Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
With hot summers and cool winters, keeping your home appliances and systems — specifically your HVAC — in working order is extremely important for homeowners in Madison. A home warranty in Madison can help bring down your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear.
Choosing the best home warranty on the market can be quite a challenge because of the sheer number of options available. If you're tired of trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the top home warranty companies in Madison.
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 Madison. Liberty is a home warranty provider with 6 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. Liberty offers a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Plus, it also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage.
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 around the $3,000 mark for many major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $75.
To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. To read more, visit our 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 Madison. Choice is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. Choice offers very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Plus, it also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are around the $3,000 mark for many major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. To read more, visit our 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 Madison. Select is a home warranty provider with 11 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. Select offers a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Plus, it also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage.
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 around the $2,000 mark for many major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. To read more, visit our 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 Madison. AHS is a home warranty provider with 26 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. AHS offers the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Plus, it also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are around the $2,500 mark for many major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. To read more, visit our review of American Home Shield.
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 is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Madison. Cinch is a home warranty provider with 44 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. Cinch offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Plus, it also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The home warranty provider offers 3 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage.
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 around the $1,000-$2,000 mark for many major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. To read more, visit our 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 Madison. HSC is a home warranty provider with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has established itself as one of the best providers in the business. HSC offers quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Plus, it also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The home warranty provider offers 2 plans to policyholders, which have various options for appliance and system coverage.
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 around the $2,000 mark for many major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. To read more, visit our 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 | $7,581 |
| Heating | $5,054 |
| Electrical | $758 |
| Toilets | $632 |
| Washer/Dryer | $1,011 |
| Plumbing | $758 |
| Oven | $2,022 |
| Fridge | $758 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps lower expenses for Madison homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then arranges 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 goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives reassurance to homeowners, as it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are the most useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with modern appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are garbage disposals, dryers, washers, microwaves, dishwashers, refrigerators, and more. Included systems are usually air conditioning, heating, electrical, and plumbing. Many home warranty companies provide add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require Madison homeowners to wait 30 days before they can use the policy to pay for repairs. Additionally, policies usually only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
There are multiple home warranty terms to know before signing an agreement, including:
There are several key factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty plans can have major differences in covered items. Most plans cover electrical, plumbing, heating, AC, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer protection for other items such as spas, roof leaks, pools, and well pumps. Look for providers with a diverse range of coverage options, including upgraded plans. This helps you customize your plan to your home's 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. The costs from multiple fees can add up. You may decide to look for providers with more affordable fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some firms also offer disappearing deductibles for customers who don't file any claims over a certain timespan.
A home warranty company's track record gives you insight into things such as contractor quality, claim approval rates, timeliness of repairs, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research providers. Complimentary ratings and reviews indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential companies to ask how many repair professionals they have in Madison and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Larger networks increase the probability of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Some home warranty plans provide bonuses such as maintenance discounts, energy efficiency upgrades, and smart home device protection. These can add value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Home warranty plans are an inexpensive way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Madison reaching an average high of 58℃F, you may find that some appliances, such as your air conditioning system, get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably decrease out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system stop working.
Not only can a home warranty save you some money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time too. Instead of needing to vet technicians yourself, home warranty providers do the work for you and send pre-screened technicians right to your door when you need them. Plus, having a home warranty can make your house more appealing to potential homebuyers if you ever decide to sell in the future. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been getting.
Home warranties also have some cons. While it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a service technician who takes care of the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would prefer to choose their own contractor. If that’s the case for you, some home warranty plans let you select a contractor.
Another stipulation is that home warranties typically only cover malfunctions due to normal wear and tear. They most likely won’t cover systems or appliances that have been damaged due to animal infestations, improper maintenance, natural disasters, etc.
A home warranty costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Madison. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can decrease your monthly bill with some companies by opting for a higher service fee. Additionally, it's typically less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover issues with home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a larger plan that protects an entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Madison. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system breakage.
Homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, landlords, and home sellers can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different kinds of home warranties in Madison include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and heating and cooling systems. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items listed in the policy.
Generally, a home warranty plan offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
Generally, the homeowner is the one who 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 will pay the service fees. In Madison, where the median value of a home is $909,899, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
