Choice Home Warranty stands as a well-known option to protect home systems and appliances. The company’s reputation tells a different story though, with more than 4,500 customers giving it just 1 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau.
The company’s coverage comes in two flavors. Their Basic Plan protects 14 items, while the Total Plan extends coverage to 18 items. Anyone wanting protection for key appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators needs the Total Plan. Monthly payments range from $45-55, and each service call costs $100 – prices that sit above what many other companies charge. The $3,000 coverage limit for most items seems generous, but the Arizona Attorney General’s Office has filed a consumer protection lawsuit against the company.
Choice Home Warranty serves most of the country except California and Washington. Before signing up, keep in mind that the company won’t cover preexisting conditions. This detail could sway your decision as you look at different home warranty options.
Understanding Choice Home Warranty Plans in 2025
Choice Home Warranty’s 2025 offerings feature a straightforward approach with two main coverage options that protect home systems and appliances. Let’s get into their plans, limitations, and the digital tools you can use to manage your policy.
Overview of Basic and Total Plans
Choice Home Warranty makes things simple with just two complete coverage options. The Basic Plan costs about $46-$49 monthly and protects 14 key items. Your coverage extends to heating, electrical and plumbing systems, water heaters, most kitchen appliances (all but one refrigerator), ductwork, and garage door openers.
The Total Plan costs around $55-$58 per month and has everything from the Basic Plan plus four crucial additions: air conditioning systems, refrigerators, clothes washers and dryers. You’ll pay about $10 more each month for these extra protections.
Homeowners with older appliances or vital systems can choose from customizable add-ons that cost between $3 and $15 monthly. These extras cover pools and spas, well pumps, roof leaks, sump pumps, septic systems, and additional refrigerators or freezers.
Coverage Limits and Waiting Periods
Choice Home Warranty’s $3,000 coverage limit per covered item stands out as a key advantage. This ceiling applies to most systems and appliances, making it higher than what many competitors offer. In spite of that, some add-ons come with lower limits:
- Well pump ($500)
- Limited roof leak ($500)
- Septic tank pumping ($250)
- Septic system ($500)
- Sprinkler system ($500)
- Garbage disposal ($500)
Coverage starts after a standard 30-day waiting period. You might skip this waiting period if you can show proof of continuous prior home warranty coverage.
Each claim requires an $85-$100 service call fee paid directly to the technician. This flat fee stays the same whatever the actual repair or replacement costs.
How the Mobile App and Claims Process Work
Choice Home Warranty’s mobile app enhances their website’s features. The app lets customers handle everything they need:
- Submit and track claims
- See claim status
- Look up plan details
- Update contact information
- Renew contracts
- Find FAQs and support
- Tell friends about the service
You should contact Choice Home Warranty right away when you notice problems with covered items. Claims can be submitted any time through their call center or online portal. Choice contacts service providers within four hours and usually assigns a contractor within 48 hours.
Choice sends you the technician’s contact details and appointment information after approval. Their workmanship guarantee lasts 90 days for parts and 60 days for labor, which beats the industry’s typical 30-day standard.
The simplified digital experience takes away the need to find repair professionals. Choice screens all technicians beforehand, so homeowners can focus on getting quick repairs without worrying about finding trusted service providers.
Choice Home Warranty Cost Breakdown and Value Analysis
The real cost of a Choice Home Warranty plan goes beyond what you see in ads. Let’s look at what homeowners actually pay and see if these costs make sense compared to other options.
Monthly and Annual Pricing Options
Choice Home Warranty offers two pricing tiers. The Basic Plan costs $45 to $60 each month ($420-$560 yearly) and covers 14 major systems and appliances. The Total Plan runs between $53 and $68 monthly ($600-$720 yearly). This plan adds coverage for your AC, refrigerator, and laundry equipment.
You can pay monthly or yearly. Monthly payments come with a $2.50 fee, so yearly payments save you money. New customers can save even more with deals like $50 off plus one month free on yearly plans. These savings can add up to more than $100 in your first year.
The prices stay pretty much the same no matter where you live, though the company says your home’s size, location, and age might change the cost. Houses bigger than 5,000 square feet cost an extra $140 per year.
Add-On Costs: Are They Worth It?
You can customize the simple plans with 10 extra options that cost $3 to $15 monthly:
- Pool/spa: $15/month
- Well pump: $8/month
- Sump pump: $3/month
- Central vacuum: $3/month
- Limited roof leak: $6/month
- Septic system: $10/month
- Septic tank pumping: $5/month
- Second refrigerator: $3/month
- Standalone freezer: $3/month
- Additional spa: $15/month
These extras can bump up your bill by a lot. Adding everything to the Total Plan pushes your monthly payment from $68 to about $130. You should pick only the add-ons you really need.
Most extra coverages max out at $500 per claim, and septic tank pumping stops at $250. These additions make sense if you need frequent small repairs rather than complete replacements.
Service Fee vs Industry Average
Choice Home Warranty charges an $85-$100 service fee each time a technician visits. You pay this fee to the technician no matter what the repair costs.
The $100 service fee is higher than the $75 industry average. This makes Choice a bit pricier per visit than other companies. Unlike American Home Shield and AFC Home Warranty, Choice doesn’t let you pick different service fees to lower your monthly cost.
You’ll pay the service fee for each visit, even follow-ups on the same problem, unless it’s within their guarantee period. Choice backs their work with a 90-day parts guarantee and 30-day labor guarantee. This helps you avoid multiple fees for the same issue.
Choice Home Warranty sits in the middle range for value. Their service fees run high, but their monthly costs stay moderate. The $3,000 coverage limit for most items helps balance out the higher service fee, especially if you have older, expensive systems that might need big repairs.
Which Plan Is Right for You? A Homeowner Type Guide
Each homeowner faces different challenges and needs a protection plan that fits their situation. Your specific situation and property features will determine which Choice Home Warranty coverage works best. Let’s get into which plan suits different types of homeowners.
Best Plan for First-Time Buyers
First-time homebuyers usually stretch their finances thin after closing and aren’t ready to handle surprise repair costs. The Basic Plan gives vital protection to key systems that could wreck a new homeowner’s budget. This plan helps people who are moving from rental properties where their landlords managed to keep up with repairs.
The Basic Plan acts as a financial buffer that first year when you own a home. It covers heating, electrical, and plumbing systems plus kitchen appliances. New buyers get these benefits:
- Claims service runs all day, every day of the year online and by phone
- Local technicians who pass background checks show up right away
- Protection from unexpected repairs while you build your emergency fund
Yes, it is enough for many new homeowners who are still getting used to owning property to have the Basic Plan, unless their home has older air conditioning systems or appliances that aren’t in the entry-level package.
Best Plan for Landlords and Rental Properties
The Total Plan with strategic add-ons works best for landlords and property investors. This detailed coverage helps property owners keep their maintenance costs steady and makes tenants happy with quick repairs.
Choice Home Warranty stands out as one of the top picks for rental properties. Landlords get several key benefits:
- $3,000 coverage limits per item help control repair spending
- Protection for most appliance and system parts, even things like icemakers
- Quick maintenance fixes that help keep tenants longer
The Total Plan changes unpredictable repair costs into expenses you can plan for. Landlords should think about extra coverage for systems that get heavy use in rental properties. Pool/spa coverage ($15/month) or well pump protection ($8.33/month) might make sense.
Best Plan for Older Homes
Aging properties come with their own set of challenges as systems and appliances reach their final years. Choice Home Warranty covers home systems and appliances whatever their age, as long as they work properly and have good maintenance at the time coverage starts.
The Total Plan makes the most sense for older homes because it has air conditioning, refrigerators, and laundry equipment coverage – systems that often break down in aging properties. Older homes need special attention because:
- Multiple systems might fail in the same year
- You can save more with the $3,000 per-item coverage limit
- Parts come with a 90-day workmanship guarantee and labor has a 60-day guarantee
Owners of older homes should assess add-ons like limited roof leak coverage ($5.83/month) and septic system protection ($10/month), especially if these systems are showing their age.
The Total Plan ended up being the best choice for properties with aging systems or those needing maximum coverage, but your final decision should balance your property’s needs with your budget.
Choice Home Warranty vs Competitors: How It Stacks Up
Let’s get into how Choice Home Warranty stacks up against three major competitors. These differences could affect your protection and overall value.
CHW vs American Home Shield
American Home Shield gives you more flexibility than Choice Home Warranty with three plan options instead of CHW’s two. The biggest difference shows up in coverage for preexisting conditions. AHS covers items affected by rust, corrosion, and improper installations, but CHW doesn’t cover these problems.
Money-wise, AHS has higher coverage limits – up to $5,000 for HVAC systems and $4,000 for appliances compared to CHW’s $3,000 cap for most items. This boosted coverage costs more, with AHS plans ranging from $70 to $130 monthly while CHW stays more affordable at $47-$55.
Both companies hold a B rating with the Better Business Bureau, though AHS edges ahead with better customer satisfaction ratings.
CHW vs Liberty Home Guard
Liberty Home Guard separates itself from CHW by offering three distinct plans – appliance-only, system-only, and combination. CHW sticks to two combination plans. LHG’s service fee runs lower at $85 compared to CHW’s $100.
On top of that, Liberty’s workmanship guarantee lasts longer at 60 days, while Choice only offers 30 days. Choice does better with HVAC coverage limits at $3,000 compared to Liberty’s $2,000. Both companies set their roof leak coverage at $500 per contract term.
Liberty Home Guard doesn’t currently have a BBB rating. Their previous A+ rating is under review because of recent complaints.
CHW vs AFC Home Warranty
AFC Home Warranty lets customers pick their own repair technicians – a clear advantage over CHW’s assigned contractor system. Both companies cap most items at $3,000, but AFC offers longer contracts up to three years. CHW typically sticks to one-year terms.
AFC’s flexible service call fees range from $75-$125, unlike CHW’s fixed $100 fee. AFC’s lower premiums might make up for Choice’s higher coverage limits on certain systems.
Customer service challenges plague both companies. Choice struggles with claim denials and limited service fee options. AFC’s customers report trouble reaching representatives and filing claims.
Tips to Avoid Common Pitfalls with Choice Home Warranty
Homeowners often feel frustrated with their Choice Home Warranty because of misunderstandings about their contract and denied claims. Learning to direct yourself through these challenges will save you a lot of headaches and money.
How to Read the Fine Print
The Choice Home Warranty contract has vital exclusions that catch many customers by surprise. CHW covers only failures from normal wear and tear. The company won’t cover any damage from misuse, neglect, or physical harm.
Your systems need to be “in proper working order” when your coverage starts. CHW doesn’t cover any pre-existing conditions, whether you knew about them or not. This detail shows up repeatedly in denied claims. Most items have a $3,000 coverage limit. Well pumps, limited roof leaks, and sprinkler systems get only $500 in coverage.
Watch out for CHW’s option to give cash settlements instead of repairs. They base these settlements on “CHW’s actual cost,” which usually runs lower than retail replacement prices. You should ask for a sample contract before signing to understand these limitations better.
What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied
A denied claim requires you to get the service technician’s inspection report first. This document shows why they denied your claim and helps with your appeal. The next step is to reach out to CHW’s customer service about their formal appeals process.
A second opinion from another technician can help your case. Remember not to start any repairs without CHW’s go-ahead. Keep good records of everyone you talk to, including names, dates, and what was said.
The Better Business Bureau might help if CHW stops responding. Your state’s consumer protection office or Attorney General could step in if CHW refuses to cooperate.
When to Use Add-Ons Strategically
Add-ons come with much lower coverage limits ($500 instead of $3,000), so choose them carefully. You’ll get better value from items needing frequent small repairs rather than expensive replacements.
Older homes might benefit from limited roof leak coverage ($6/month) if the roof shows minor wear but stays structurally sound. Well pump coverage ($8/month) makes sense for rural properties with aging systems.
Look at the coverage limits versus add-on costs carefully. The $250 maximum for septic tank pumping might not be worth the $5 monthly fee, depending on what local services charge.
Conclusion
Choice Home Warranty offers a mixed bag to homeowners looking for system and appliance protection. A deep dive into their offerings shows them as a middle-ground option in the home warranty market. Their $3,000 coverage limit for most items makes them stand out, especially for protecting older, expensive systems.
Notwithstanding that, some red flags need careful thought. Their $100 service fee is higher than what most companies charge, and they often deny claims because of preexisting conditions. Arizona Attorney General’s ongoing lawsuit raises more questions about their business practices.
The Total Plan proves worth the extra $10 monthly cost compared to the Basic Plan. This upgrade covers air conditioning, refrigerators, and laundry equipment – items that usually cost the most to repair.
Reading the contract really matters before you sign anything. A clear understanding of “normal wear and tear” versus excluded damage can prevent major headaches later. Your claim’s approval often depends on these details in the fine print.
Choice Home Warranty works best for first-time homebuyers who want simple protection and landlords who need predictable maintenance costs. Homeowners who expect premium service or complete coverage without exclusions should explore other options. Let your home’s age, systems, and risk comfort level guide this choice instead of marketing promises.