Choice Home Warranty Review

Two plan options with 24/7 claims service

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By

Janet Hunt

Updated August 07, 2020

overall rating

3.5

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Our Take

Choice Home Warranty is a popular home warranty option because it has competitive pricing with comprehensive coverage. Homeowners can tailor that coverage with add ons. It offers one trade service fee option–a reasonable $85.

Based on our review of over 20 home warranty providers, Choice Home Warranty was not one of the best companies we found. To see other options that may be better, visit our list of the best home warranty companies.

Pros and Cons
Key Takeaways
Specifications

Pros and Cons

Pros

24/7 claims service with fast response within the first 24/48 hours
Repair work is guaranteed for 90 days on parts and 30 days on labor
Add on options like coverage for pool/spa, well/sump pump, septic tank, limited roof-leak coverage, central vacuum, and more

Cons

No BBB accreditation and numerous complaints filed regarding problems with products and services
Exclusions such as air conditioning systems, solar heating systems, fireplaces, etc., could mean the problem with your household system may not be covered
Territory coverage is listed as nationwide but some states are listed as “service unavailable” when trying to obtain a quote

Key Takeaways

There is a part guarantee for 90 days and service guarantee for 30.
Choice has more than 15,000 service providers in its network to get your professional service quickly.
Get one month free when you sign up for your first year.

Specifications

Year Founded 2009
Coverage Listed as Nationwide but some areas are listed as “no service provided” when trying to obtain a quote
Customer Service 24/7 contact through website or call 888-531-5403
Waiting Period 30 days
Contractor Network Repair work is guaranteed for 90 days on parts and 30 days on labor.
Service Recall Period Service provided by authorized Service Provider network. Choice Home Warranty has a nationwide network of more than 15,000 contractors.
Number of Plans 2 total and basic
Coverage Limit The coverage is for no more than one unit, system, or appliance, unless additional fees are paid.
Contract Length 12 months (13 months with free one-month service upon initial sign-up).
Payment Options The company reserves the right to offer cash back in lieu of repair or replacement in the amount of actual cost to repair or replace any covered system.
Cost Service fee of $85 and plan options vary by state. New York cost is $495 to $600.

Choice Home Warranty is one of the more popular options for homeowners looking to “insure” their various appliances, utilities, and other integral parts of a house. Since there’s so much to consider when choosing a company for your home warranty coverage, we wanted to thoroughly evaluate and review the offerings by Choice Home Warranty to see if they’re up to snuff. We looked at available plans (what’s covered), pricing, exclusions, claims handling, customer service, the company’s BBB rating, and even compared to see how Choice Home Warranty stacks up to competitors. So keep reading to find out our full take on Choice home warranty so you can see if the company is a good fit for your home maintenance and repair needs.

Our Expert Janet Says

Choice Home Warranty offers flexible nationwide coverage with two home warranty plans (basic and total) and many add-on options (pool/spa, sump pump, central vacuum, to name a few) not available through other home warranty services.

Company Overview

Choice Home Warranty has been in business since 2009 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. It offers home warranties to homeowners with two main home warranty plans (total and basic plans) with optional add-on coverage available.

Available Plans

Basic Plan	Total Plan (includes Basic, plus these features):	Optional Coverage
Heating System	Air Conditioning System	Pool, Spa
Electrical System	Refrigerator	Well Pump
Plumbing System and Stoppage	Clothes Washer	Sump Pump
Water Heater	Clothes Dryer	Septic System
Whirlpool Bathtub		Septic Tank Pumping
Oven, Range, Stove		Stand Alone Freezer
Cooktop		Limited Roof Leak
Dishwasher		Second Refrigerator
Built-in Microwave		Central Vacuum
Garbage Disposal
Ductwork
Garage Door Opener
Ceiling and Exhaust Fans

Real Estate Plans

Choice Home Warranty does have home warranty plans for real estate professionals. With a home warranty in place, buyers/sellers are able to protect themselves against costly repair costs before, during and after the sale of a home.

Available coverage for buyers & sellers includes these annual fee plans: Choice Ultimate $580, Choice Plus $500, and Choice Plan $420. The service fee for buyer/seller plans is $65. For plan specifics, call 800-275-2980.

Partial List of Exclusions:

(A complete list of exclusions found can be found here.)

Read through the exclusions before signing up to make sure you understand what is and isn’t covered.

Appliance/Household Item	Exactly What's Not Covered
Clothes Dryer	Noise – Venting – Lint screens – Knobs and dials – Doors – Door seals – Hinges – Glass – Leveling and balancing – Damage to clothing
Clothes Washer	Noise – Plastic mini-tubs – Soap dispensers – Filter screens – Knobs and dials – Doors – Door seals – Hinges – Glass – Leveling and balancing -Damage to clothing
Kitchen Refrigerator	Racks – Shelves – Lighting and handles – Freon – Ice makers, ice crushers, beverage dispensers and their respective equipment – Water lines and valve to ice maker – Line restrictions – Leaks of any kind--Food spoilage
Air Conditioning/Cooler	Gas air conditioning systems – Condenser casings – Registers and Grills – Filters – Electronic air cleaners – Window units – Non-ducted wall units – Water towers – Humidifiers – Improperly sized units – Chillers
Heating System or Built-In Wall Unit	Access – Radiators or valves – Baseboard casings – Radiant heating – Dampers – Valves – Fuel storage tanks- Portable units – Solar heating systems – Fireplaces and key valves – Filters – Line dryers and filters – Oil filters
Water Heater	Access – Insulation blankets – Pressure reducing valve – Sediment build-up – Rust and corrosion – Main, Holding or storage tanks – Vents and flues – Thermal expansion tanks – Low boy and/or Squat water heaters – Solar water heaters – Solar components
Electrical System	Fixtures – Carbon monoxide alarms, smoke detectors, detectors or related systems – Inadequate wiring capacity – Solar power systems and panels – Solar Components – Energy Management Systems – Direct current (D.C.) wiring or components
Plumbing System/Stoppage	Slab leaks – Polybutylene or Quest piping – Galvanized drain lines – Hose Bibs – Drum traps – Flange- Faucets, fixtures, cartridges, shower heads & shower arms – Baskets and strainers – Popup assemblies – Bathtubs and showers – Cracked porcelain – Glass – Shower enclosures and base pans
Built-in Microwave	Doors – Hinges – Handles – Doors – Door glass – Lights – Interior linings – Trays – Clocks – Shelves – Portable or counter top units – Arcing – Meat probe assemblies – Rotisseries
Oven/Range/Stove/Cooktop (gas or Electric; Builtin-in, Portable or Free Standing)	Clocks (unless they affect the cooking function of the unit) – Meat probe assemblies – Rotisseries – Racks – Handles – Knobs – Door seals – Doors – Hinges – Lighting and handles – Glass – Sensi-heat burners will only be replaced with standard burners
Dishwasher	Racks – Baskets – Rollers – Hinges – Handles – Doors – Door gaskets – Damage caused by broken glass – Cleaning
Garbage Disposal	Problems and/or jams caused by bones, glass, or foreign objects other than food
Ceiling and Exhaust Fans	Fans – Blades – Belts – Shutters – Filters – Lighting. Note: Builder’s standard is used when replacement is necessary
Ductwork	Registers and grills – Insulation – Asbestos-insulated ductwork – Vents, flues and breaching – Ductwork exposed to outside elements – Improperly sized ductwork – Separation due to settlement and/or lack of support – Damper motors
Garage Door Opener	Garage doors – Hinges – Springs – Sensors – Chains – Travelers – Tracks – Rollers – Remote receiving and/or transmitting devices
Green	All other contract limitations of liability and exclusions apply

Claims

The company has a 24/7 claims service available through a toll-free number (888-531-5403) or by logging into your account. Choice Home Warranty strives to respond to claims within the first 24 hours and always within the first 48 hours after making a claim. Choice Home Warranty’s claims response time is among the best in the industry. If a covered item cannot be repaired, it will be replaced. If the replacement is not available, Choice Home Warranty will offer a cash payment for the replacement cost, which could possibly be less than the retail cost of the item.

Payout Caps/Limitations

The sample homeowners agreement states that the liability coverage for repairs/replacement through Choice Home Warranty is limited to $1,500 per contract item i.e., one unit, system, or appliance unless additional fees are paid.

Certain limits of liability may apply to covered systems and appliances at the company’s discretion. For example, on electrical systems, plumbing systems, ductwork, and well pump coverage; the company will pay no more than $500 per contract term. Limitations of liability exist and are not included in the contract for malfunction or improper operation due to rust or corrosion, collapsed ductwork, and known or unknown pre-existing conditions.

Repair Time

Upon taking your request for service, Choice Home Warranty will contact an authorized service provider within two days during normal business hours and four days on weekends or holidays. The service provider will then schedule an appointment time to complete any needed repairs. The company says it will determine which repairs constitute an emergency (repairs which are essential to your health and safety) and will make all necessary efforts to expedite emergency repairs. Any services performed by a contractor outside of the provider network must be pre-authorized.

Customer Service

Customer service for Choice Home Warranty can be reached by logging into your account or by calling the service department at 888-373-7924 available 24/7. You may also reach the company by using the company’s contact us form.

While the BBB is not always the most credible source for ratings, it does give insight about why this company gets the complaints it does.

BBB Rating

Choice Home Warranty is not BBB accredited but it does have a BBB rating of “B-” based on over 2,000 customer reviews with an average 1-out-of-5 star rating. There are over 5,000 customer complaints on the company’s BBB business profile with the majority of complaints falling under the category of a “problem with a product or service.”

(There is a current BBB Alert for Choice Home Warranty regarding pending government action.)

Our Expert Janet Says

Discounts may be available such as one month free service upon initial sign-up.

Price

The cost of Choice Home Warranty includes a service fee of $85 and the cost of plans vary by state and plan option. For example, the cost is $600 per year in New York for the total plan and $495 for the basic plan. In Missouri, Colorado, and Louisiana; the plan cost is $570 for the total plan and $470 for the basic plan. We were unable to obtain pricing for the states of California and Washington; so even though nationwide coverage is advertised, you may find that your area isn’t serviced. Discounts may be available such as one month free service upon initial sign-up. You must obtain a quote for clear pricing on plans.

The Competition: Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield

When comparing home warranties, Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield both have some things in common, including 24/7 claims service and nationwide coverage (American Home Shield excludes Alaska). American Home Shield’s average yearly cost is $600 while Choice Home Warranty averages $450 per year. Choice Home Warranty’s service recall period is 90-days on parts and 30-days on labor while American Home Shield guarantees both parts and labor for 60 days. Choice Home Warranty offers a few more coverage items than American Home Shield, including limited roof leak coverage, whirlpool baths, and stand-alone freezers. The BBB rating for American Home Shield is better with a “B” rating while Choice Home Warranty has a “B-” rating.

Final Verdict

Choice Home Warranty has reasonable rates and is a good option to consider when searching for home repair coverage. Choice Home Warranty offers flexible nationwide coverage with two home warranty plans (basic and total) and many add-on options (pool/spa, sump pump, central vacuum, to name a few) not available through other home warranty services. However, it’s worth checking the exclusions carefully before signing up to make sure your household items are covered.

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Methodology

There are several aspects to think about in choosing a home warranty. To help readers pick the plan that works best for them, we use our methodology for reviewing home warranties, a quantified scoring system that evaluates plan pricing, exclusions, payout caps, repair times, and terms, comparing them to other carriers across the industry. Third-party ratings and customer satisfaction scores are factored in to help assess an insurer's overall quality and value.