Updated Jan 10, 2023
Updated Jan 10, 2023
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A New York home warranty is a service contract designed to help homeowners in the Empire State cover the cost to service, replace, or repair the essential appliances and systems throughout their homes. Our in-house team of home warranty experts screened over 63 leading providers across the industry and evaluated how they compete in terms of cost versus coverage.
Here are the top six best home warranty companies in New York.
Why Trust House Method
House Method’s Experts collected and analyzed 2000+ critical data points to identify what makes a great home warranty company in the eye of the consumer. Our reviews team used this data to assess over 60 home warranty providers for coverage extent, annual cost, and national availability to provide unbiased reviews so homeowners can confidently navigate key decisions about their homes.
Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty in New York. Choice is one of the most well-known brands in the industry, and you have likely heard of their services at some point. The company has been around for more than 14 years, and it offers comprehensive policies and coverage choices for your home. More than 50% of our home warranty survey respondents marked coverage as the most important detail to them when choosing a home warranty, and Choice offers some of the highest coverage caps in the industry.
We rated Choice Home Warranty (CHW) 4.9 out of 5 stars, making it the best overall home warranty in New York. CHW earned first place in our round-up specifically for its emergency service options, generous $3,000 per-item annual coverage caps, and new joiner discounts.
Founded in 2008, Choice Home Warranty has covered over 1.6 million homes nationwide. As one of the most popular providers in New York, Choice stands out for its two base plans that both offer combined coverage for appliances and systems. When scoring Choice, we did deduct one point for the lack of air conditioning coverage in the Basic Plan. Only the more comprehensive Total Plan comes with A/C coverage.
Pros
Cons
Though CHW’s coverage only spans two base plans — Basic and Total — both offer combined protection for your home’s essential appliances and systems. The nonadjustable service fee associated with either of Choice’s plans is $85.
Choice Home Warranty has nine additional coverage riders for customers to choose from, including:
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 offers premiums and service fees that are well below the industry standard and makes an active effort to ensure its policyholders only pay for what they need by offering appliance-only and systems-only plans. Select also provides free roof leak coverage in its plans rather than making policyholders pay for it as an add-on option, a welcome perk for homeowners in a state with above-average rainfall and periods of severe weather.
We gave Select Home Warranty (SHW) 4.8 out of 5 stars and chose it as the most cost-effective home warranty option in New York. For over a decade, SHW has offered comprehensive home protection plans, topped with an exclusive rotation of discounts for new joiners. New York homeowners who enroll with Select will receive an additional $150 off their premium plus two bonus months of free coverage and complimentary roof protection.
Based in the neighboring state of New Jersey, Select Home Warranty has been helping homeowners save big since 2012. Offering robust coverage alongside a $60 service fee — one of the lowest deductibles on the market — Select is a great option for homeowners on a tight budget. It’s worth noting that Select does, however, have slightly lower annual coverage limits than some of its competitors. Make note of any older systems or appliances around your home that are likely to fail in the near future, and how their potential cost aligns with Select’s maximums.
Pros
Cons
Select Home Warranty has three plans for its customers to choose from. The Bronze Care option is an appliance plan, whereas the Gold Care level is a systems-only plan. The Platinum Care plan — SHW’s most comprehensive protection level — is a combo policy with the best overall coverage for New York homeowners. Coverage caps from Select Home Warranty are slightly lower than average — in the $200 to $500 range — which is how it’s able to offer such low monthly prices. The service fee for all three plans is also one of the lowest you’ll find industry-wide at $60 per appointment.
New Yorkers can add the following optional coverages to their Select Home Warranty base plan:
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.
Homes in New York are unique and appeal to a wide range of budgets and incomes. Having the ability to customize your home warranty plan to cover as much of your home as you want is a tremendous benefit, and that is where American Home Shield stands out from the competition.
American Home Shield (AHS) earned 4.7 out 5 stars based on our rating system. We recognized this provider for having the best customizable plans in the industry. American Home Shield grants customers the opportunity to build a made-to-order home protection plan through its three base plans and adjustable service fee. According to our recent survey, 21% of participating homeowners marked the ability to personalize their plan as one of the most important features of a home warranty.
Established in 1971, AHS is one of the longest-standing home warranty companies to date. For over five decades, American Home Shield has geared its service mission toward helping homeowners create unique levels of protection that cater to their individual needs. Unlike many of its competitors, AHS’s coverage includes damage caused by unknown pre-existing conditions, poor routine maintenance, and improper installations.
Pros
Cons
American Home Shield has three standard plan options available to New York homeowners. Any of these plans can be purchased as-is or further customized to better fit your coverage and budget goals. AHS also allows policyholders to choose a service fee of $75, $100, or $125. The higher your service fee, the lower your monthly or annual premium will be, and vice versa. The monthly premiums listed below are based on the $100 service fee.
You can also add the following coverage riders to your AHS home warranty:
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.
Tracking down a technician in New York, especially if you’re located in busier metropolitan areas, can be time-consuming, and likely not next day. HSC ensures that its policyholders have access to prompt professional help, and especially so in emergency scenarios.
We scored The Home Service Club (HSC) with 4.6 out of 5 stars, rewarding it specifically for having the quickest home warranty coverage. HSC activates its customers’ coverage just ten days after signing your contract agreement — a record time compared to the standard 30-day waiting period of other leading providers. The Home Service Club also promises to start the contractor outreach process within two to four hours of receiving your initial service request.
Having been in business for nearly 14 years, The Home Service Club is committed to helping homeowners secure the servicing they need with little to no wait time. And if you like to “shop local,” you’ll be happy to know that The Home Service Club was founded in New York.
Pros
Cons
The Home Service Club has two primary policies for homeowners: the Standard Coverage plan and the Comprehensive Coverage plan. Customers who choose Comprehensive Coverage for their home will be covered for 15 more items than the Standard Coverage plan for just under $14 more per month. HSC’s coverage caps are slightly more generous than the industry average, varying between $350 and $2,500 depending on the item.
HSC has ten optional coverage add-ons available for customers who wish to further personalize their plan:
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.
It takes a lot to gain the trust of thousands of New Yorkers in just five short years on the market. Excellent ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a long track record of positive customer testimonials, and a strong commitment to customer service propelled Liberty Home Guard (LHG) into our top five home warranty companies in New York. It’s also an excellent option for homeowners who want unmatched coverage for a wide variety of household items.
House Method gave Liberty Home Guard 4.6 out of 5 stars and named it the most trustworthy home warranty company in New York. Liberty Home Guard has quickly managed to garner an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and overall positive marks from customers. According to a recent House Method survey, 96 out of 736 participating homeowners marked trust and transparency as the most important quality of a home warranty company.
Liberty Home Guard is a great option for New Yorkers looking to take standard coverage and transform it for their needs through coverage add-ons. Offering one of the longest lists of plan riders in the industry, LHG boasts 41+ extra items options with one-of-a-kind services like re-keying, pest control, window-washing, electronics protection, and more.
Pros
Cons
Homeowners in New York can choose one of three plans offered by Liberty Home Guard. Appliance Guard and Systems Guard are appliance-only and systems-only value plans that are available for customers with minimal coverage needs. Total Home Guard, however, is LHG’s comprehensive two-for-one option for homeowners in search of whole-house protection. And the base plans are just the beginning! Homeowners can also choose from an extensive list of 41+ add-on plan options, with unique extras like coverage for pro-series appliances and window washing. Liberty Home Guard’s coverage limits are fair, with most falling around the $2,000 mark. Its required service fee is $75, slightly below the industry average.
Liberty Home Guard has one of the most extensive lists of add-ons offered across all home warranty providers, with items including:
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 stands by its workmanship. Boasting one of the strongest guarantees in the business, it gives New York homeowners added peace of mind. An added benefit of Cinch home warranties is that every plan provides coverage for unknown pre-existing conditions as well as rust and corrosion.
We gave Cinch Home Services a rating of 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, New York 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
Cons
Cinch offers three plans tailored to your needs and budgets. Homeowners can opt for an appliance-only plan, a systems-only plan, or a combination of the two for more comprehensive coverage.
If you’re looking to go beyond what’s included in Cinch’s standard coverage, policyholders can also purchase:
According to our nationwide study on the average cost of home warranties in each state, a home warranty in New York costs around $800 per year or $66 per month. Based on the $601 annual coverage cost across the providers featured on our site, a home warranty in New York is slightly more expensive than surrounding northeastern states. Still, the amount you’ll pay to cover your individual home will depend on the size of your property, the coverage level you select, and whether or not you opt for any additional plan riders.
Alongside your primary premium, you’ll also need to factor in a service fee each time you file a claim for a new issue. Service fees can range anywhere from $60 to $150 per appointment. Based on our market research, we found that the industry average service fee sits at around $76.55.
Understanding annual coverage limits is another great way to maximize the payout of your policy. A coverage cap is the maximum amount that a home warranty provider will pay for a specific home system or appliance fix. Given that the average annual coverage limit is approximately $3,072 per item, we recommend sticking with companies that offer at least $3,000 for essential items in your home. Add-ons tend to be capped at around $500 per year. Larger coverage caps simply lower the likelihood of any out-of-pocket charges for appliance or system repairs, especially for those with higher-end items around the home.
The table below provides some average plan pricing based on your home type in New York.
Overall | $794.79 |
Single Family | $698.15 |
Multi Family | $1,162.03 |
Townhome | $583.17 |
Condo | $693.66 |
Duplex | $1,015.63 |
Home Over 5,000 sq ft | $1,232.50 |
Home Under 5,000 sq ft | $800.43 |
Home Warranty Company | Choice Home Warranty | Select Home Warranty | American Home Shield | The Home Service Club | Liberty Home Guard | Cinch Home Services |
Our Rating | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 |
Best For | Best Overall | Most Cost-Effective Plans | Best Customization Options | Fastest Service | Most Trustworthy | Best WorkmanshipGuarantee |
Average Cost | $50 per month | $60 per month | $45 per month | $56 per month | $70 per month | $53 per month |
Service Fee | $85 | $75 | $75-$125 | $75 | $60 | $75-$150 |
Annual Limit | $3,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 to unlimited | $350-$2,000 | $2,000-$2,500 | $10,000 |
Average Response Time | Up to 48 hours | Up to 48 hours | Up to 48 hours | Within 24 hours | Within 24 hours | Within 24 hours |
State Availability | 49 States | 46 States | 49 States | 50 States | 47 States | 49 States |
Online Chat / Mobile App | No | No | No | No | Online Chat | No |
Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
A New York home warranty is worth it if you don’t have the first-hand expertise to fix a home appliance or system on your own when they break down. It can also help you avoid having to fork over four figures for a repair or replacement, all by paying a few hundred dollars in advance.
Brandelyn Jones, a RealtorⓇ with Realty One Group in Goodyear, Arizona, says home warranties are definitely worth it for the average homeowner, whether you live in a condo or a single-family home. “I’m of the old ‘better safe than sorry’ mindset,” Brandelyn said. “If I have to pay, say $500 per year just for some peace of mind, then it’s worth it. These days there’s very little that you can repair in your home for much less than $500.”
Across the six providers featured in this article, Choice Home Warranty stands out as the overall best option for New York homeowners. With plans starting at $45, Choice’s premiums sit well below the industry-average monthly premium of $51.61. Choice Home Warranty also offers a modest list of optional add-ons for New Yorkers looking to level-up their standard coverage.
As you compare your top contenders, it makes sense to get quotes from a few different companies to ensure that you choose a plan that’ll work for your specific coverage needs. To find the best home warranty in New York, be sure to pay close attention to comparable plan options, pricing details, service fees, customer reviews, and add-ons before signing onto a service.
A New York home warranty is an annual service contract that will protect your finances from unforeseen expenses related to home system and home appliance repairs. The next time your dishwasher stalls or you discover a blockage in your plumbing system, your home warranty provider will step in to directly lower your out-of-pocket costs in exchange for a pre-paid premium. Home warranties exclusively cover normal wear on most built-in systems and appliances throughout your New York home. Most of the time, coverage for a home warranty plan will start about 30 days after sign-up.
Home warranties and home insurance policies are often compared because they provide financial assistance when things go wrong in or around your home. However, there are some key differences between these two home protection plans that you should understand.
First, home insurance policies typically only kick in if you experience a catastrophe, like damage from a fallen tree, a severe weather event, a fire, or some other natural disaster. In contrast, a home warranty provides coverage in less severe instances, like when your appliances break down from constant use, or you experience a routine issue with your plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or heating systems.
Second, home warranties and homeowners insurance cover different things. Homeowners insurance is a whole-house policy that provides a single payout for major damage done to your home. A home warranty instead provides protection for individual appliances and home systems, so the coverage kicks in when a routine repair, maintenance, or replacement is needed.
Finally, the out-of-pocket costs you’ll experience will differ between home warranties and homeowners insurance policies. Home insurance typically includes a sizable deductible that reaches into the thousands of dollars. Once the deductible is paid, the insurance covers costs up to a very high limit. A home warranty instead requires a small service fee that averages around $85 per service call. The warranty will then cover up to its coverage caps, which can be as low as $1,500 on average or be unlimited in some instances.
Securing a home warranty is a breeze. You need to choose the service provider you want, select the plan that best fits your needs and budget, and pay for the plan. You can also choose add-on services if the base plan doesn’t have exactly what you’re looking for.
Using a home warranty policy is also not complicated. You can follow the steps below to request service:
Remember: for expensive repairs or high-end appliances, you will want to ensure you choose a policy with a higher coverage cap to keep your out-of-pocket costs down once the repair begins.
A home warranty plan will cover systems and appliances experiencing issues because of normal wear. Home warranty plans typically have three categories of coverage, including appliance plans, systems plans, and add-on coverages.
Here’s a general overview of what a standard home warranty in New York typically includes:
Appliances | Systems | Add-ons |
Refrigerators Ovens/Stoves/Cooktops Built-in Microwaves Dishwashers Clothes Washers Clothes Dryers | Air conditioning Heating Ductwork Electrical Plumbing Hot Water Heaters | Septic Tank Pumping Limited Roof Leaks Pools and Spas Septic Systems Well Pumps Sump Pumps Standalone Freezers Second Refrigerators |
Be sure to check your service contract for specifics on coverage, as each one varies. For example, one company might offer pool coverage, but doesn’t include issues with jets or motors. Another company might include those items, but for an additional fee. It’s important to choose your plan carefully and understand the limitations so that you’re not hit with unexpected charges if your warranty doesn’t cover something that gets damaged.
It’s essential for New York homeowners to understand that a home warranty, no matter where you live, won’t cover everything. Some common exclusions include damage related to:
Most homeowners are pleased with the coverage and services they receive from their home warranty provider, but there are some complaints that pop up more often than others in New York.
One of the most common complaints about home warranties is that they fail to cover some items that homeowners expect them to include. For example, pool coverage as an add-on service typically isn’t all-inclusive. It’s common for damages to jets and liners not to be covered, so make sure you understand coverage limitations before you commit to a home warranty.
Another common complaint is that the out-of-pocket costs were higher for repairs than expected. Most home warranties come with coverage caps per item and per year. If your coverage ever exceeds those maximums, you’ll be on the hook for the difference. The most common coverage that falls short is full replacement of major kitchen appliances, like refrigerators.
There is no single answer to this question that will apply to every New Yorker. However, our top choice for a home warranty company in NY is Choice Home Warranty. This company has great coverage options available, provides affordable and appealing coverage, and maintains excellent customer service and payout rates.
You can think of a service fee like a deductible. It’s an upfront, pre-set price you pay when you file a claim with your home warranty company. Service fees average around $85 per claim, and in many cases, this is the only out-of-pocket cost you’ll experience.
Every homeowner can benefit immensely from a home warranty, as it protects you from unexpected repair bills for necessary home improvements. However, homebuyers, real estate sellers, and individuals living in older homes tend to benefit the most.
First-time homebuyers often don’t know what signs of trouble to look for when buying a new home, which means things could break down and systems could fail shortly after closing. The last thing you want is to have to pay even more money for the house you just purchased. A home warranty can cover these unexpected charges and provide the peace of mind you deserve after buying a home.
Sellers can also benefit from home warranties leading up to closing. Sometimes appliances or home systems break down in the month or two prior to selling the home, which means you need to lay out money needlessly for repairs. Home warranties can cover many of these damages and ensure the home is in livable condition for your buyer.
Finally, homes tend to experience more issues the older they get. When a home reaches 40 years old — as many already have in New York — they start to show signs of aging. At this point, a home warranty can cover the expected issues, like home systems failing and needing repairs.
No homeowner absolutely needs a home warranty in New York, but if you want to avoid high repair and maintenance charges, it is a great thing to have. The cold winter weather in New York puts a lot of strain on your heating system and water heater, which means they will be at high risk of failing. New York also experiences above-average rainfall and occasional severe weather that can promote roof leaks. These two coverage options alone are two great reasons to get a home warranty in New York.
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:
Additional New York Home Warranties to Consider
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