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7 best home warranty companies in Opelika, Alabama

HOMEFRONT

Updated Jun 22, 2024

Get a quote from our top provider, Liberty Home Guard

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Consider a home warranty to financially protect your home's essential items. These policies cover the replacement or repair of common household systems and appliances, like air conditioners and refrigerators, for a monthly fee.

Many key home systems break down before hitting the 10 to 15-year mark. HVAC systems typically last just seven to 25 years. The normal lifespan for water heaters is only six to 12 years, and most major appliances today stop working in under 20 years, say the experts at the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

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

With the scorching Alabama summers, air conditioner breakdowns in Opelika are that much more taxing for homeowners. A home warranty from one of the national companies below will give you a cost-effective path to the future repairs you might need.

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 Opelika

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

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 plans with a 60-day workmanship guarantee on completed repairs. Compared to other providers in this piece, it also provides the largest number of coverage add-ons – 38 in total.

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
Elite Home Warranty

Elite Home Warranty

4.4/5

Average monthly costs: $48.98 - $59.99

Elite lets you fully customize a plan for your exact coverage needs. It also provides an exceptionally long 90-day workmanship guarantee.

What we like

  • Allows you to choose your technician
  • Extends a 90-day workmanship guarantee
  • Offers more than 25 add-ons

What we don't like

  • Charges higher service fees for high-end appliances
  • Doesn't provide an online quote
  • Limits repair and replacement coverage caps for older items
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 is known for its comprehensive appliance coverage caps. With an Essential or Premium plan that has the First American Advantage upgrade, you could also get coverage for miscellaneous components, including 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
Cinch Home Services

Cinch Home Services

4.3/5

Average monthly costs: $38.99 - $66.99

Cinch Home Services provides coverage perks other companies don’t, such as a homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement. Like most home warranty companies, Cinch offers flexible service fees that raise or lower your plan premium.

What we like

  • Offers home insurance deductible of $500
  • Extends a long 180-day workmanship guarantee
  • Provides generous $10,000 aggregate coverage limit

What we don't like

  • Charges high service fees of $100-$150
  • Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
  • Isn’t available in Hawaii or Alaska
Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty

3.9/5

Average monthly costs: $44.42 - $47.75

Roof leak repair coverage is a rare perk that Select offers to its customers. It's also a good company to keep on your shortlist if affordable premiums are your top priority.

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 Opelika

The average cost of a home warranty in Opelika is on par with the national average, running from $40.91 to $77.05 per month. If you prefer to pay an annual premium, expect to pay between $563.62 and $927.43 per year. To calculate national averages, we requested hundreds of quotes using 2,000-square-foot, single-family homes across each state the providers service.

Home warranty coverage

Home warranties cover various appliances and major systems, 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?

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

The first category of items a home warranty covers is kitchen items and outdoor appliances. This includes the following: Major systems form the second category of covered items. The specific definition of what a "major system" is will differ between different plans. However, most consist of the following:

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

What items are typically not covered under a home warranty?

Home warranties, similar to other service contracts, don't cover everything. One thing that home warranties don't cover is damage outside of normal wear and tear. For example, the warranty company could deny a claim for an AC breakdown if a dirty air filter is the cause. This is because replacing the air filter is considered routine upkeep. Home warranties also don't cover improper system or appliance installation, hazardous waste, rust or corrosion damage, acts of nature, cosmetic damage and preexisting conditions.

Questions to ask home warranty providers in Opelika

Ask each home warranty provider these questions before you purchase a plan.

What items are covered by my policy?

Before asking a home warranty provider for a quote, write down the specific systems and appliances that you need covered. Then, verify the company has plans meeting your needs. Some providers separate appliance and system coverage into different plans. Many companies also sell optional add-ons, covering things like septic tank pumping and central vacuum. Consider whether any add-ons fit your situation.

How long is my home warranty good for?

Generally, a home warranty plan is valid for 12 months from the coverage effective date, which is 30 days after the initial sign-up date. Home warranty companies include a 30-day waiting period to deter 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 researching a home warranty company, ask which service contractors it partners with in your area. Many home warranty providers will let you choose your own local contractor if they don’t have an in-network provider near you. The contractor must be licensed and registered in Opelika to get repair approval from the home warranty provider. You can verify a contractor's license by searching the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors database.

How does your claims approval process work?

Knowing more about your warranty company's claims process boosts your chances of getting a claim approved. Most companies accept claims online or via a 24/7 phone line. Once you file, the company will try to respond within 24 to 48 hours. Filing outside normal business hours may lead to processing delays. Once you submit your claim, the warranty company will review it and connect you to an in-network service contractor. The contractor will arrange a visit to diagnose the problem, and then seek final authorization from the warranty company for any necessary repairs.

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

Most home warranty providers allow you to transfer your policy to a new person who moves into the home the policy covers. Generally, transferring a home warranty policy to a new homeowner is free of charge, although some companies levy a transfer fee to offset administrative costs. Home warranty coverage can be reassuring to new homebuyers. Some companies offer sellers special coverage plans that are easily transferred to buyers.

Home warranty contract fine print

Before you decide on a home warranty, carefully read its terms and conditions to ensure they're aligned with your needs. As you read through the sample contract, focus on these key details and clauses:

  • Workmanship guarantee: Home warranties typically offer workmanship guarantees of at least 30 days. If an in-network technician attempted to fix your appliance or system, and you continue to experience issues with it, the company won't charge an additional service call fee for new repairs.
  • Cancellation: You'll usually see the warranty company's cancellation policy inside the sample contract 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.
  • Exclusions: Even if an appliance is covered under your home warranty, it may still have applicable exclusions for specific parts. A sample contract should clearly outline these exclusions.
  • Coverage limit: The coverage limit sets a dollar limit to how much the home warranty company will pay per repair. There may be additional stipulations, such as an annual coverage limit.
  • Service call fee: The service call fee is how much you'll pay the home warranty company or service provider for every claim. Fees typically range from $75–$125 per claim.

Facts about Opelika

Average High in July
89°F
Opelika
83°F
National Average
Average Low in January
36°F
Opelika
17°F
National Average
Average Daily Sunlight
71%
Opelika
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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