Best Home Warranty Companies in Michigan (2022)

Homeownership in Michigan has something for everyone. If you enjoy small towns or big cities, you will be able to find a home that works for your needs. Michigan homeowners love the beautiful landscapes and access to outdoor activities. However, homeownership in Michigan also comes with its fair share of headaches.

Michigan homeowners deal with long, frigid winters that necessitate nearly constant use of heating systems. Over time, the added strain on the equipment will naturally put it at higher risk of problems and breakdowns. The well-above-average snowfall in the state also puts roofs at increased risk of leaking. The best home warranties in Michigan cover these issues and more to provide you with some peace of mind and reduce the financial burden of home repair.

Michigan’s Best Home Warranty Companies in 2022

• Choice Home Warranty: Best Overall

• Select Home Warranty: Most Cost-Effective

• American Home Shield: Best Customizable Plans

• The Home Service Club: Fastest Service

• Cinch Home Services: Best Workmanship Guarantee

Quick Comparison of Home Warranty Providers

Choice Home Warranty

• Our Take: Best Overall

• Average Annual Cost: $504-$639.96

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty in the state of Michigan. The Choice Home Warranty company has 13 years of experience and a strong list of coverage options for customers to choose from. Customer service and simplicity are essential features of the Choice Home Warranty plan. The service contract is easy to understand and has minimal fine print. Customers find that the Choice Home Warranty service is fast, and they have a high approval rate for claims made against covered items. With access to this plan across almost the entire country, Choice Home Warranty quickly takes the top spot on our list.

Pros and Cons

✓ Great customer service

✓ Every plan includes appliance and system coverage

✓ Wide range of coverage options

✓ Coverage and plan options are straightforward

X Not many options for customization

Plans and Pricing

There are two Choice Home Warranty policies to choose from. What makes these policies unique is that they have a mix of appliance and system coverage. Having both appliance and system coverage helps to give people peace of mind about their entire Michigan home. In addition, Choice Home Warranty offers add-on coverage for customers that want to feel as though they have customized their policy a bit. The company has coverage caps that reach up to $3,000 per covered item, and the service fee is around average at $85.

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

• Basic Plan ($42/month): The Basic Plan includes coverage for home appliances and home systems, which is unusual for entry-level plans in the industry. As far as appliances go, it protects your dishwasher, oven, cooktop exhaust fan, garbage disposal, microwave, garage door opener, and ceiling fans. It also covers several crucial home systems, including your plumbing, heating, and electrical systems, plus water heaters, HVAC ductwork, and toilets.

• Total Plan ($53.33/month): The Total Plan is a more comprehensive option and provides a better value for the money. It covers everything in the Basic Plan, plus it offers protection for your refrigerator, washer, and dryer.

Coverage

Choice Home Warranty doesn’t have many options for plan customization, but there are some add-on coverages you can use to personalize the above plans. These include:

• Central vacuum
• Limited roof leak
• Septic system coverage
• Septic tank pumping
• Sump pump
• Well pump
• Pool/Spa
• Second refrigerator
• Standalone freezer

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

• Our Take: Most Cost-Effective

• Average Annual Cost: $624-$684

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

The Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty plan for Michigan homeowners. Adding a home warranty to a pre-existing monthly budget can be a tough decision. As great as home warranties are, there is still a cost involved. However, with Select Home Warranty, the costs are reasonable and fair. The company has been on the market for close to ten years, and they have built up a strong network of qualified repair technicians and contractors. Each Select Home Warranty policy also comes with free roof leak coverage.

Pros and Cons

✓ Many years of experience

✓ Every plan includes roof leak coverage

✓ Great value for the money

✓ Long history of outstanding customer service

X Coverage caps aren’t as high as some competitors

Plans and Pricing

There are three Select Home Warranty policies to choose from. You can pick between a systems plan, an appliance plan, and a combo plan. As you will quickly notice, the combo plan is only a few dollars more per month but offers more than double the coverage. The combo plan or Platinum Care plan tends to be the most popular of all the choices from Select. There are add-on coverage options in addition to the free roof coverage for homeowners that have a central vacuum or a spa. Select Home Warranty’s coverage caps are a bit below the industry average at $2,000. However, the service fee is also more affordable at just $60 per call.

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

• Bronze Plan ($52/month): The Bronze Plan is great for homeowners who only want protection for their appliances. It covers your refrigerator, cooktop, stove, clothes washer, clothes dryer, microwave, garbage disposal, and more. It’s more expensive than some other appliance-only plans, but it has extensive coverage, making it a great value.

• Gold Plan ($52/month): The Gold Plan is Select Home Warranty’s systems-only plan. Rather than covering appliances, this plan includes protection for your plumbing, heating, and electrical system, plus air conditioners, HVAC ductwork, and water heaters.

• Platinum Plan ($57/month): The Platinum Plan offers the most bang for your buck and is one of the best values in the industry. It covers everything in both the Bronze and Gold plans, but it adds protection for garage door openers, plumbing blockages, and ceiling fans. Even without these add-ons, the plan is an amazing value at just $5 more per month than the other options.

Coverage

Select Home Warranty lets you customize your coverage by offering a wide range of add-on options. The below items can be added to any of the plans for a slightly higher monthly cost:

• Pool
• Spa
• Septic system
• Well pump
• Sump pump
• Lawn sprinkler system
• Roof leaks
• Central vacuum
• Stand-alone freezer

Select Home Warranty will give you a free quote after filling out this form or calling 888-370-3953.

Read our Select Home Warranty review to learn more.

American Home Shield

• Our Take: Best Customizable Plans

• Average Annual Cost: $419.88-$779.88

• Response Time: Up to 48 hours

American Home Shield is the most customizable plan in Michigan. The American Home Shield plan allows you to build out a policy that works for the specific needs of your Michigan home. The American Home Shield company has been on the market for more than 50 years; they are genuinely one of the leaders in the home warranty industry. American Home Shield prides itself on impressive coverage, excellent customer service, and providing a premium home warranty plan. This is an option that even allows you to customize the pricing that works for your budget.

Pros and Cons

✓ High payout rates

✓ Many years of experience in the industry

✓ Coverage options are plentiful and unique

✓ Tons of add-on coverages for customization

X Expensive

Plans and Pricing

There are three American Home Shield warranties to choose from. The two combo plans tend to be the best overall options to consider as they offer both system and appliance coverage. In addition, AHS is known for the add-on coverage that it offers for things like electronics, pools, and spas. If you have some special features in your Michigan home, American Home Shield will be able to accommodate you. AHS has high coverage caps, some of which extend up to $3,000 and others of which are unlimited. The service fee for AHS can be customized to suit your needs between $75 and $125.

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

• ShieldSilver ($39.99/month): The ShieldSilver Plan is the systems-only plan from American Home Shield. It protects your electrical, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing systems. It also offers coverage for water heaters, HVAC ductwork, smoke alarm systems, garage door openers, and more.

• ShieldGold ($49.99/month): The ShieldGold plan includes everything covered in the ShieldSilver Plan. For the extra money each month, it introduces additional protection for appliances, including your refrigerator, oven, cooktop, microwave, garbage disposal, dishwasher, water dispensers, dryers, and washing machines.

• ShieldPlatinum ($64.99/month): The ShieldPlatinum Plan is the best value for the money from AHS. This plan covers everything in the Silver and Gold plans, plus it adds coverage for annual AC tune-ups and unlimited refrigerant refills for your air conditioners. This plan is also a better value because it comes with higher coverage caps and more affordable service fees.

Coverage

AHS has excellent add-on coverage options available to customize the already unique and inclusive plans. The optional add-ons include:

• Electronic extended warranty
• Pool and spa coverage
• Well pump
• Septic pump
• Guest unit
• PC and TV

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

To read more, visit our American Home Shield review.

The Home Service Club

• Our Take: Fastest Service

• Average Annual Cost: $600-$756

• Response Time: Within 24 hours

The Home Service Club offers expertise in home warranties in Michigan. With nearly 13 years of industry experience, The Home Service Club has served homeowners with comprehensive coverage and unparalleled customer service. Although the standard waiting period for home warranty coverage to begin is thirty days, The Home Service Club offers much faster coverage, starting in just ten days after paying for the policy premium. The HSC policies are comprehensive and are supported by great customer service and a strong reputation. 

Pros and Cons

✓ Policy starts in just ten days

✓ All plans offer appliance and system coverage

✓ Outstanding customer service 

✓ More than a decade of experience

X No basic or cheap plan available

Plans and Pricing

The Home Service Club offers two plan choices to Michigan homeowners: the Standard Coverage Plan and the Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The Standard Coverage plan has 18 different covered items; the Comprehensive Coverage plan has an incredible 33 covered items. For most covered systems and appliances, The Home Service Club’s annual limits range from $500 up to $2,000. The Home Service Club service fee is customizable, so you can choose a service fee that suits your budget between $75 and $125.

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

• Standard Coverage Plan ($50/month): The Standard Coverage Plan covers 18 items, including your electrical system, oven, dishwasher, air conditioners, ceiling fans, water leaks, water heater, central vacuum, trash compactor, plumbing system, heating system, and more.
• Comprehensive Coverage Plan ($63/month): As the name suggests, the Comprehensive Coverage Plan offers a wider range of coverage and, therefore, a better value than the Standard Plan. It includes everything in the Standard option, but it adds on pest control, garbage disposals, plumbing stoppages, sump pumps, and more.

Coverage

The Home Service Club offers 12 additional coverages that can be added to either plan for coverage customization. These include:

• Utility line coverage package (includes all outdoor utility lines, including sprinkler systems, sewer lines, gas lines, and buried electric lines)
• Sprinkler systems
• Pools and spas
• Pool and spa equipment
• Spa heater
• Sewer ejector pump
• Roof damage
• Built-in refrigerators
• Stand-alone freezers
• Jetted bathtub
• Water softeners
• Well pump
• And more

If you think The Home Service Club is the home warranty company for you, you can fill out this contact form or call The Home Service Club at 800-842-9334 for a free quote.

You can also read our The Home Service Club review for more information on the company and its coverage options.

Liberty Home Guard

• Our Take: Most Trustworthy

• Average Annual Cost: $779.88-$899.88

• Response Time: Within 24 hours

Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty in the state of Michigan. After only two years in the home warranty industry, Liberty Home Guard has managed to earn and maintain an A rating with the BBB. It takes attention to detail and serious customer service dedication to earn this rating. Although Liberty Home Guard is a new company, they have put together a strong list of covered items that could work for any Michigan home.

Pros and Cons

✓ A rating with the BBB

✓ Outstanding customer service

✓ All work is covered by a 60-day workmanship warranty

✓ Easy process for requesting service

X More expensive than some competitors

Plans and Pricing

Similar to Select Home Warranty, Liberty Home Guard offers three plans to choose from. A system plan, an appliance plan, and a combo plan. The pricing of the Liberty Home Guard plans is a little higher than some others on the market, yet the list of covered items is quite long. In addition, Liberty Home Guard has one of the longest lists of add-on coverages in the home warranty market. Everything from a water softener to a trash compactor can be added to an LHG plan. The coverage caps are lower than you’ll get with many competitors, at just $1,500. The service fee is also below average at $75 per service call.

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

• Appliance Guard ($64.99/month): The Appliance Guard plan covers appliances but doesn’t offer protection for any of your home systems. You’ll get coverage for your refrigerator, stove, cooktop, cooktop exhaust fan, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, ice maker, ceiling fans, clothes washer, and dryer.

• Systems Guard ($69.99/month): The Systems Guard plan forgoes the appliance coverage and instead offers protection for your home systems. The coverage includes plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems. It also covers pieces of equipment within those systems, including toilets, bathroom exhaust fans, water heaters, and HVAC ductwork.

• Total Home Guard ($74.99/month): The Total Home Guard plan is the most comprehensive coverage option from LHG, and it’s the best value for the money. At just $10-15 more per month than the other plans alone, this option includes all covered items in both lower-tier plans. The Total Home Guard plan is the best option from LHG for maximum peace of mind.

Coverage

Liberty Home Guard is one of the best home warranty companies if you’re looking for plan customization options. Below are all of the add-ons you can choose from to personalize the plans above:

• Pool and spa
• Additional spa
• Saltwater pool
• Gutter cleaning
• Floor/carpet cleaning
• Sump pump
• Fixtures
• Water softener
• Trash compactor
• Lawn sprinkler system
• Electronics protection
• Swamp cooler
• Ejector pump
• Septic system (includes pumping)
• Roof leak coverage (limited)
• Pest control
• Locksmith
• Free-standing ice maker
• Central vacuum
• Stand-alone freezer
• Re-key
• Second refrigerator
• Wine refrigerator
• Well pump
• TV and PC
• Generator
• Water dispenser 

Home Warranties in Michigan Cities

How Much Does a Home Warranty in Michigan Cost?

The average home warranty cost in Michigan is between $35 and $75 per month. The higher-priced plans have lots of add-on coverage and broader coverage options. Lower-priced plans will likely only feature coverage for a few systems or major appliances. The good news is that there is a plan out there for almost any budget, or look at our cheapest home warranty page for more options. Most plans include coverage caps that range from $1,500 up to $3,000 or more, and the average service fee per service call is $85.

Compare the Best Home Warranty Companies in Michigan

Final Thoughts

We hope you now feel that you can choose a Michigan home warranty with confidence. Choice Home Warranty stands out as the best overall choice on the market. With the time they have spent in the industry and the impressive customer service, Michigan homeowners have been very happy with this plan. However, it is worth getting a few quotes from other home warranty companies to ensure that you find a policy that is a perfect fit for your home. The most important thing to remember is that the sooner you sign up, the easier it is to have peace of mind about homeownership. 

How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in Michigan

At this point, you should be feeling a little better about narrowing your home warranty plan choices down to the top five in Michigan. Now we have to take things a bit further to help you choose the one that is an ideal match for your Michigan home. There are lots of important factors that distinguish one plan from another. Three of the things to keep an eye on are coverage caps, claim approvals, and service fee pricing.

• Coverage Cap: Each covered item in your home warranty will have a cap or a limit. For some plans, this will be $500, and for others, it will be $3000. Make sure you check the coverage caps, especially when you have high-end appliances in your home. 
• Claim Approvals: Every home warranty company has different policies regarding the approval or denial of the claim. Take a look into the specifics of a company to see how they are about approving issues that come up in the home. 
• Service Fee Pricing: The service fee is the price you pay each time that you need a repair. Service fees range in price from $60 to $150; ensure you choose a service fee you can afford.

The above criteria are important things to consider regardless of where you live, and they will affect your overall experience with your home warranty provider. There are some additional things you should consider, however, that are specific to Michigan.

First, Michigan homeowners are accustomed to long, cold winters, with average temperatures that routinely dip below freezing for months at a time. As a result, your heating system will be under constant stress to perform, which means it’s more likely to break down than in other areas. Home warranties that cover heating system issues are especially useful in Michigan for this reason.

Michigan also receives over 60 inches of snow every year, which is well above the national average. As that precipitation sits on your home’s roof, it increases the risk of roof leaks. Home warranties that include roof leak coverage or have it as an add-on option in Michigan are usually more beneficial than those that don’t offer it at all.

Finally, despite being in a colder climate, Michigan has a high annual humidity of over 72%. High humidity levels can put added strain on your refrigerator and freezer, as they work to remove moisture and keep your food cool. Home warranties that cover these appliances are more likely to provide a return on investment than those that don’t.

What is a Home Warranty?

A home warranty is a protection plan for your assets that will offer financial assistance for unforeseen expenses due to home system and appliance repair. A home warranty plan directly lowers your out-of-pocket costs for unexpected issues, such as plumbing emergencies, electrical issues, refrigerator breakdowns, and dishwasher leaks. The standard start of a home warranty is about 30 days after the home warranty policy is established, after which you can submit claims for coverage until your coverage caps are reached.

Home warranty plans typically charge a monthly fee as well as a service fee, which averages around $85. However, these fees combined are still often lower than the price of financing your home repairs out of pocket.

Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance

Although home warranties and home insurance policies are often compared, there are some key differences between these two protection plans. While both home warranties and home insurance policies provide financial assistance when something has gone wrong, the key differences include the severity of issues covered, protection offerings, and overall costs to you as the homeowner.

Home insurance policies can typically only be used in times of an emergency or catastrophe, like a severe weather event or natural disaster. Home warranties, on the other hand, provide coverage in more common scenarios, such as an appliance breaking due to regular use or routine plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or heating issues.

The items that home insurance policies and home warranties cover also differ. Homeowner insurance covers the whole house and provides a single payout for any major damage to the home. Home warranties are more targeted and provide protection for individual appliances and home systems, therefore covering any necessary routine maintenance, repair, or appliance or system component replacement.

The total cost of each protection plan will also differ between home warranties and home insurance policies. A home warranty plan typically requires a monthly fee and a small service fee, which averages around $85 per service call. A home warranty plan will cover up to its coverage caps which can be as low as $1,500 or up to $3,000 or more, depending on the situation and the specific plan. Home insurance typically requires a sizable deductible when an emergency strikes, costing up to several thousands of dollars in most cases. Once this deductible is paid to the home insurance company, the insurance will cover a high limit of damages.

How Does a Home Warranty in Michigan Work?

Setting up a home warranty is a straightforward and simple process. You will choose which service provider would best suit your needs, select the specific plan that covers what you’re looking for and fits within your budget, and then pay for the plan. You can also choose to add further services or add-on coverages if the base plan that you selected does not perfectly fit your needs.

Once you’ve taken the steps to protect your home and your budget and have paid for the home warranty, you will have access to the home warranty services within a period of 10 to 90 days. Requesting service is simple:

• First, identify an issue in your home that is covered by your home warranty plan
• Second, submit a claim with your home warranty service provider either through their online system or over the phone
• Now that you’ve submitted a claim, it will be assigned to a local contractor or repair person
• Claims are usually dealt with within a 24 to 48-hour period. The only cost to the homeowner should be the service fee, which averages around $85.

What does a Home Warranty Cover?

A home warranty plan is utilized to cover costs due to appliances or home systems breaking down or experiencing issues because of normal wear. Typically, a home warranty plan will have three coverage categories: appliances, major systems, and add-on coverages.

Some appliances often covered in a home warranty plan include garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, washers, dryers, and more. The systems covered in a home warranty plan typically include electrical systems, water heaters, air conditioners, heating systems, and potentially even a septic system.

If the plan that you select does not fully cover everything that you would like, you can choose add-on services to cover these items as well. Typical add-on services include pest control, sewer line, locksmith, and others.

It is important that Michigan homeowners check their service contracts for the specific details on what is covered, as this does differ between plans. While one company may offer pool coverage but not jet coverage or liners, another company may include these items by default. It is essential to be fully informed of your choice of home warranty plan and that you understand the limitations. Otherwise, you may have unexpected charges if something is damaged that was not covered by your home warranty.

What is Not Covered by a Home Warranty?

A home warranty plan does not cover all repairs. Some common exclusions include appliances or systems that are not properly maintained, intentional damage to covered items, and pre-existing conditions in your home. Additionally, any damage caused by an extreme weather event or a natural disaster would be covered by a homeowners insurance plan, not a home warranty plan.

Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in Michigan

Most homeowners who take advantage of home warranty coverage are pleased with the service they receive. However, there are some complaints we see somewhat often in customer reviews from Michigan residents.

One of the most common issues we see is a denial of coverage for items that are included in the service contract. In some rare cases, this can occur if you signed up with a disreputable home warranty company, as they can sometimes wrongfully deny coverage to save money. More often, this happens because of exclusions in the service contract, like denial for damage that occurred because of a failure to maintain a system or appliance. Make sure you read through your service contract and understand it fully before signing.

Another common issue we see is customers complaining about out-of-pocket costs that are higher than they expected. Most home warranties have coverage caps, which are maximum payout amounts for each covered item and per year. If a single service call — like a refrigerator replacement or major repair to your HVAC system — ends up costing more than the coverage cap, you’ll have to pay the difference plus the service fee. Again, make sure you understand your coverage limits before signing up for a home warranty.

Are home warranties worth it?

A home warranty is very often a worthwhile investment to protect your assets if you ever find yourself in need of a contractor or a technician to complete any type of repair or replacement. If you have to pay for these costs out-of-pocket, it will usually be a much higher price than if you had a home warranty plan. Unless you are able to fix your home appliances and systems on your own, a home warranty is a smart investment, regardless of if you have just moved into a new home or have lived in your current home for decades.

The value of a home warranty is most clear when you do the math on what a common repair would cost you without a warranty plan. For example, a basic service call to a plumber or electrician can easily cost over $300. Major repairs, like boiler issues or service lines, can cost thousands of dollars. Appliance repair can also cost between $200 to $400, and replacement costs can total over $2,500 for certain appliances. If you have an established home warranty plan, your cost will average around $85.

A home warranty plan not only alleviates the potential financial burden of appliance and system wear and tear but also provides you with peace of mind that your investments are protected. They are particularly useful for providing peace of mind for sellers in the real estate market — who can often offset buyer-required repairs prior to closing — and home buyers moving into a new home.

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.