Top 5 Best Home Warranties For Home Buyers (2023 Review)
Written By: Ross Robinson
Edited by: Andrew Dunn
Looking for the best home warranties as a home buyer?
Great, you’re in the right spot. In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What are home warranty plans for home buyers?
- How much does a home warranty service contract for home buyers cost?
- Is coverage for buyers worth it?
- How do home warranties for buyers work?
- What are the best home warranty coverage plans for new home buyers
- And much more!
We’ve reviewed and rated 68+ home warranty companies, and below are our top picks for buyers specific to your state. Curious how coverage can save you money on your new home? Continue reading!
Our Top Home Warranty for Home Buyers Picks
- All plans have comprehensive coverage. Most other home warranty plans cover either just systems or just appliances.
- Choice’s coverage caps are $3,000 per item, per year for most major systems and appliances beating the industry average.
- Choice Home Warranty doesn't exclude older homes, so you can still get coverage regardless of the age of your property.
- $200 off + 1 Month Free + Free Roof Coverage!
- BBB's Only A+ Accredited Home Warranty Company!
- 60-day workmanship guarantee compared to the average of 30 days.
- More than 20 options, including window washing, swimming pools, and irrigation.
- 24/7 service calls
- With over 52 years of experience and 1.7 million customers AHS has a long history in the industry.
- American Home Shield, lest you choose a service fee that works for your budget.
- Coverage caps for systems are unlimited across all three plans and are either $3000 or $6000 for appliances.
- $150 off + 2 months free
- FREE Roof Leak Coverage
- Good selection of plans
- Must file claims within 3 days
- $75 cancellation fee
- First 2 Months Free on all Plans! (exclusions apply)
- Industry-leading 180-day workmanship guarantee
- $500 Homeowner insurance deductible reimbursement
- Thousands of reliable & fast local service providers
- 24/7 customer service
- Low cancellation fee
Top 5 Home Warranty Companies For Home Buyers (2023)
| Provider | Best For | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | BBB Rating |
| Choice Home Warranty | Best Overall | $45 – $53 | $85 | D+ |
| Liberty Home Guard | Best Customer Service | $45 – $54 | $75 | A- |
| American Home Shield | Most Customizable | $25 – $75 | $75 – $125 | B |
| Select Home Warranty | Most Affordable | $44 – $48 | $60 | B- |
| Americas First Choice Home Club | Best For Customization | $46 – $68 | $75 – $125 | B |
Choice Home Warranty (Best Home Warranty for Buyers)
Choice Home Warranty is the best home warranty for buyers. Buying a home is a stressful experience, and Choice goes out of its way to make this process less overwhelming and more productive. The Choice Home Warranty policy options and policy documents are simple and straightforward. Buyers will find that the lack of fine print on a Choice Home Warranty plan is impressive. In addition, Choice does not discriminate against homes with older appliances. As long as the appliances and systems are in working order, Choice will offer you coverage on your new home.
With the Choice Home Warranty Basic Plan and Total Plan, you get a mix of coverage split between your home systems and appliances. With companies like American Home Shield or Select Home Warranty, you will need to choose between an appliance plan, a systems plan, or a more comprehensive plan at a higher price. Very few home warranty companies offer a combo plan at as fair of a value as Choice Home Warranty. For buyers, money can often be a bit tight for the first few months in a new home; knowing that an appliance repair or replacement will only cost them an $85 service fee will bring some peace of mind. Other companies like American Home Shield can have service fees over $125.
Buyers should also be aware of a home warranty company claim denial rate. The industry average is around 10% for claim denials. The reasons for claim denials are often pre-existing conditions, homeowner error, or a previous failed repair. Although 10% is still a relatively low statistic, the Choice Home Warranty denial rate is 5%. Buyers will have confidence if an issue should come up that Choice Home Warranty will cover it.
With money being tight that first year of homeownership, it makes sense to take advantage of the Choice Home Warranty sign-on bonus being offered right now. Choice Home Warranty provides one month free and a $50 bonus for new buyers to sign up and take advantage of this affordable and reliable home warranty coverage.
American Home Shield (Most Customizable)
American Home Shield is the editor’s choice for the best home warranty for buyers. Buyers that are purchasing high-end homes or have no experience in home improvement or repair will greatly benefit from the American Home Shield plan. One of the most important things to remember about American Home Shield is a very customizable plan. If you want your refrigerator but not your HVAC covered, you can set up a plan with American Home Shield that will fit your needs. AHS is a company that has been around for more than 50 years. Unlike Select Home Warranty and Choice Home Warranty that have about a decade in the business, American Home Shield has proven they have earned a place in the market.
One of the things that buyers like best about the American Home Shield plan is the ability to choose your premium. Chances are, as a new homebuyer, you are trying to stick to a fairly strict budget in the beginning. As time goes on, you may be able to adjust your budget accordingly, but in the beginning, it’s nice to have a lower premium. With American Home Shield, you can choose to have a lower premium and higher deductible when you buy your home. AHS has one of the lowest claim denial rates on the market, ensuring your plan is always working for you.
The only downside to the American Home Shield plan is that it tends to have some premium pricing attached to it. If you want to take advantage of some savings, sign up today and take $50 off the policy. This incentive is a great way to lock yourself in a premium home warranty.
Select Home Warranty (Most Affordable)
Select Home Warranty is the best value home warranty for buyers. Buying a home is expensive, and many unexpected costs will very likely come up. One way to help keep those costs down is to have an affordable home warranty in place. Select Home Warranty has a lower monthly cost and a lower deductible than Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield. Even though the Select Home Warranty policies are lower in price, they will still give a wide range of coverage options for a buyer.
With the prices of homes on the rise, it is essential to look at any way you can save money. With Select Home Warranty, you will get free roof leak coverage for your home. Having the roof covered completely free of cost will ensure that you are not paying for this as an add-on. Companies like American Home Shield will consider this an add-on or an extra, and it will add to your monthly costs of homeownership. The Select Home Warranty plan is easy to sign up for, straightforward and gives you three affordable options to choose from. It should come as no surprise that buyers all over America opt for this plan.
If you are on the fence about whether or not to purchase a home warranty plan, the sign-up savings with Select Home Warranty should do the trick. With the Select Home Warranty incentive, you will get $150 off, two months free, and then 30 days to cancel without it costing you any money. There is no reason not to give this plan a try.
What's In This Guide?
Needless to say, the last thing you want while buying a home is another thing to worry about. But, just because you’ve found and purchased a new home doesn’t mean the house buying process is over.
In fact, it’ll be months or even years before you fully get used to your new abode. Plus, a major appliance or system could malfunction in your new home, leaving you with a huge repair bill to deal with.
With a home warranty protection plan for buyers you don’t have to worry about getting saddled with the cost of major repairs. Home warranty plans can do a whole lot to protect buyers from unexpected costs in the months and years after purchasing their home.
But, with so many great plan options out there, it can be tricky to determine precisely which one is best for your needs. To ensure that you get the best coverage for your new home, here are our home warranty reviews, complete with a guide to everything you need to know about the best home warranties out there today.
If you’re looking for a trusted, industry-leading home warranty company, we recommend Choice Home Warranty. They’re a top-rated brand and right now you can take advantage of their current promotions that get you $50 off, plus one free month and free 30-Day cancellation. Get a free online quote or contact a specialist at 929-400-6169 before these deals end. Another great option is American Home Shield which offers $50 off. Get a free quote online or you can call a home warranty specialist directly at 866-464-7521.
Top 5 Best Home Warranty Companies for Home Buyers
What Are Home Warranties Meant For Buyers?
A home warranty for buyers is a way for new homeowners to protect themselves against unexpected repair and maintenance costs on their house. While homeowners certainly expect to repair their home systems and appliances every once in a while, few realize that these issues can crop up within weeks or months of closing on a house.
In many instances, these issues aren’t detected by your standard home inspection. But, they’re still serious and need to be dealt with before the problem gets worse.
When this happens, you’re left with a massive bill from a service provider that’s just not covered by your homeowners insurance or a manufacturer’s warranty. So, you’ll have to pay upfront for the cost of issues that potentially started long before you owned the home.
With a home warranty plan, though, you simply pay the cost of an annual premium and a small service fee every time you submit a claim. Then, the home warranty provider will send a repair specialist to your home to assess, diagnose, and repair any damage while you sit back and relax.
It’s important to research which companies offer the best coverage plans in your city and/or state. To help, we’ve written essential guides to purchase a home warranty in cities like Dallas, Chicago, Charlotte, Kansas City, Fairfax and Atlanta.
What Does A Home Warranty For Buyers Cost?
On average, a buyer’s home warranty costs between $300 and $600 for a year of coverage. But, what you pay for your warranty will depend quite a bit on the size of your new home and where it’s located.
Moreover, the type of plan that you want and the coverage options that you’re interested in will greatly affect how much you pay each year. In fact, there are multiple types of home warranty plans, including:
Appliances Plan or Systems Plan
Most warranty companies offer plans that cover either appliances or systems individually. Covered items under an appliances plan usually include your dishwasher, built-in microwave, refrigerator, and stove/oven. Systems plans will cover your heating, electrical systems, air conditioning, and plumbing systems.
Some companies call these plans “basic plan,” because they cover your most essential home systems and appliances.
Best Home Warranty For Buyers?
Choice Home Warranty is our top pick in the rental home insurance market. Choice has more than 10 years of experience helping home buyers insure their properties, offers three extensive plans to choose from and customer service 24/7.
Combo Plan/Comprehensive
On the other hand, if you want to really maximize your coverage you can opt for a combo plan that includes protection for all of your major appliances and systems.
A comprehensive plan covers pretty much all of the major systems and appliances, such as your air conditioner, whirlpool bathtub, and refrigerator. As you can imagine, a comprehensive plan usually comes with a higher annual premium, but it’s well worth the cost if you want complete coverage for your home.
Build Your Own Plan
Finally, some home warranty companies allow you to build your own plan. With one of these policies, you can choose precisely which home appliances and systems you want to cover.
These plans will often also let you protect things like septic systems and well pumps, which are often optional coverage add-ons for a traditional plan. Build your own plans are usually the most expensive option, but they offer maximum flexibility and the ability to customize your protection plan fully.
So, they’re particularly useful for new homeowners that want a full coverage for their house’s most valuable aspects.
Is Coverage For Buyers Worth It?
If you’ve just purchased a new home, it’s understandable if you’re not quite sure that you want to commit to home warranty. You’ve probably just paid closing costs and moving fees so you might not be keen to tack on another expense.
But, a home warranty for buyers is definitely worth it. Here’s why:
Protects Your Investment
You just purchased a beautiful new home that you probably expect to live in for years to come. However, keeping your home in tip-top shape isn’t as easy as it sounds.
If you want your home’s value to increase over the years continuously, keeping it well-maintained and up-to-date is critical. That being said, regular repair and maintenance costs on your home can easily rack up huge bills over the year.
This takes a lot of money away from you that you could’ve spent on renovations, vacations, or on your retirement. With a home warranty, though, you can stay on top of regular maintenance and protect your house’s selling value without spending a fortune on your home.
This means more money in your pocket now, and more return on investment should you decide to sell your house down the line.
Are You A Veteran Home Buyer? Check Out This Article!
Shields You From Unexpected Repair Costs
Imagine this: You’ve finally moved into your brand new home after months of searching, negotiating, moving, and signing paperwork. But, as soon as you settle in and try to turn the air conditioning on, you realize that it just doesn’t work.
Unfortunately, this issue is much more common than you might think. Buyers frequently find that they need to repair and replace major systems and appliances in their new home within weeks or months of closing.
Home repairs are just one of the many joys of owning a house, but you probably didn’t expect to have to pay for them so soon. Thankfully, home warranty plans can protect you from these unexpected repair costs, even if they happen right after you move in.
Convenient, Simplified Repair Service
If you’ve moved to a brand new area, you may not know who to call if something malfunctions in your home. While you can certainly spend hours researching the best repair technicians in your home, doing so eats away at your valuable time and doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get great service.
Home warranty plans simplify the entire repair process by sending a home service repair specialist straight to your house whenever you submit a claim. They deal with all of the paperwork, research, and hassle on their end, so you don’t have to worry about finding an experienced service contractor when your heating breaks in the middle of the night in the dead of winter.
In reality, this convenient repair service is one of the biggest benefits of a warranty for new home buyers, particularly if you’ve moved to a new town from far away. Instead of worrying about your home repairs, you can have a warranty company will deal with them for you.
Full Year Of Coverage
Just because you closed on a house doesn’t mean that the new home buying process is over. In fact, your homeowner’s journey has just begun with your new house.
Home warranty plans recognize that homeownership is an ongoing process. This is why a full year of coverage from a home warranty provider is an ideal way to protect yourself from unforeseen repair costs long after you say au revoir to your real estate agent.
For more information of purchasing a home warranty as a buyer, watch this video!
Helps Avoid Disputes With Previous Owners
One of the most common disputes between home buyers and sellers is a failure to disclose any pre-existing conditions in the home. Hopefully, your home inspector was able to find any of these problems before you closed on the house. Still, if not, a buyer’s home warranty policy often provides repair coverage for these situations.
This can help you avoid nasty, time-consuming disputes with the previous homeowners and can help you calmly settle into your new house without fear of needing to pay for unfair repair fees.
Are You Purchasing An Older Home? If So, Check Out This Article.
Covers What Homeowner’s Insurance Won’t
If you have a mortgage on your home, you almost certainly had to take out a home insurance policy. These policies are super important for protecting your home in the event of a fire or natural disasters, like a flood, hurricane, or earthquake.
But, homeowner’s insurance will not pay up just because your refrigerator broke in your new home. At the end of the day, it’s not designed for this sort of protection.
On the other hand, home warranties will protect you if a covered item breaks from normal wear and tear. Combining a warranty with your insurance policy is the best way to ensure that you’re protected from any eventuality.
How Do Home Warranties For Buyers Work (Are They Unique)?
For the most part, buyers can choose from the same home warranty plans available to current homeowners. However, some companies will offer buyer-specific policies or upgrades to give you a bit of extra protection on your new home. Here’s how the process works:
Step 1: Find A New Home That You Love
First things first, you need to find your dream home and make an offer on the house. Since the cost of your home warranty plan is dependent on the size and location of your house, you’ll need to know what you’re buying before you commit to a specific warranty company.
Step 2: Get A Home Inspection
Your mortgage lender will almost certainly require that you get a home inspection before you purchase a home. Even if they don’t, an inspection is an important part of the home warranty process for buyers because you want to be sure that no pre-existing conditions are lurking lurking in your new home.
If you or the inspector notice anything amiss in the home when you do a walk-through, be sure to discuss this with the seller before closing. Safety issues and obvious issues with major systems or appliances beyond just cosmetics are often the seller’s responsibility, so it’s good to discuss these problems before closing.
At the very least, a home inspection will help you identify any potential problems with the home. Although they’re generally not required by home warranty companies, an inspection is highly recommended because it will likely find any pre-existing conditions in your new home that might not be covered by your policy. That way, you can work with the seller to fix these issues before it becomes your financial responsibility.
Read Also: How Does Home Coverage For Sellers Work?
Step 3: Choose A Home Warranty Plan
Now that you have your dream home under contract and you’ve identified any issues for the seller to fix before closing, it’s time to decide on a home warranty plan. If you’re still undecided as to which plan you think is right for your needs, you can always request a free quote and a sample contract from prospective warranty companies.
Doing so can help you figure out precisely what’s covered under your plan and give you the best estimate of your annual premium.
Step 4: Submit A Service Claim
After you’ve purchased your home warranty and have moved into your new house, you can enjoy your new digs with the peace of mind that you’ll be protected if something malfunctions. Should there be an issue in your new home, you simply need to submit a service claim to your warranty company.
Most home warranty providers have a 24/7 call center that’s ready to help you deal with repair issues in your home. Keep in mind that you often have to contact your provider within a set time period (usually 1-3 days) after identifying an issue to be eligible for coverage.
Step 5: Pay A Service Call Fee
Once you submit your repair claim, you’ll have to pay a small service call fee. This is generally between $60-$120 and covers the cost of sending a repair technician to your home. You can think of this as similar to a copay at the doctor’s office.
Step 6: Get Prompt Home Repairs
The final step of this process happens when you receive a quick and efficient repair service that’s covered by your policy. Your warranty company will arrange for a contractor to go to your home to assess, diagnose, and repair any issues.
The warranty provider will then cover the cost of any home repairs or replacements up to the amount listed on your service contract for that particular appliance or system.
Are You A First-Time Buyer? If So, Check Out This Article!
Final Thoughts On Home Warranties For Buyers
If you’re in the process of buying a new home, a home warranty is essential. Once you find the house of your dreams, you want to be sure that it’s well maintained for years to come.
A home warranty for buyers can help cover the cost of maintaining your new home while also protecting you from major repair bills. That way, there are no new surprises after you move into your new house, just years of happy memories and hassle-free repairs.