Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
There are many benefits of owning a home, but as your Hickory Hills home gets older, you may have to update or repair your systems and appliances. A home warranty can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by cutting the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important appliances and systems.
The home warranty market has many providers — all with different coverage — so the Today's Homeowner team has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Hickory Hills.
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 Hickory Hills residents. The 3 policies that Liberty offers include options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from Liberty, you will get a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Liberty Home Guard also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
The 3 plans from Liberty Home Guard are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. 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 our review of Liberty Home Guard to learn more. To receive 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 Hickory Hills residents. The 2 policies that Choice offers include options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from Choice, you will get very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Choice Home Warranty also 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. 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 our review of Choice Home Warranty to learn more. To receive 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 Hickory Hills residents. The 3 policies that Select offers include options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from Select, you will get a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Select Home Warranty also 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. 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 our review of Select Home Warranty to learn more. To receive 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 Hickory Hills residents. The 3 policies that AHS offers include options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from AHS, you will get the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. American Home Shield also 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. 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 our review of American Home Shield to learn more. To receive 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 Hickory Hills residents. The 3 policies that Cinch offers include options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from Cinch, you will get a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Cinch Home Services also 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. 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 our review of Cinch Home Services to learn more. To receive 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 Hickory Hills residents. The 2 policies that HSC offers include options for appliance and system coverage. When you buy a plan from HSC, you will get quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. The Home Service Club also 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. 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 our review of The Home Service Club to learn more. To receive 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 | $6,206 |
Heating | $4,138 |
Electrical | $621 |
Toilets | $517 |
Washer/Dryer | $828 |
Plumbing | $621 |
Oven | $1,655 |
Fridge | $621 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Hickory Hills homeowners lower the high costs of household repairs. These plans offer financial protection to repair 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 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 exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty policy gives homeowners a sense of security and can help avoid costly emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for people purchasing older homes or homes with systems near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with modern appliances and fixtures may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many home systems and appliances. Covered appliances typically include dryers, garbage disposals, microwaves, washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and others. Covered systems include heating, electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning. Many home warranty companies also provide additional coverage for locksmiths, septic systems, roof leaks, and central vacuums. Hickory Hills homeowners should know that most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only address repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should know key terms like:
There are several key factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans cover electrical, plumbing, heating, AC, and appliances. More extensive plans may also include additional items such as roof leaks, spas, well pumps, and pools. Look for providers with a range of coverage choices, 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. As this charge applies to every separate claim, some homeowners prefer to choose a provider with more affordable fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some companies also eliminate deductibles when customers have a claim-free period.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insights into factors such as claim approval rates, contractor expertise, repair speed, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like Google Reviews, TrustPilot, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn more about providers. Favorable reviews and ratings suggest a company known for delivering quality service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential companies to learn the number of repair technicians they have in Hickory Hills and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Bigger networks increase the chance of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty plans offer extras such as smart home device protection, maintenance discounts, and energy efficiency upgrades. These add value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Hickory Hills’s cold winters can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty is designed to cover your home’s appliances and systems if they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner stops working in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the repairs, preventing you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
Not only does a home warranty give you some savings, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks, the last thing you want to do is find a technician and schedule a repair. A home warranty handles this process by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Another benefit of having a home warranty is when you’re selling your home, you can most likely transfer your home warranty policy to the new owners. It can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
As for the downsides of home warranties, home system and appliance coverage varies by company, so it’s important to read what each policy covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Another potential pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your repair requests being rejected, so it’s important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Hickory Hills. Our high-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. Additionally, it's typically less expensive 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 plan protects against normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. A homeowners insurance plan protects the entire home in case of something such as a natural disaster or fire. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new refrigerator or stove, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which can be a threat in Hickory Hills.
Homebuyers, homeowners, landlords, home sellers, and real estate agents are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty plan can cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are great if you need more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be helpful if you want to save some money.
Generally, a home warranty offers coverage for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
Usually, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Hickory Hills, where the median value of a home is $291,356, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.