Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Buying a home is a big step for many people, but the cost of maintaining it can get expensive over time, especially if your home in Fair Oaks is on the older side. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings account from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be significantly lower and give you some peace of mind.
Choosing the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the numerous options available. If you're frustrated with trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the top home warranty companies in Fair Oaks.
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 in Fair Oaks. Liberty has over 6 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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 Home Guard offers 3 plans for Fair Oaks homeowners. The Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. Liberty’s service fees are an affordable $75, and the coverage caps come out to about $3,000 for each covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. Read more by visiting our Liberty Home Guard full review.
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 in Fair Oaks. Choice has over 15 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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 Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Fair Oaks homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage caps come out to about $3,000 for each covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting our Choice Home Warranty full review.
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 in Fair Oaks. Select has over 11 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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 Home Warranty offers 3 plans for Fair Oaks homeowners. The Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. Select’s service fees are a reasonable $60, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. Read more by visiting our Select Home Warranty full review.
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 in Fair Oaks. AHS has over 26 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Fair Oaks homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,500 for each covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting our American Home Shield full review.
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 offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage in Fair Oaks. First American has over 39 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. With a home warranty from First American, you can benefit from very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Not to mention, 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 Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Fair Oaks homeowners. The Basic Plan and Premier Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage caps come out to about $1,500 for each covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. Read more by visiting our First American Home Warranty full review.
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 offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Fair Oaks. Cinch has over 44 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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 Home Services offers 3 plans for Fair Oaks homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage caps come out to about $1,000-$2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting our Cinch Home Services full review.
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 in Fair Oaks. HSC has over 15 years of industry experience and in that time has built a an expansive network of service technicians nationwide. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. 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.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Fair Oaks homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting our The Home Service Club full review.
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 | $7,388 |
| Heating | $4,925 |
| Electrical | $739 |
| Toilets | $616 |
| Washer/Dryer | $985 |
| Plumbing | $739 |
| Oven | $1,970 |
| Fridge | $739 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps cut costs for Fair Oaks homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide coverage to fix 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 company 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 gives peace of mind for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency repairs. They're particularly valuable for those who live in older homes or ones with aging systems. Newer homes with working appliances probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home's systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are microwaves, dryers, garbage disposals, washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and others. Protected systems include plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, and heating. Various home warranty plans offer add-on coverage for septic systems, roof leaks, central vacuums, and even locksmiths. Fair Oaks homeowners should know that most home warranty plans impose a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or misusing a system or appliance. Remember to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to learn before signing, such as:
There are several important factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage can have major differences in what's included. Most plans provide coverage for plumbing, AC, electrical, heating, and appliances. More comprehensive plans also offer coverage on other items such as well pumps, roof leaks, pools, and spas. Look for a provider that offers robust coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit 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 providers with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles if a customer doesn't submit any claims in a set timeframe.
A home warranty company's reputation can give you insight into things such as contractor quality, approval rates, repair timeliness, and customer satisfaction. Use review platforms such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research companies. Good ratings and feedback indicate a company known for exceptional service.
Home warranty providers have networks of contractors to handle covered repairs. Larger networks increase the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to quickly service your home. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Fair Oaks to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Some home warranty providers provide bonuses such as smart home device protection, energy efficiency upgrades, and maintenance discounts. These can add value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Temperatures in Fair Oaks can vary greatly throughout the year, which means your air conditioner and heating systems are likely to get a decent amount of use. As a homeowner in Fair Oaks, one benefit of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered if they need to be repaired or replaced.
Not only can a home warranty save you money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time too. Instead of having to vet service technicians on your own, home warranty providers do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. Another benefit of having a home warranty is when you’re selling your home, you can most likely transfer your home warranty plan to the new owners. It can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and may help your home sell faster.
One main drawback of home warranties is not every home system and appliance you care about may be covered. It’s important to compare the different plans and sign up for one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Additionally, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they were damaged due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Fair Oaks. Our top-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can reduce your monthly bill with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. Additionally, it's usually 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 plan covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects a home in case of a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. With homeowners insurance, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new dryer or stove, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Fair Oaks.
Homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, landlords, and home sellers can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different home warranties in Fair Oaks include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers many of your home systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and HVAC. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items mentioned in the contract.
Home warranty plans typically offer coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually the one who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the one selling the home may buy a home warranty 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 Fair Oaks is $775,959, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
