How to Choose the Best Home Warranty Plan for Your Needs
Choosing the right home warranty plan is a big decision. You need to make sure that whatever plan you choose is capable of protecting your most important investment — your home — while still remaining affordable. These two factors, in addition to others, need to be carefully evaluated during your search so that you can find the best home warranty plan for your needs.
The good news is that you have a lot of options in home warranty plans! Of course, the number of home warranty providers means that you'll need to be discerning in order to find the best provider possible.
In this article, we'll teach you about several factors you should consider when searching for a home warranty. To find the right home warranty plan that fits your unique needs, here are the steps you can take:
1. Make a List of Items That You Want to be Covered
First and foremost, choose a home warranty plan that covers all the vital home systems and appliances that you own. Before you start your search, you should make a list of all the home systems and appliances that absolutely need to be covered.
While making this list, you should consider which items are essential and which items would be nice to have covered, but are not vital to your decision. This way you can eliminate home warranty providers that don't cover essential items without having to eliminate ones that cover essentials but not all of your optional items.
Once you've compiled your list, all you have to do is compare it to the items covered by the home warranty company you are vetting. In general, you'll want to find a home warranty provider that covers a large number of items while offering some extra coverage as options. The ability to pick and choose additional items you need covered can save you money since you aren't paying for coverage on items that you don't own.
For a quick reference, here are the items that are covered by our Premiere Coverage Plan and our Optional Coverage Add-Ons.
2. Ask Your Friends and Neighbors Who They Use for Home Warranties
Whenever you have to make a big decision, it's worthwhile to talk to people you trust. Speak with friends and neighbors to see which home warranty company they use and ask them how their experience has been. By getting recommendations from trustworthy people, you can identify standout companies and eliminate companies that have not met the needs of people you know.
3. Compare Home Warranty Companies
When shopping for a home warranty, you should always take time to compare companies. It's best to do this after you've already eliminated a few companies in order to reduce the amount of time that this takes.
Some things to consider when comparing your short list of companies include:
Items covered: The more items that a home warranty covers, the better. Make sure that every policy you're considering covers all the items that you need and any items that you think you may want to add to your household in the future.
Coverage length: Many plans offer coverage options that last only a year, but some companies, such as American Home Protect, offer coverage plans that last three years. These longer coverage options allow you to spread the cost of your policy over a longer period of time and can reduce the potential for a policy lapse.
Additional services: Some home warranty companies provide more than just repairs and replacement. For instance, at American Home Protect we provide you with affordable access to vetted handyman services. Always be sure to check out what your home warranty provider offers beyond the basics as that can make a plan more valuable in the long run.
Monthly premium cost: Everyone wants to get a great deal. Make sure to compare the average monthly costs of each home warranty plan you're considering. Which one will take the smallest chunk out of your budget? Just make sure that you are also considering other factors that influence the quality of coverage first. A cheaper plan won't make much of a difference if it has poor coverage options.
4. Review the Home Warranty Plans and Pricing
Once you've narrowed down your list to a few contenders, it’s time to read the fine print. You should take a moment to look at all of the plans that each company offers and identify the plan that is correct for your needs. While doing this, it's helpful to reach out to each company and request sample contracts so that you can review exactly what each home warranty plan entails.
5. Speak Directly to the Home Warranty Companies
Finally, when you have only two or three companies left in mind, you should speak directly to each one. By speaking to a company on the phone, you can get a better sense of how effective their customer service is. Were they responsive and helpful? This can indicate if they'll be helpful when you have an issue that they need to address.
Speaking to a company also gives you the opportunity to ask any lingering questions that weren't answered during your research process. You may even receive helpful information just by interacting with a company representative.
Explore a Home Warranty from American Home Protect
If you've already begun your search for a great home warranty plan, then there's no better time to check out what we offer at American Home Protect! Our plans and coverage last for three years and include helpful handyman services to ensure that your home is always kept in great shape. Get a quote today to see how much you can save with a home warranty plan from American Home Protect!