We have consumer reviews and ratings on all major home warranty companies. We also host an array of informative articles about home maintenance. You can find out if you if you need to buy home warranty protection first. If you decide to buy the policy, visit compare home warranty section to research home warranty companies and their offers.

UPDATE: We recently added a new graphical home warranty directory with a clickable US map.

It is not easy to choose the best home warranty provider. Many homeowners are not satisfied with the coverage and customer service offered by home warranty companies. One of the reasons for dissatisfaction is homeowners do not realize that home appliance protection plans do not cover certain conditions such as pre-existing conditions, repair needs due to the lack of maintenance and care etc. Such conditions are generally mentioned in the small print in the contract it is easy to miss. Although you may not find a perfect company, there are reputed companies with good ratings.

Recently, some companies have started offering home warranty plans that provide flexible coverage. For an additional fee, you can get coverage for pre-existing conditions and lack of maintenance repair needs which are generally not covered by basic plans. AHS, Hisco and few other players offer such plans. Some providers offer plans for selected appliances only if you desire.

Recent Reviews

• American Home Shield (AHS)
  By James, Altamonte Springs, FL, on March 12, 2010:
  SAVE YOUR MONEY! I purchased a home in 2007 that included an A.H.S. warranty. Two days after we moved in, the water main broke under the middle of the driveway. I contacted AHS for service, explained in detail the…
  
  
• Old Republic Home Warranty
  By Dixie, Warner Robins, Ga., on March 11, 2010:
  Very pleased w/this home warranty company. We own a home over 20 yrs. old and they have come through on every request we’ve submitted in a very timely manner.
  
  
• First American Home Warranty
  By yolanda, san antonio, tx, on March 11, 2010:
  - regarding customer service…when you speak to a FA rep, they are friendly but talk in circles. – regarding the contractors they provide…most of them have an F rating with the Better Business Bureau and trying…
  
  
• Choice Home Warranty
  By Camille, Las Vegas, NV, on March 11, 2010:
  I purchased this home warranty to cover my 20 year old home. In the 9 months since purchasing it, I have paid $1500 in plumbing repairs. Choice has denied every claim. When I inquired about exactly what plumbing systems they do…
  
  
• 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
  By Dennis, Lawrenceville, GA, on March 10, 2010:
  They just don’t care about the customer or the quality of the contractors they use. ambiguous contract terms with hidden gotcha’s, such as we will replace unit…but you have to pay disposal fee and other…
  
  

Click here for more reviews of home warranty companies

Is there a reputable home warranty company that I can trust?

Many people keep asking such questions. Either they have heard horror stories about appliance protection plans or they don’t like their current company of choice. Just like everything else in your life, nothing is perfect and it is even more so here. There are several reasons you should not expect these protection plans to offer all inclusive coverages such as car insurance policies.

Typically, a homeowner pays 300-400 dollars annual premium. The likelihood of major appliances going broke is more and it might cost more than the premium you paid to repair or replace faulty appliances. The insurance company needs to make its margin obviously, so they do not provide a blanket coverage in the first. If you do not take care of your machinery or ignored its maintenance needs, then the warranty will come to your rescue. When you report an incident, the warranty company will send a contractor (generally third part contractors) to your home. Contractor is required to check if the problem is caused by lack of maintenance or care. If so, their repair work is not going to going to be authorized. This is one of the reasons your repair work is not covered. The homeowner was probably not aware of these conditions and calls the customer service. the claim is not likely to get approved, and the customer is not not happy with the outcome. It is not just necessary to maintain your home appliances, you should also keep the maintenance records. If you do so, your claim is not going to be rejected and you will be satisfied with your home warrenty provider. Whether you go with the well known companies such as First American, Old Republic, American Home Shield (AHS), 2-10 etc. or with little known companies, you will not get your claims approved if the handyman thinks you did not care for your home appliances.

The second reason for dissatisfaction is that pre-existing conditions are not covered. The homewarranty company expects to start with a clean sheet and they require home owners to fix any pre-existing issues before the new policy becomes effective. It is a good idea to get the home inspection done before you sign the contract, so that you have a proof if necessary.