Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Buying a home is a big step for many, but the cost of maintaining it can be expensive over time, especially if your home in Cerritos is on the older side. A home warranty policy can help protect homeowners by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important appliances and systems.
Finding the right warranty for your home can be difficult, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the best home warranty companies in Cerritos. Read on for our recommendations.
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
In Cerritos, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. Choice has been in the home warranty business for about 15 years. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. With a home warranty from Choice, you can enjoy very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Service fees from Choice are an affordable $85. The coverage caps are also typically around $3,000 at the maximum.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.
Basic Plan
Total Plan
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
In Cerritos, Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has been in the home warranty business for about 11 years. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. With a home warranty from Select, you can enjoy 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.
The 3 plans from Select Home Warranty are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Service fees from Select are a reasonable $60. The coverage caps are also typically around $2,000 at the maximum.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Select Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953.
Bronze Care Plan
Gold Care Plan
Platinum Care Plan
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
In Cerritos, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been in the home warranty business for about 26 years. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. With a home warranty from AHS, you can enjoy the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also typically around $2,500 at the maximum.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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
In Cerritos, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has been in the home warranty business for about 39 years. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. With a home warranty from First American, you can enjoy 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.
The 2 plans from First American Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also typically around $1,500 at the maximum.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of First American Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164.
Basic Plan
Premier Plan
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
In Cerritos, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been in the home warranty business for about 44 years. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can enjoy a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, 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. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also typically around $1,000-$2,000 at the maximum.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home Plan
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 Cerritos, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been in the home warranty business for about 15 years. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders with various system and appliance coverage options. With a home warranty from HSC, you can enjoy quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also typically around $2,000 at the maximum.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on home warranty companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
Home Appliance | Repair Cost |
---|---|
Air Conditioner | $8,220 |
Heating | $5,480 |
Electrical | $822 |
Toilets | $685 |
Washer/Dryer | $1,096 |
Plumbing | $822 |
Oven | $2,192 |
Fridge | $822 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Cerritos homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial protection to repair or swap out appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to make the fix or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs go over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty plan gives homeowners peace of mind and can help avoid expensive emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for buyers of older homes or homes with systems near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with appliances and fixtures in good condition may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties protect many household systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances are garbage disposals, refrigerators, washers, dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, electrical, heating, and plumbing. Various home warranty plans offer add-on coverage for roof leaks, septic systems, central vacuums, and even locksmiths. Most home warranty plans require Cerritos homeowners to wait 30 days before they can use the policy to pay for repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
There are a number of home warranty terms to know before signing an agreement, including:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several important things to take into account:
Home warranty coverage varies widely in the items that are included. Most plans include protection for plumbing, electrical, heating, AC, and appliances. More inclusive options also cover other items such as spas, roof leaks, pools, and well pumps. Focus on providers with broad coverage options including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize your plan to meet your home's needs.
You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These per-claim charges can quickly add up, so you may seek out companies advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain companies may waive deductibles after a customer goes a period of time with no claims filed.
A home warranty company's reputation gives you insight into things such as claim approval rates, timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research providers. Complimentary reviews and ratings indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty businesses maintain networks of local technicians to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to learn how many repair professionals they have in Cerritos and get an idea for how quickly your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. Larger networks raise the chances of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty providers include perks such as energy efficiency upgrades, smart home device coverage, and reduced maintenance fees. These can provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses allow you to enhance your home and get the most from your warranty policy.
Home warranty plans are an inexpensive way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Cerritos hitting an average high of 71℃F, you may find that certain appliances, such as your air conditioning unit, get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably bring down out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system stop working.
Not only can a home warranty save you money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time too. Instead of needing to vet service technicians by yourself, home warranty providers do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. Plus, though it varies by company, some providers will let you transfer your warranty in the event that you sell your home. This can make your property more attractive to potential homebuyers and maybe even help your home sell faster.
As for the drawbacks of home warranties, coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to read what each plan covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Another pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that haven’t been properly maintained. This can lead to your claims being rejected, so it’s important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Cerritos can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans typically have broader coverage, a lower service fee, and higher coverage limits. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also reduce your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty helps protect against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects the entire home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim should you need a new washing machine or air conditioner, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Cerritos.
First-time homebuyers, homeowners, landlords, home sellers, and real estate agents can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty can cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be a good idea if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Generally, a home warranty plan offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
Typically, the person who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the person who is selling the home may purchase a home warranty policy and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Since the average home value in Cerritos is $990,524, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.