HomeServe USA Review: Is a Home Warranty Right for You?

Written By Jeff Hindenach
Last updated July 28, 2021

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Insurance
March 20, 2020

Simple. Thrifty. Living.

Do you ever worry that your home owners insurance doesn’t cover the things you really need it to, like everyday repairs in your home? That’s because it doesn’t. That where the best home warranty companies come in. Instead of looking to online loan companies or short-term money solutions, you can be covered for those repairs with a home warranty.

HomeServe USA reviews show it as one of the top-rated home warranty services available, which can make it a good financial decision for anyone looking to insure the parts of their home not covered by home owners insurance. Here’s our review of HomeServe USA, along with a highly-rated alternative home warranty service, Select Home Warranty.

Best Home Warranty Companies

RankHome Warranty CompanyBest ForCostSTL Rating
1Select Home WarrantyOverall Service$299 to $499/year★★★★★
2Choice Home WarrantyTrusted Contractors$378 to $450/year★★★★
3American Home ShieldMost Popular$29.99 to $39.99/month★★★★
4HomeServe USAOptions$4/month (minimum)★★★

Best Home Warranty Companies

RankHome Warranty CompanySTL Rating
1Select Home Warranty★★★★★
2Choice Home Warranty★★★★
3American Home Shield★★★★
4HomeServe USA★★★

HomeServe USA Review image
  • Sign up: You can sign up for HomeServe here.
  • Price: Where many home warranty companies offer packages that cover tons of issues, HomeServe USA lets you buy coverage on specific systems. That means you don’t pay for coverage on appliances that are already under warranty or systems that have an existing service guarantee. Instead, you can buy coverage that is specific to the systems you are most concerned about.
  • Plans: HomeServe USA offers plans that cover everything from external water lines to appliances. As a customer, you can buy coverage for as many things as you need, especially when they are near the end of their average lifespan.
  • Features: What makes HomeServe USA the best home warranty service overall is the combination of no deductible, local service technicians, guaranteed repairs and a service hotline that is always available.
  • Customer service: When you need an emergency repair, the last thing you want to deal with is leaving a message and waiting for a callback. With HomeServe USA home warranty insurance, that’s never an issue; its repair service hotline is open 24/7.
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Select Home Warranty Review

Select Home Warranty Website

Select Home Warranty Review image
  • Price: Select Home Warranty offers its customers a choice of three types of home warranty plans, ranging from $299 to $499: Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care, not including the $60 service flat fee.
  • Plans: The Bronze Care plan offers coverage of basic appliances, like washer, dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher and range. The Gold Care plan protects household systems, like HVAC, water heater, plumbing and electrical. The Platinum Care plan covers everything from both home warranty plans, as well as a few extras like ceiling fans and plumbing stoppage.
  • Features: While each plan offers an overall range of what is covered, Select allows you to customize each plan to fit your exact needs. Select also doesn’t restrict service on appliance based on age and is one of the only home warranty services to consistently offer deals for its customers. Select also pre-screens all of the contractors that it works with so you know you are getting quality work.
  • Customer service: Select has the best customer service among home warranty companies. It won the 2017 “Best in Service” Award from Home Warranty Awards and customer service agents are available 24/7, every day of the year. Select also allows you to file claims easily either by phone, email or online form, and service is quick to respond.
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Choice Home Warranty Review

Choice Home Warranty website

Choice Home Warranty Review image
  • Price: The best home warranty service offers exceptional coverage at an affordable price, and that’s exactly what you get with Choice Home Warranty. You can pay for an entire year in one lump sum or make monthly payments for your coverage.
  • Plans: With both basic and full-coverage plan options, you can build a home warranty insurance plan that fits your needs.
  • Features: When you have a full-coverage plan, Choice Home Warranty covers everything from major systems and appliances to your garage door opener.
  • Customer service: Even the best home warranty service companies have negative reviews about customer service, but this is an area where Choice Home Warranty really shines. This company is available 24/7/365 for customer service calls and responds to quote requests almost as soon as you’ve filled out the form.
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American Home Shield Review

American Home Shield website

American Home Shield Review image
  • Price: Your price will depend on where you live and other factors, but prices start at $29.99 for coverage. When doing home warranty comparisons with American Home Shield, be prepared to enter your contact information in order to see pricing.
  • Plans: Like many other home warranty companies, American Home Shield offers coverage for appliances, systems or a combination. What makes it unique is the ability to build your own custom coverage solution.
  • Features: With 24-hour service guarantees and 24/7 repair reporting, you can get emergency repair services on your schedule.
  • Customer service: In addition to an always-on repair hotline and general customer service line, you can also use online chat if you have any questions.
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HomeServe USA is an independent, leading provider of home repair service plans. For more than a decade, they have protected homeowners against the expense and inconvenience of water, sewer, electrical, heating, cooling and other home emergencies by providing affordable coverage and quality service.

  • HomeServe USA has served customers throughout North America since 2003.
  • They offer services with more than 40 utility and manufacturer partner brands in the United States and Alberta, Canada.
  • Municipalities have solicited coverage from HomeServe, as have water providers.
  • They administer home repair plans for more than 2.3 million customers who hold more than 3.5 million plans.
  • This company is the North American arm of HomeServe PLC, a London Stock Exchange-listed company.




HomeServe USA website

HomeServe USA offers repair plans that help protect homeowners from the high cost and hassle of covered home repairs. Most basic homeowners insurance policies and local utility companies or municipalities do not cover repairs to/replacement of the major systems in and around your home if due to normal wear and tear.

HomeServe USA repair plans cover parts and labor to repair or replace critical water, plumbing, electrical, gas, heating and cooling systems due to breakdown as a result of normal wear and tear, but not accident or negligence. In addition to repair plans, they also offer other repair solutions, including on-demand repair services.

Most homeowners with appliances can get approved easily, so there is no need for credit checks. If you are looking for an alternative, Choice Home Warranty is good choice.

  • Best For: Homeowners looking to financially protect themselves from the costly effects of repairs to their home systems and major appliances
  • Prices: Competitive prices are determined by your specific coverage needs and location of your home. Fees are paid on a monthly basis.
  • Promptness: A group of pre-screened, local technicians ensure repairs are never far away. Repairs are guaranteed for a full year.
  • Reliability: Customer service repair hotline is available 24/7, and there are no hidden costs, deductibles or service fees.




Plumbing

HomeServe USA offers comprehensive plumbing repair plans that cover most major sources of plumbing issues.

Exterior water service line repair coverage extends from all points between the main water line to the entry point of the home. With age and weather, exterior pipes can experience significant corrosion, causing leaks and breaks when line protection fails. Most of the time these types of repairs are not covered by a homeowner’s policy, so water line coverage is the only means of protection.

HomeServe USA also provides affordable repair plans for interior plumbing and drainage needs. As a home gets older, its pipes can become brittle and susceptible to cracks, especially at bends and junctions. When this happens within the walls of your home, it can lead to other substantial damages, including mold that can sicken your entire family.

The final major plumbing coverage is equally significant. By purchasing a repair policy for the exterior sewer line or septic tank, you are protecting yourself against a potential major expense. Since sewer lines and septic tanks are always buried deep underground, repairs are typically quite expensive simply due to the labor involved.

Appliances

While home repairs are usually associated with plumbing, electrical or HVAC work, appliances are just as likely to cause major disruptions in your life. Since the factory warranties are usually lacking in their coverage and expire before they’re even needed, appliance repair management from HomeServe USA can be a beneficial addition to your family’s collective peace of mind. HomeServe USA has three appliance plans to choose from:

With their Kitchen Appliance Repair Plus coverage, HomeServe USA provides repair coverage for your refrigerator, built-in microwave, stove, oven, range and dishwasher. Given the amount of use all of these appliances absorb on a daily basis, the Kitchen Appliance Repair Plus policy provides protection against the inevitable.

HomeServe USA also offers Laundry Appliance Repair Plus coverage to cover your washer and dryer. Just like the kitchen appliances, your laundry appliances take a significant amount of abuse simply due to the frequency they’re used. Thankfully, HomeServe USA can step in and handle the financial side of repairs when your washer and dryer require service.

For those looking for more comprehensive coverage, this company also offers their Home Appliance Repair Plus coverage that includes everything from the kitchen and laundry appliance policies. This is the most popular of their appliances coverage lines, and it offers a discount when compared to the kitchen and laundry appliance policies purchased separately.

Heating & Cooling

The heating and cooling packages from HomeServe USA cover a huge variety of costly repair needs for your home, including:

  • Water Heater
  • Cooling System
  • Heating System
  • Interior Gas Line
  • Heating System Preventative Maintenance

Not all homes have all of these features. HomeServe USA understands this variability and instead offers each feature individually, so the homeowner is not forced to purchase unneeded coverage. With the hot summer months and freezing winters covering a significant portion of the country, heating and cooling coverage often comes in handy when you least expect it. It is also certainly appreciated when in working order.

Electrical

HomeServe USA offers electrical coverage for both interior and exterior electrical needs. Between the climate, age, and wear and tear, electrical systems can have short shelf lives. Since nearly everything in your home runs on electricity, repair coverage is always a prudent decision given how much we depend on electricity for basic living needs.




HomeServe USA offers their various coverage packages for a monthly fee, which is determined by your coverage needs and where you live. Some of their specific features are unique within the home warranty industry and make HomeServe USA insurance exceptional.

  • Repair Hotline 24/7: Customer service is available all day and night, every day of the week. Since home systems and appliances have a way of breaking down at all hours, the 24/7 support is extremely helpful when life has a surprise in store for you. Customer service staff will offer quick and efficient handling when a major breakdown occurs.
  • Send a Licensed Technician: HomeServe USA works with a pre-screened group of highly trained technicians who are able to reach your home in no time. By using local experts throughout the country, a technician equipped to handle your specific needs is always close by. This company solicits only the most qualified local technicians to join their repair network.
  • Pay $0 for Repairs: There are no hidden fees or surprises. You pay no deductible or out of pocket expenses for your repair, up to the maximum benefit amount in your coverage limits. This includes service calls for the technician and ancillary repairs that are a part of your covered service order.

HomeServe USA is a reliable, reputable company that does exactly what it says it does, never relying on an empty customer promise. They offer repair coverage plans for the major systems and appliances, and they have a customer base of more than 2.3 million homeowners. Affordable repair coverage can provide invaluable peace of mind in our fast-paced lives. While a HomeServe USA warranty can’t prevent breakdowns, it can certainly provide comfort when they happen.




About the Author

Jeff Hindenach

Jeff Hindenach is the co-founder of Simple. Thrifty. Living. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He has a long history of financial journalism, with a background writing for newspapers such as the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Examiner, as well as writing on personal finance for The Huffington Post, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, Newsday and The Street. He believes in giving readers the tools they need to get out of debt.

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