Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
There are a lot of perks of owning a home, but as your Barrington home gets older, you may need to factor in the cost of updating your systems and appliances. A home warranty can bring you the peace of mind you need and safeguard your bank account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
Choosing the best home warranty on the market can be quite a challenge because of the numerous options out there. If you're overwhelmed by trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the top home warranty companies in Barrington.
Very highly rated among customer service reviews
Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
Extensive list of 20+ add-on coverages
Easy claims process
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty for Barrington residents. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. Liberty has established itself as a company with a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. It also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
Liberty Home Guard offers 3 plans for Barrington homeowners. The Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Liberty’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $75.
Read more by visiting our review of Liberty Home Guard. To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or give them a call at 866-451-2281.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
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
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty for Barrington residents. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Barrington homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
Read more by visiting our review of Choice Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty for Barrington residents. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. Select has established itself as a company with a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. It also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
Select Home Warranty offers 3 plans for Barrington homeowners. The Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Select’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
Read more by visiting our review of Select Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty for Barrington residents. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Barrington homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are close to the $2,500 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
Read more by visiting our review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Barrington residents. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Barrington homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
Read more by visiting our review of Cinch Home Services. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service for Barrington residents. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. HSC has established itself as a company with quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. It also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Barrington homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
Read more by visiting our review of The Home Service Club. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $7,205 |
| Heating | $4,803 |
| Electrical | $720 |
| Toilets | $600 |
| Washer/Dryer | $961 |
| Plumbing | $720 |
| Oven | $1,921 |
| Fridge | $720 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Barrington homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that stop working from normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit 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 gives peace of mind to homeowners, as it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Covered appliances normally include microwaves, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dryers, washers, dishwashers, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, electrical, heating, and plumbing. Many home warranty providers also offer additional coverage for locksmiths, central vacuums, septic systems, and roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require Barrington homeowners to refrain from making claims for 30 days before the plan will cover repairs. Moreover, policies usually only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Here are some essential home warranty words to know before signing a contract:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranty coverage varies widely in the items that are included. Most plans cover AC, heating, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. More robust coverage options also include protection for other items such as spas, pools, well pumps, and roof leaks. Look for providers with an assortment of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your home’s needs.
Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. With these per-request costs adding up over time as you file claims, you may want to choose a company with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some companies also eliminate deductibles if a customer goes a period of time without filing any claims.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research providers. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty companies have networks of professionals to handle covered repairs. Wider networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Barrington to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Some home warranty companies include bonuses such as maintenance discounts, smart home device protection, and energy efficiency upgrades. These add value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Home warranties are a great way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Barrington reaching an average high of 57℃F, you may find that some appliances, such as your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can remarkably lower out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system break down.
Not only does a home warranty provide some financial relief, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks down, the last thing you want to do is find a repair person and schedule a repair. A home warranty takes care of this process by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Plus, though it varies by company, some providers will allow you to transfer your warranty in the event that you sell your home. This can make your property more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
As for the drawbacks of home warranties, system and appliance coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to understand what each policy covers and excludes in the contract.
Another downside is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, like those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if your HVAC system is damaged from an animal infestation, the impacted systems and appliances probably won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Barrington. Our top-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can decrease your monthly bill with some companies by opting for a higher service fee. Additionally, it's often cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty helps protect against normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects a home in case of a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. With a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim should you need a new dryer or oven, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Barrington.
Homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, real estate agents, and landlords can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different kinds of home warranties in Barrington include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan will cover many of your systems and appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the contract.
Generally, a home warranty policy offers coverage for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
Typically, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees when using the policy. In Barrington, where the median home value is $541,801, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
