company reputation is that they have only four years of industry experience, which is far less than American Home Shield, with over 50 years of experience. Now, this doesn’t mean that Elite can’t offer an excellent service, but experience in the industry can be reassuring, which is why it lost a point for longevity.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+/4.97 | 371 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 | 70 |
| Yelp | 4.8 | 4 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Elite falls short with their claims process because of their weekend visit service fee. Unfortunately, this provider automatically charges a $150 service fee for weekend or after-hour visits. This also extends to professional-grade appliances, so if you have a lot of professional-grade appliances, you’ll be charged more for each visit — which I find frustrating as a homeowner, especially when I think about how upset I’d already feel after having a major appliance like my clothes washer break down over the weekend. Otherwise, their claims process is average, with both an online portal and customer service phone number available to you for submitting claims.
Elite Home Warranty is available to all U.S. homeowners except those in California, Wisconsin, or Texas. This is excellent availability overall, giving Elite a great score in this category.
Calculate the Cost of Buyers Home Warranty
Plug in your monthly premium and service fee cost, then your best guess for how many service visits you’ll need in one year to receive an approximate yearly cost for your home warranty plan.
| Appliance | Average Repair Cost | Average Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dehumidifier | $50–$200 | $1,300–$2,800 |
| Microwave | $50–$400 | $60–$2,000 |
| Dishwasher | $50–$500 | $400–$3,000 |
| Exhaust Fans | $16–$300 | $250–$950 |
| Electric Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Gas Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Dryer | $100–$400 | $450–$2,300 |
| Oven | $100–$430 | $400–$3,000 |
| Washer | $50–$450 | $400–$2,300 |
| Freezer | $90–$500 | $160–$2,900 |
| Refrigerator | $40–$350 | $200–$5,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Buyers Need a Home Warranty?
Yes, a home warranty is often a wise investment for buyers because they may have purchased a home with older appliances or premium appliances that cost more to repair and replace. If they’re buying a home with all new appliances and systems covered by manufacturer’s warranties, a home warranty isn’t essential until the warranties expire.
How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost for Buyers?
Based on my comprehensive secret shopping and quotes I received for a home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the average cost of a home warranty for buyers is $64 per month. However, the cost of a home warranty can vary dramatically based on your home’s location and the type of plan and add-ons you select.
How Can Buyers Save Money When Shopping for Home Warranties?
To save money on your home warranty, opt for a higher service fee option if the provider has one available to reduce the cost of your monthly premium. Other steps I take to get a better deal include shopping online for discounts and calling the provider directly to ask about available deals or discounts. I almost always got a better deal on my home warranty when I spoke with a representative.
Is a Home Warranty Worth It for Home Buyers?
A home warranty is usually worth it for buyers because it’s unlikely that all of your appliances and systems are covered under a manufacturer’s warranty simultaneously. If a manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t cover your appliances or systems, you could end up being slammed with expensive repairs or replacements right after moving in, which could lead to high out-of-pocket costs and even debt since many of us can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars in repairs out-of-pocket. A home warranty is worth it for most buyers to prevent financial strain due to sudden breakdowns.
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