Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
The cost of maintaining a home in Wilmington can be expensive, especially as your home ages and your appliances and systems need to be updated. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings 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.
The home warranty market is saturated with a variety of providers — all with different offerings — so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Wilmington.
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 Wilmington residents. Liberty is a home warranty company with 6 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible. Liberty has established itself as a company with a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. It also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
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 close to the $3,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $75.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Liberty Home Guard. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the best overall home warranty for Wilmington residents. Choice is a home warranty company with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the most cost-effective home warranty for Wilmington residents. Select is a home warranty company with 11 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible. Select has established itself as a company with a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. It also has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
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 close to the $2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Select Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the most customizable home warranty for Wilmington residents. AHS is a home warranty company with 26 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are close to the $2,500 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839.
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 for Wilmington residents. First American is a home warranty company with 39 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible. First American has established itself as a company with very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. It also 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.
The 2 plans from First American Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage caps associated with First American’s plans are close to the $1,500 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of First American Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 833-204-7164.
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 for Wilmington residents. Cinch is a home warranty company with 44 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
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 close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the best home warranty with the quickest service for Wilmington residents. HSC is a home warranty company with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily comprehensible. HSC has established itself as a company with quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. It 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 The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $6,280 |
Heating | $4,187 |
Electrical | $628 |
Toilets | $523 |
Washer/Dryer | $837 |
Plumbing | $628 |
Oven | $1,675 |
Fridge | $628 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Wilmington 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 submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs go over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty delivers peace of mind for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency repairs. They're particularly useful for those who own older homes or ones with aging systems. More modern homes with working fixtures probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are microwaves, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and more. Covered systems are typically plumbing, air conditioning, heating, and electrical. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, locksmiths, roof leaks, and central vacuums. Wilmington 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 resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should know key terms like:
There are several key factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty plans vary widely in what they include. Most plans provide protection for electrical, heating, plumbing, AC, and appliances. More inclusive options also include coverage for other items such as well pumps, pools, roof leaks, and spas. Look for companies with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This helps you customize your plan to your home's 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 company with lower service fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some companies also remove deductibles for homeowners who don't file claims in a certain period.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insight into things such as contractor quality, timeliness of repairs, claim approval rates, and overall customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research providers. Favorable ratings and reviews indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty providers have networks of contractors that they use to tackle covered repairs. More extensive networks improve the chance of getting skilled contractors to your home quickly. Reach out to possible providers to find out how many technicians they have in Wilmington. This helps you understand how long repairs could take in an urgent situation.
Some home warranty plans offer extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and smart home device protection. These can add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Home warranty policies are an affordable way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Wilmington hitting an average high of 71℃F, you may find that certain appliances, such as your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can significantly decrease out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system break down.
Not only does a home warranty give you some savings, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks down, the last thing you want to do is find a contractor and schedule a repair. A home warranty takes care of this process by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Additionally, having a home warranty can help make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers if you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been benefiting from.
As for the negatives of home warranties, coverage varies by company, so it’s important to review what each plan covers and excludes in the contract.
Also, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty in Wilmington can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans usually have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also decrease your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty plan covers 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 if you need a new dryer or oven, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Wilmington.
A home warranty policy can help home sellers, homeowners, real estate agents, homebuyers, and investors. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different kinds of home warranties in Wilmington include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers many of your systems and appliances, such as your refrigerator, washing machine, and HVAC. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items mentioned in the policy.
Generally, a home warranty policy lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
Usually the one who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the person who is selling the home may buy a home warranty policy and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Since the average home value in Wilmington is $389,999, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.