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5 best home warranty companies in Brentwood, California

HOMEFRONT

Updated Jun 22, 2024

Get a quote from our top provider, Liberty Home Guard

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A home warranty gives you financial protection if an appliance or major home system suddenly breaks down. For a monthly fee, the warranty company covers repair and replacement costs for items such as refrigerators and HVAC units when they break down from normal use.

Did you know that the typical life span of an HVAC system is seven to 25 years? Other major systems, such as water heaters, only last an average of six to 12 years. Most appliances last just 20 years or fewer, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

If your Brentwood house contains any aging furnaces, dishwashers or other appliances, you'll likely face an unexpected breakdown. These top home warranty providers offer robust coverage at reasonable prices.

A standard homeowners insurance policy doesn't cover normal appliance wear and tear. With a plan from one of these home warranty providers, you'll have additional reassurance in case of an unexpected failure.

Our Top Pick
Provider logo
4.5
Our Rating
  • Extends 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Holds high customer ratings
  • Offers customization with 38 add-ons
Explore Plans
Provider logo
4.4
Our Rating
  • Covers rust and corrosion damage
  • Offers comprehensive coverage limits
  • Provides flexible service fees
$150 Off Any Plan
Explore Plans
Provider logo
3.8
Our Rating
  • Charges low premiums
  • Includes roof-leak coverage
  • Offers solid HVAC coverage
Explore Plans

Find the best home warranty for you in Brentwood

Here's our list of the best home warranty companies in Brentwood:

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

4.5/5

Average monthly costs: $22.00 - $80.00

2-10 offers flexible service fees and perks like an appliance color-match program. Through its "Even If" guarantee, it also refunds service fees if repairing or replacing a covered item isn't possible.

What we like

  • Offers a $25,000 annual coverage cap
  • Pairs plans with a plan-length workmanship guarantee
  • Offers unique perks such as color matching appliance replacements

What we don't like

  • Charges a monthly processing fee if you choose monthly premiums
  • Excludes washer and dryer coverage from most plans
Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard

4.6/5

Average monthly costs: $49.99 - $59.99

Liberty Home Guard offers the largest number of optional add-ons compared to any provider in this article — 38 in total. It also has plans featuring a 60-day workmanship guarantee on completed repairs.

What we like

  • Holds high ratings among customer service reviews
  • Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Offers an extensive list of 40+ add-on coverages
  • Provides an easy claims process

What we don't like

  • Lacks transparency on service call fee pricing
  • Excludes coverage for known or unknown pre-existing conditions
American Home Shield

American Home Shield

4.4/5

Average monthly costs: $29.99 - $89.99

Founded in 1971, American Home Shield was one of the country's first home warranty companies. Today, it offers three coverage plans and six supplementary add-ons.

What we like

  • Offers generous coverage caps
  • Allows customers to build their own plans
  • Provides the option to choose the service fee you want to pay

What we don't like

  • Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
  • Offers limited add-on options
First American Home Warranty

First American Home Warranty

4.2/5

Average monthly costs: $47.00 - $87.00

First American Home Warranty has comprehensive coverage caps for appliances in each plan. Additionally, First American includes its First American Advantage upgrade in its Essential and Premium plans. This upgrade provides coverage for miscellaneous items, such as appliance knobs and dials.

What we like

  • Allows you to choose your service call fee
  • Doesn’t have a coverage cap on heating, cooling, or ductwork
  • Accepts 24/7 service calls
  • Offers replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair

What we don't like

  • Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor
  • Charges higher for coverage compared to other providers
Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty

3.9/5

Average monthly costs: $44.42 - $47.75

Select Home Warranty pairs all plans with roof-leak repair coverage. It also charges low plan premiums.

What we like

  • Provides low service fees compared to other home warranty providers
  • Includes two extra months of coverage in annual signup
  • Has an appliance-only, systems-only, and combo plan option

What we don't like

  • Has a $75 cancellation fee
  • Low coverage caps

Cost of a home warranty in Brentwood

The typical monthly cost of a home warranty in Brentwood ranges from $41 to $70, in line with the national average. If you're paying on an annual basis, expect to spend anywhere from $563.62–$927.48 per year. To calculate national cost data, we requested hundreds of quotes for 2,000-square-foot, single-family homes across each state that the providers service.

Home warranty coverage

Home warranties provide coverage for various major systems and appliances, but they're not a substitute for homeowners insurance. Below, we'll summarize what coverage a warranty typically includes and excludes.

What are the typical items covered under a home warranty?

  • Built-in microwaves
  • Refrigerators
  • Clothes dryers
  • Washing machines
  • Cooktops
  • Dishwashers

The first category of items home warranties provide coverage for is major appliances. This category includes the following: When you purchase a home warranty, you're also getting coverage for major home systems. While different plans have unique coverage scopes for this category, the following systems can be included:

  • Water heater
  • Electrical
  • HVAC
  • Central vacuum
  • Plumbing

What items are typically not covered under a home warranty?

Home warranties, like most service contracts, have coverage exclusions. Generally, home warranties won't cover item breakdowns caused by damage outside of normal wear and tear. For example, if your air conditioner stops working due to a dirty air filter, home warranty companies likely won't cover the repairs since air filter replacement falls under routine maintenance. Additionally, home warranties won't cover preexisting conditions, rust or corrosion damage, hazardous waste, acts of nature, improper system or appliance installation and cosmetic damage.

Questions to ask home warranty providers in Brentwood

Before you purchase a home warranty plan, discuss these crucial questions with each provider you're considering.

What items are covered by my policy?

Determine what appliances and systems you need covered before getting home warranty quotes. This way, you can look for a company that includes them. Some providers separate appliance and system coverage. Companies might also offer additional coverage, like swimming pool and spa protection, as add-ons. Consider what supplements you might need and how much they'll add to the cost.

How long is my home warranty good for?

Generally, a home warranty plan lasts for 12 months from the coverage effective date, which is 30 days after the initial sign-up date. Home warranty companies require a 30-day waiting period to prevent customers from filing claims for preexisting conditions. You can get coverage beyond 12 months with a multiyear plan.

What contractors do you work with?

When you're researching home warranty companies, be sure to ask about which service contractors they use. Each repair team must follow specific licensing requirements and standards to get repair approval from the warranty company. If there are no partner contractors in your area, the warranty terms might allow you to select your own repair company. You can verify a contractor's license by searching the California Contractors State Licensing Board database.

How does your claims approval process work?

Knowing more about your warranty company's claims process boosts your chances of getting an approval. Most companies accept claims through the web or via a 24/7 phone line. Once you file, the company will aim to reply within 24 to 48 hours. Filing outside normal business hours may lead to a slower process. If the home warranty company grants initial approval to your claim, they'll connect you to a service contractor from their network. The contractor will schedule a consultation with you to inspect and diagnose the problem. Once they get final approval from the warranty company, they'll do the repair work and manage billing on your behalf.

Can I transfer my policy to the next owner of my home?

If you're selling your home, you may be able to transfer your policy to the new homeowner. Some companies manage the transfer for free, while others charge a transfer fee. Some home warranty companies also provide special coverage plans that are easily transferred to prospective buyers. Home sellers purchase these home warranty plans to boost their home's appeal.

Home warranty contract fine print

Before buying a home warranty, review the company's sample contracts and policies. Understanding a provider's terms and conditions can help you determine if they're a suitable choice for you. It'll also help you be a better advocate for yourself if you need to file a claim. Look for these key stipulations and clauses:

  • Service call fee: Just like copays at the doctor or pharmacy, you'll have to pay a service call fee every time you file a home warranty claim. Most companies charge from $75 to $125 per claim.
  • Exclusions: Be sure to read more about component-specific exclusions in the home warranty company's sample contracts. Some parts of an appliance may be excluded even if the appliance itself is typically included under the policy.
  • Workmanship guarantee: Workmanship guarantees temporarily protect you from additional service call fees if an in-network technician unsuccessfully tried to fix a covered issue. Most guarantees are 30 days long, but some companies offer longer periods.
  • Cancellation: You'll typically find the warranty company's cancellation policy within their fine print. Depending on the company, if you cancel within the first 30 days of enrollment, you might receive a full refund of the entire premium.
  • Coverage limit: Your home warranty's coverage limit is the limit on how much the company can pay per claim. A warranty contract could also have other stipulations, like annual coverage limits.

Facts about Brentwood

Average High in July
86°F
Brentwood
83°F
National Average
Average Low in January
42°F
Brentwood
17°F
National Average
Average Daily Sunlight
79%
Brentwood
69%
National Average
Our Top Pick
Provider logo
4.5
Our Rating
  • Extends 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Holds high customer ratings
  • Offers customization with 38 add-ons
Explore Plans
Provider logo
4.4
Our Rating
  • Covers rust and corrosion damage
  • Offers comprehensive coverage limits
  • Provides flexible service fees
$150 Off Any Plan
Explore Plans
Provider logo
3.8
Our Rating
  • Charges low premiums
  • Includes roof-leak coverage
  • Offers solid HVAC coverage
Explore Plans

Our methodology for selecting home warranty providers

We review national home warranty providers against our full home warranty methodology. We score warranty providers based on coverage options and limits, price, brand reputation, customer service, extra features and availability.

Contact us at feedback@homefront.usatoday.com if you have questions or feedback on this article

Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics. Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Go back to top

Our editors may use AI as an input tool to tailor information in local markets. All content goes through a rigorous research and review process led by our team of writers and editors.

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