6 Best Home Warranty Companies in DeKalb, IL

How Does a Home Warranty Work?

A home warranty is a protection policy that helps DeKalb homeowners lower the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that break down from normal wear and tear.

Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company then arranges 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 homeowners reassurance by helping avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is especially helpful for those living in older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, people with newer homes and functioning appliances might not need a home warranty.

What Does a Home Warranty Cover?

Home warranties protect your household systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include dishwashers, garbage disposals, dryers, microwaves, washers, refrigerators, and more. Protected systems include electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. Many home warranty plans offer add-on coverage for roof leaks, central vacuums, septic systems, and even locksmiths. DeKalb should understand that most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repairs are covered. Most policies also only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.

Key Home Warranty Terms to Know

Here are some key home warranty terms to understand before signing a contract:

• Service fee: The amount you pay our of pocket per claim for access to a contractor and repair coverage.
• Deductible: How much you pay for a covered repair before your warranty covers the rest. Deductibles can be per-claim or yearly.
• Contract rate: A pre-negotiated rate that your home warranty provider has worked out with contractors. This rate is typically less than what you would pay retail.
• Coverage limits: How much money your warranty provider will pay for specific repairs or replacements. Check limits on repairs for things like air conditioning units, appliances, and roof leaks.
• Endorsements: Additional coverage for systems like septic, well pumps, and pools, which usually comes with a fee for each add-on.
• Claim approval: The process a provider uses to validate that a requested repair or replacement is covered under your plan.
• Trade call fee: An added fee that you'll sometimes need to pay for appliance-related claims.

Keeping these terms and key factors in mind will help you understand costs and select a home warranty that's tailored to protect your most important home systems. Be sure to discuss specifics of coverage with potential companies during the quote process to avoid unexpected fees.

Key Factors in Choosing a Home Warranty Company

There are several key considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:

Coverage Options

Home warranty coverage differs significantly when it comes to what's covered. Most plans include protection for plumbing, heating, electrical, AC, and appliances. More comprehensive plans also offer coverage on other items such as pools, well pumps, roof leaks, and spas. Look for providers with a range of coverage choices, such as upgraded plans. You'll want to tailor your protection for your home’s needs.

Service Fees

Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-claim costs can add up, so some homeowners prefer using companies with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles if a customer doesn't submit any claims in a set timeframe.

Reputation

A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, contractor quality, speed of repairs, and customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research providers. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.

Contractor Network

Home warranty companies use networks of local repair professionals to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential businesses to ask how many repair specialists they have in DeKalb and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. More extensive networks raise the probability of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.

Added Benefits

Some home warranty companies include extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, smart home device protection, and maintenance discounts. These perks add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.

Is a Home Warranty Worth it in DeKalb?

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Benefits of a Home Warranty

Temperatures in DeKalb can vary greatly throughout the year, which means your air conditioner and heating systems are most likely going to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in DeKalb, one of the benefits of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered if they need to be repaired or replaced.

A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours researching and choosing a technician to fix your appliance or system, home warranty providers do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. Additionally, having a home warranty can help make your house more appealing to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been benefiting from.

Downsides of a Home Warranty

Home warranties also have some cons. Although it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a service technician who carries out the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they would prefer to select their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty companies allow you to choose a contractor.

Another downside is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, such as those due to natural disasters. For example, if a tree falls onto your house and damages the roof, the impacted systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.