A home warranty is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected large expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be significantly lower and give you some peace of mind.
Being a homeowner in Oakland is an excellent option for those who enjoy bustling cities. However, as great as Oakland is, homeownership always comes with its fair share of hardships, such as trying to finance your appliance repairs yourself.
Since the home warranty market has a lot of providers — all with different coverage — our team at House Method decided to do the research for you to help you find the right home warranty in Oakland.
After reviewing the basics of home warranties in Oakland, the next step is to decide which company you want to receive a free quote from. Before deciding which home warranty to buy, here are a few additional factors to bear in mind:
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 Oakland. 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. Choice has 2 plans for you to decide between.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage limits from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Oakland area.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.
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
Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty in Oakland. Select has about 10 years of experience in the home warranty market and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. Select offers 3 plans for you to choose from. With a home warranty from Select, you can benefit from 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.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage caps associated with Select's plans are around the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. For more information on this provider, read our comprehensive 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 is the most customizable home warranty for Oakland residents. AHS has 3 plans for homeowners to choose from. With a home warranty from AHS, you can enjoy the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also generally about $2,500 at the maximum.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For more information, read our review of American Home Shield.
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
The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service in Oakland. When you purchase a home warranty from HSC, you will get quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. The Home Service Club also 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, which have various options for appliance and system coverage.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also generally about $2,000.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For more information on this provider, read our comprehensive review of The Home Service Club.
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 in Oakland. The 2 plans from First American are comprehensive and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. With a home warranty from First American, you can benefit from very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Not to mention, it 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.
The 2 plans from First American Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also generally around $1,500.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 833-204-7164. Read more by visiting our review of First American Home Warranty.
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
In Oakland, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can benefit from a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Oakland 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 with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so be sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
Read our comprehensive review of Cinch Home Services to learn more. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505.
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 Oakland
A home warranty is a protection plan that covers home systems and appliances. When your refrigerator breaks down and the repair is several hundred dollars, a home warranty will make sure that your only cost is a predetermined service fee. Home warranty coverage usually starts without an inspection and you can generally start using it about thirty days after making your first payment.
When you have an issue with one of your appliances or systems, you can file a claim with your home warranty provider. Then, a customer service representative will reach out to you about a repair technician coming over to take a look at the issue. Once you submit the claim, it will be assigned to a local service technician that will come to your home and fix the problem. At this point, you pay your service fee. Service fees typically range in price from around $60 to $150 and this is the only out-of-pocket expense you will have to pay unless the repair cost is higher than your home warranty's coverage cap.
A home warranty provides coverage on your home's major appliances and systems and it can help reduce your home maintenance expenses. Typical appliances covered under a home warranty plan include a dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, washer, microwave, garbage disposal, and more. The systems that are most commonly covered will be heating systems, air conditioners, plumbing systems, hot water heaters, and electrical systems. Many plans also have add-on coverage options like roof leaks, septic systems, locksmith, and even central vacuum.
A Oakland home warranty will only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. If your appliances have cosmetic issues or you have not properly maintained your home systems and appliances, the home warranty will not cover it. Also, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, and intentional breakages are not covered with a Oakland home warranty.
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Another good thing about having a home warranty while selling your home is that some providers let you transfer your home warranty to the new owners. This can make your home more attractive to potential home buyers and help your home sell faster.
Home warranties also have some cons. Though it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a repair person who does the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would prefer to select their own contractor. If that's the case for you, some home warranty companies let you select a contractor. Another downside is that home warranties may not include some repairs, such as those due to natural disasters. For example, if your house floods, the systems and appliances that were impacted probably won't be covered by the home warranty.
Whether or not a home warranty is worth it ultimately depends on your personal preference. Similar to any other sort of insurance policy or warranty, its purpose is to offer 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 Oakland's best home warranty options has helped you narrow down your choices and find the best plan for you. The best provider in Oakland is Choice Home Warranty. With its comprehensive plans, affordable cost, and a good reputation in the industry, Choice Home Warranty has a lot to offer.
The best overall home warranty in Oakland is Choice Home Warranty but the perfect company for you will depend on factors like what appliances and systems you need coverage for.
A home warranty covers the normal wear of systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects the entire home in case of a situation like a natural disaster or fire. With a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new refrigerator or dishwasher, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster.
A home warranty plan can help investors, homeowners, homebuyers, real estate agents, and home sellers. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
Most home warranty plans are going to cover replacement costs as well as repair costs. How much the coverage cap is varies from one plan to the next. Home warranties will give you some money towards a replacement but don't expect to have the entire replacement paid for.
A service fee is a cost that you pay before a repair technician or contractor comes to your home to fix your home warranty-related issue. The pricing is typically between $60 and $150. Service fees are sometimes referred to as deductibles, and they should be the only out-of-pocket expense that homeowners are subject to with a home warranty in place except for the monthly premium/annual cost.
