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5 best home warranty companies in San Lorenzo, California

HOMEFRONT

Updated Jun 22, 2024

Get a quote from our top provider, Liberty Home Guard

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Home warranties offer a financial buffer to fix or replace appliances that suddenly fail. For a monthly fee, these policies cover items like AC units and refrigerators when they stop working with regular wear and tear.

Many crucial home components start having issues before hitting the 10 to 15-year mark, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. HVAC systems typically last just seven to 25 years. Water heaters normally last six to 12 years, and most appliances today stop working after about 20 years.

If your San Lorenzo home has a dishwasher, furnace or any other everyday appliance within that age range, you will likely experience an untimely breakdown. The three home warranty companies listed below provide generous coverage at affordable rates.

Appliance breakdowns due to normal wear and tear aren't covered under homeowners insurance, so having a home warranty can provide you an extra safeguard against the unexpected. We've done the research to determine what home warranty companies have the best major appliance and system coverage.

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 San Lorenzo

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

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

4.5/5

Average monthly costs: $22.00 - $80.00

2-10 has three coverage plans with flexible service call fees and perks like appliance color matching. The company also has an "Even If" guarantee that refunds your service call fees if your covered item can't be fixed or replaced.

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
American Home Shield

American Home Shield

4.4/5

Average monthly costs: $29.99 - $89.99

American Home Shield was one of the first home warranty companies, having been in business since 1971. It provides three base plans and six 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 provides generous appliance coverage maximums in every plan. If you add the First American Advantage upgrade, miscellaneous items like appliance knobs and dials could also get protection.

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 plans have low premiums, and each one includes coverage for roof leaks.

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 San Lorenzo

The average cost of a home warranty in San Lorenzo is on par with the national average, ranging 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

With a home warranty, you'll have extra coverage for home appliances and major systems. However, it's not a substitute for homeowners insurance, and there are some limitations to coverage. Below, we'll talk about what's generally covered and what's not.

What are the typical items covered under a home warranty?

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

The first category of items a home warranty covers is major appliances. This includes the following: The second coverage category is major systems, which typically include the following:

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

What items are typically not covered under a home warranty?

Home warranties, like most service contracts, include certain limitations. One common exclusion is breakdowns caused by damage outside of normal wear and tear. For example, the warranty would likely not cover an air conditioner malfunctioning due to a dirty air filter, since replacing the filter is a part of routine maintenance. Home warranties also don't cover improper system or appliance installation, acts of nature, rust or corrosion damage, hazardous waste, cosmetic damage and preexisting conditions.

Questions to ask home warranty providers in San Lorenzo

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 companies separate appliance and system coverage. Also, many home warranty companies offer optional coverage, such as for spas or additional refrigeration. Consider purchasing add-ons if you need protection for specific items.

How long is my home warranty good for?

Generally, home warranty contracts last for one year after the coverage effective date, which is 30 days after the initial sign-up date. Companies require this 30-day waiting period to prevent customers from filing claims for preexisting conditions. You may extend the 12-month policy term by purchasing a multiyear plan.

What contractors do you work with?

When you're researching home warranty providers, 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 pick 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?

Understanding the way a company’s claims process works can be the difference between claim approval and denial. Home warranty providers typically accept claims via their website or a round-the-clock support line. Typical response times are within 24 to 48 hours of filing, though there may be processing delays if you file a claim outside normal business hours. If the home warranty company initially approves your claim, they'll connect you to a service contractor from their network. The contractor will arrange a meeting with you to examine the appliance firsthand. Once they get final approval from the warranty company, they'll proceed to make repairs and manage billing on your behalf.

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 companies might also sell separate, special coverage plans that you can easily transfer to prospective homebuyers. Sellers can purchase these plans to boost their home's appeal in a competitive market.

Home warranty contract fine print

Before finalizing a home warranty, we strongly recommend reading a sample contract. Learning more about the company's terms and conditions will help you make an informed decision. It'll also help you be a better advocate for yourself if you need to file a claim. Keep an eye out for these key terms and clauses in your research:

  • Service call fee: Whenever you file a claim, the home warranty or repair company will levy a service call fee. These fees usually run from $75 to $125.
  • Workmanship guarantee: Home warranties typically offer workmanship guarantees of at least 30 days. If an in-network technician recently serviced your appliance or system, and you still have issues with it, the company will not charge an additional service call fee for new repairs.
  • Cancellation: You'll typically find the warranty company's cancellation policy in 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: Home warranties have both general exclusions and component-specific ones. Even if a device or system is generally covered, your warranty might not cover some specific parts if they become damaged. Read your sample contract carefully to know what's excluded.
  • Coverage limit: Each home warranty has a coverage limit that limits how much money the company will pay per claim. There might also be an annual coverage limit or other stipulations.

Facts about San Lorenzo

Average High in July
86°F
San Lorenzo
83°F
National Average
Average Low in January
43°F
San Lorenzo
17°F
National Average
Average Daily Sunlight
80%
San Lorenzo
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

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