Home Security of America is a little different from most home warranty companies. While most providers let you sign up for a plan at any time, HSA only lets you sign on if you’re a homebuyer or seller and your real estate agent offers it.
This might sound tempting, but after researching the company, I found that it’s better to shop for another policy later from one of our best home warranty recommendations.
My research revealed that the basic HSA plan doesn’t cover nearly enough, resulting in additional costs for add-ons. Plus, many customers have had to live without essential systems and appliances because the repairs don’t always work the first time around.
Our Preferred Home Warranty Alternatives
Today’s Homeowner recommends a few home warranty companies to our readers. Below, you’ll see our latest suggestions and their money-saving deals. You can also read our review of the companies with similar home warranty plans to learn more about these top picks.
Our Review of Home Security of America
Total Score: 81.5%
A home warranty from Home Security of America helps sellers add value to their properties for sale and ensures homebuyers feel confident about their purchase. If you’re selling your home, you may enjoy how well it helps ease buyers’ worries and improves your chance of selling fast.
As a homebuyer, you might love this plan if you want extra protection against costly unforeseen repairs. You can even get coverage for uncommon items, like roof leaks and electronics. Additional benefits sweeten the deal, like discount HVAC tune-ups, rekeying services for up to six locks, and low-cost tech installation services through Hello Tech.
At $25,000 per contract, HSA offers the highest aggregate limit I’ve seen in my home warranty research. So, you’re not likely to exceed your per-contract claim limit on system and appliance repairs. The coverage also comes with generous per-item sub-limits of up to $5,000.
Timing is everything in getting a plan because you can only purchase this warranty at or near closing — if your real estate agent offers it. If they don’t, you’re out of luck. You cannot buy HSA home warranty coverage on your own or after closing. You are also out of luck if the property is in any of the 23 states HSA does not service.
Across the rest of the 27 states, the basic plan does not cover all the standard equipment, like laundry appliances. Getting the Buyer 7-Start Upgrade and more than a few add-ons is a must to get full protection for your home. Even with full coverage, a relatively high number of exclusions can keep you from getting the most out of your plan.
Score: 90%
Home Security of America allows you to claim up to $25,000 in parts and labor in each contract period. This super-high aggregate limit is one of the best in the industry, matched by only a few other companies like Achosa Home Warranty.
Mechanical systems also have a high $5,000 limit per claim unless otherwise listed. This helps protect your bottom line by preventing you from having to cover a portion of major repairs. The Electronics Protection Plan has a $2,000 per-claim limit and a $5,000 aggregate limit. Unless you’re an audiophile or avid PC gamer, this should cover most of the devices in your home.
Unlike many other home warranty plans, Home Security of America earns bonus points for offering coverage for two rather uncommon items: roof leaks and electronics. When coupled with the high coverage limits, this pushes its score even higher.
Coverage for laundry applies does not come standard. This is incredibly unusual and very concerning. In my home, laundry appliances work just as hard as kitchen appliances. So, I feel like they deserve the same level of coverage without an extra charge.
The HSA warranty has a higher number of exclusions than other plans. This could result in more out-of-pocket costs despite the high coverage limits.
Score: 91%
State-by-state interactive brochures eliminate the need for an involved quote process. Customers can easily review the brochure for the property location to see if it suits their needs and budget.
While doing that, you’ll find that this company’s home warranty pricing is quite reasonable. Even in the most expensive states, like New York, the base plan costs just a smidge over $50 per month, and each add-on is less than $15 per month.
New construction homes get a discount on basic coverage. The plan starts one year after closing and covers the three following years for around $700.
Coverage for common items, like washers and dryers, doesn’t come with the basic plan. It’s best to expect that the sticker price won’t be what you’ll pay in the end.
You really have to get the buyer’s upgrade and at least a few add-ons to get coverage similar to plans offered by most other home warranty providers. As you start adding items, the $560 annual price climbs to $900 and beyond. A discounted bundle of the greatest hits could help make the fully-equipped home warranty much more affordable.
Unlike most home warranty plans, you cannot make monthly payments, either. Instead, you must fork over the cash in one lump sum at closing. As a buyer, this would have pushed my already stretched finances to their limits.
Score: 69%
Home Security of America has been a trusted home warranty company since 1984. A B rating with the Better Business Bureau reflects its 39 years of experience supporting homebuyers and sellers.
The company’s Google ratings have landed in the paltry three-star range, largely due to a huge amount of five-star and one-star home warranty reviews. Home Security of America reviews suggest that you will either love or hate this company. There’s no in-between.
Score: 81%
HSA home warranty coverage doesn’t have a waiting period. The coverage starts on the first day after closing. This allows you to promptly handle any issues revealed as you settle into your new home.
It’s nice that you don’t have to sit on the phone for hours to file a claim. The online portal makes it easy to submit your claim any time of the day or night. Third-party vendors contact you directly to schedule their visit, preventing miscommunication issues that can arise when passing messages through customer service.
The 30-day workmanship guarantee is fairly standard, but it does give you recourse if the repairs don’t work. You’ll be glad you have it if anything goes wrong, which is a possibility since the service quality can vary wildly.
I really don’t love that you cannot sign up for the home warranty plan yourself. You must work directly with a real estate agent to do so, which involves far too many touchpoints for my liking.
It’s also disappointing that you never truly know what level of expertise the HSA third-party repair vendor will have when you file a claim. My research revealed that some vendors complete the repairs in record time without any further issues, while others can’t even figure out what’s wrong. That’s concerning, especially when you need your systems or appliances back online fast.
Each time you reach out to the customer service team, there’s another 48-hour wait for service. This has left far too many customers without vital systems and appliances, including HVAC units and refrigerators, for weeks or months.
Score: 44%
Who doesn’t love an online portal that lets you submit your claim any time of the day or night? I know that I appreciate it, especially when my busy days start to blend together. However, this doesn’t necessarily stand out anymore now that this is pretty standard in the home warranty industry. I am pleased, though, with the ability to call the customer service team directly, just in case the website doesn’t work as expected.
A 48+ hour response time is practically unforgivable in this day and age. If the customer service team is available 24/7, they should be able to process the claim and return the call in less than 24 hours.
Cinch Home Services, HomeServe, and Sears Home Warranty all have 24-hour response times. Choice Home Warranty will get back to you in 12 hours. HSA doesn’t even expedite the process if the first visit didn’t fix the problem and you need repeat service.
Score: 40%
As a Washington State resident, I can’t say there’s much to like about the availability of Home Security of America home warranty plans. If you live in one of the 27 states the company supports, like Alaska and Wisconsin, you might be a lot more pleased than I am.
Home warranty coverage is just plain unavailable in 23 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming. If that’s where you’re selling a home or want to live, you’ll need to find a different home warranty provider.
Home Security of America Plans and Coverage Options
Home Security of America allows homebuyers and sellers to sign up for its One-Year Basic Plan. If you’re selling your home, you’ll need to add the Seller HVAC Option to ensure your warranty covers all the items in the buyer’s plan. As a homebuyer, you can add the Buyer 7-Star Upgrade and other add-ons to expand your coverage even more.
The table below shows the annual costs and service call fees for single-family home plans. Prices differ for new construction homes, mobile homes, and multi-family dwellings.
Plan | Annual Cost | Service Fee |
One-Year Basic Plan | $560 | $100 |
Buyer 7-Star Upgrade | $149 | $100 |
Seller HVAC Option | $60 | $100 |
One-Year Basic Plan: The One-Year Basic Plan covers kitchen appliances and major home systems. You must sign up for this plan to get standard coverage and be able to get the Buyer 7-Star Upgrade, Seller HVAC Option, and add-ons.
Buyer 7-Star Upgrade: The Buyer 7-Star Upgrade eliminates many exclusions and limitations in the basic plan. With this upgrade, you don’t have to worry about mismatched HVAC systems, improper installations, permit fees, code violations, and many equipment-specific exclusions, like garage door springs.
Seller HVAC Option: If you buy the One-Year Basic Plan when selling your home, it excludes all the HVAC equipment. The Seller HVAC Option tacks it back on, so you can ease prospective homebuyers’ worries about the condition of the heating and air conditioning system.
Home System or Appliance | One-Year Basic Plan (Buyer) | Buyer 7-Star Upgrade | One-Year Basic Plan (Seller) |
Electrical Systems | |||
Built-in exhaust, vent and attic fan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Ceiling fan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Doorbell and chimes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Garage door opener | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Interior electrical lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Main breaker and fuse panel box | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Heating and Cooling Systems | |||
Air conditioner | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Heating unit | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Plumbing Systems and Accessories | |||
Faucets and valves | X | X | X |
Interior plumbing lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Toilets | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Water heater | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Whirlpool bathtub motor and components | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Kitchen Appliances | |||
Built-in microwaves | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Cooktops/ranges | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Dishwashers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Ice maker | X | ✓ | X |
Instant hot/cold water dispenser | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Refrigerators | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Stove/ovens | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Laundry Appliances | |||
Clothes dryers | X | ✓ | X |
Clothes washers | X | ✓ | X |
Roof | |||
Roof leak repair | ✓ | ✓ | X |
What Optional Add-ons Does Home Security of America Offer?
Only buyers can upgrade their basic home warranty plan with add-ons. Moreover, add-ons are only available for single-family homes. If you’re getting a warranty for a new construction home, plan to pay a bit more for each add-on. The only exception is the Electronics Protection Plan, which is the same price for all single-family homes.
Buyer Add-On | Cost Per Year |
Clothes washer and dryer | $70 |
Electronic air cleaner | $40 |
Electronics protection plan | $216 |
Home freezer | $40 |
Hot tub | $125 |
Pool/hot tub combo (with common mechanicals) | $175 |
Swimming pool | $150 |
Water softener | $40 |
Water well pump/septic system | $100 |
Does Home Security of America Have Any Exclusions?
Home Security of America has a long list of exclusions for each system and appliance covered under the plan. These exclusions limit the types of repairs and replacement services provided under the warranty. If you need the excluded work performed, you may need to pay extra or hire a different repair professional to handle the job.
Exclusions you may see in your contract include:
- Pre-existing conditions: All issues that existed before you signed up for the plan, including normal wear and tear
- Central air: Registers, gas units, non-ducted air conditioners, and energy recovery units
- Central heating: Fireplaces, chimneys, space heaters, and improperly-sized ductwork
- Electric: Chandeliers, telephone wiring, smoke alarms, and central vacuums
- Kitchen appliances: Ice makers, beverage dispensers, and electronic screens
- Plumbing: Shower heads, sinks, tubs, sprinkler systems, and bidets
- Roof leaks: Weather damage, skylights, gutters, and downspouts
- Septic system: Drain fields, leech beds, cesspools, and septic tank pumping
- Swimming pool: Underground plumbing, skimmer equipment, and lights
- Water heater: Solar-assisted units, expansion tanks, and circulating pumps
You can find out what your plan covers by reading the contract. Home Security of America has a different contract for each state, but you can review Michigan’s interactive brochure to get an idea of how it works.
Does Home Security of America Have Any Coverage Limits?
Home warranty coverage limits cap the total amount you can spend repairing or replacing items in the contract. You may see limits set per occurrence, claim, or contract, depending on the system or appliance in question. Coverage limits don’t apply to everything in the contract, but it’s common for high-value or complex items, like HVAC units.
Review the table below to explore the coverage limits typically found in Home Security of America contracts.
Covered Item | Coverage Limit |
Electronics protection plan | $2,000 per claim |
Geothermal heat pump systems | $1,500 per contract |
Pool/hot tub combination | $1,000 per occurrence |
Professional series/Ultra premium refrigerator | $3,000 per contract |
Roof leaks | $750 per contract |
Septic system | $300 per occurrence |
Swimming pool | $1,000 per occurrence |
Toilets | $600 per occurrence |
Water heater | $1,500 per contract |
Water well pump | $1,500 per contract |
Home Security of America Customer Reviews
After reading hundreds of reviews about Home Security of America, one thing became quite clear to me: The customer experience varies greatly depending on the location and service call type.
The result is a very mediocre three-star average rating on Google, with most people either very happy with the service or extremely dissatisfied with the company as a whole. Yelp reviews trend toward one-star highly negative remarks, while BBB reviews earn the company 2 out of 5 stars.
Positive Reviews of Home Security of America
Nearly all the positive reviews come from customers who got their system or appliance fixed promptly and without repeat service calls. Many happy customers stick with the company long-term, renewing their contracts yearly for decades.
Negative Reviews of Home Security of America
Negative reviews come from customers who called for service only to get the runaround or experienced repeated failed attempts to resolve the problem. Many of these customers had to live without essential items, like the furnace, AC unit, or water heater, for weeks or more.
How To File a Claim With Home Security of America
Home Security of America allows you to file a claim through the online ‘service request portal or by dialing the phone number for the customer service team. You can file a claim 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which helps minimize your wait for service.
To file a claim, you just need to:
- Log into the online portal or call the customer service line
- Provide information about the problem, including the affected systems and when it started
- Wait for the customer service rep to review your claim and find a qualified repair expert in your area
- Schedule an appointment for the service call and plan to be home to meet the contractor at the specified time and date
- Pay the $100 to $125 trade call fee to the contractor before they start the diagnosis and repairs
If the service professional cannot resolve your complaint, you must contact the customer service team for a resolution. They may need to send another repair professional or work out a different solution with you.
Home Security of America vs. Other Home Warranty Companies
Provider | Best for | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | BBB Rating* | Date Founded | Company Reviews |
Home Security of America | Luxury appliance coverage | $41 to $53 | $100 to $125 | B | 1984 | Read our review of Home Security of America |
Choice Home Warranty | High claim acceptance rate | $47 to $55 | $85 | D | 2008 | Read our review of Choice Home Warranty |
American Home Shield | Excellent coverage limits | $50 to $120 | $75 to $125 | B | 1971 | Read our review of American Home Shield |
Liberty Home Guard | Extensive customization options | $50 to $70 | $65 to $125 | NR | 2017 | Read our review of Liberty Home Guard |
Is Home Security of America Worth It for You?
If I ever want to sell my mid-century home, a home warranty would really help ease buyers’ worries. But I wouldn’t feel comfortable getting one from Home Security of America. I’d also pass on HSA plans when buying a home in the future — and I recommend that you do, too.
The complex signup process, slow response times, and inconsistent service quality are enough to have me looking elsewhere for a plan. The whole point of having a home warranty is knowing that you’ll get prompt repair services when it’s needed, after all.
There are many companies offering just that, too, including those listed in the table below. So, it’s well worth looking into the alternatives for the right level of coverage and support.
FAQs About Home Security of America
Is Home Security of America the same as American Home Shield?
Home Security of America and American Home Shield are separate home warranty companies. Home Security of America works best for homes with luxury appliances. American Home Shield is a great pick for homeowners who want high coverage limits.
Do I need a home inspection before I buy a plan with Home Security of America?
You do not need a home inspection before buying a plan from Home Security of America. The plan does not cover any problems with the home that existed before signing up. Only items that are properly installed, maintained, and in good working order at sign-up will qualify for coverage.
Does Home Security of America coverage transfer to a new owner if I sell my house?
Home warranty plans from Home Security of America transfer to the buyer if you sell your home during the contract period. The buyer will then enjoy coverage through the end of the existing contract. After that, they have the option to renew the contract.
Methodology: How We Ranked Home Security of America and Other Home Warranty Companies
At Today’s Homeowner, we strive to bring you the most transparent, accurate information for your home improvement projects. Our home warranty company ratings emphasize what matters most to you — whether you’re looking for low-cost coverage, a hassle-free repair process, 24/7 assistance, or all of the above.
Our ratings for Home Security of America are based on publicly available information about each company, secret shopping online and over the phone, customer-review analysis, and discussions with real estate professionals and repair contractors.
A company can earn a maximum of 100 points across six categories converted to a five-star scale. We researched more than 60 home warranty providers to develop the following formula:
- Plans and Coverage (24 points): A home warranty provider can earn the maximum point value in this category if it offers multiple robust plans that cover all basic systems and appliances and optional add-on coverage. We give bonus points to companies that cover uncommon items, such as electronics and roof leaks.
- Affordability (22.5 points): When evaluating costs, we not only consider monthly plan prices, but we also take into account the cost of add-on coverage, service fees, and whether companies offer free cancellation periods or money-back guarantees. If a provider allows potential customers to view sample contracts before getting a quote, that transparency earns more points in this category.
- Customer Experience (18.5 points): A home warranty company must give its customers ample support when they experience issues. We gauge overall support by looking at customer reviews and conducting homeowner surveys. We also go through the quotes process with each company and take meticulous notes about the friendliness of salespeople, how detailed each quote is, and how often the provider contacts us after giving a quote.
- Company Reputation (17.5 points): In this category, we look at a combination of customer reviews and reputable organizations such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We also consider the years of company experience, how satisfied its employees are, and whether it has been hit with any consumer rights violations or lawsuits.
- Claims Process (12.5 points): We score providers highly when they offer short response times, multiple ways to file claims, and around-the-clock availability. Companies can earn bonus points if they have a good reputation for quick and easy claims processing.
- Availability (5 points): Providers that serve more areas can have experience dealing with a wider range of homeowner headaches. A company earns the maximum points in this category if it offers services in most U.S. states.
We monitor company data on an ongoing basis to keep rankings and information up to date.