While some home warranties have 30-day waiting periods and run out after a year, HWA's coverage activates immediately and lasts for a full 13 months.
Coverage options for immediate protection: Some home warranty providers offer coverage options that provide immediate protection without a waiting period. These options typically have higher premiums but can be beneficial if you need coverage right away.
The waiting period will depend on the company. Each home warranty company will have its specific waiting period. Regardless of whether you have a new home or an older home, pre-existing conditions will not be covered in the plan. Usually, the waiting period ranges anywhere from 1 to 30 days.
To qualify for coverage, the systems and appliances in your home need to be in good working order when you sign your contract, though it doesn't matter how old they are. After you purchase a home warranty, coverage typically starts within 30 days of your first monthly payment.
The American Home Shield waiting period, for example, is 30 days unless you get a real estate home warranty plan, which you can use immediately.
After signing up for a home warranty plan with American Home Shield, there is a 30-day home warranty waiting period before you can make service requests to repair or replace the covered parts of your home's malfunctioning systems and appliances. Do I Need Service Records or a Home Inspection to Qualify for Service?
This appeal is the consolidation of three appeals brought by objectors to a class action settlement. The underlying case involved allegations that American Home Shield (“AHS”) engaged in a pattern of wrongly denying claims under its home warranty contracts.
Here are our top picks for the best home warranty companies. Liberty Home Guard takes the top spot thanks to its plans, high customer satisfaction and availability. Our picks for coverage options include American Home Shield and First American Home Shield.
Select Home Warranty has a 30-day waiting period during which the replacement cost of systems or appliances is not covered. It may also request up to three years' worth of maintenance records for certain systems and charge as much as $150 if they're not available.
If you purchase a home warranty plan from Liberty Home Guard, the waiting period can be 30–60 days, depending on the plan you are enrolled in.
Choice Home Warranty's claim process
Like many home warranty companies, Choice requires customers to wait 30 days before filing a claim. You can file a claim by phone with the customer service department or through the company's online portal.
No, you do not need to register your warranty. Coverage is active as of your effective date, pending payment.
A home warranty is a service contract that pays the cost of repair or replacement of covered items, such as major kitchen appliances, as well as electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems. A warranty doesn't cover windows, doors, floors or other structural features.
The determination of the effective date depends on the type of warranty and the terms outlined in the contract: Purchase Date: Common for product warranties, such as appliances. Installation Date: Used for warranties tied to installed systems like HVAC units.
In general, an extended warranty can be used following a 30-day or 1,000-mile wait period. Some providers offer alternative waiting periods depending on driving habits, such as 60-day/500-mile or 90-day/200-mile waiting periods, and certain “no-wait” plans exist, but they're exceedingly rare.
Existing Homeowners: If you're purchasing a home warranty after you've already owned the home for a while, you'll likely face a waiting period—often 30, 60, or even 90 days.
For homeowners primarily looking for home appliance coverage alone, Select Home Warranty might make more sense for you given its appliance-only option. For anyone looking to cover both appliances and systems, you'll find more affordable combo coverage through Choice.
American Home Shield is worth it if you're looking for a reliable home warranty company, especially if you have an older home that might need more repairs. It offers higher coverage limits and even covers preexisting conditions, which can really help with unexpected breakdowns.
Cons of a Home Warranty
Doesn't cover all repair/replacement costs: A home warranty isn't a guarantee for every repair or replacement job you need. Exclusions, claim denials, and coverage caps can leave you paying out of pocket for certain issues.
You can then ask for a discount on your annual premium. The best way to pay for only what you need in terms of a home warranty is to tell them your budget. Share with them how much you can spare in a year, as well as how much you are willing to pay for the service fee.
American Home Shield costs $480 to $1,100 per year for a home warranty, depending on your home size, type, location, and coverage level. American Home Shield prices range from $40 to $90 per month, depending on the plan and whether you choose a $75, $100, or $125 service call fee. *Not including service call fees.
The ShieldSilver™ plan covers the parts and components of your must-have systems like your heating and cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems. ShieldGold™ covers all of the above plus your laundry and kitchen appliances.
Since your warranty company is not effectively assisting you with this issue, you can sue them for a breach of the warranty contract. You can do so by going to your local courthouse and filling out the complaint document. You will file it and have it served on the warranty company for what is called bad faith.
To cancel your plan agreement, please call 833.706. 2865 and a customer representative will assist you. Please note, if you are moving, you can transfer the remainder of your plan to the new buyer and set up coverage for your new home.