Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Owning a home in Valley Stream has tons of great advantages, but there are some negatives. The weather throughout the four seasons can cause problems in a home and lead to wear and tear on systems like your HVAC. A home warranty is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be significantly lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be difficult, as there are lots of companies to choose from. That’s why our team at Today's Homeowner did the research and made a list of the best home warranty companies in Valley Stream for you.
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 for Valley Stream residents. Liberty has over 6 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can benefit from 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. Liberty has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
Liberty Home Guard offers 3 plans for Valley Stream homeowners. The Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Liberty’s service fees are an affordable $75, and the coverage limits come out to around $3,000 for each covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. For more information on this provider, read 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 for Valley Stream residents. Choice has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. With a home warranty from Choice, you can benefit from 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. Choice has 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Valley Stream homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage limits come out to around $3,000 for each covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. For more information on this provider, read 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 for Valley Stream residents. Select has over 11 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. With a home warranty from Select, you can benefit from 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. Select has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
Select Home Warranty offers 3 plans for Valley Stream homeowners. The Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Select’s service fees are a reasonable $60, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,000 for each covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. For more information on this provider, read 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 for Valley Stream residents. AHS has over 26 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. With a home warranty from AHS, you can benefit from 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. AHS has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Valley Stream homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,500 for each covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For more information on this provider, read 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 for Valley Stream residents. Cinch has over 44 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can benefit from 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. Cinch has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Valley Stream homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage limits come out to around $1,000-$2,000 for each covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For more information on this provider, read 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 for Valley Stream residents. HSC has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. With a home warranty from HSC, you can benefit from 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. HSC has 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Valley Stream homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,000 for each covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For more information on this provider, read 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 | $7,314 |
| Heating | $4,876 |
| Electrical | $731 |
| Toilets | $610 |
| Washer/Dryer | $975 |
| Plumbing | $731 |
| Oven | $1,950 |
| Fridge | $731 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps lower expenses for Valley Stream homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to repair or replace 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 homeowners reassurance by helping avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for those living in older houses or houses with systems near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and functioning appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as washers, microwaves, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and heating. Many home warranty companies also provide add-on coverage for locksmiths, roof leaks, septic systems, and central vacuums. Most home warranty plans require Valley Stream homeowners to refrain from making claims for 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 natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Before signing a home warranty contract, you should know key terms like:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty policies differ significantly in terms of coverage. Most plans provide protection for electrical, heating, AC, plumbing, and appliances. More comprehensive options also include coverage for other items such as spas, roof leaks, well pumps, and pools. 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.
Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. With these per-request costs adding up over time as you file claims, you may want to choose a provider with more affordable fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some companies also eliminate deductibles if a customer goes a period of time without filing any claims.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insights into factors such as contractor expertise, claim approval rates, repair speed, and customer satisfaction. Look at review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to learn more about companies. Positive ratings and feedback suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty providers have networks of contractors that they use to tackle covered repairs. Wider networks raise the chance of getting skilled contractors to your home promptly. Contact possible providers to learn how many repair professionals they have in Valley Stream to understand how long repairs may take in an urgent situation.
Some home warranty providers include perks such as reduced maintenance fees, energy efficiency upgrades, and smart home device coverage. These can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses allow you to enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.
Valley Stream’s cold winters 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 stops working in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the needed repairs, saving you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
Additionally, having a home warranty can save you time by removing the need to research contractors — most companies will send a trusted professional right to your door to do the repair or replacement. Additionally, having a home warranty can help make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty companies will allow you to transfer your plan to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been receiving.
There are also some downsides to buying a home warranty plan, like the coverage exclusions. For example, home warranties may not cover home systems or appliances that already have a manufacturer's warranty.
Another drawback is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, such as those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if your house floods, the affected systems and appliances probably won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty in Valley Stream can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans usually have a lower service fee, higher coverage limits, and broader coverage. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also decrease your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty plan protects against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects the entire home in case of something such as a fire or natural disaster. Under homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new refrigerator or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Valley Stream.
A home warranty policy can help real estate agents, investors, homeowners, home sellers, and homebuyers. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different home warranties in Valley Stream include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers almost all your systems and appliances, including your washing machine, drier, and plumbing. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items mentioned in the contract.
Home warranty plans generally last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Typically, 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 has to pay the service fees. In Valley Stream, where the median home value is $652,493, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
