Similar to a warranty that comes with the purchase of a new phone, or piece of equipment, home warranties, cover home appliances and system repairs. Home warranties shield homeowners from the high cost of unexpected appliance breakdowns and system failures. They provide protection not just for your home, but for your budget and time as well.

What's great about home warranties is that, unlike a standard warranty that comes with an appliance, home warranties cover a wide variety of appliances that can be customized depending on your needs. When signing up for a home warranty or receiving an initial quote, you will be asked to fill in basic information about the location of your home and which appliances you want to cover. Most home warranty companies like Choice Home Warranty, Select Home Warranty, or American Home Shield, offer a choice of several plans with options to add appliances based on need. These home warranty companies will charge an annual contract fee for yearly coverage and a small service fee when they need to send someone to repair or replace an appliance. Typically home warranty companies work with certified local technicians who work quickly and efficiently to help ensure your home is back in working order.

As mentioned, home warranty coverage varies from company to company and there is no one set item list that all home warranties cover. In general, it's best to review your contract and make sure all your essential appliances are listed.

In general home warranties may cover some of these items and more:
Central heating systems
Air conditioning systems
Electrical systems
Plumbing systems
Washing machines and dryers
Microwaves
Dishwashers
Refrigerators
Ovens and stove-tops

As a homeowner, you never know when your essential systems or appliances may break, and repairing them can be both time-consuming and extremely costly. Home warranties are there to offer peace of mind by ensuring you'll be taken care of by certified professionals when the unexpected occurs.

Home warranties differ from home insurance plans in that home warranties cover appliances and systems that break due to wear and tear, while home insurance policies protect your home from losses or damages caused by natural disasters, fire, theft, and more. Home insurance plans cover the structure of your home in such cases, so if you have broken windows, doors, water damage, etc. a home insurance plan will have you covered. In other words, if you have an air conditioner that is leaking and causing water damage in your home, a home warranty plan will cover the cost of fixing the AC. In contrast, a home insurance plan will cover the cost of fixing whatever was damaged by the water.

Typically home warranty plans are purchased by homeowners who want to ensure they are covered in case of a breakdown. However, others can benefit from the services a home warranty provides. Landlords who have purchased a home and are renting it out should strongly consider purchasing a home warranty plan. As a landlord, the last thing you need is for a tenant to be without a heater, fridge, or even electricity. You'll find yourself scrambling to find the proper technician without knowing how much you'll have to pay out-of-pocket. A home warranty provides you with peace of mind and is a significant selling point for a tenant when considering homes.

Real estate agents can also benefit from home warranty plans and many agents will purchase a home warranty to protect the buyer. This can be done as a gift as a way to say thank you for their business. Moving into a new home with a home warranty already in place provides the buyer with peace of mind knowing there won't be unexpected costs to fix systems or appliances.

AHS: For New Jersey Residents: This is a service contract, not a warranty from the home builder or manufacturer.