Best Home Warranty Companies in Georgia (2022)

In Georgia, a home warranty is a service contract designed to help homeowners offset the cost of unexpected appliance and system failures due to normal wear and tear over time.

House Method collected feedback from real homeowners to curate a rating system designed to identify the best home warranty companies based on the needs of our readers. Our review process analyzes premier providers based on their coverage, cost, industry integrity, customer support framework, customizability, and more.  Read on for our research-backed round-up of the best home warranty options available in Georgia.

Top 6 Best Home Warranty Companies in Georgia (2022)

1. Choice Home Warranty: Best overall
2. Select Home Warranty: Most cost-effective plans
3. American Home Shield: Best customizable plans
4. The Home Service Club: Quickest service
5. Liberty Home Guard: Most trustworthy
6. Cinch Home Services: Best Workmanship Guarantee

Compare the Best Home Warranties in Georgia

What to Look for in a Georgia Home Warranty

• Adequate A/C Coverage: Not all home warranty providers automatically offer air conditioning coverage as a standard inclusion. Some may instead only advertise it as an optional coverage rider, for which you’ll have to pay an extra monthly fee. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the fine print of your policy before signing up.
• Reasonable Service Fees: Across the home warranty industry, the average service call fee is $75. We recommend prioritizing providers with a deductible at or around that price range. And especially so if you think you’ll need to file multiple claims per year. Service fees can add up quickly.
• High Coverage Limits: any provider with annual coverage limits at or above the $3,072 industry average will ensure you get the most bang for your buck in the event of an HVAC failure.

Choice Home Warranty

Why We Chose Choice Home Warranty

Our in-house team of home warranty experts scored Choice Home Warranty with 4.9 out of 5 stars and named it the best overall provider option in Georgia. CHW scored highest out of all six providers featured in this article for its $3,000 per-item annual coverage caps, expedited service for emergency breakdowns, and its two simple yet comprehensive plan options.

Choice Home Warranty boasts 14 years of industry experience and has handled over four million service requests during its time in business. It remains one of the most popular home warranty options in Georgia for its below-average monthly premiums and well-rounded standard coverage. One thing to note is that air conditioning is only included in Choice’s Total Plan. However, given the minimal difference in price between the Basic Plan and Total Plan, we advise Georgia homeowners to opt for the Total Plan for premium protection.

Pros and Cons of Choice Home Warranty

Plans and Pricing

• Basic Plan ($45 per month): The Basic Plan covers 14 items, including plumbing systems, plumbing stoppages, ceiling fans, garbage disposals, heating systems, cooktop exhaust fans, built-in microwaves, dishwashers, ductwork, electrical systems, garage door openers, ovens, toilets, and hot water heaters. This is a good plan option, but it excludes one feature essential to Georgia living: air conditioning.
• Total Plan ($53.33 per month): This comprehensive plan covers all 14 items in the Basic Plan plus air conditioning systems, refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers. Any Georgia resident with an A/C unit will want to ensure that they opt for this coverage level as air conditioning unit repairs can easily creep into the thousands to fix.

Additional Coverage

Alongside its two base plans, Choice Home Warranty also offers nine additional coverage riders for customers to choose from, including:

• Pool and spa (for in-ground set-ups only)
• Roof leak repairs (for single-family homes only)
• Central vacuum
• Septic systems (does not includes leach lines, field lines, or lateral lines)
• Septic tank pumping
• Sprinkler systems
• Standalone ice-makers and second refrigerators
• Sump pumps
• Trash compactors
• Well pumps

To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.

For more information, read our Choice Home Warranty Review.

Select Home Warranty

Why We Chose Select Home Warranty

• Average Annual Cost: $630 – $699.99
• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

We scored Select Home Warranty with 4.8 out of 5 stars and named it the most cost-effective provider in the category. Select Home Warranty (SHW)  is the most cost-effective plan for Georgia homeowners. For over a decade, SHW has offered generous discounts and seasonal promotions. New joiners will receive an additional $150 off their premium plus two bonus months of free coverage and complimentary roof protection. Select sells one-of-a-kind home warranty plans for homeowners, sellers, buyers, and real estate professionals.

Pros and Cons of Select Home Warranty

Plans and Pricing

Here’s a detailed look at Select Home Warranty’s coverage:

• Bronze Care ($58 per month): The Bronze Care plan covers eight major appliances, including refrigerators, built-in microwaves, clothes washers and dryers, ovens, stoves, garbage disposals, and cooktops. We recommend this plan level for first-time homeowners who aren’t fully clear on their coverage needs but still want minimal protection in the meantime.
• Gold Care ($57.67 per month): The Gold Care plan covers six major home systems, including plumbing, air conditioning, heating, water heaters, electrical systems, and ductwork. Again, as a systems-only plan, this level doesn’t include items mentioned in the Bronze Care plan.
• Platinum Care ($62.08 per month): The Platinum Care plan is the most comprehensive option offered by Select Home Warranty. With this plan, Georgia homeowners will have both system and appliance coverage for just a couple of bucks more per month than the Bronze Care or Gold Care plan.

Additional Coverage

Georgia customers can take their home warranty plan one step further by adding any of Select’s add-on coverage items to their policy:

• Light fixtures (including smoke detectors, outlets, electrical switches, fluorescent fixtures, etc.)
• Plumbing fixtures (including showerheads, faucet filters, shower arms, etc.)
• Built-in ice-makers (does not cover freestanding ice-makers, dispensers, valves, or water lines)
• Sump pumps
• Well pumps
• Standalone freezers and second refrigerators
• Pools and spas
• Septic systems
• Lawn sprinkler systems
• Central vacuum

To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953.

For more information, read our Select Home Warranty Review.

American Home Shield

Why We Chose American Home Shield

• Average Annual Cost: $527.88 – $711.88
• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

American Home Shield earned 4.7 out 5 stars when passed through our rating system. We recognized this provider for having the best customizable plans in the industry. Founded in 1971, American Home Shield is one of the oldest providers on the market and has spent decades understanding how no two homes are the same. We recommend this provider for older homes in Georgia because AHS will cover items of all ages, regardless of whether or not it has any maintenance records. It’ll also take care of removing and disposing of defective items, which several providers specifically exclude.

Pros and Cons of American Home Shield

Plans and Pricing

Here’s a detailed look at American Home Shield’s coverage:

• ShieldSilver ($34.27 per month): ShieldSilver covers 14 home systems, including air conditioning, electrical systems, smoke alarms, water heaters, doorbells, garage door openers, heating systems, plumbing, ductwork and more. Repairs for most of these systems are capped at $2,500 per item.
• ShieldGold ($44.27 per month): The ShieldGold plan covers 23 home systems and appliances, including those offered in ShieldSilver plus clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers, built-in microwaves, ovens, and refrigerators.
• ShieldPlatinum ($64.27  per month): ShieldPlatinum includes a total of 27 systems and appliances and is one of the most premium home warranty policies in Georgia. Coverage caps for this plan level are more than double the previous plans, with a per-item limit of $6,000. ShieldPlatinum policyholders will also get unlimited A/C refrigerant, one free HVAC system tune-up per year, and coverage for code and permit violations.

Additional Coverage

You can also add the following coverage riders to your AHS home warranty:

• Pools and spas
• Electronic extended warranty
• Guest unit
• Roof leak protection
• Well pumps
• Septic pumps

To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.

For more information, read our American Home Shield Review.

The Home Service Club

Why We Chose The Home Service Club

We scored The Home Service Club with 4.7 out of 5 stars, rewarding it specifically for having the quicket home warranty coverage. Unlike competing providers that, on average, require a 30-day waiting, HSC activates its customers’ coverage just ten days after signing your contract agreement. Since 2008, HSC has offered robust home warranty plans with no limit on how many service requests you can open per year. HSC is an excellent option for home buyers and sellers as it offers three specialty real estate packages made specifically for homes on the market.

Pros and Cons of The Home Service Club

Plans and Pricing

Here’s a detailed look at The Home Service Club’s coverage:

• Standard Coverage ($50 per month): The Standard Coverage plan is the most basic option from HSC. It includes 18 covered items such as air conditioners, ceiling fans, water leaks, water heaters, electrical systems, central vacuum, dishwashers, refrigerators, trash compactors, ovens, and more. Standard Coverage tends to be one of the most popular Georgia choices because of its value mix of system and appliance coverage.
• Comprehensive Coverage ($63.90 per month): The Comprehensive Coverage plan has fifteen more covered items than HSC’s Standard Coverage. This more advanced policy level also throws in coverage for gas leaks, ductwork, sump pumps, pest control, doorbells, plumbing stoppages, attic fans, whole house exhaust fans, and more.

Additional Coverage

HSC has ten optional coverage add-ons available for customers who wish to further personalize their plan:

• Jetted bathtubs
• Pools and spas
• Refrigerators with dual compressors (includes built-in fridges and fridges with top freezers, bottom freezers, and french doors)
• Roof leak repairs
• Sewage ejector pumps
• Standalone freezer
• Utility line coverage (includes outside water lines, gas lines, sewer lines, electric lines, grinder pumps, and sprinkler systems)
• Water softener (covers single and twin units)
• Well pumps

To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form.

For more information, read our The Home Service Club Review

Liberty Home Guard

Why We Chose Liberty Home Guard

House Method gave Liberty Home Guard 4.6 out of 5 stars and named it the most trustworthy home warranty company in Georgia. Having only been in business for five years, LHG has made remarkable strides next to its older competitors. LHG is the only leading home warranty company to maintain an A rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It also requires every contractor it partners with to undergo a ten-day vetting process to ensure their technical expertise. Still, all work performed on your home is guaranteed for two months after the repair is made.

Pros and Cons of Liberty Home Guard

Plans and Pricing

Here’s a detailed look at Liberty Home Guard’s coverage:

• Appliance Guard ($70 per month): Appliance Guard covers 11 major appliances, including garage door openers, ceiling fans, cooktop exhaust fans, ovens, refrigerators, garbage disposals, dishwashers, built-in microwaves, clothes washers, clothes dryers, and built-in ice-makers.
• Systems Guard ($74.99 per month): Systems Guard offers coverage for nine essential home systems including electrical, heating, air conditioning, ductwork, plumbing, plumbing stoppages, bath exhaust fans, toilets, and hot water heaters.
• Total Home Guard ($79.99 per month): Total Home Guard covers 20 appliances and systems by combining the previous two plans. Opting for the more comprehensive plan option will significantly reduce the number of ineligible breakdowns around your home in the future.

Additional Coverage

Liberty Home Guard has one of the most extensive lists of add-ons offered across all home warranty providers, with items including:

• Carpet and gutter cleaning
• Central vacuum
• Electronic protection
• Grinder pumps
• Guest unit coverage (up to 750 square feet)
• Gutter cleaning
• Instant hot water dispensers
• Light fixtures
• Limited roof leak coverage (only applies to patching over occupied areas of single-family homes)
• Pest control
• Plumbing fixtures
• Pools and spas (includes chlorine and saltwater set-ups)
• Power washing for exterior flooring (includes driveways, walkways, decks, patios, etc.)
• Pro-series kitchen and laundry appliances (exclusively for professional-grade appliances with luxury features)
• Re-keying (cover re-keys for two lock cylinders per contract term)
• Reverse osmosis filter systems
• Septic system pumping
• Sewage ejector pumps
• Sprinkler systems
• Standalone freezers, ice-makers, second refrigerators, and wine coolers
• Sump pumps
• TV mounting (for up to 65-inch or 85-inch TVs)
• Water softener
• Well pumps
• Window washing (does not include interior cleaning)

To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281.

Read our Liberty Home Guard review for more information.

Cinch Home Services

Why We Chose Cinch Home Services

We scored Cinch Home Services with 4.4 out of 5 stars, namely for having the best workmanship guarantee in the industry. Covering home repairs with a 180-day workmanship warranty, Georgia homeowners won’t need to worry about paying additional service fees for any potential repeat breakdowns. Given that the average workmanship warranty is around 60 days across the home warranty industry, Cinch goes above and beyond to back the quality of its contractors’ craftsmanship.

Pros and Cons of Cinch Home Services

Plans and Pricing

• Appliance Plan ($44.99 per month): Includes coverage for 12 essential home appliances such as clothes dryers, clothes washers, cooktops, dishwashers, built-in food centers, built-in microwaves, and more.
• Built-in Systems Plan ($51.99 per month): Includes coverage for 16 major home systems including air conditioning, attic fans, ceiling fans, central vacuum, doorbells, electrical, heating, and more.
• Complete Home Plan ($61.99 per month): Combines all inclusions in the Appliance and Built-in Systems Plans, and throws in a home insurance deductible reimbursement of $500.

Additional Coverage

If you’re looking to go beyond what’s included in Cinch’s standard coverage, policyholders can also purchase:

• Pool (includes heater)
• Spa (includes heater)
• Septic tank and related plumbing
• Well pump

To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 833-743-1056.

Read our Cinch Home Services review for more information.

Local Home Warranty Companies in Georgia

• Athens, GA
• Atlanta, GA
• Columbus, GA
• Macon, GA
• Sandy Springs, GA
• Savannah, GA
• South Fulton, GA

How Much Does a Home Warranty in Georgia Cost?

Purchasing a home warranty in Georgia will typically cost between $45 and $70 a month, or $480 to $840 per year, depending on the level of coverage you select and whether you opt for any policy add-ons. You should also expect to pay a service fee of $60 to $125 each time a technician is sent to your home for a new service request. This deductible compensates your contractor for labor costs and any expenses they might incur while traveling to your home, like gas mileage and wear on company vehicles.

Though not directly related to cost, homeowners should know the coverage limits disclosed in their contracts. These maximums specify the dollar amount your home warranty company will cover for an approved repair or replacement. For any maintenance that costs more than that coverage cap, you’ll be required to cover the remaining expenses out-of-pocket.

Compare the Best Home Warranty Companies in Georgia

Final Thoughts

A home warranty offers an entirely different type of home protection than what any home insurance policy or HOA agreement will cover in Georgia. With a protection plan in place for your essential appliances and systems, you’ll be spared from shelling out thousands of dollars when something inevitably stops working properly in your home.

Next to its competitors, Choice Home Warranty offers the most comprehensive coverage in Georgia, no matter what plan level you select. Both its Basic and Total policy options included major systems and appliances, that way, homeowners can get the most out of their membership regardless of what their budget may limit. 

How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in Georgia

Though we’ve carefully evaluated each of these five companies and stand by them as premier provider options for homeowners across Georgia, we still recommend shopping around to find the best home warranty for your own coverage priorities.

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind as you continue to browse:

• Consider experience in the industry: As you compare providers, you’ll notice that industry experience varies significantly across companies. Some carriers are as young as a year old, while others have been around for over 50 years. We’d recommend sticking with a company that’s been in business for at least ten years or more, like Choice Home Warranty or American Home Shield.
• Skim verified customer reviews: There are always two sides to every story. You can get a solid idea of how a company truly performs and delivers by reading testimonials from current or former policyholders. Keep an eye out for trends in feedback concerning claim denials, poor workmanship, or distant customer support.
• Study coverage details and fine print: Just because HVAC coverage is mentioned in your contract doesn’t necessarily mean that all parts of your HVAC unit are included. Every home warranty company has its own coverage limitations and exclusions that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with before signing up.

What is a Home Warranty?

A home warranty is a service contract intended to help homeowners manage the high costs of home appliance and system repairs. By paying for a policy upfront, along with a select service fee each time you need service, a home warranty guarantees that you’ll have access to instant professional maintenance at no additional cost to you.

When you sign up for a home warranty, your coverage benefits will go into effect after an initial waiting period of 30 days. Because home warranties only cover appliance and systems damage due to normal wear and tear over time, no breakdowns or hiccups that pre-date the end of the waiting period will be covered by your provider.

Some home warranty providers may require an inspection of the home before the start date of the policy to keep record of any detectable pre-existing conditions, but most will not.

Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance

It’s important for homeowners to understand that a home insurance policy doesn’t offer the same type of protection as a home warranty. Homeowners insurance will protect your finances and other assets from damage sustained by more catastrophic events like natural disasters and theft. A home warranty, on the other hand, is designed to protect you from the costs of more predictable, but equally expensive repairs within the home caused by age-related deterioration.

What Does a Home Warranty Cover?

With a home warranty in place, main appliances and systems built throughout your home in Georgia will be covered for routine and emergency repairs and replacements as they break down over time due to natural overuse.

No home warranty policy is created equal, so it’s important to ensure that the provider you choose offers coverage that accommodates your unique needs before you sign any lines. Some inclusions, however, are generally unanimous industry-wide. Items most commonly offered under standard home warranty coverage include:

What is Not Covered by a Home Warranty?

A home warranty will only protect against everyday wear and tear on your covered home systems and appliances. There are several outlying scenarios that aren’t eligible for coverage through your service provider, including damage related to:

• Known pre-existing conditions
• Secondary damage due to the unaddressed issue (ex. interior wood rot due to a leaky sink faucet)
• Improper installation
• Intentional misuse of a covered item
• Poor routine maintenance/neglect
• Mold and mildew remediation
• Cosmetic or factory defects
• Rust, corrosion, or sediment
• Invasive pest and vermin
• Any coverage overlaps with an active home insurance policy or manufacturer’s warranty

How Does a Home Warranty in Georgia Work?

Once your home is covered, getting an appliance or system back in working order is quite simple. Here’s a breakdown of how to use your home warranty to secure professional maintenance, from start to finish:

Filing a Claim

To open a service request with your home warranty provider, you’ll first need to report the issue by filing a claim. This can be done by calling your company directly or submitting an online claim form through your customer portal. Most home warranty claims processing centers will take 24-48 business hours to provide you with an approval or denial of your claim.

First Home Visit

Assuming your claim was approved for coverage, a licensed and pre-screened technician will be sent to your home to assess the issue in person and draft a maintenance quote that they’ll report back to your provider with. At this appointment, no repairs and replacements will be made, only a diagnosis of the failure.

You’ll be asked to pay the service fee required by your contract at the initial home visit, so make sure to have that on hand. Depending on your provider, you may be asked to compensate the contractor directly or submit the payment to your company.

Repair or Replacement

Once your provider decides the best course of action for a repair or replacement of the covered item, either the same technician or another qualified contractor will be dispatched to perform the final fix.

Typically, once you’ve paid the service fee at the first appointment, this secondary visit won’t cost you anything. With that being said, if the necessary repair or replacement exceeds the coverage limit outlined in your contract, you will be responsible for the difference.

Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in Georgia

We read through 60+ customer reviews from home warranty policyholders across the state of Georgia and pulled both positive and negative blurbs that we felt accurately illustrated both sides of the customer experience.

To provide a fair overview of common complaints across multiple companies, we’ve opted to only feature excerpts from customers belonging to our top three provider recommendations: Choice Home Warranty, Select Home Warranty, and American Home Shield.

One of the most frequent complaints we saw across a number of leading home warranty companies — not just the three here —concerned the wait time between receiving a claim approval and the final repair being made.

“Our AC went out on us last Thursday [so] I called Choice Home Warranty on Friday. The temperature here in Augusta, GA is in the 90s so I was hoping they could get a technician out on Friday or Saturday but they could not. A technician came out Monday evening and … as soon as he replaced the small fuse the AC was up and running again! … Paying $85 for the technician to come out was better than paying $600.” — Myrtis S., Trustpilot, Choice Home Warranty Customer

“It took a few more days to get the plumber to my house than I had hoped, but they were busy. But [Select Home Warranty] sent a great plumber who was early, fast, neat, and explained what he fixed.” — Lisa L., Trustpilot, Select Home Warranty Customer

“Woke up this morning and our A/C is not working. Of course it’s Sunday and Mother’s Day. I called AHS, submitted the automated request, and the automated system said the A/C company would be contacting me on the next business day to schedule the repair — which means it could be 2-3 days before they show up…” — Bonnie K., Trustpilot, American Home Shield Customer

While most home warranty companies do support 24/7/365 customer service and claims processes, the timeframe in which a repair can be completed also depends on the availability of local Georgia technicians as well as of necessary parts and materials.

With that being said, not all appliance and system failures can wait. An HVAC breakdown during Georgia’s warmer months can quickly put a homeowner’s health and safety at risk. In emergency scenarios, be sure to communicate the urgency of your situation upfront. Most home warranty companies will work with customers to provide expedited services for time-sensitive cases.

Is a Home Warranty in Georgia Worth It?

A home warranty offers an entirely different type of home protection than what any home insurance policy or HOA agreement will cover in Georgia. With a protection plan in place for your essential appliances and systems, you’ll be spared from shelling out thousands of dollars when something inevitably stops working properly in your home.

Next to its competitors, Choice Home Warranty offers the most comprehensive coverage in Georgia, no matter what plan level you select. Both its Basic and Total policy options included major systems and appliances, that way, homeowners can get the most out of their membership regardless of what their budget may limit.

A home warranty is a worthwhile investment for any homeowner but can be especially lucrative for those looking to buy or sell a property in Georgia. Above all else, it offers peace of mind to both parties. Prospective homebuyers are reassured knowing any pre-existing issues that evaded the home inspection are covered and sellers are protected against potential post-sale disputes should an item happen to break down during or after closing.

Nicole Moore, a RealtorⓇ at GCH Luxury Group with Real Broker LLC in Savannah, said home warranties are the ultimate way “to protect against unforeseen repairs that you’re going to have to make.” Based on her expertise within the local market, Nicole also emphasized that a home warranty can even increase the resale value of your home in GA. Only properties that are in good standing condition from the start are eligible for home warranty coverage. Therefore, as a seller, “when you have a home warranty in place, it shows you’ve been maintaining your home and are making sure it is protected,” she said.

Whether you’re currently living in Georgia or are interested in relocating to the area from out-of-state, “if you’re in the process of purchasing a home, you can ask the seller to cover a home warranty for you,” said Nicole. “You also always have the option to invest in a home warranty yourself.”

House Method Home Warranty Ranking Methodology

At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. 

To create this rating system, our team spent hours researching over 60 companies, analyzing 2500+ key data points, getting the thoughts and opinions of 1000+ homeowners, and speaking to home warranty company representatives directly. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.

We developed an objective home warranty review and rating methodology to score each home warranty company based on several criteria. We used a five-point scale with a point index ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. The minimum awardable value is 0.0, whereas 1.00 is the maximum. These numeric points are translated into star ratings, using whole star increments between one and five. 

Here is a quick breakdown of our five core scoring categories: 

• Coverage (0.4): This category evaluates the scope of protection offered by a home warranty provider. We clearly distinguished between limited or broad coverage to help homeowners identify their own home protection needs. We also factor in claim turnaround times, average waiting period lengths, plan types, annual coverage limits, policy exclusions, etc.
• Cost (0.3): This category considers what home warranty companies charge homeowners monthly, annual, and out-of-pocket. We urge homeowners also to consider the cost-to-value ratio of a home warranty plan.
• Transparency and Trustworthiness (0.15): This category evaluates home warranty providers based on pending or past legal action, hidden fees, lack of information readily available on the website, exclusions, and more. We consider how upfront a company is to its potential policyholders, which says a lot about its products and services.
• Customer Support and Satisfaction (.09): This category evaluates the efficacy of a home warranty company’s effort to provide supportive guidance to inquiring customers and how policyholders are satisfied with the assistance they receive. 
• Customization (.06): This category evaluates the ability of homeowners to adjust and choose their policy details, such as pricing variation, optional add-ons, and the number of plans available.