When one of your systems or appliances breaks down, a home warranty will help you cover the costs. A home warranty plan can give homeowners the peace of mind they need to feel less stressed by homeownership.
With hot summers, keeping your home appliances and systems working, especially HVAC, are very important for homeowners in the Lake Forest area of California.
Finding the best home warranties on the market can be a challenge because of the many options out there. If you are tired of trying to compare the different options, keep reading for our guide to the top home warranty companies in Lake Forest.
The first step in protecting your house with a home warranty is determining which provider's plan fits your needs. Figure out which items in your home you'd like coverage for and compare the policies. Below is a list of factors that you'll want to take into consideration when picking a home warranty provider:
Over 10 years of experience
24/7 customer service team
Home inspections aren’t required
90-day repair guarantee
Plans aren’t customizable
Customers can’t choose their own contractor
Not available in Washington
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty in Lake Forest. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Choice, you can enjoy very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is less than other providers in the Lake Forest area.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. To read more, visit our Choice Home Warranty full review.
Low service fees compared to other home warranty providers
Two months of free coverage
Has an appliance-only, systems-only, and combo plan option
90-day repair guarantee
Has a $75 cancellation fee
Low coverage caps
In Lake Forest, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has been in the home warranty industry for around 10 years. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. With a home warranty from Select, you can enjoy a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Not to mention, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Select has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are a reasonable $60.
To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-370-3953. For more information on this provider, read our thorough review of Select Home Warranty.
The oldest and most trusted company in the industry
Allows customers to build their own plans
Ability to choose the service fee you want to pay
Broad coverage on up to 33 appliances and systems
Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
Doesn’t provide coverage in Alaska
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty in Lake Forest. AHS has 3 plans for you to choose from. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps associated with AHS's plans are close to the $2,500 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read our American Home Shield full review to learn more.
Policy starts in ten days
24/7 customer service support
Generous coverage caps on important systems and appliances
30-labor guarantee and 90-day parts guarantee
Offers utility and home service outside line coverage
Higher service fee of $95
Not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Only 2 plan options
In Lake Forest, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. With a home warranty from HSC, you can enjoy quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read our detailed review of The Home Service Club to learn more.
Established company with a BBB accreditation
Doesn’t have a coverage cap on heating, cooling, or ductwork
24/7 service calls available
Offers replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair
Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor
According to some customer reviews, the technical jargon in contracts is confusing
First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage for Lake Forest residents. When you buy a policy from First American, you will get very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. First American Home Warranty also has a unique add-on alongside common ones called the First Class Upgrade, which covers fees associated with the use of lifting equipment, up to $250 per local building permits, haul away services, and appliances and systems that have been insufficiently installed or modified. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
First American Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Lake Forest homeowners. The Basic Plan and Premier Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with First American's plans are around the $1,500 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
Read our review of First American Home Warranty to learn more. To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164.
Offers home insurance deductible of $500
Extra long 180-day workmanship guarantee
Offers free cancellation in the first 30 days
Charges high service fees of $75-$150
Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
Isn’t available in Hawaii or Alaska
Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Lake Forest. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Lake Forest homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. Cinch has coverage caps of around $1,000-$2,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Cinch Home Services.
Many home warranties cover or have options to cover appliances and other expensive repairs, which can save you significant money over time.
Get a free quote from our #1 recommended provider in Lake Forest
A home warranty is a service contract that cuts back on the cost of repairs when one of your home systems or appliances breaks down. A home warranty can help homeowners who need to stick to their budget and don't want to use their savings to pay for large repair or replacement expenses. Typically about 30 days after purchasing a home warranty plan, the coverage will start on your home systems and appliances.
When you have a system or appliance that experiences a problem, you file a claim with your service provider. You can do so in an online portal or by telephone, and then a technician will come and fix the problem. The claim is then processed, and a homeowner will pay the predetermined service fee to schedule the repair for their home. This repair will typically happen within 24 to 72 hours and there shouldn't be any out-of-pocket expenses. Most service fees are between $60 and $150.
A home warranty will cover systems and appliances that have broken down from normal wear and tear. For example, if your A.C. suddenly stops working under normal use conditions, your home warranty provider can help. Typical appliances covered under a home warranty plan include a refrigerator, dryer, washer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, and more. The systems that are most commonly covered will be air conditioners, plumbing systems, heating systems, electrical systems, and hot water heaters. Many plans also have add-on coverage options like roof leaks, locksmith, septic systems, and even central vacuum.
A Lake Forest home warranty will only protect against normal wear and tear. If you are experiencing cosmetic issues with appliances or you have not properly maintained your home systems and appliances, the home warranty will not cover it. Also, pre-existing conditions, intentional breakages, and natural disasters are not covered with a Lake Forest home warranty.
Home warranties are an affordable way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Lake Forest hitting upward of 70 degrees in the summer, you may find that some appliances, such as your air conditioning unit, get a lot of use. A home warranty can remarkably bring down your out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system stop working.
A home warranty can also have value in other ways. For example, some plans can be transferred to another owner during a home sale.
There are also some downsides to buying a home warranty policy, such as the coverage exclusions. For example, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that already have a manufacturer's warranty. Also, if you don't maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
Whether or not a home warranty is worth it ultimately comes down to your personal situation. Like any other kind of insurance policy or warranty, its purpose is to provide you a sense of protection, so you will have to be the judge of how much that is worth to you.
Hopefully, this review of Lake Forest's top home warranty companies has helped you narrow down your choices and decide on a plan. Choice Home Warranty stands out as the best overall provider. With its comprehensive plans, affordable pricing, and a good history in the industry, Choice Home Warranty has a lot to offer.
The best overall home warranty in Lake Forest is Choice Home Warranty but the perfect company for you will vary based on factors like what appliances and systems you need to have covered.
A home warranty plan covers the normal wear of home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects a home in case of something like a natural disaster or fire. With homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new washing machine or dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster.
A home warranty can help investors, real estate agents, homeowners, homebuyers, and home sellers. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
Most home warranties are going to cover replacement costs as well as repair costs. How much the home warranty will cover varies from one plan to the next. Your home warranty will give you some money towards a replacement but don't expect to have the entire replacement paid for.
Many homeowners find a home warranty is worth it because it helps protect against unforeseen expenses. If you're worried about your finances and your ability to keep your home in good working order, a home warranty can help. One of the major pluses of a home warranty is that it can provide you some financial peace of mind.
