A home warranty is a necessity for homebuyers, given that it guarantees peace of mind and protection against unexpected repair costs. Buying a home without a comprehensive home warranty plan can have dire consequences and very high appliance repair and replacement costs.

Contrary to popular opinion, home warranties differ from homeowners insurance policies. A home warranty plan covers the cost of repair and replacement of a major home system or appliance. In contrast, homeowners insurance covers damages, theft, and personal liability. In this article, you’ll learn what makes the best home warranty plan.

Quality Contractors

Home warranty policyholders should expect a plan to include contractors. Most home warranty companies don’t provide coverage for improperly installed or poorly maintained household components. That’s why it’s important to outsource your maintenance needs to quality contractors. As a property owner, you don’t necessarily have to order a new roof whenever you notice a roof leak. Some warranty plans cover the cost of hiring a commercial roofing contractor to handle your roofing needs. If your warranty plan doesn’t include free roof leak coverage, you may have to hire a roofing technician. The best roof contractors should provide top-notch roof repair and replacement services for residential and commercial properties.

Try to hire a roof expert within your locality for better accessibility. Suppose you own a home in a county in metro Atlanta or the Greater Atlanta area, for example. In that case, it makes sense to get an Atlanta roofer with years of experience to handle your roof repair needs or new roof installation, depending on the situation.

Find a commercial roofing company with a high star rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The Better Business Bureau has a comprehensive rating system that attests to the professionalism and high quality of work of commercial service providers.

Good Coverage

Home warranty companies offer different coverage plans. When looking for a comprehensive plan for your new home, choose a home warranty provider with a solid reputation in the home warranty industry. There are dozens of home warranty companies scattered all over the country. The rankings of the best home warranty companies won’t be complete without mentioning notable names like Cinch Home Services, American Home Shield, OneGuard Home Warranty, First American Home Warranty, and America’s 1st Choice Home Club (AFC).

AFC Home Club is undoubtedly America’s best home warranty provider. Keep an eye out for companies that provide a complete home plan that covers systems or appliance breakdown. AFC’s air conditioner plan provides comprehensive coverage for the repair or replacement of air conditioning units.

Good Pricing

The cost of a warranty policy offered by the homebuilder is usually included in the property’s purchase cost. Alternatively, the agent or seller may cover the warranty cost to incentivize a prospective homebuyer to purchase the residential property. In most cases, the warranties cover a year of major appliance and systems maintenance. The homeowner may decide to renew the warranty contract after it lapses.

The policy’s price for a warranty plan depends on the type of plan and which of the U.S. states the homeowner resides in. Note that you’ll be required to pay a monthly premium. In addition to the plan premium, homeowners may be required to pay a higher service call fee to the servicing contractor.

The property owner may be required to cover the excess if the repair or replacement costs exceed the stipulated contract limit. For this reason, it makes sense for property owners to evaluate a home warranty coverage to determine the out-of-pocket expenses they’re liable to cover in the event of a claim. Consider asking the warranty provider for a free estimate to determine the price of the plan.