How to find the best home warranty company for you
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to home ownership. From real estate agents to home insurance policies, you’ll likely do a ton of research before deciding on an option that makes the most sense for your needs. The same can be said when choosing your own plan with a home warranty company.
A home warranty is a protection plan for your home’s major appliances and systems. It’s a service contract purchased and renewed every year to help homeowners manage unexpected repair or replacement costs. At the time of service, the homeowner pays a deductible that may be applied toward the cost of the covered repair or replacement. This deductible is determined by the home warranty plan that the homeowner chooses.
Home buyers and sellers, in particular, rely on warranties when something breaks down in their home from normal wear and tear. But with so many choices on the market, it can be tricky to choose a home warranty company to place your trust.
It’s important to review multiple companies and policies when looking for the best home warranty plan for your budget and needs. There are several factors to keep in mind, such as the company’s qualifications and offerings and where you reside (coverage options in California, for instance, might not be the same as in Florida).
Let’s dive into the details of assessing home warranty companies so that you can learn how to tell if a company is reputable and if it has the right options for you.
What are the home warranty company’s plan options?
When narrowing down your list of top picks regarding finding a home warranty company, one of the first steps is to review the company’s plan options. Every home and homeowner are unique, and a company’s offerings should reflect this fact. A company that offers different plans shows flexibility and a willingness to accommodate individual needs. A basic home warranty plan helps cover the repair or replacement of parts for major appliances, such as:
- Clothes Dryers
- Clothes Washers
- Cooktops
- Dishwashers
- Food Centers (Built-in)
- Freestanding Ice Makers
- Microwaves (Built-in)
- Range Exhaust Hoods
- Ranges
- Refrigerators
- Trash Compactors (Built-in)
- Wall Ovens
Many companies also have a basic systems plan. A complete home warranty plan, also known as a comprehensive plan or combo plan, covers all of your home’s eligible appliances plus built-in systems, such as:
- Air Conditioning Including Ductwork
- Heating System Including Ductwork
- HVAC Systems/Ductwork
- Plumbing System
- Smoke Detectors
- Sump Pump
- Water Dispensers
- Water Heaters
- Whirlpool/Jetted Tubs (Built-in)
Are the warranty plan options easy to understand?
The top home warranty companies are open about their plan options and communicate in plain, easy-to-understand language. They’re upfront about important details like optional coverage and don’t try to hide things in the fine print. Make sure the company clearly states:
- Optional coverage and add-ons
- Company reviews
- Covered home appliances
- Covered home systems
- Deductibles
- Guarantees
- Home inspection requirements
- Pricing
- Service fees
Cinch Home Services offers three home protection plans with clear pricing of our monthly premiums, which vary by geographic region. Our basic plan starts at only $27.99 per month. With flexible payment options, customers can choose to pay in full or make affordable monthly payments.
Whether you have a new home or an older home, you can rely on Cinch for top home warranty coverage. We never require a home inspection to qualify for a warranty to cover systems or major appliances after their manufacturer’s warranty has expired. There’s even a sample of a home service agreement on our website.
Is the home warranty company BBB accredited?
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) helps people find and connect with businesses they can trust. A BBB accredited company has been through a rigorous accreditation process to ensure their business practices meet strict requirements. BBB accredited companies form an elite group of industry-leading professionals proven to be the best in their field. If a home warranty company is BBB accredited, you can trust that it’s a top-notch operation that takes care of its customers.
BBB ratings are another source of information you can review when choosing whether you do business with a home warranty company. These ratings represent the BBB’s opinion of how the company is likely to interact with a customer based on information the BBB gathers about the business from customers and other public sources.
The BBB bases its ratings on how many points out of 100 a company scores during its examination. Ratings range alphabetically from A+ for the best to F for the worst. Cinch is a BBB accredited company with an excellent rating.
Does the home warranty company have an established network of service professionals?
Homeowners sometimes struggle to find qualified service providers who they can trust to show up and do the job right. Your home warranty company should have access to the top service professionals in your area. An established network of experts ensures you’ll receive timely, quality service when faced with a major appliance or system breakdown. The company should also hold the service providers to high standards to ensure they’ll meet all your needs.
Cinch makes home protection and repairs easier than ever. We believe it should be simple for you to get the help you need at a price you can afford. Our nationwide network of service pros, who we’ve already vetted for you, ensure your repairs get done right. Getting things back up and running as quickly as possible is as important to us as it is to you.
Does the warranty company have a workmanship guarantee?
When home repairs are necessary, you want to be sure they get properly fixed the first time. Repeatedly repairing the same major appliance or system is costly and might be necessary through no fault of your own. A workmanship guarantee is an important feature of a home warranty plan. It ensures that if the same problem persists, the warranty company will take care of it at no extra cost.
Cinch offers an industry-leading 180-day workmanship guarantee so that you can be sure that we will fix your covered repair for good while only paying the deductible once. Every Cinch home protection plan includes this guaranteed service benefit and protection for “unknown pre-existing conditions,” discounts on new appliances and rust and corrosion coverage.
Does the home warranty company have an easy online service portal?
Stress levels run high when a major system like your air conditioning or a major appliance breaks down. The last thing you want is to waste time jumping through hoops to get the problem fixed. A user-friendly online service portal makes it easy to quickly request repairs and service from your home warranty provider. The service portal should also show covered items in your home protection plan.
Every Cinch customer has access to a digital dashboard so that they can easily tell us what’s wrong and pick a service appointment. We’ll then collect a service call fee upfront at the time of the service request, which may be applied toward the cost of the covered repair or replacement. Depending on how much you choose to pay each month, you can expect a lower or higher deductible.
We’ve made it possible for you to access the Cinch online portal from your phone to request 24/7 service. Your digital dashboard lets you see what your plan covers at a glance and helps you stay on top of payments and other things related to your account. The Cinch service portal provides homeowners with peace of mind that help is just a few clicks away.
What do reviews say about the home warranty company?
You don’t have to take the company’s word for it that they’re a great business you can trust. You can read reviews about most home warranty companies online. Customer reviews help you get a better picture of how the company treats others. Do they deliver on their promises, or do they disappoint? Are their coverage options as good as they say?
Reviews from homeowners who have used the company’s services allow you to hear the good and bad about them. See firsthand how Cinch treats its customers. Check out the Cinch review page.
Discover why Cinch is leading the way in home warranty coverage
From choosing a lender to a homeowners insurance policy, there’s a lot that goes into securing a home. We’re here to offer peace of mind through our home warranty plans.
Cinch consistently strives to meet the standards mentioned above to be America’s best home warranty company. From garage door openers to garbage disposals, our comprehensive coverage protects the parts of over 25 major home appliances and systems. Our honest reviews by customers from California to Florida prove you can rely on us for excellent home warranty services nationwide.
Are you ready to find the best home protection plan for you? Contact Cinch to get an instant quote and see what home warranty offers are available today.