Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
As much as you may enjoy homeownership in St. Charles, there's always that fear about whether your systems and appliances are going to need to be replaced in the next few years. A home warranty in St. Charles can help lower your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Finding the right warranty for your home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the top home warranty companies in St. Charles. Keep reading for our top provider recommendations.
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
In St. Charles, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. When you buy a home warranty 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 are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Service fees from Liberty are an affordable $75. The coverage caps are also typically around $3,000 at the maximum.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. Read more by visiting our Liberty Home Guard Review.
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
In St. Charles, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. When you buy a home warranty 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 are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners 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.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting our Choice Home Warranty Review.
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 St. Charles, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. When you buy a home warranty 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 are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners 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.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. Read more by visiting our Select Home Warranty Review.
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 St. Charles, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. When you buy a home warranty 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 AHS are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners 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.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting our American Home Shield Review.
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
In St. Charles, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. When you buy a home warranty 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 are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners 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.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting our Cinch Home Services Review.
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 St. Charles, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. When you buy a home warranty 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 HSC are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners 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.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting our The Home Service Club Review.
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 | $6,710 |
| Heating | $4,473 |
| Electrical | $671 |
| Toilets | $559 |
| Washer/Dryer | $895 |
| Plumbing | $671 |
| Oven | $1,789 |
| Fridge | $671 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps cut costs for St. Charles homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that break due to 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 cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind for homeowners by helping them avoid expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly useful for those who live in older homes or ones with outdated systems. Newer builds with modern appliances probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties protect many household systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances include dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, garbage disposals, washers, refrigerators, and others. Covered systems include air conditioning, heating, electrical, and plumbing. Many home warranty plans offer extra coverage for central vacuums, roof leaks, septic systems, and even locksmiths. St. Charles should understand that most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. The majority of policies also only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are multiple home warranty terms to understand before signing an agreement, including:
There are several important factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranties differ greatly in the items covered. Basic policies typically cover AC, electrical, heating, plumbing, and appliances, while more comprehensive options may also cover well pumps, spas, pools, and roof leaks. Look for a provider that offers comprehensive coverage choices, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific systems and needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a repair fee that typically ranges between $60 and $100, which is paid per claim you submit. The costs from multiple fees can add up. You may decide to look for companies with lower service fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles when customers go a period with no claims filed.
A home warranty provider'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), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research companies. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for quality service.
Home warranty businesses have networks of local contractors to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to learn how many repair contractors they have in St. Charles and get an idea for how fast your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. Bigger networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Certain home warranty companies include perks such as protection for smart home devices, energy-efficient upgrades, and discounts on maintenance. These can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks enhance your home and maximize your home warranty.
Temperatures in St. Charles 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 St. Charles, one benefit of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they need to be repaired or replaced.
A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and selecting a repair person 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. Another good thing about having a home warranty is while selling your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty plan to the new owners. This can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and may help your house sell faster.
There are also some downsides to buying a home warranty policy, like the coverage exclusions. For example, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that are already covered under a manufacturer's warranty.
Another possible pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that have been improperly 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 policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in St. Charles. Our top-rated home warranty companies' 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. In addition, it's usually less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty plan covers normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects your home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new washing machine or dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in St. Charles.
A home warranty policy can help homebuyers, investors, homeowners, real estate agents, and home sellers. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different home warranties in St. Charles include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover your systems and appliances, such as your refrigerator, washing machine, and heating and cooling systems. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items mentioned in the plan.
Home warranty plans typically offer coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually the one who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the one selling the home may purchase a home warranty and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then be responsible for the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in St. Charles is $401,594, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
