Our experts have researched 16 home warranties and recommend 10 of the best options for seniors.
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Top 10 Highest Ranked Home Warranty For 2020
How We Chose Our Top List
Need quality home warranty coverage? We researched everything from policies and pricing, to service fees, customer service, ease-of-use, value, and more. We did the research so you don’t have to. So if you’re a senior who wants the facts without all the fluff, our top 10 list of best home warranties was tailor-made for you.
Pricing for First American ranges from $300-500 annually depending on whether one chooses Basic coverage or Premier coverage. While coverage amounts vary by contract, they have higher than standard spending limits compared to other home warranty companies. Customers lock into a 12-month contract and can receive quotes for services online. Costs will vary depending on the region being served.
Basic coverage plans with First American primarily protects appliances such as refrigerators and ranges while Premier coverage also offers protection for the home’s primary systems such as electrical, HVAC and plumbing. Supplemental coverage for well pumps, pools and spas can be included at additional cost for Premier package holders. Seniors find this to be an excellent program due to the company’s fast response times, reasonable rates and superior service.
Old Republic offers customers 13-month contracts as a minimum with annual rates falling between $295-500 per year. Pricing ultimately depends on factors such as the home’s location, age, size and condition. More accurate quotes can be obtained online or by calling customer service. Contract cancellation is difficult with Old Republic and requires mutual consent from both parties and there are fees involved.
Old Republic Home Protection offers has three home warranty plans: Standard, Platinum and Ultimate. The Standard package protects most appliances and main home systems. With the Platinum and Ultimate plans additional coverages are offered, and customers can customize plans. This is an ideal company for seniors with outdoor implements such as pools, fountains, septic systems. Policies can also cover issues such as roofing leaks and sump pump issues, which are not available from most companies. Those looking for value and convenience should consider Old Republic Home Protection.
Choice Home Warranty offers a Basic plan and a Total plan. The Basic policy protects heating, plumbing and electrical systems in addition to appliance coverage for built-in microwaves, whirlpool tubs, cooktop stoves and others. The Total plan offers coverage for everything in the Basic package in addition to refrigerators, washers and dryers and air conditioning systems. Plans can be customized to cover appliances and systems including central vacuums, roof leaks, standalone freezers, well and sump pumps, septic systems, pools and spas. Plans start at $370 annually with co-pays of $60 for each service. Customers can cancel within 30 days with a $50 penalty.
The shining features of Choice Home Warranty are that they don’t require home inspections and will cover working, properly maintained appliances and systems regardless of age. Seniors with many features they want to ensure are covered will find their customized policies and pricing to be unsurpassed. Customer support and claims processing is available 24/7 online and via phone, making it very convenient to get help right away.
The average annual premium for Fidelity National’s home warranty starts at $350, but this won’t include coverage for implements like washers and dryers, refrigerators, AC units, roof leaks, pools or spas. Additional coverage can be purchased when the policy is signed, and this can significantly increase the annual premium. Standard claim costs are $65 and must be paid regardless of whether the claim is approved. However, Fidelity offers a flexible pricing structure that lets consumers choose their services fees, which will also effect the annual plan’s cost.
Seniors often choose Fidelity because it’s a name they recognize and trust, and the company has an A+ rating with the BBB. They offer considerably more coverage for specialty items than many competitors, and they have fewer limitations on coverage. While items like refrigerators, air conditioners and laundry implements aren’t included in the standard policy, Fidelity still gives consumers great coverage for what they charge.
Home Warranty of America offers two plans, the Premier Plan and the Premier Plus Plan, which includes comprehensive coverage for more than 30 items traditionally not covered under home warranties, which explains why the costs are higher than average. The Premier is around $580 per year and the Premier Plus averages $695, but prices will vary depending on region and any additional perks you chose like the GreenPlus plan, which adds $75 annually. Service charges range from $60-100 depending on your plan. Cancellation is easy with Home Warranty of America at any time, but there is a small fee for doing so.
With such a vast array of coverage options, a highly flexible cancellation policy and 24-hour claim processing, Home Warranty of America is an excellent choice for seniors. They will cover secondary appliances and pools and even saltwater equipment, and consumers can choose contractors outside the network with prior authorization. The GreenPlus plan allows for products to be replaced with high-efficiency models, so one will save even more on electricity bills. Overall, this is a highly recommended home warranty provider for those seeking extra coverage.
The Sears Appliance Warranty costs $50 per month, and service calls are $75 per visit. The company promises to replace appliances that cannot be repaired, as long as they have been maintained and installed properly. Sears Systems Warranty is $60 per month with a service call fee of $100 per visit. While this plan covers no appliances, it qualifies policyholders for a 25% discount on appliance services and repairs. Sears Whole House Warranty combines both packages for a mere $70 per month and $100 service fees, making it a pretty good deal but still more costly than other competitors. However, Sears Home Warranties have a generous coverage cap of $50,000 annually and $10,000 per claim, which far surpasses others in the industry.
Seniors only wanting appliance coverage or systems coverage plans backed by a six-month workmanship warranty, will find the Sears Home Warranty to be a good choice. However, most customers opt for the Whole Home coverage for good measure, especially if the home or systems or somewhat older. Sears covers stated appliances and systems regardless of age and offer two free heating and cooling systems checks with your policy. Additionally, Shop Your Way benefits let policyholders get discounts at Sears, Kmart and certain other retailers.
Landmark offers two types of policies: a Home Systems plan and a Total Protection Plan. The Home Systems plan covers major systems such as heating, cooling, plumbing, water heaters and pipe leaks. The Total Protection plan covers systems and major appliances such as central vacuums, dishwashers, refrigerators and more. Coverage can be enhanced with customized add ons for additional costs. Currently, the Home Systems Plan averages $35 monthly, and the Total Protection Plan averages $55 monthly. Deductibles for repairs will vary between systems and appliances and range from $60-100 per service.
Seniors with older homes or appliances will appreciate that Landmark Home Warranty requires no inspections or maintenance records and also that they include pest control and management with every policy. The prices are highly affordable, and they use professional contractors licensed in the areas they serve. They have highly-rated customer support and there’s no waiting period for coverage to begin. Seniors who live in the states of Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas should give Landmark a good look when seeking a home warranty company.
OneGuard offers a Systems plan and an Appliance Plan that average between $379 to $399 annually for basic services. These lower priced policies let seniors pick and choose what they want to cover most without upgrading to the premium Combo Plan that averages around $699 per year. However, this includes both coverage plans in addition to washer/dryers and refrigerators. Service calls typically cost policyholders $69 per appliance, system or service per call.
OneGuard has a better reputation with consumers than most competitors, and the unique features of the policies like re-keying and pest control and cleaning services make it a standout with seniors seeking convenience. They also have an easy cancellation policy and use a reliable network of professional contractors. While policies are only available in Texas, Nevada and Arizona, it’s worth looking into OneGuard Home Warranties if you reside in their service range.
Select Home Warranty is arguably one of the best deals for homeowners on a budget, as their packages start at $27 and go up from there depending on the coverage level chosen. Service fees start at $45 and Total Protect has a relatively easy cancellation process. They also offer promotions on occasion such as offering $200 discounts on plan prices or offering customers free service for a few months. Occasionally, they offer free roof coverage to new customers, so enrolling during a promotion is wise.
Seniors looking for multiple package options for home warranties at great rates should give Select Home Warranty a hard look, as it’s known for value and flexibility concerning coverage. They don’t require pre-inspections, but be aware that like many competitors you will need to show maintenance records should an appliance or system require repair or replacement. Another bonus is that Select will cover appliances and systems of any age, model or brand as long as they work at the time of policy purchase.
The lowest level of coverage is the Silver Appliance Plan that costs $31.95 per month, and it will cover common household appliances as dictated in the policy. The Gold Systems Plan costs $40.95 per month and covers the homes major systems such as heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical. The Platinum Combo Plan costs $54.95 monthly and combines both the systems coverage and appliances plans and includes additional perks like homeowner insurance discounts and others. Prepare to pay anywhere between $36 and $240 for optional coverage extensions. Service calls range from $100-125 per repair.
TotalProtect Home Warranty is ideal for seniors on a budget who are concerned about the high cost of appliance and system repairs. This is ideal for those living in an older dwelling or who have older appliances getting ready to conk out. TotalProtect has a good reputation compared to similar companies, and they use a skilled network of technicians and 24/7 claims services. Because their exclusions are vague, be sure to clarify them before enrolling.
A home warranty is like a secondary bit of coverage for your home beyond home insurance. Rather than covering your home’s structure itself, a home warranty helps provide a form of protection for common home appliances and major systems. Homeowners understand just how costly a new HVAC system or refrigerator can be, and repair prices today can often exceed an appliance or system’s value.
With a home warranty, policyholders can make one call and be connected to customer service. The company will then find an appropriate technician (typically on their network of providers) and they will dispatch them to the home to assess your issue. In addition to the price of policies, there is a fee for each service call that homeowners are responsible for on top of any costs not covered under their policy.
For most seniors, their home is their most valuable investment and upkeep and maintenance is a priority. However, seniors may not have the time, skills or desire with taking care of finding repair persons for their appliances and systems, which is a huge benefit of home warranties. When one considers that the life expectancy for most appliances and major home systems is about a decade, having a backup plan such as a home warranty can be a lifesaver. Seniors on a budget will benefit most by investing in a home warranty, because it can help them avoid costly expenses in the future.
Home warranties have a wide range of costs that may depend on the condition of the home, the age of your home’s systems and appliances and other factors if a home inspection is required before signing a policy. However, many policies that offer basic coverage starting at $30-50. Policies that offer more comprehensive coverage such as both appliances and major systems can cost between $50-75 per month. Those who have pools, spas, sprinkler systems, wells, sump pumps and more complex items they want to cover can often purchase add ons at an additional cost. Depending on what is being covered, this can range between $35