Choice Home Warranty Review 2021: Plans and Coverage
Choice Home Warranty: Offers consumers with extended coverage at a reasonable price, which saves homeowners money on an expensive home system that appliance repair costs. For more details read on!
Choice Home Warranty is a provider of home warranty services founded in 2008, with headquarters in Edison, New Jersey. The business is also the country’s second-largest home warranty retailer and providers broad coverage solutions across a range of home appliances and systems.
Choice Home’s industry experience and rapid growth in recent years have given the company the ability to process claims faster than many other warranty service companies available while providing top-notch customer service experiences.
They also have reasonable service fees and are available in 48 out of the 50 states.
Pros and Cons of Choice Home Warranty
Pros
- More affordable plans than competitors
- Home inspections aren’t required for coverage
- Free repairs within 90 days if an item breaks down after a repair
Cons
- Not available in California, Washington, or Oklahoma
- Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
- Also doesn’t allow customers to customize their plans
Choice Home Warranty Plans and Coverage
Available Plans and Coverage
Basic Plan | Total Plan (includes Basic, plus these features): | Optional Coverage |
---|---|---|
Heating System | Air Conditioning System | Pool, Spa |
Electrical System | Refrigerator | Well Pump |
Plumbing System and Stoppage | Clothes Washer | Sump Pump |
Water Heater | Clothes Dryer | Septic System |
Whirlpool Bathtub | Septic Tank Pumping | |
Oven, Range, Stove | Stand Alone Freezer | |
Cooktop | Limited Roof Leak | |
Dishwasher | Second Refrigerator | |
Built-in Microwave | Central Vacuum | |
Garbage Disposal | ||
Ductwork | ||
Garage Door Opener | ||
Ceiling and Exhaust Fans |
Optional Add-Ons
System or Appliance | What’s Covered? |
---|---|
Plumbing System | Leaks and breaks of water Valves for shower and tub Stoppages in lines up to 100 feet from an access point |
Air Conditioning | Compressor Condenser Coil |
Ceiling and Exhaust Fans | Motors and switches Controls and bearings |
Before purchasing a home warranty, we recommend analyzing the user agreement to understand the full extent of coverage and know what is and isn’t covered under your policy.
Read: Home Owners Insurance: Does it Cover Break-Ins and Theft?
Coverage Exclusions
Choice Home Warranty excludes pre-existing conditions from its coverage. If you feel like your equipment is old enough to begin experiencing issues, it’s important to purchase coverage before problems occur.
Other items that aren’t covered include:
- Cosmetic items like knobs, rollers, handles, and doors
- Air conditioning maintenance and associated registers or grills
- Sediment build-up or reservoir tanks for water heater coverage
- Damage caused by acts of God like theft, fire, and also storm damage
Choice Home Warranty Pricing
When the This Old House Reviews Team called Choice Home Warranty for a quote, they found that their plans ranged between $36 to $44 per month or $434 to $526 annually.
Additionally, If you decide to purchase any of the optional add-ons, you can expect to pay an additional $46–$180 per year depending on the add-ons you include with your plan.
Service Fees
Policyholders must pay a service fee directly to a technician when they arrive to address an issue. The average cost of a service fee generally ranges between $75–$125.
However, Choice Home Warranty offers a competitive fee of $60–$85 per claim, regardless of the actual cost of the repair or replacement that’s made.
Coverage Caps and Limitations
The sample homeowners agreement states that the liability coverage for repairs/replacement through Choice Home Warranty is limited to $1,500 per contract item i.e., one unit, system, or appliance unless additional fees are paid.
However, certain limits of liability may apply to covered systems and appliances at the company’s discretion. For example, on electrical systems, plumbing systems, ductwork, and well pump coverage; the company will pay no more than $500 per contract term.
Limitations of liability exist and are not included in the contract for malfunction or improper operation due to rust or corrosion, collapsed ductwork, and known or unknown pre-existing conditions.
The Competition
Choice Home vs. American Home Shield
Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield both have certain things in common when comparing home warranties, including 24/7 claims service and national coverage (American Home Shield excludes Alaska).
American Home Shield’s average yearly cost is $600 while Choice Home Warranty averages $450 per year. Choice Home Warranty’s service recall period is 90-days on parts and 30-days on labor while American Home Shield guarantees both parts and labor for 60 days.
Choice Home Warranty offers a few more coverage items than American Home Shield, including limited roof leak coverage, whirlpool baths, and stand-alone freezers.
The BBB rating for American Home Shield is better with a “B” rating while Choice Home Warranty has a “B-” rating.
Choice Home vs. AFC Home Club
The biggest difference between Choice Home Warranty and AFC Home Club is the workmanship guarantee specified in their sample contracts- also known as the recall period.
Choice’s repairs and replacements are guaranteed for 90 days for parts and 30 days for labor, which is pretty standard. But AFC Home Club actually guarantees their work for the life of your contract, which is incredible.
Also, AFC Home Club’s $60 service fee is among the lowest in the industry. However, Choice is available in all 50 states, whereas AFC Home Club doesn’t offer warranties in California, South Carolina, or Hawaii.
Bottom Line
Choice Home Warranty is a common home guarantee product because it has robust coverage and reasonable pricing. Additionally, Homeowners with add ons can customize their coverage. It also provides the option of one trade service fee – a nominal $85