Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
The cost of maintaining a home in Bernards can be costly, particularly as your home ages and your appliances and systems have to be updated. A home warranty can give you the peace of mind you need and protect your savings account from large expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the many options out there. If you're tired of trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the best home warranty companies in Bernards.
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 Bernards residents. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can enjoy a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Not to mention, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage limits from Liberty are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is cheaper than other providers in the Bernards area.
For more information, read our Liberty Home Guard Review. To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 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 Bernards residents. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders that have various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Choice, you can enjoy very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage limits from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Bernards area.
For more information, read our Choice Home Warranty Review. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 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 Bernards residents. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Select, you can enjoy a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Not to mention, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage limits from Select are around $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is cheaper than other providers in the Bernards area.
For more information, read our Select Home Warranty Review. To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 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 Bernards residents. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from AHS, you can enjoy the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage limits from AHS are around $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is cheaper than other providers in the Bernards area.
For more information, read our American Home Shield Review. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 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 Bernards residents. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can enjoy a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage limits from Cinch are around $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is cheaper than other providers in the Bernards area.
For more information, read our Cinch Home Services Review. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 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 Bernards residents. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders that have various options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from HSC, you can enjoy quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage limits from HSC are around $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is cheaper than other providers in the Bernards area.
For more information, read our The Home Service Club Review. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 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 | $7,430 |
Heating | $4,953 |
Electrical | $743 |
Toilets | $619 |
Washer/Dryer | $991 |
Plumbing | $743 |
Oven | $1,981 |
Fridge | $743 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Bernards homeowners lower the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then finds a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty policy gives homeowners peace of mind 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 require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Covered appliances typically include dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, garbage disposals, refrigerators, washers, and more. Covered systems include plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical. Many home warranty companies also provide additional coverage for locksmiths, septic systems, roof leaks, and central vacuums. Bernards homeowners should know that most home warranty plans have 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 cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should know key terms like:
There are several important considerations when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty plans differ significantly in terms of coverage. Most plans provide protection for electrical, plumbing, AC, heating, and appliances. More robust plans also include coverage for other items such as spas, pools, roof leaks, and well pumps. Look for a provider that offers robust coverage options, including upgraded plans. Flexibility is important when trying to fit a home warranty to your home's specific systems and needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-repair charges can potentially accumulate over time, so some homeowners prefer using companies with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles when a homeowner goes a defined period without any repair requests.
A home warranty company's reputation gives insight into things such as claim approval rates, timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research companies. Complimentary reviews and ratings indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies keep networks of contractors to handle covered repairs. Larger networks improve the probability of getting qualified technicians to promptly service your home. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Bernards to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Some home warranty providers provide extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, smart home device protection, and maintenance discounts. These add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Bernards can be quite hot in the summer, the weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioning unit and HVAC system. Having a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down all of a sudden.
Not only does a home warranty provide some savings, 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 handles the research by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Plus, having a home warranty can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers if you ever decide to sell in the future. Many home warranty companies will allow you to transfer your plan to a new owner and give them the protection you’ve been benefiting from.
One disadvantage of purchasing a home warranty is that there are often exclusions. For example, if you already have a manufacturer's warranty on one of your appliances, it may not be covered under the home warranty, so it’s important to read over the contracts you’re considering carefully to understand what is included and what isn’t.
Another drawback is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, like those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if a tree falls onto your house and damages the roof, the affected systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Bernards. Our top-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can lower your monthly bill with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's often 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 protects against normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects a home in case of something such as a fire or natural disaster. With a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim should you need a new refrigerator or oven, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Bernards.
A home warranty policy can help homeowners, real estate agents, home sellers, investors, and homebuyers. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different types of home warranties in Bernards include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. An appliance or system plan will cover only the specific items mentioned in the contract.
Generally, a home warranty lasts for a year and can be renewed annually. Some companies may offer month-to-month plans.
Generally, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Bernards, where the median value of a home is $930,196, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.