Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Buying a home is a big step in many people’s lives, but maintaining it can be costly over time, especially if your home in Kansas City is on the older side. A home warranty can bring you the peace of mind you need and guard your savings account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
Finding the best protection for your home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the top home warranty companies in Kansas City. Keep reading for our home warranty 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
Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty in Kansas City. Liberty has more than 6 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. If you’re looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. Liberty has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
Liberty Home Guard has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Liberty are an affordable $75. The coverage caps are also around $3,000.
To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. For more information, read our detailed review of Liberty Home Guard.
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 is the best overall home warranty in Kansas City. Choice has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice has 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Choice are an affordable $85. The coverage caps are also around $3,000.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. For more information, read our detailed review of Choice Home Warranty.
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 is the most cost-effective home warranty in Kansas City. Select has more than 11 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. Select has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
Select Home Warranty has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Select are a reasonable $60. The coverage caps are also around $2,000.
To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. For more information, read our detailed review of Select Home Warranty.
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 is the most customizable home warranty in Kansas City. AHS has more than 26 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also around $2,500.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For more information, read our detailed review of American Home Shield.
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
First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage in Kansas City. First American has more than 39 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, 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. First American has 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
First American Home Warranty has 2 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also around $1,500.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. For more information, read our detailed review of First American Home Warranty.
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
Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Kansas City. Cinch has more than 44 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also around $1,000-$2,000.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For more information, read our detailed review of Cinch Home Services.
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 is the best home warranty with the quickest service in Kansas City. HSC has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry and in that time has built a an expansive network of service professionals in the country. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. HSC has 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also around $2,000.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For more information, read our detailed review of The Home Service Club.
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 | $6,112 |
| Heating | $4,075 |
| Electrical | $611 |
| Toilets | $509 |
| Washer/Dryer | $815 |
| Plumbing | $611 |
| Oven | $1,630 |
| Fridge | $611 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Kansas City homeowners reduce the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial protection to fix 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 company then finds a contractor to make the repair 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 provides peace of mind for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly useful for those who live in older homes or ones with aging systems. More modern builds with modern appliances probably don’t require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are garbage disposals, dishwashers, washers, refrigerators, dryers, microwaves, and more. Included systems are normally heating, electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, roof leaks, central vacuums, and locksmiths. Kansas City homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only cover the cost of repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or improperly using a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some essential home warranty words to learn before signing a contract:
When you're deciding on a home warranty provider, there are several key things to take into account:
Home warranty policies vary widely in what they include. Most plans provide protection for AC, heating, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. More comprehensive options also include coverage for other items such as roof leaks, well pumps, spas, and pools. Focus on providers with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. This flexibility enables you to customize protection for your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee that can range from $60 to $100, which gets paid per claim you submit. These per-claim charges can add up. You may decide to look for providers with more affordable fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles for customers who don't file any claims over a certain timespan.
A home warranty company's reputation gives insight into things such as approval rates, repair timeliness, contractor quality, and customer service. Use review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research providers. Good ratings and feedback indicate a company known for exceptional service.
Home warranty providers have networks of professionals that they use to tackle covered repairs. More extensive networks increase the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to your home swiftly. Contact possible providers to learn how many contractors they have in Kansas City. This helps you understand how long repairs could take in an urgent situation.
Some home warranty companies offer extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and smart home device protection. These perks can add value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Kansas City’s relatively mild winters and hot summers can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can cover your home’s appliances and systems if they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner fails in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the repairs, preventing you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
Additionally, having a home warranty can save you some time by removing the need to research contractors — most companies will send a trusted professional right to your door to do the necessary repair or replacement. Another added benefit of having a home warranty plan is that it can increase your home’s property value. If you ever decide to sell your home, you may be able to transfer your home warranty plan to the new homebuyer depending on the company you purchased your home warranty through.
One main drawback of home warranties is not everything may be covered. It’s important to weigh the different plans and opt for one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another possible 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 denied, so it’s important to make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Kansas City. 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 usually less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranty plans cover problems related to systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different plan that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Kansas City. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
A home warranty policy can help homebuyers, investors, home sellers, real estate agents, and homeowners. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty plan will cover your home’s appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you need more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be useful if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans generally provide coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
In general, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees when using the policy. In Kansas City, where the median value of a home is $252,543, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
