For me, the Sears name is all about reliability and convenience. But the company has had its fair share of trouble in recent years, which left me wondering: Did the widespread store closures affect the home warranty service?
While researching Sears Home Warranty reviews, I discovered that the service does have its benefits, but I cannot recommend it overall. There are simply too many better options, which you can explore in our best home warranty roundup.
4.3
Our Rating
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 Sears Home Warranty
Total Score: 86.5 / 100 points
Sears’ reputation for reliability and convenience still shines through in its home warranty service. Unlike other home warranty brands, this company employs its own service techs. That means you’re more likely to get good service without a long wait.
The provider’s 180-day workmanship guarantee is also 6x longer than the average home guarantee, giving you plenty of time to confirm that each repair works. The item- and contract-specific coverage limits are also higher than the industry average. So, you can still get the work done under warranty if multiple things break during the coverage period.
As far as convenience goes, you only have to type in basic contact info to get a quote. Plus, the company has its own “Home Hub” app, which allows you to request service on the go.
My research quickly revealed a few big drawbacks, though. In many parts of the country, like Washington State, New Jersey, and Iowa, you only have access to appliance plans, not systems plans. You can only view plan details and pricing by getting a quote. And the plans cost more than many comparable plans from other home warranty providers.
Score: 98%
Like many home warranty providers, Sears allows you to pick the coverage that suits your budget and ideal level of service. The Whole Home plan simplifies things by letting you cover 10 systems and 12 appliances under one contract. Less than one-third of the home warranty providers reviewed by Today’s Homeowner offer similar coverage levels.
What really makes Sears Home Warranty stand out is its high coverage limits. Most systems have a $5,000 limit per claim, which earned the company our ‘Best Systems Coverage’ designation. Appliances get nearly as much protection, topping off at $3,000 per claim. The per-agreement coverage limit of $10,000 is also one of the highest available.
Homes in certain parts of the country cannot get systems coverage. But the website doesn’t make that obvious. Instead, I only found that out when I requested a quote. You cannot view coverage levels and pricing for plans not offered in your state, either. Complimentary heating and cooling preventative maintenance checks are still included in the appliance-only plans, though, which is a bit confusing.
No matter where you live, none of the plans cover items like roof leaks and electronic devices. That’s not entirely uncommon, but Select Home Warranty does offer free roof leak coverage with any warranty. Other companies like Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield let you add coverage for uncommon items.
Worse yet, add-on coverage is no longer available. If you want coverage for central AC and heating, septic tank, or other optional items, you’ll need to go with a different company, like First American Home Warranty.
Score: 87%
The Whole Home combo plan offers a lot of coverage for $70 per month. If you maintain coverage for the year, you can get up to $10,000 in parts and repair services and only spend $840 for the plan itself. A moderate $100 service fee for each service call applies, but it’s not likely to add too much to the total.
Discounts on other services add to the value of the plan. A 25% discount applies to non-covered HVAC and appliance repairs performed by Sears service technicians. Want to upgrade your home? Hire Sears Home Improvement and get a 12% discount. If you shop at PartsDirect, you’ll get 15% off each purchase. All of these benefits really make Sears Home Warranty stand out versus other providers.
Cancellation is not always easy, but there’s no fee. You may even get a prorated refund upon canceling in the middle of a term.
For an appliance-only plan, $50 per month is rather steep. You can get similar coverage for much cheaper from other home warranty providers like 2-10 Home Warranty and America’s 1st Choice Home Club.
Score: 81%
You can tell Sears Home Warranty honors your time. An instant quote lets you review the plans and pricing offered in your area. If you like what you see, signing up is just as fast. You just have to select a plan and fill out the form on the next screen to activate your warranty.
Once you’re signed up, the “Home Hub” app allows you to file claims and schedule service calls using your phone. Using the app can save valuable time sitting on hold for customer service. Not many home warranty providers have branded apps, making Sears a solid choice if you need to handle your repair requests on the go.
Whenever you file a claim, the company sends out its in-house technicians within 24 hours. This improves your chances of getting good service on a reasonable timeline. Many other home warranty service providers use third-party vendors instead, resulting in varying service quality levels. Sometimes you might get great service, and other times it might not be nearly as good.
Based on my research, Sears Home Warranty doesn’t always hit the mark despite efforts to send out qualified techs. While researching customer reviews, I found that many customers rate their experience on a scale of impersonal to downright bad. Some customers say they have even ended up without major systems and home appliances fixed for weeks to months without a solution in sight.
Score: 83%
Previously known as “Where America Shops,” Sears was once the go-to place for high-quality appliances, home goods, clothes, toys, and more. Its brand recognition is second-to-none, especially for those like me who fondly remember circling holiday must-haves in the Sears catalog.
Even the Sears Home Services division has a long track record of excellence, starting with its inception in 1995. Despite Sears’ fall from grace, the company maintains its A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating as a result. It’s also good that the company has zero active lawsuits, especially considering its recent trend of negative reviews.
In the past three years, Sears Home Services has had over 1,700 BBB complaints about its warranty services. That’s at least five times more than the other leading home warranty companies. The ultra-low one-star ratings on Yelp, Google, and other review sites tell the same tale.
Score: 72%
When your home’s systems or appliances malfunction, you definitely don’t want to wait for a solution. I’m happy that Sears understands that and offers a quick and easy way to file a claim. You just need to use the app or online portal to submit your request and even book your appointment right then and there.
Once you do that, a customer service agent should get back to you within a few hours. From my research, I’ve found that initial claims response times rarely ever exceed 24 hours. This is much faster than the standard 48-hour response times offered by other providers.
The Sears support team works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. So, you can get customer service and tech support any time of the day or night. Only a few other home warranty companies like Liberty Home Guard also offer round-the-clock support.
Although Sears techs arrive at your home quickly, the repair process may feel like it’s moving at a snail’s pace. This is especially true when the company sends out diagnostic and repair technicians separately and usually days apart.
Emergency repair service is exceedingly rare in the home warranty industry. But Choice Home Warranty and The Home Service Club offer lower 12-hour response times, allowing you to get help in a hurry.
Reviews show that the first Sears tech does not always resolve the issue, but you have to call to let them know. There is no follow-up from the support team to see how things went. You will likely end up waiting several more days before the next tech shows up.
And it doesn’t seem to matter if you’re without your refrigerator, central heating and air conditioning, or only toilet. So, keep a backup repair pro on speed dial, for sure.
Score: 100%
Warranty coverage is available in nearly every corner of the United States. The only areas without coverage are Alaska, Vermont, and Puerto Rico.
With such widespread coverage, Sears Home Warranty did not lose any points in this area.
Customers in Puerto Rico, Vermont, and Alaska cannot get any home warranty coverage from this company due to the service exclusions.
Here are a few of our select choices:
Sears Home Warranty Plans and Coverage Options
Sears Home Warranty offers three plan options, so you can customize the coverage to your budget and service needs. The plans cover your appliances, major home systems, or both.
Here’s an at-a-glance overview of the monthly cost of each plan and its associated service fees.
Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee |
Appliance Plan | $50 | $100 |
System Plan | $60 | $100 |
Whole Home Plan | $70 | $100 |
HVAC Plan | N/A | $100 |
Appliance Plan: If you don’t spare a dime on your appliances, you may enjoy the peace of mind offered by the Appliance Plan. This plan can greatly reduce your repair costs for high-end kitchen and laundry room appliances.
System Plan: The systems plan is the way to go if you have brand-new appliances or feel comfortable repairing them yourself. This plan only covers major systems in your home, including your central air conditioning and heating, plumbing, and electrical.
Whole Home Plan: When you don’t want to leave anything to chance, get the Whole Home Plan. You’ll enjoy full coverage of the major systems and appliances, allowing you to simply call for repairs whenever something breaks.
HVAC Plan: Details about this plan are sparse at this time, making me think that it’s not widely available. But if you can get it, this plan does provide coverage for your air conditioning and heating systems, including ductwork. It’s unclear if you can sign up for this plan on its own or if you have to get the appliance-only plan, too.
Home System or Appliance | Appliance Plan | System Plan | Whole Home Plan | HVAC Plan |
Electrical Systems | ||||
Built-in exhaust, vent and attic fan | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Ceiling fan | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Doorbell and chimes | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Garage door opener | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Interior electrical lines | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Main breaker and fuse panel box | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Heating and Cooling Systems | ||||
Air conditioner | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Ductwork | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Heating unit | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Plumbing Systems and Accessories | ||||
Faucets and valves | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Interior plumbing lines | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Toilets | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Water heater | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Whirlpool bathtub motor and components | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Kitchen Appliances | ||||
Built-in microwaves | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
Cooktops/ranges | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
Dishwashers | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
Garbage disposal | X | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Ice maker | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
Instant hot/cold water dispenser | X | X | X | X |
Refrigerators | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
Stove/ovens | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
Laundry Appliances | ||||
Clothes dryers | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
Clothes washers | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
Roof | ||||
Roof leak repair | X | X | X | X |
What Optional Add-ons Does Sears Home Warranty Offer?
Up until mid-June 2023, Sears Home Warranty had 15 optional items you could add to your warranty for an extra charge. All that changed with the complete overhaul of the company website and service agreements for new customers.
Now there’s no optional coverage at all unless the company decides to offer the HVAC Plan as an add-on. And the Premier Upgrade Package that added all optional items for an extra $120 a month is also gone. The company is still honoring existing contracts, but it’s not likely customers will be able to renew their add-on coverage at the end of the year.
About two-thirds of the home warranty companies we’ve looked at offer add-on coverage for 10 or more items. Only HomeServe and now Sears skip the add-on coverage offerings altogether.
But some of the ones we have vetted you can find below:
Does Sears Home Warranty Have Any Exclusions?
Nearly every line item in the Sears Home Warranty plans has exclusions that limit the repair services offered by the technicians. Anything listed as an exclusion will have an additional charge to repair, although you get a 25% discount if you hire Sears techs anyway.
Examples of exclusions for each appliance or system are:
- Refrigerator: Built-in multi-media centers, standalone icemakers and water dispensers, and wine chillers
- Washing machine and dryer: Steam nozzle and temperature booster
- Range, oven, or cooktop: Glass or ceramic surfaces and cracked glass cooktops caused by misuse or abuse
- Electrical: Light fixtures, wiring and cables for audio, video, or alarms, and overload protection and face plates
- Plumbing: Bathtubs, sinks, toilet lids and seats, bidets, saunas and steam rooms, and problems linked to sewer lines past the home’s foundation or involving inaccessible cleanouts
- Garage door opener: Cables, springs, door, and door track
- Sump pump: Units in the crawlspace or outside the property lines, portable units, and back-up power assemblies
General exclusions that may apply to your selected system or appliance warranty plan include:
- Routine maintenance and cleaning services
- Items already covered by other warranties, guarantees, or insurance plans
- Commercial grade appliances and systems
- Items already damaged or broken before signing up for the plan
- Appliances or systems without a model or serial number
- Most appliances or systems located outside or in an outbuilding
- Items that were improperly installed or maintained
You can find the exact exclusions listed in the terms and conditions. The samples have not yet been updated to reflect the recent plan changes.
Does Sears Home Warranty Have Any Coverage Limits?
Sears Home Warranty has some of the highest coverage limits in the industry. Across all plans, the per-year claim limit is $10,000. Most systems have a $5,000 coverage limit for each agreement term, while each appliance has a $3,000 cap.
Your plan only covers one of each unit type per contract period, though. But that’s standard for most home warranties.
Coverage limits are the total amount you can claim for repair and replacement services. The limits are set for each item and contact period. The limits also restrict how many of each appliance or system component you can have repaired under your existing contract.
Use this chart to explore the per-claim or agreement coverage limits for the items covered under the three warranty plans.
Covered Item | Coverage Limit |
Air conditioning and ductwork | $5,000 per claim |
Ceiling fan | $5,000 per claim |
Dishwasher (built-in) | $3,000 per agreement term |
Doorbell | $5,000 per claim |
Dryer | $3,000 per agreement term |
Electrical | $5,000 per claim |
Garage door opener | $5,000 per claim |
Garbage disposal | $5,000 per claim |
Grill (built-in) | $3,000 per agreement term |
Heating and ductwork | $5,000 per claim |
Microwave (built-in) | $3,000 per agreement term |
Plumbing | $5,000 per claim |
Pool or spa with heater | $1,500 per agreement term |
Range, oven, or cooktop | $3,000 per agreement term |
Refrigerator | $3,000 per agreement term |
Septic tank with pumping | $500 per occurrence; Up to $1,000 for septic tank replacement |
Smoke detector | $5,000 per claim |
Standalone freezer | $3,000 per agreement term |
Sump pump | $1,500 per agreement term |
Trash compactor (built-in) | $3,000 per agreement term |
Washer | $3,000 per agreement term |
Water heater | $5,000 per claim |
Water softener | $5,000 per claim |
Well pump | $1,500 per agreement term |
Sears Home Warranty Customer Reviews
I’ve combed through hundreds of reviews to gain a clear perspective on what Sears Home Warranty offers and its quality of service. Since the home warranty division falls under the Sears Home Services umbrella, reviews for both sides of the company intermingle on sites like BBB, Yelp, and Trustpilot. The way the company operates and its pool of service techs is the same on both sides, however.
With all the changes through the years, the reputation of the company keeps declining, resulting in more negative customer feedback from 2018 to now. Overall, skilled techs have a great track record in repairing systems and appliances, but the customer service quality could use a lot of work.
Positive Reviews of Sears Home Warranty
Sears Home Warranty’s positive reviews reflect its skilled technicians’ repair knowledge and expertise. Poor customer service greatly tempers the reviewers’ enthusiasm for the company as a whole, even though they’re pleased with the repair services.
Negative Reviews of Sears Home Warranty
Misinformation, long wait times, and a lack of accountability show up time and again in negative reviews about Sears Home Warranty. In the worst-case scenarios, the appliance or system never gets fixed, leaving the customer without a reasonable solution.
How To File a Claim With Sears Home Warranty
When you sign up for a Sears Home Warranty plan, you’ll create an account in the online portal. The portal allows you to manage your account, submit claims, and view the status of your pending or completed claims. Or you can use the “Home Hub” app instead.
Filing a claim is easy using the online system or app. You just need to:
- Log in to your Sears Home Warranty account using the email you used to sign up and your password.
- Place your request by filling out the form and pressing the ‘Submit’ button.
- When using the online portal, wait at least two hours for the customer service team to process your claim and call you. If you use the app, you’ll be prompted to schedule your repair visit right after filing a claim.
You or another adult will need to be home to greet the Sears tech on your appointment date. They’ll likely ask for more details about your complaint and collect the $100 service call fee before starting the diagnosis and repairs.
Sears Home Warranty vs. Other Home Warranty Companies
Provider | Best for | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | BBB Rating* | Date Founded | Company Reviews |
Sears Home Warranty | High systems coverage limits | $50 to $70 | $100 | A+ | 1995 | Read our review of Sears Home Warranty |
Choice Home Warranty | Excellent claim acceptance rate | $47 to $55 | $85 | D | 2008 | Read our review of Choice Home Warranty |
American Home Shield | High coverage limits | $50 to $120 | $75 to $125 | B | 1971 | Read our review of American Home Shield |
Liberty Home Guard | Ample customization options | $50 to $70 | $65 to $125 | NR | 2017 | Read our review of Liberty Home Guard |
Is Sears Home Warranty Worth It for You?
Sears Home Warranty could be a decent choice for homeowners who still trust the Sears brand and don’t mind holding companies to their promises. Despite sometimes missing the mark, this company does offer a 180-day workmanship guarantee and will continue to send out techs until they’re able to resolve the issue.
Sears also has 24/7 availability, coverage in most states, and three affordable plans that will cover the major appliances and systems in your home.
However, I think you can find better options elsewhere. If you’d like to enjoy a more streamlined experience, you can check out the best home warranty companies in the table below. Each one has its own pros and cons to consider, so dig deep to find the right one for you.
FAQs About Sears Home Warranty
Is Sears still in business?
Sears is still in business, although it’s now owned and operated by Transformco. The company has 16 brick-and-mortar stores but primarily sells its products online. Transformco also took over the Sears Home Services division, which includes its home warranty services.
Is Sears Home Warranty part of the Sears department store?
Sears Home Warranty operates separately from the Sears department stores, although Transformco now owns both. Sears Home Warranty falls under the Sears Home Services division.
Is a Sears Home Warranty the same as a Sears extended warranty?
Sears Home Warranty is not the same as a Sears Extended Warranty. The extended warranty only applied to single Sears appliances and was added at the time of purchase or up to 15 days afterward. Sears Home Warranty covers multiple appliances and/or systems under one appliance, system, or whole home plan.
Methodology: How We Ranked Sears Home Warranty and Other Home Warranty Providers
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 Sears Home Warranty ratings 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.