Best home warranty companies in Ohio (2021)

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If you’re a homeowner, you can take excellent care of your home appliances and systems, but breakdowns due to wear and tear are inevitable, and they can be costly. A home warranty can help offset the cost of these repairs. After paying your monthly premium, repairs that would normally cost thousands of dollars may cost you only a nominal service call fee.

If you’re an Ohio resident, there are dozens of home warranty providers available, but some provide more comprehensive coverage than others. We’ve reviewed seven top home warranty providers, detailing information on cost, coverage and service. Our team has thoroughly researched the best home warranty companies on the market, and we think each of these companies is a great fit for homeowners looking for extra protection.

In this article:

Best overall: American Home Shield
Covers the essentials: Choice Home Warranty
Trusted by customers: Amazon Home Warranty
Best workmanship guarantee: Cinch Home Services
Budget friendly: Select Home Warranty
Affordable with add-ons: First American Home Warranty
Frequently asked questions

1. Best overall: American Home Shield

Year founded	1971
Number of plans	3
Average cost per month	$29.99–$54.99
Service fee	$75, $100, $125

Our Take

American Home Shield (AHS) is one of the oldest and most reputable home warranty providers in the industry. It offers a Systems Plan, Appliances Plan and a Combo Plan, which covers 21 essential items in your home. There are a variety of additional items available to add to your base, and you can choose your service call fee as well. Customers who opt for a higher service fee will enjoy a lower monthly premium.

AHS has a stellar reputation in the industry and has paid more than $2 billion in claims since 2013. It has a nationwide network of trusted contractors, but also offers the option to hire your own trusted technician, as long as they are pre-approved before service is provided. American Home Shield was named our top overall provider in our independent review, and we recommend getting a free quote online or calling 844-529-9298.

2. Covers the essentials: Choice Home Warranty

Year founded	2008
Number of plans	2
Average cost per month	$40–$50
Service fee	$85

Our Take

Choice Home Warranty is another top provider with simple plans, easy-to-understand coverage and reliable customer service, making it a great choice for homeowners who want essential coverage from a home warranty.

When considering Choice, homeowners should be aware that the company faces a pending class-action lawsuit filed by the Arizona Attorney General’s office. The provider did not comment on the lawsuit when we reached out, which isn’t uncommon for a company facing ongoing legal issues. While the lawsuit gives reason for pause, it’s not the first time a major home warranty company has ended up in the courtroom in recent years, as American Home Shield and First American Home Warranty are among the other top providers that have been sued. Despite the negative headlines, we still recommend Choice for its affordable plans and high coverage caps, and we believe homeowners can avoid surprises by reading their contract before committing to a plan.

Another benefit of Choice is that its Basic Plan and Total Plan both cover a combination of appliances and systems. The Total Plan builds on the Basic Plan and covers a few important items such as your refrigerator, air conditioning and laundry machines. The company has 24/7 customer service, and claims can be filed both online and over the phone. To find out more, get a free quote online or call 929-400-6165.

3. Trusted by customers: Amazon Home Warranty

Year founded	2009
Number of plans	3
Average cost per month	$42–$52
Service fee	$75

Our Take

Amazon Home Warranty, which is not affiliated with the tech company, is a relatively new provider in the home warranty space. AHW stands out among competitors for its long list of add-on coverage options and has a positive reputation with customers, in part due to its 90-day guarantee on parts and 30-day guarantee on labor performed.

In November 2020, Amazon Home Warranty found itself in hot water with the Better Business Bureau, losing its accreditation with the company for allegedly failing to adhere to BBB standards. AHW informed Home Media that it has involved its attorneys in the matter and is in communication with the BBB about restoring its accreditation. We still view Amazon Home Warranty as a top company in the space for its comprehensive plans and positive customer feedback on third-party review sites like the BBB and Trustpilot; homeowners who are skeptical because of the accreditation issue may just want to check some of those reviews to see what real customers have had to say.

Amazon offers a plan to cover appliances, a plan to cover systems and a combo plan that includes everything. There are 23 add-on coverage options, including protection for your pool or spa, well pump and additional HVAC coverage. For more information, we recommend getting a free quote online or calling 866-605-8194.

4. Best workmanship guarantee: Cinch Home Services

Year founded	1978
Number of plans	3
Average cost per month	$27.99–$61.99
Service fee	$100, $125, $150

Our Take

Cinch Home Services is another longtime reputable provider in the home warranty space. Cinch offers three plans, including its most comprehensive Complete Home plan, which covers 31 items in and around your home for maximum protection.

Cinch offers a variety of additional coverage options, including the Premier Upgrade Package, which, for $10 per month, will cover an additional $1,000 per claim for expenses not usually covered by home warranties, including acquisition of permits and code upgrades.

Cinch’s three plans, flexibility with service call fees and add-on coverage make it a reasonable choice for homeowners of all kinds. It has a nationwide network of more than 18,000 independent contractors who are ready to make repairs, and all repairs come with an impressive 180-day guarantee, which is far more coverage than the industry average guarantee of 30 days. We recommend getting a free quote online or calling 855-435-0489 for more information on Cinch.

5. Budget friendly: Select Home Warranty

Year founded	2012
Number of plans	3
Average cost per month	$36–$47
Service fee	$75

Our Take

Select Home Warranty has been serving Ohio residents since 2012 and is our top choice for budget-conscious homeowners looking to secure their most valuable items. Select offers three plans: the Bronze Care plan covers appliances, the Gold Care plan covers systems, and the Platinum Care plan combines the coverage of the previous two plans.

Select also offers a variety of add-ons, in case the Platinum Care package is insufficient. Roof leak coverage is free to all Select customers as well, which is a rarity in the industry. To pair with its inexpensive monthly premiums, Select’s service fee is only $75, so homeowners on a budget won’t break the bank by requesting several repairs during their warranty term. For more information about Select, we recommend getting a free quote online or calling 888-370-3956.

6. Affordable with add-ons: First American Home Warranty

Year founded	1984
Number of plans	2
Average cost per month	$32–$46.50
Service fee	$75

Our Take

First American Home Warranty offers its customers reliable coverage, reasonable prices and a low service fee of $75. Since 1984, it has expanded its coverage to Ohio residents.

First American has a Basic Plan and a Premier Plan available for purchase. The Basic Plan covers appliances, and the Premier Plan covers all of the basic plan and adds some important home systems. Air conditioning is available as an add-on for either plan, and comes with no limit on service, meaning you’ll never have to worry about paying out of pocket for repairs after your warranty kicks in.

Service is available from First American 24/7 and 365 days per year. Repairs will be initiated and a technician from First American’s network of pre-screened technicians will come to your home within two days. First American estimates saving its customers almost $200 million in 2019 alone. We recommend getting a free quote online or calling 833-777-0049.

Frequently asked questions

Does a home warranty cover flooding?

No, usually flood insurance is a separate policy and is available as an add-on option to your homeowners insurance policy. Home warranties cover breakdowns of your appliances and systems due to wear and tear.

What is a service call fee?

A service call fee is a deductible paid at the time of service. It usually costs between $75 and $125. Many companies will offer multiple options for your service fee, and if you choose a higher service fee, you’ll save money on your monthly premium.

Which home warranty company is best?

In our independent review, we scored American Home Shield as the top overall provider, but each company on our list is a great choice for different reasons. We ultimately recommend reaching out to several providers for a free quote and weighing your options.

Published at Wed, 31 Mar 2021 18:45:00 +0000