Older homes have special home warranty needs. Systems and appliances are usually older, so they typically have preexisting conditions and are more likely to break down. Many homes have features, such as a fireplace, or situations, such as a deteriorating roof, rust, or corrosion, that can lead to bigger issues. If you live in an older home, read through sample home warranties to learn which plans and what add-on coverages fit your situation.
Nobody wants to spend their free time reading 30-page sample contracts trying to decipher how a home warranty company may deny a future claim in two years. That’s why I put in the time for you.
I’ve spent dozens of hours researching home warranty companies, reading sample contracts, secret shopping, and speaking with customer service to create the most comprehensive guide you’ll find on the best home warranties for older homes. Keep reading, and I’ll share all the nitty gritty details — what I learned, the good, the bad, and which companies I recommend for each home and how they ranked using Today’s Homeowner’s unique review criteria, which include plans and coverage, customer experience, claims process, availability, affordability, and company reputation.
Here’s how we ranked and reviewed the nation’s top home warranty companies to bring you the most accurate information.
Our team of experts reviewed over 70 home warranty providers to compare plan options, coverage limits, prices, and customer feedback.
We collected over 100 sample quotes from dozens of home warranty companies to give you an accurate look at industry pricing.
Our rating system scores providers based on 6 key factors: coverage options, affordability, customer experience, reputation, claims processes, and availability.
Read our full Home Warranty Review Methodology for more details.
Top 5 Home Warranty Companies for Older Homes
- American Home Shield is the obvious winner in my book for older homes. Its policies cover normal wear and tear, unknown preexisting conditions, and duplicate appliances (like a second AC unit), which almost no other home warranty providers do.
- If you read anything in a sample contract, look at the exclusions. There are always surprises, and it’s better to know what you’re agreeing to ahead of time. Look for exclusions about preexisting conditions because older appliances are more likely to have existing issues before your policy becomes active, which causes a claim denial in most cases. (That doesn’t include American Home Shield, which covers unknown preexisting conditions).
- Unless you recently replaced an appliance or a home system and it’s under a service or manufacturer’s warranty, I’d seriously consider buying a home warranty. Most older homes no longer enjoy manufacturer’s warranties. However, not all home warranty companies have a waiting period after you sign up. Read your policy closely, as it can range from a few weeks to 90 days.
My Expert Recommendation
American Home Shield is my favorite home warranty company for owners of older homes. Its Shield Assurance guarantee promises to cover damage from normal wear and tear (no matter how old the appliance), items without maintenance records, removal of defective equipment, and unknown preexisting conditions. This guarantee is valuable for older homes because it covers unknown preexisting conditions. Most providers stay away from that coverage, but here, you don’t have to worry about the age of your appliance or not having maintenance records.
Some providers, like Select Home Warranty, will deny a claim or reduce a reimbursement if you can’t show that you kept up with maintenance. This can be a challenge if you only recently moved into your home. Heck, it’s a challenge if you’ve lived there many years but aren’t the best keeper of records or household paperwork.
Home Warranty Companies for Older Homes I Didn’t Include
I didn’t include Like New Home Warranty on this list because of its F rating from the Better Business Bureau, a mark that indicates a history of poor customer service and support. The company has no sample contracts on its website, which raises an eyebrow and makes me wonder what the company is not being transparent about. Worse, the BBB advises customers to approach doing business with this company with caution because of the volume of complaints it has received about alleged misleading sales tactics, lousy customer service, failure to cancel contracts, and provide refunds.
I’m nowhere near comfortable recommending Like New Home Warranty.
Compare The Highest Rated Home Warranties for Older Homes
| Company | Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Response Time | BBB Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$50-$60 |
$75 |
12-48 hrs. |
NR |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$35–$75 |
$100–$125 |
24-72 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$44.99-$58.99 |
$70 |
48 hours |
A+ |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$46–$55 |
$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$52–$58 |
$60 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$62 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$48 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$17–$60+ |
$65–$100 |
2–24 hrs |
A- |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$28–$68 |
$100–$150 |
2–24 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE |
Quote and cost data gathered January 2024. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
Our Reviews of the Best Home Warranties for OIder Homes
Liberty Home Guard
4.6
Our Rating
Liberty Home Guard is one of my top picks for homeowners with older houses because of its phenomenal customer service and company reputation. With close-to-perfect Trustpilot scores and positive reviews from the BBB, you can feel confident in this provider’s longevity and ability to pay claims.
The other benefit for homeowners is Liberty’s customization options, including more than 40 add-on options. Most home warranty companies only offer about 10 of these extra coverages. Liberty’s wide menu works well for older homes with distinctive features and charm that need more protection. Owners of older homes can benefit from policies that cover a sump pump, casita guest unit, and maintenance coverage, such as gutter cleaning, pest control, and carpet cleaning. These are all highly specialized offerings that I’ve not seen from other providers.
Older appliances usually cost more to fix than new ones. Expert technicians often recommend replacing a unit if it’s too old and consumes too much energy. So, consider a home warranty that has a financial cap high enough to cover appliance and system replacements. Unfortunately, Liberty Home Guard maxes out its cap at up to $2,000, and some items, such as electrical and plumbing systems, have only $500 in coverage. That’s insufficient in many cases.
Another downside is that Liberty doesn’t cover preexisting conditions. If you have older appliances or systems, more of these will likely already have existing issues that will disqualify that individual item from coverage. There’s nothing worse than thinking your stove is covered for a $1,000 repair only to find out that the cost is all on you because of a preexisting condition. If you pick Liberty for a home warranty, assess your appliances and systems so you can show they didn’t have preexisting damage.
Liberty Home Guard scores highly for exceptional customer service, fast claim turnaround time of only 12 hours (perfect when your HVAC stops working on a winter’s day), and good company reputation. I like its extensive list of add-ons, especially ones most companies won’t cover, such as a sump pump, casita guest unit, reverse osmosis water filter, and lighting fixtures.
However, Liberty falls short with its preexisting condition and chimney exclusions. Many older homes have appliances with preexisting conditions and chimneys, neither of which Liberty covers. While I like Liberty’s competitive pricing and extensive add-ons, these two negatives may be a dealbreaker if you have older appliances or systems with existing issues.
Liberty Home Guard has three plans: an appliance-only plan, a systems-only plan, and a Total Home Guard plan that offers protection for appliances and systems. I recommend the third plan. It was only $10 more when I received quotes, and the sweeping coverage is more than worth the extra cost — especially if you have an older home. You don’t want to worry about your HVAC system crashing during a summer heat wave or a freezing winter. However, if you own a condominium with an HOA that covers major systems, consider an appliance-only home warranty plan.
The following monthly costs don’t include available discounts.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Appliance Guard | $49.99 | $125 | Two months free, free limited roof leak protection, $200 off coupon (website or phone) |
| Systems Guard | $54.99 | $125 | Two months free, free limited roof leak protection, $200 off coupon (website or phone) |
| Total Home Guard | $59.99 | $125 | Two months free, free limited roof leak protection, $200 off coupon (website or phone) |
Editor’s Note: We sourced the cost data mentioned in this article for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe, NM. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
If you need coverage for special items in an older home, like a casita guest unit, sump pump, lighting fixtures, and even maintenance like pest control or gutter cleaning, Liberty is the best provider. You can even opt for window or power washing to keep your older home neater. It’s add-on list includes:
- Pool and spa: $19.99/month
- Additional spa: $9.99/month
- Carpet cleaning: $19.99/month
- Casita guest unit: $35.99/month
- Central vacuum: $8.99/month
- Ejector pump: $14.99/month
- Electronics protection: $19.99/month
- Freestanding ice maker: $14.99/month
- Generator: $19.99/month
- Grinder pump: $14.99/month
- Gutter cleaning: $14.99/month
- Ice maker (in-fridge): $3.99/month
- Instant hot water dispenser: $9.99/month
- Lawn sprinkler system: $9.99/month
- Lighting fixtures: $7.99/month
- Limited roof leak: $11.99/month
- Pest control: $14.99/month
- Plumbing fixtures: $7.99/month
- Power washing (exterior flooring): $19.99/month
- Pro-series refrigerator: $14.99/month
- Pro-series stand-alone freezer: $14.99/month
- Pro-series range/oven/cooktop: $12.99/month
- Pro-series dishwasher: $7.99/month
- Pro-series microwave: $4.99/month
- Pro-series washing machine: $4.99/month
- Pro-series clothes dryer: $4.99/month
- Rekey: $9.99/month
- Reverse osmosis water filter system: $14.99/month
- Saltwater pool: $23.99/month
- Second refrigerator: $7.99/month
- Septic system pumping: $12.99/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $5.99/month
- Sump pump: $8.99/month
- Swamp cooler: $14.99/month
- TV mounting (up to 65-inch TVs): $14.99/month
- TV mounting (up to 85-inch TVs): $19.99/month
- Trash compactor: $7.49/month
- Window washing/cleaning: $19.99/month
- Water softener: $13.99/month
- Wine cooler/fridge: $11,99/month
- Water dispenser water line: $4.99/month
- Well pump: $12.99/month
Exclusions
Liberty Home Guard has many exclusions that don’t benefit homeowners of older houses. The biggest one is preexisting conditions. Liberty won’t reimburse you for repairs or replacements of an appliance or system that had an existing issue before your policy became active. Many old homes also have chimneys, which may be another shortcoming based on your home. The list of exclusions includes:
- Cosmetic defects
- Cranes or other specialty vehicles required to install, remove, or access your appliances or home systems
- Disposal of appliances, systems, or components
- Electronics, computerized, “smart,” or Internet/enabled components and parts
- Filters associated with any covered items
- Fire sprinkler systems
- Flues, vents, chimneys, and exhaust lines
- Glass parts
- Lighting
- Malfunction because of storms and other acts of God
- Noise
- Preexisting conditions
- Radon and other leak detection monitoring systems
- Remote receiving and transmitting devices
- Solar systems and applications
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
This provider has reasonable rates. In my experience, Liberty charges about $50, which is the national average for monthly premiums and less than the $64 average I found during my research on home warranties for older homes. It also offers several discounts. For example, I was offered $200 off my home warranty purchase when I lingered on Liberty’s website for a few minutes and then visited another tab in my browser before returning to Liberty’s page. This $200 off an annual plan is a bargain for your first year, and you can choose to pay annually for a continuous discount. Liberty falls short in affordability, however, is with its expensive add-ons. While it has far more options than many providers, Liberty’s prices are steeper. Select Home Warranty andChoice Home Warranty have fewer than 10 options, but their optional coverages are much less expensive than Liberty’s add-ons, which cost between $20 and $25 a month (or $240 or $300 a year).
If you need multiple add-ons, consider cheaper providers like Select Home Warranty or Choice. Choice offers an add-on for a second refrigerator for only $3.33 per month, while Liberty supplies comparable coverage for $7.99 per month. However, if you have many unique features, you should stick with Liberty, which offers over 40 add-ons, or look into Elite Home Warranty, the most competitive provider for add-ons.
Liberty Home Guard offers double the industry standard for a workmanship guarantee. You receive a 60-day workmanship guarantee, which is superior to providers like American Home Shield. I also like that Liberty has an extensive network of technicians who must maintain their vetted “LHG-certified” status to work through Liberty. In most cases, the technician can immediately repair a malfunctioning appliance or system on their first visit — a significant advantage over competitors who have to repeatedly send someone out to address an issue. My experience with the company has been pleasant, with knowledgeable customer service agents who weren’t pushy. I appreciate that as someone who has felt pressured by other companies in the industry. Lastly, Liberty’s website is user-friendly, with a mix-and-match quote experience that allows you to easily change and customize your plan type and add-ons while seeing the varying rates so you can easily weigh your options.
Liberty’s service prioritizes customer service compared to many old-school home warranty providers. Watch this quick video for more information.
Liberty Home Guard has a stellar company reputation. While it only has six years of industry experience, it has established itself as an expert and consistent provider with high customer ratings. It has a 4.7-star rating (out of 5) from more than 2,500 reviewers on Trustpilot. While researching dozens of home warranty companies, I’ve seen only one other company (Elite Home Warranty) rival this score. Many providers, like American Home Shield, have poorer customer reviews with as little as 2-star averages.
Positive reviews usually highlight working with professional, competent technicians, fast turnaround times for service issues, and excellent customer service — all traits I want from a home warranty company. In contrast, negative reviews criticized Liberty for extra service fee charges, exclusion issues, and lower coverage limits, although the reviews were overall positive.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | NR*/4.5 | 2,500 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 | 2,763 |
| Yelp | 1.4 | 59 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
*Note (as of 4/17/2024): Recently, the Better Business Bureau shifted LHG’s A+ rating to “NR” (Not Rated). We reached out to a representative from LHG for comment, and they shared this statement: “Despite the BBB’s alert, our customer satisfaction levels remain by far the highest relative to our scale. Last month, we had the lowest percentage of customer cancellation requests in our entire history. On the BBB’s own platform, Liberty Home Guard has achieved a star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 2,500 reviews. For added context, the approximately 480 resolved complaints on Liberty Home Guard’s BBB profile equate to an extremely low fraction of a percentage relative to the size and scale of our total customer base. As we navigate this situation, which we believe will be resolved in time, we want to assure you that we remain committed to our customers and their satisfaction; they are the key stakeholders we orient all our efforts around.
Liberty Home Guard has an exceptional claims process. Not only does it offer phone service and an online portal for claim submission, but it also has a mobile app, which no other provider on this list currently offers. This mobile app makes claim submission and follow-up easy. Plus, Liberty has an edge over other providers with an excellent 12-hour average response time after receiving a claim. This response is much faster than the industry average of 24 to 48 hours and better than a provider like American Home Shield, which averages around 48 hours. (I don’t want to wait two full days to hear back from a provider after my dishwasher breaks).
Liberty Home Guard provides coverage for homes in 50 states. This provider’s availability shines because they receive consistently excellent customer reviews throughout the country, giving me more faith in their process than most home warranty companies.
American Home Shield
4.3
Our Rating
For homes with older appliances, American Home Shield (AHS) can be a game-changer. It provides exceptional coverage limits of up to $4,000 on appliances and up to $5,000 for home systems. These financial caps are high enough to replace many appliances or systems and handle more extensive repairs, which an older home may require more.
The biggest benefit for older homes is that American Home Shield doesn’t exclude appliances or home systems if they are old, have normal wear and tear, have no maintenance records, or have unknown preexisting conditions. Most providers will deny claims based on at least some of these reasons, a big advantage for AHS.
American Home Shield is less affordable than the other providers, which can make it a tougher sell if you’re on a fixed income or have a tight budget. While AHS has wonderful coverage limits and better policies for older appliances, these benefits come with a higher cost.
For example, the company’s service fee options are $100 or $125. These prices are more expensive than providers like Select Home Warranty, which offers a flat $75 fee. Remember, you pay a service call fee each time a technician comes to your home, so if you need a lot of repairs in one year, this can quickly rack up.
While I like all the providers on this list, American Home Shield is my favorite for older homes because it doesn’t discriminate against preexisting conditions or older appliances. Some companies, like Liberty Home Guard, will deny a claim payout if it finds your appliance or home system had problems that were in place before your policy was active — even if you weren’t aware of them. For homeowners in older houses, this is a serious issue that could result in you being denied claims and coverage for thousands of dollars in repairs and replacements. AHS’ Shield Assurance Guarantee lays these worries to rest with its promise to care for what other providers won’t. The list includes normal wear and tear (no matter how old the appliance is), items without maintenance records, removal of defective equipment, and unknown preexisting conditions. You even get coverage for duplicate items. For example, if you have two AC units in your home. Instead of paying extra to cover the second one, like some providers would have you do, AHS automatically includes this in your coverage.
In addition, American Home Shield has some of the best coverage limits, with up to $4,000 in appliance coverage and up to $5,000 in home systems protection. These financial caps are robust enough to pay for most appliance and system replacements. This is important if you have older appliances that may need to be repaired more than once. The coverage caps are about two times the industry average. The savings represent an exceptional value, even if AHS plans cost more than the average provider.
On the downside, AHS has lower customer ratings than providers like Elite Home Warranty or Liberty Home Guard on Trustpilot and Yelp (around 2 stars on average), which isn’t great. Still, it is BBB-accredited, giving it more credibility for me.
I recommend the AHS’s ShieldPlatinum home warranty plan to homeowners with older houses because it covers appliances and systems and because it has greater coverage options. Some home protection benefits include up to $50,000 in total coverage per term, complimentary $1,000 roof-leak coverage, and a free annual HVAC tune-up. I also like that it includes unlimited AC refrigerant and that you receive special partner discounts for home services and essentials, which can help you maintain your older home. This plan also covers garage door openers and all parts and components of an electrically covered garage door opener, the extension, and torsion springs.
Here are the monthly price quotes I obtained during my secret shopping. These do not incorporate available discounts.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| ShieldSilver | $59.99 – $89.99 | $100 – $125 | Same-day discount of $125 off first year (website) |
| ShieldGold | $79.99 – $109.99 | $100 – $125 | Same-day discount of $125 off first year (website) |
| ShieldPlatinum | $109.99 – $139.99 | $100 –$125 | Same-day discount of $125 off first year(website) |
Editor’s Note: We sourced the cost data mentioned in this article for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe, NM. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
If you have an older home, roof-leak repair coverage is often necessary. American Home Shield has competitively priced roof-leak repair coverage (costing only $10 a month as an add-on or included with your ShieldPlatinum plan), that provides up to $1,000 in coverage. This coverage is double what many providers, like Choice Home Warranty, offer for roof leaks. It is a major benefit for homes with older roofs or homes in areas that get a lot of precipitation.
- Electronics protection plan: $14/month
- Guest unit: $15.99/month
- Pool & built-in-spa equipment: $18/month
- Roof leak repair: $10/month
- Septic pump: $5/month
- Well pump: $8/month
Exclusions
Roof-leak coverage doesn’t apply to metal roofs, partial full roofs or green (eco) roofs, condo or townhouse roofs, or mobile home roofs. If your older home falls in this category, it would be an exclusion. Otherwise, American Home Shield has standard exclusions, with nothing standing out as a serious red flag for older homes besides possible mold damage or chimney coverage.
- Construction or carpentry costs
- Flues, chimneys, venting, and exhaust lines
- Natural disasters
- Repairs because of mold
- Repairs or replacements due to cosmetic defects
- Restoration of walls
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
American Home Shield isn’t the most affordable provider in this article, but it packs a lot of value into its higher prices. AHS quoted me plan costs between $59.99 and $139.99 per month, which is significantly more expensive than a provider like Choice Home Warranty ($40 to $55). However, most providers can’t beat American Home Shield for high coverage limits that should cover the full cost of appliance and system replacement.
However, American Home Shield’s website advertises home warranties with rates starting at $39.99 per month. So, you may secure a better deal based on where you live. Location increases and decreases home warranty rates. You can even choose a higher service fee to save on your monthly premium, although I wouldn’t recommend this if you anticipate needing frequent service on older appliances.
American Home Shield has a user-friendly quote process, which our team found easy to navigate. Plus, American Home Shield has a 30-day workmanship guarantee. If you experience any issues within 30 days of a completed repair or replacement, AHS will send another technician to address the problem without charging another service fee. While 30 days is half as long as Liberty’s 60-day warranty, it still provides enough time to test your new washer. During my secret shopping, I had positive experiences with AHS customer service agents, whom I found knowledgeable and polite. However, I wasn’t thrilled about the large number of follow-up calls the company made and voicemails it left.
With 53 years of industry experience and BBB accreditation, American Home Shield has a definite advantage over competitors like Liberty Home Guard, which has six years of experience and no accreditation. However, AHS has poor customer ratings on third-party review websites, averaging around a 2-star rating between the three rating sites below. Positive reviews generally praised AHS for their high coverage levels, which was enough to make extensive repairs or replace appliances and home systems entirely — something crucial for homeowners on a tight budget or with older appliances that will need replacement in the coming years. Negative reviews brought up issues with customer service, canceling their contract, and insufficient technicians in the area, leading to slower claim resolution, which isn’t amazing.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B/2.11 | 11,117 |
| Trustpilot | 2.1 | 5,286 |
| Yelp | 1.1 | 1,277 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
American Home Shield’s average claims processing time is around 48 hours, which is slower than I’d like to see but standard for the industry. You can submit a claim 24/7/365 through the company’s online portal or over the phone, which reassures me about its service when a key appliance breaks down. Overall, I like that AHS has an efficient, standardized process with around-the-clock availability.
American Home Shield offers coverage in 48 states, except Hawaii and California, and has a massive network of over 17,000 contractors they send out for maintenance and replacements. With over two million members and counting, American Home Shield has demonstrated a sustainable business model, especially since they’ve paid over four billion dollars in home warranty claims over the last seven years alone.
Choice Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
Choice Home Warranty has a high claim acceptance rate, indicating it is efficient in getting money to customers after they file a claim — and doing so quickly. I want to highlight how important it is to choose a provider with a good claim acceptance rate and fair exclusions, which Choice has.
Choice Home Warranty is the only provider on this list with a 90-day workmanship warranty for parts and 60 days for labor, plenty of time to assess whether a recent repair is working. Two months and three months is two to three times more than what most providers offer. The industry standard is 30 days for a workmanship guarantee, giving Choice a major boost in my rating for this extra peace of mind.
I don’t recommend Choice to people looking for the most comprehensive coverage, especially for older homes with appliances or systems that cost more to maintain or if you upgraded to expensive premium appliances. Choice has lower coverage caps than I’d prefer. The average cost to repair a well pump is about $750, with replacements costing even more at approximately $1,600. Still, Choice only provides up to $500 in coverage — and this is for access, diagnosis, repair, and replacement. So, some of that $500 is going to labor. If you need a new well pump, you could easily be out a lot of money even if you have well pump coverage through Choice. See the exclusions below.
Choice is my pick because of its high claim acceptance rates and above-and-beyond workmanship guarantee. Following a repair or replacement, their workmanship guarantee covers parts for 90 days and labor for 60 days. You have two to three months to report any problems and have a technician sent back for free to address them.
However, Choice has lower coverage limits, only up to $500, for well pumps, stand-alone ice makers, roof leaks, and septic systems. That’s not enough money to pay for significant repairs or replacements, especially because older appliances cost more to repair. If you want complete coverage for replacements, consider American Home Shield or Elite Home Warranty for better financial protection. Otherwise, Choice is a strong pick for homeowners on a budget who want fast turnarounds with claims and plenty of protection after a repair is complete from a good workmanship guarantee.
I don’t recommend Choice’s Basic Plan because it doesn’t cover common appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators, or AC units, which almost all older homes have (and need coverage for). I don’t want to be left without a functioning air conditioner on a hot day, so lack of coverage is a dealbreaker for me. The Total Plan is more comprehensive and covers these items, plus your cooktop, exhaust fans, plumbing stoppages, and garbage disposals. That is my preferred plan from Choice.
The monthly costs provided include the 5% discount offered at the time of writing. Choice Home Warranty has been running this promotion since the beginning of 2024.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Basic Plan | $46.67 | $100 | 5% discount, annual payment discounts, and 1 month free (online or phone) |
| Total Plan | $54.75 | $100 | 5% discount, annual payment discounts, and 1 month free (online or phone) |
Editor’s Note: We sourced the cost data mentioned in this article for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe, NM. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
CHW doesn’t have too many add-ons, but it is competitively priced, especially the limited roof leak protection at $5.83 per month. Specific add-ons include:
- Additional Spa: $15/month
- Central vacuum: $3.33/month
- Limited roof leak: $5.83/month
- Pool: $15/month
- Second Refrigerator: $3.33/month
- Septic System: $10/month
- Septic Tank Pumping: $5.42/month
- Spa: $15/month
- Sprinkler system: $8.33/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $3.33/month
- Sump pump: $3.33/month
- Well pump: $8.33/month
Exclusions
Choice Home Warranty has many standard exclusions. However, excluding fireplaces may affect older homes more than modern homes. Among the company’s exclusions are:
- Act of God incidents
- Audio or visual equipment
- Central vacuum ductwork, accessories, hoses, and blockages
- Doorbell
- Fireplaces
- Internet connection components
- Pool accessories
- Portable or above-ground spas and pools
- Upgrades or modifications to original systems or appliances
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Next to Select Home Warranty, Choice Home Warranty is one of the most affordable providers on the market as shown in this guide. Both the quotes I received from Choice for a two-bedroom older home in New Mexico were less than $55 per month (almost $10 less than the average for older homes.) In addition, its add-ons are competitively priced, making them more accessible for homeowners wanting to customize their coverage.
Choice Home Warranty ensures a smooth customer experience by thoroughly vetting all of their local contractors. I really like this because, as a customer, you don’t have to worry about researching and finding a good contractor yourself. Instead, you can leave it to Choice once you file your claim. Otherwise, I find Choice’s website user-friendly, and I like the instant quote generator. My only critique about the website is that you have to go back and forth between web pages when comparing prices and coverage. Other providers share this information all on the same page, so you can easily compare plans as you shop.
Choice Home Warranty has decent customer reviews, with a B rating from the BBB and a 3.7-star rating from Trustpilot (much better than American Home Shield’s 2.1-star rating from them). However, it faces a consumer fraud lawsuit from the Arizona attorney general. The case is pending, which concerns me.
Despite its legal issues, Choice Home Warranty has 14 years of industry experience, more than most providers on this list, and a sound BBB rating, which gives me faith in its service. Positive reviews raved about the company’s high claim acceptance rate, fast repairs, and competent customer service agents. However, negative reviews pointed out issues with repeatedly opening a claim to have it approved, which I don’t want to deal with when my freezer breaks down and I’m worried about my food spoiling.
Today’s Homeowner Tip: Understand when reading online reviews that, more often than not, customers leaving reviews land on one extreme or the other — upset or happy. This emotional reaction can skew ratings. Also, it’s difficult to determine the full context of why a provider denied a customer’s claim. (For example, was the brand covered by the provider in the first place?). So, a customer who is upset about a claim denial may not fully understand their policy in the first place, which unfortunately leads to some negative reviews.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B/1.04 | 4,373 |
| Trustpilot | 3.7 | 38,817 |
| Yelp | 1.1 | 140 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Choice Home Warranty has an online account center and call center where you can make claims 24/7/365, giving it an edge over providers like Elite Home Warranty, which charges more for emergency or after-hours claims. This provider is a wise choice if you’re worried about claim denial. Customer reviews repeatedly praise Choice for excellent claims acceptance, making me less concerned about being left to pay for expensive appliance repairs out-of-pocket.
I love that you can submit claims through Choice Home Warranty’s 24/7 customer call center or online portal, allowing you to contact the provider ASAP if anything goes wrong. Plus, it has a 90-day workmanship guarantee for parts and 60 days for labor (three to two times the 30-day industry standard), and its sample policy claims that Choice handles all complaints within 24 hours.
Choice Home Warranty serves 48 states, excluding California and Washington. I appreciate its sustainable business model. With more than 14 years of experience and coverage of more than 2 million homes across the United States, Choice Home Warranty gives new and old homeowners a lot of peace of mind.
Select Home Warranty
4.2
Our Rating
Select Home Warranty (SHW) doesn’t discriminate against older appliances or home systems. It protects items in good working condition when you buy a policy as long as you maintain them. It also covers all makes and models, so you don’t have to worry about an older company or brand that is out of business not being covered.
Select Home Warranty is very budget-friendly, with most of its plans costing less than $50 per month ($14 less than the average quote I received for older homes, which is a savings of $168 per year). Plus, the service call fee is only $75, which is much more affordable than providers like American Home Shield, which offers $100 or $125 service fee options.
I don’t like some exclusions in Select’s plans. For example, homeowners with older homes will want to know that Select doesn’t cover damage to the electrical system caused by flood, fire, water, or rust. In addition, it won’t cover inadequate wiring capacity, attic or exhaust fans, or damage caused by a power surge or failure. All of these may have happened over the years if you have an older electrical system and set you up to be denied by the provider if your system isn’t just so.
Select’s inexpensive monthly premiums and service fees can help you secure coverage without breaking the bank if you’re on a tight budget. The company’s add-ons are affordable when compared to providers like Liberty Home Guard, and their monthly premiums are far more cost-effective than American Home Shield (although they don’t match the same level of coverage).
Based on Select’s sample policy, older homes may face exclusions to coverage if any of your appliances or systems have hazardous materials, such as lead, lead-based products, acids, asbestos, and red-tagged units. If your home is older, it may have been painted or built with some of these products, which would lead to a claim exclusion if it impacts your appliance or system. Plus, Select won’t cover systems or applications with repairs that lead to improper installation, construction damage, improper wiring, power failures, overloads, missing parts, neglect, rust, corrosion, sediment, or the failure to maintain or adequately clean the appliance or system.
I’ve probably missed cleaning my home appliances when I should have, so this worries me. The policy is so strict that Select can require maintenance records and pictures for the past three years to receive the maximum payout on an appliance or system. Without proper maintenance records, it will only pay up to $150. For example, you could be limited to $150 in coverage on your HVAC system if you don’t clean and replace your AC filters periodically.
While I recommend Select as a budget-friendly choice for homeowners, I wouldn’t recommend it if you have older appliances or if you are concerned about meeting Select’s rigorous maintenance requirements.
Select Home Warranty has excellent pricing and a generous number of plans, including an appliance-only, systems-only, and comprehensive plan with both. I recommend the Platinum Care plan, which covers systems and appliances for the best coverage. I like that it comes with up to $3,000 in HVAC coverage — a significant repair or replacement that most homeowners couldn’t afford to pay out-of-pocket. Plus, all of Select’s plans come with free roof coverage (valued at $99), an excellent way to protect against expensive water damage and roof repair costs.
Note: Monthly cost figures provided include the discounted rate offered at the time of writing. Select Home Warranty has been running this promotion since the beginning of this year.”
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Bronze Care | $44.42 | $75 | $150 off (website), 2 months free (website), multi-year coverage discount (call) |
| Gold Care | $44.42 | $75 | $150 off (website), 2 months free (website), multi-year coverage discount (call) |
| Platinum Care | $47.75 | $75 | $150 off (website), 2 months free (website), multi-year coverage discount (call) |
Editor’s Note: We sourced the cost data mentioned in this article for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe, NM. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Select Home Warranty automatically adds free roof-leak coverage to all plans, so you don’t have to worry about adding that on like you do with most providers. Other add-ons include:
- Central vacuum: $3.33/mo
- Lawn sprinkler system: $5.83/mo
- Pool: $8.33/mo
- Roof leak: $0/mo
- Septic system: $5.83/mo
- Spa: $5.83/mo
- Stand-alone freezer: $3.33/mo
- Sump pump: $3.33/mo
- Well pump: $3.33/mo
Exclusions
Homeowners should note that Select has strict regulations about maintenance and requires documentation that you maintained and cleaned your home systems and appliances before Select reimburses you. Older homes may be more likely to contain toxic or hazardous materials like asbestos, so consider whether this impacts you and would cause Select to deny your claim. Among the list of exclusions:
- Common areas in condominiums or family homes
- Damage caused by natural disasters and rust
- Defects or damages caused by the foundation and structure of the home
- Electrical surges
- Failure to properly maintain or clean systems or appliances
- Foundation or structural issues
- Secondary damage (i.e., your home warranty may cover roof damage but won’t cover water damage caused by the leak)
- Incorrect installation or malfunctions due to construction damage or improper wiring
- Issues with systems or appliances related to hazardous or toxic materials (e.g., mold, asbestos, and gas leaks)
- Solar heating systems
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Select Home Warranty is the most affordable provider on this list and offers a multitude of discounts to help save even more money. Not only were all the quotes I received less than $50 per month, but add-on prices were all less than $9 a month. Roof-leak coverage is free with all plans, a value that many providers like American Home Shield or Liberty Home Guard make you pay for. You can also call Select for a multi-year plan discount if you want to sign up for more than one year, saving you additional money.
I find Select Home Warranty’s website user-friendly and love its fast online quote calculator, which truly gives you an instant quote. This customer experience is incredibly helpful during the shopping process because you’re not waiting to hear from the provider like you are with companies like Elite Home Warranty, which only gives quotes over the phone. I also like how Select neatly breaks down its plans on its website with cost and comparison charts that help you quickly assess what is and isn’t covered and show transparent pricing.
Select Home Warranty has a solid company reputation with a 3.8-star rating from nearly 5,000 reviews on Trustpilot and 12 years of experience in the industry. I like that positive reviews highlight Select’s budget-friendly pricing, simple claims process, and competent customer service, which are all key factors for me. However, I don’t love that Select’s negative reviews spoke about issues with HVAC coverage. HVAC coverage is one of the biggest reasons that homeowners, especially those in older homes, want home warranty coverage because repairing or replacing an HVAC is a significant expense.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B-/1.30 | 2,108 |
| Trustpilot | 3.8 | 4,829 |
| Yelp | 1.0 | 9 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Select Home Warranty is average in its claim process. You can submit a claim through an online portal or by calling customer service. On average, our team found that you’ll wait around 48 hours to hear back on non-emergency claims, which is a little more than I’d like to see.
Select Home Warranty is available in 50 states and Washington, D.C., giving it perfect nationwide coverage. It consistently receives positive reviews in all regions of the country, which gives me a lot of faith in the company’s service.
Elite Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
Elite Home Warranty has practically unheard-of coverage caps of up to $6,000 for appliances and up to $10,000 for home systems — double to triple what most providers like Select Home Warranty offer.
This provider has unusually high customer satisfaction ratings from multiple third-party review websites. The Better Business Bureau accredited it and gave it an A+ rating. These high ratings and accreditations give me a lot of faith in this company’s process and the behind-the-scenes of how it interacts with customers.
Elite is not my top recommendation if you have ancient appliances because of their age restriction policy. All items older than 10 years are limited to only repairs. If the item is older than 10 years and not repairable, you are limited to a reduced cash payout — meaning you could receive a lot less than what the original appliance was worth. This age restriction is less than ideal for older homes because many of your appliances and systems are likely 10 years and older.
If you have high-end or professional-grade appliances, Elite charges a higher service call fee of $150 per visit instead of the standard fee of $100. Another downside is that commercial-grade appliances aren’t covered at all. Elite excludes them from all policies.
While I understand that Elite doesn’t depreciate covered items, its policy states that items older than 10 years that aren’t repairable are limited to a reduced cash payout rather than a full replacement. Keep this in mind when considering Elite if you have an older home because many of your appliances may be older than 10 years.
Another benefit for older homes is that Elite doesn’t ask for maintenance records for covered items in your house. While they recommend maintaining your systems and appliances to keep them in the best working condition possible, this isn’t a requirement, which gives me a lot of peace of mind. I don’t want to scramble to prove that I maintained an appliance that breaks down.
Elite also takes care of its customers with above-and-beyond service. For example, it has an added food spoilage coverage benefit, which comes into effect when your fridge or freezer breaks down. If a technician doesn’t get there fast enough and your food spoils, Elite reimburses you up to $100 to help you replace some of your food. This benefit is one I haven’t seen from other providers, and it is definitely something that feels like a company taking accountability when they aren’t quick enough to address an issue.
If you have premium appliances or don’t want to worry about maintenance records, Elite is a fantastic choice. However, if most of your appliances or systems are 10 years or older, remember this because you may receive a smaller cash payout rather than a full replacement.
Elite Home Warranty offers three comprehensive plans and excellent discount options. I recommend their Elite Complete plan to homeowners with older homes. It costs only $10 to $15 more per month than the other plans, but it covers home systems and appliances, letting you sleep better at night knowing your dishwasher, AC, and most other appliances and systems are covered.
Elite will pay a total of up to $100 per term for the cost of disposing of any covered items, which is something that providers like Liberty Home Guard won’t cover, so this is a great way to save money if you’re anticipating needing more replacements in the coming years. Plus, Elite will pay up to $250 for cranes or other lifting equipment if you have cumbersome appliances or systems — something else that providers like Liberty don’t cover the cost of, which can really add up.
The following table doesn’t factor in available discounts to the monthly costs.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Available Discounts |
| Elite Appliance | $44.99 | $100 | $150 sign-up, first month free, 30-day free trial (phone) |
| Elite Systems | $49.99 | $100 | $150 sign-up, first month free, 30-day free trial (phone) |
| Elite Complete | $59.99 | $100 | $150 sign-up, first month free, 30-day free trial (phone) |
Editor’s Note: We sourced the cost data mentioned in this article for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Santa Fe, NM. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Homeowners with older homes can really benefit from Elite’s diverse and unique range of add-ons. This provider offers helpful add-ons like HVAC maintenance and great options for older homes, such as limited roof leak protection and coverage for guest houses, lift pumps, and attic exhaust fans.
- Attic exhaust fan: $69.99/year
- Central vacuum: $49.00/year
- Effluent pump: $99.99/year
- Ejector pump: $99.99/year
- Freestanding freezer: $59.99/year
- Freestanding ice maker: $59.99/year
- Freestanding spa equipment: $119.99/year
- Generator: $99.99/year
- Geothermal heating and cooling system: $299.99/year
- Grinder pump: $99.99/year
- Guest house: $299.99/year
- HVAC annual maintenance: $299.99/year
- Jetted/hot tub: $99.99/year
- Lawn sprinkler system: $99.99/year
- Lift pump: $99.99/year
- Limited roof leak repair: $99.99/year
- Pool & spa equipment: $199.99/year
- Pool equipment: $149.99/year
- Premium appliances: $249.99/year
- Premium benefits: $199.99/year
- Premium systems: $299.99/year
- Premium systems Plus: $499.99/year
- Septic system: $129.99/year
- Service lines: $349.99/year
- Sump pump: $99.99/year
- Swamp cooler: $149.99/year
- Water filtration system: $99.99/year
- Water softener: $99.99/year
- Well pump: $99.99/year
- Wine cooler: $69.99/year
Exclusions
Other than commercial-grade appliances, Elite doesn’t have any unusual exclusions. But its list includes:
- Acts of God
- Commercial-grade appliances
- Cosmetic damage
- Natural disaster-related damages
- Units in a rental property (i.e. apartments)
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, readers should review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Elite Home Warranty has largely affordable add-ons, with most costing between $15 and $20 a month, which is better than providers like Liberty Home Guard, who charge $20+ per month for most of their add-ons. In terms of the monthly premium, Elite scores well for affordability because their plans are within what I found to be typical for older homes (approximately $64 per month), and Elite’s quotes were all slightly lower than this when I gathered quotes for an older home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. However, Elite loses a point for their slightly more expensive service fees, which get pricey if you need a weekend or after-hour service visits as the provider automatically charges you $150.
My experience with Elite agents was positive, with customer reviews echoing my own experience that the service representatives were professional and more educational, not as pushy as other companies’ agents tend to be. Plus, Elite has unique benefits that enhance my opinion of their customer service. For example, they have an added lodging coverage benefit that reimburses you up to $125 for documented lodging expenses per day for up to three days (a total of up to $375) if your appliance or home system breaks down and it’s impossible to stay in your home safely. For example, if your furnace dies in the winter, your AC dies in the summer, or the furnace leaks carbon monoxide. This benefit is one I haven’t seen other providers offer, and it speaks to the company’s integrity. The biggest downside I experienced with Elite is their lack of follow-through. I never heard back from an agent when I texted them with an additional question, which was frustrating.
Elite Home Warranty has a standout customer reputation with an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, plus a 4.97 rating from BBB reviewers, which I’ve never seen another company surpass. Only Liberty Home Guard comes close to this, so these are genuinely fantastic customer ratings that I wouldn’t take lightly. However, Elite loses a point because it has only four years of experience in the industry. Despite this, customers continually praise this provider for their excellent customer service experiences and satisfaction with the much higher-than-average coverage. Negative reviews were so few that I couldn’t summarize them effectively.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | A+/4.97 | 371 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 | 66 |
| Yelp | 4.8 | 4 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Elite scores less in this category because of their weekend visit service fee. You’ll be charged $150 for services to professional-grade appliances or for weekend or after-hour visits, which is a major con. However, its claims process is otherwise standard, with an online portal and call center as your options for submitting claims.
If you live in California, Wisconsin, or Texas, you’re out of luck with Elite Home Warranty. Otherwise, the other 47 states are covered, giving Elite a high score for above-average availability.
Calculate the Cost of Older Home Home Warranty
Estimate the cost of a home warranty for your older home by plugging in your monthly premium and service fee, and best guess for how many service visits you’ll need in a year.
| Appliance | Average Repair Cost | Average Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dehumidifier | $50–$200 | $1,300–$2,800 |
| Microwave | $50–$400 | $60–$2,000 |
| Dishwasher | $50–$500 | $400–$3,000 |
| Exhaust Fans | $16–$300 | $250–$950 |
| Electric Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Gas Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Dryer | $100–$400 | $450–$2,300 |
| Oven | $100–$430 | $400–$3,000 |
| Washer | $50–$450 | $400–$2,300 |
| Freezer | $90–$500 | $160–$2,900 |
| Refrigerator | $40–$350 | $200–$5,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need a Home Warranty for Older Homes?
A home warranty for older homes is often a good investment because older homes have more unknown issues and usually require more expensive maintenance than a new home with new appliances. Unless you have manufacturer’s warranties on all your appliances and home systems, a home warranty for older homes is a wise investment to protect homeowners from unexpected expenses.
How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost for Older Homes?
Based on quotes I received for a two-bedroom home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the average cost of a home warranty for older homes is $64 per month. However, you’ll want to consider other factors that impact the cost of a home warranty, such as coverage, location, add-ons, the company, and the type of plan.
How To Save Money When Shopping for Home Warranties for Older Homes?
You can save money on a home warranty for an older home by shopping with multiple providers, asking about price-matching and available deals or discounts, and taking the time to call for a better deal. During my secret shopping with dozens of home warranty providers, I’ve often been offered a better deal when I called than what I would have received shopping online, so it’s worth the extra couple of minutes.
Is a Home Warranty Worth It for Older Homes?
A home warranty is worth it for older homes because it gives you a lot of peace of mind about unexpected maintenance and repair bills that likely will cost more as your appliances and systems age. A home warranty can help you keep your home running smoothly. Some providers even have special deals or add-ons for routine maintenance to keep your appliances running efficiently, making home warranties worth it for many homeowners.
Other Warranty Resources for Homeowners
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