Home warranty in Iowa

In Iowa, you can buy a home protection plan at any time, regardless of the age of your home or how long you've lived there. Learn more about how soon can you use your home warranty.

A home warranty agreement is a service contract between a homeowner and a company that states the terms under which the company will help cover the repair costs of home systems and appliances for a given period.

The typical length of a home protection plan agreement in Iowa is one year.

This depends on your specific plan with the home protection company you select. At Cinch Home Services, our Repair Plus Replace Premier Plan provides comprehensive coverage for most household appliances and systems.

Yes, here's an easy way to explain the difference between homeowners insurance vs. home warranty. Homeowners insurance covers catastrophic, unforeseen events such as accidents, fires and natural disasters. Home warranty protection, on the other hand, covers the appliances and systems in your home that fail due to normal wear and tear. When things such as your HVAC or refrigerator stop working due to normal wear and tear, a home warranty plan is probably worth it and may make it easier (and cheaper) to repair or replace them.

No, home warranties are not required in Iowa.

In real estate, a home warranty can be paid for by the buyer or the seller at closing. For the seller, paying for a home warranty can make the property seem more appealing and help reduce the cost of repairs while the home is on the market. From the buyer's perspective, having a home warranty can provide peace of mind when moving in — especially if they purchase an older home. For more information, see our guide on home warranty on an old house.

Iowa real estate sellers can acquire a home warranty plan for coverage for repairs or replacements of major appliances and home systems when they experience mechanical failure due to normal wear and tear during the listing period. Essentially, the home warranty helps protect the seller from unexpected repair costs if a covered item breaks down while the house is on the market.

A home warranty lapse happens if you cancel your agreement or if your agreement isn't set to auto-renew and you forget to renew it. If this happens, you'll typically have to wait 30 days before your appliances and systems are covered again. During this lapsed period, you'll be financially responsible for any repairs you may need to your household appliances or systems.

With most home warranty companies in Iowa, you'll be notified in advance whether you need to renew, or if you're already on an automatically renewing plan, you'll also be notified of any rate and/or coverage changes, no less than 30 days before your current agreement expires.