The 5 Best Home Warranty Companies in Virginia | 2021
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Best Overall
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Best Basic Plan
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Best Discounts
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Best Add-on Options
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Best Membership Perks
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Best Plan Variety
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Owning a home is a rewarding experience, but system and appliance breakdowns are inevitable and often cost a significant amount of time and money. Whether you live in Roanoke, Richmond, or Northern Virginia, a home warranty can help alleviate some of these issues.
Home warranties offset the cost of expensive repairs and provide protection should an important system or appliance break down. With so many home warranty providers on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your home and budget. Fortunately, we've done the homework for you by researching the top home warranty companies in Virginia. Learn about the coverage and pricing of each provider so you can find the plan that's right for you.
Top Home Warranty Providers in Virginia
Best Overall: American Home Shield
Best Basic Plan: Choice Home Warranty
Best Discounts: Select Home Warranty
Best Add-on Options: Liberty Home Guard
Best Membership Perks: Cinch Home Services
1. Best Overall: American Home Shield
Number of Plans: 3
Average Monthly Cost: $29.99–$69.99
Service Fee: $75, $100, or $125
Our Take
American Home Shield (AHS) is one of the most experienced home warranty providers in the U.S. Since 1971, the company has provided coverage in every state except Alaska, and they currently serve over 1.8 million homeowners. Additionally, AHS has a nationwide network of trusted contractors, all of whom are regularly evaluated to ensure the highest quality of service.
AHS offers three plans:
ShieldSilver™: Only covers major systems like air conditioning and plumbing
ShieldGold™: Covers a combination of 23 systems and appliances
ShieldPlatinum™: Covers all 23 items plus higher coverage limits and additional features like roof leak repairs
The company also offers several additional coverage options, including ones for your electronics and septic pump. Not to mention, American Home Shield offers a 30-day guarantee on all repairs and parts.
With AHS, you can customize your service call fee by choosing between $75, $100, or $125. If you think that you'll need several repairs throughout the year, a lower service call fee can save you money in the long run, even if it carries a higher monthly premium.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this simple online form or call 844-529-9298.
2. Best Basic Plan: Choice Home Warranty
Number of Plans: 2
Average Monthly Cost: $41–$50
Service Fee: $85
Our Take
Choice Home Warranty will cover your items if they're in working condition and properly maintained, no matter how old they are. Its coverage on older appliances coupled with the company's easy-to-understand contract and low service call fees make it a great choice for older homes. Choice's Basic Plan is among the best basic plans in the industry, covering a combination of appliances and systems at a reasonable price.
Choice offers two plans:
Basic Plan: Covers 14 items and systems around your home
Total Plan: Covers everything under the Basic Plan, plus coverage for your air conditioning system, refrigerator, and laundry appliances
Optional add-ons include protection for your pool, sump pump, septic system, and several other items not covered by the Total Plan.
Choice also promises to initiate service by reaching out to a contractor within four hours of receiving a claim, and all work performed comes with a 30-day guarantee. If any work fails within the 30-day window, Choice will correct it with no additional service fee. There are also several discounts available, including one free month of service.
For more information, get a free quote online or call Choice at 929-400-6165.
3. Best Discounts: Select Home Warranty
Number of Plans: 3
Average Monthly Cost: $41–$47
Service Fee: $75
Our Take
Select Home Warranty offers inexpensive plans, a low service call fee, and simple contract terms. It also frequently offers discounts, making it a great choice for homeowners who are on a budget.
The company offers three plan options:
Bronze Care: Covers appliances
Gold Care: Covers systems
Platinum Care: Covers both appliances and systems
Select also has a promotion for two months of free service, and provides free roof leak coverage over the main living area in a single-family home. With Select, there's no limit on repair requests, and repairs can be initiated both online and over the phone through the company's 24/7 customer service center.
For more information on Select's plans, discounts, and services, get a free online quote or call 888-370-3956.
4. Best Add-on Options: Liberty Home Guard
Number of Plans: 3
Average Monthly Cost: $39.99–$49.99
Service Fee: $60
Our Take
Liberty Home Guard is committed to providing fast service without sacrificing the quality of work. LHG is responsive to customer feedback and uses this feedback to curate an extensive list of add-ons that customers desire. With Liberty Home Guard, you can submit claims online or over the phone 24/7. The majority of homeowners who submit claims receive service within 24 hours, which is faster than the industry average of two to four business days. Additionally, all services come with a 60-day workmanship guarantee.
Liberty Home Guard offers three home warranty plans:
Appliance Guard: Covers appliances
System Guard: Covers systems
Total Home Guard: Covers both appliances and systems
The company also offers optional coverage for 27 items, including your garbage disposal and sump pump.
To get a free quote, fill out this simple online form or call Liberty Home Guard at 866-452-9107.
5. Best Membership Perks: Cinch Home Services
Number of Plans: 3
Average Monthly Cost: $27.99–$61.99
Service Fee: $100, $125, or $150
Our Take
Cinch Home Services has more than 40 years of experience in the home warranty industry and provides three plans to protect your home's systems and appliances.
Cinch offers three plans:
Appliances Plan: Covers appliances
Systems Plan: Covers systems
Complete Home Plan: Covers an impressive 31 items at a competitive price
Cinch customers also enjoy unique benefits, like discounts on new brand-name appliances and a 180-day workmanship guarantee—which is the most generous guarantee in the industry. Additionally, Cinch covers unknown pre-existing conditions as well as rust and corrosion-related repairs.
We recommend getting a free quote online or calling Cinch at 888-520-1711 to discuss coverage options.
Home Warranty Rating Methodology
The Home Service Research Team at Better Homes & Gardens strives to provide unbiased and objective reviews to readers by compiling relevant information on home warranty companies and rating the providers on a variety of factors.
Here's what our review process looks like:
We examine each provider's website to determine plan details, coverage, customer service offerings, and other benefits. We also speak with company representatives to get more insight on plan details.
We read sample contracts from each home warranty company to analyze and compare coverage details, limits, and exclusions.
We read at least 100 third-party customer reviews for each home warranty company to determine the real-life benefits and drawbacks of each provider.
We gather cost information for a variety of home warranty plans in different states by completing online quote forms and speaking with sales representatives to simulate the quote process.
We revisit each company's offerings on a seasonal basis, ensuring that we include the most up-to-date information in our reviews.
We also created a 100-point rating system to score companies based on objective factors, such as plan options, coverage, and customer service:
Overall, the Home Service Research Team has reviewed over 70 home warranty companies to select the top-rated providers in the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I request service after purchasing my home warranty?
For most companies, there's a 30-day waiting period before you can file a claim. This is intended to prevent homeowners from purchasing a home warranty and then immediately requesting a repair for an item that's already broken.
Will my home warranty cover my appliances that were damaged by a storm?
In general, your home warranty won't cover storm-related damages. These damages will most likely be covered by a homeowners insurance policy. A home warranty extends to systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear.
Are home warranties worth the money?
A home warranty can provide peace of mind and lessen financial strain when important items like your heating system or water heater break down. If you can easily afford expensive repairs by paying out of pocket, a home warranty may not be necessary. However, a home warranty can prevent you from paying thousands of dollars for a repair or replacement all at once.
