A home warranty is a way to protect your savings from unexpected large expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and give you some peace of mind.
Austin is a great place to have a home. However, along with all the perks of homeownership, there are often a few downsides, too. One of the biggest challenges for many homeowners is that systems and appliances can malfunction unexpectedly.
Even though a home warranty can help with your homeowner headaches, one issue is narrowing down the right choice for your Austin home. That's why we've done the research and have compiled a guide of the best home warranty plans in Austin.
Once you're ready to purchase a home warranty, the first step is considering what items you need coverage for. After that, you can compare plans and call different home warranty providers to get a free quote. When trying to figure out which home warranty provider is the best one for you, here are some important factors to take into account:
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 is the best overall home warranty for Austin residents. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice offers 2 plans for you to decide between.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps associated with Choice's plans are around the $3,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. Read our review of Choice Home Warranty to learn more.
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 Austin. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage caps from Select are around $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is cheaper than other providers in the Austin area.
To receive 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 detailed 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 in Austin. AHS has been in the home warranty industry for over 25 years. AHS has 3 plans for you to choose from. When you buy a home warranty from AHS, you will get the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. American Home Shield also 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. AHS has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. 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 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 Austin, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been in the home warranty industry for over 14 years. HSC offers 2 plans for homeowners to decide between. When you purchase a plan 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 Service Club offers 2 plans for Austin homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with HSC's plans are close to the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For more information, read our full review of The Home Service Club.
Very highly rated among customer service reviews
Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
Extensive list of 20+ add-on coverages
Easy claims process
Isn’t available in 2 states
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty for Austin residents. Liberty has 3 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you purchase a home warranty from Liberty, you will get a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Liberty Home Guard also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
The 3 plans from Liberty Home Guard are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Service fees from Liberty are an affordable $75. The coverage caps are also about $3,000.
To read more, visit our thorough review of Liberty Home Guard. To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281.
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 offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage in Austin. First American offers 2 plans for homeowners to decide between. 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage limits from First American are around $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Austin area.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 833-204-7164. To read more, visit our detailed 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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Austin residents. Cinch has 3 plans for you to choose from. If you're looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you'll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
The 3 plans from Cinch Home Services are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage caps from Cinch are around $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is less than other providers in the Austin area.
Read more by visiting our Cinch Home Services full review. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 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 Austin
A home warranty is a protection plan that covers home systems and appliances. When your HVAC stops working and the repair costs several hundred dollars, a home warranty will ensure that your only cost is a predetermined service fee. Home warranty coverage usually starts without an inspection and generally goes into place about thirty days after making your first payment.
When you have a problem with one of your appliances or systems, you can file a claim with your home warranty company. Then, a customer service representative will reach out to you about a repair technician coming over to look at the issue. Once you file the claim, it will be assigned to a local repair technician that will come to your home and look at the issue. At this point, you pay your service fee. Service fees generally 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 more than your home warranty's coverage cap.
A home warranty in Austin typically covers the main systems and appliances in the house. Appliances covered under a home warranty plan are typically the dryer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator, and more. Systems that are covered usually include air conditioners, water heaters, heating systems, plumbing systems, and electrical systems. Many plans also provide add-on coverage options like septic systems, roof leaks, locksmith, and even central vacuum.
Austin homeowners should know that a home warranty policy will only cover repairs and replacements that arise from normal wear and tear. Home warranties do not cover things like natural disasters, misuse of a system or appliance, pre-existing conditions, or cosmetic issues. You must keep up with preventative maintenance on your home systems and appliances to make sure that your next repair or replacement-related complication will be covered by the policy.
Since temperatures in Austin can easily reach 100 degrees, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioner. Getting a home warranty policy can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks all of a sudden.
A home warranty can also yield value in other ways. For instance, some plans can be transferred to another owner during a home sale.
Home warranties also have some downsides. Though it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a contractor who carries out the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would prefer to choose their own contractor. If that's the case for you, some home warranty providers allow you to choose a contractor. Plus, 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 other than normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
Owning a home is a big responsibility that can be expensive, but valuable. A home warranty is one thing that can help with your home maintenance budget, but whether or not it's worth it for you is something you'll have to determine before taking the leap and getting a policy.
A home warranty can save you thousands of dollars on home maintenance and offer you peace of mind as a homeowner in Austin. All of these top choices have impressive experience in the industry and coverage options. Among them, Choice Home Warranty stands out as the best overall choice. Choice Home Warranty offers home warranties with comprehensive coverage at an affordable cost.
The best home warranty provider in Austin is Choice Home Warranty. Choice Home Warranty has an expansive network of experienced technicians and a respected reputation in the Austin area.
Home warranty policies cover problems with systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced due to normal wear and tear. A homeowner's insurance policy is a different kind of plan that protects your entire home from situations like natural disasters and fires. It doesn't cover normal appliance or system repairs.
Most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before you can file claims, but some may offer coverage sooner so make sure you check with the company about this.
A home warranty policy covers repair and replacement costs for home systems and appliances. Home warranties will not cover the intentional breaking of an appliance or something that happened as a result of a pre-existing condition.
A service fee is an expense that a homeowner pays before a repair technician or contractor comes to your home to fix your home warranty-related problem. The pricing is typically between $60 and $150. Service fees are sometimes called deductibles, and they should be the only out-of-pocket expense that homeowners are subject to with a home warranty except for the monthly premium/annual cost.
Owning a home can be costly. When a system or appliance breaks down, it can leave homeowners unexpectedly having to come up with the money to fix it. With a home warranty plan, you will not have any large hits to your bank account .
