For the price of a monthly premium and a small service fee, a home warranty will pay the cost of repairing or replacing the items that it covers. This can include big-ticket items like refrigerators, air conditioners, and plumbing systems. We’ve taken a look at the best home warranties in Los Angeles, California and ranked the top companies below.
Top 4 Home Warranty Companies in Los Angeles
The highest-rated home warranty companies in Los Angeles include:
American Home Shield: Best Overall First American Home Warranty: Best Appliance Coverage Select Home Warranty: Best Value Cinch Home Services: Best Additional Perks
American Home Shield
For the best overall coverage and customer service, we recommend American Home Shield. This home warranty provider has been in the industry for nearly five decades and offers comprehensive coverage to homeowners nationwide, including those in southern California.
American Home Shield Plans
American Home Shield’s customers can choose between three plans. One plan protects your home’s systems, one protects your home’s appliances and systems, and one protects both while adding extra perks such as roof leak coverage. If you purchase any of the above plans, you can add on coverage for the following items for an extra fee.
Pools Spas Well pumps Septic pumps Guest units up to 750 sq. ft.
American Home Shield Prices
Before you purchase a home warranty, it’s important to know how pricing works for these contracts. You’ll pay a monthly (or yearly) premium for the length of the warranty, whether you use it or not. You’ll also pay a service call fee every time a technician visits your home to diagnose or repair a problem. However, even if you add up these fees, they are substantially less than the out-of-pocket cost of a major repair or replacement. American Home Shield actually offers you the opportunity to adjust your premium relative to your service fee. You can choose a fee of $75, $100, or $125 per contractor visit. If you choose a higher service fee, your monthly premium will be lower. Here are the premium prices for a service fee of $75.
First American Home Warranty
If you want the best bang for your buck, check out First American Home Warranty. This company’s Basic Plan offers comprehensive coverage for a very reasonable price. It also offers an upgrade that includes some hard-to-find coverage.
First American Home Warranty Plans
First American offers California homeowners three plans. All three cover major appliances and systems, but the Value Plan adds air conditioning systems and the Eagle Premier Plan adds a refrigerator, washer, and dryer. These are the appliances that tend to cost the most to repair or replace. You’ll notice that both the Value Plan and the Eagle Premier Plan come with a First Class Upgrade, which you can also add to the Basic Plan for an additional fee. This add-on expands coverage to correction of code violations or repair of improper installation or modification. Most home warranties don’t apply to these situations. Additionally, First American offers optional coverage for the following.
Additional refrigeration (up to 4 units) Limited roof leak Ornamental fountain Outdoor kitchen Pool and/or spa equipment Pre-season HVAC tune-up Septic tank pumping/system Sewage ejector pump Smart home devices/equipment Water softener/reverse osmosis filtration system Well pump First Class Plus (raises coverage limits for water heating systems and code upgrades) Plumbing Plus (raises coverage limits for some plumbing issues)
First American Home Warranty Prices
First American’s service call fee is the industry-standard $75, and its premiums fall on the lower end of the cost spectrum.
Select Home Warranty
If budget is your primary concern, consider Select Home Warranty. This company doesn’t offer the most comprehensive plans, but you’ll still receive coverage for repair or replacement of major systems and appliances.
Select Home Warranty Plans
The Bronze Care plan covers appliances, Gold Care covers systems, and Platinum Care covers both. Select Home Warranty doesn’t offer additional coverage options, but all of the above plans come with limited roof leak coverage.
Select Home Warranty Prices
Select Home Warranty’s service call fee ranges between $60 and $75, depending on where you live, giving it the lowest deductible on this list. Additionally, the premium for the Platinum Care plan is the lowest price for a combination plan that covers all major systems and appliances.
Cinch Home Services
Most home warranty providers guarantee their contractors’ work for 30 days, though some may extend that to 90 days. However, Cinch Home Services offers a full 180-day workmanship guarantee, or six months from the date of the repair.
Cinch Home Services Plans
Cinch Home Services offers an Appliances Plan, a Systems Plan, and a Complete Plan, which also adds reimbursement if you need to pay a deductible on your homeowners’ insurance while the warranty is in effect. All plans also cover rust and corrosion as well as unknown pre-existing conditions, which many other home warranties don’t. There is also add-on coverage available for the following.
Pool/spa combination Septic system Well pump Premier Upgrade Package (disposal fees, code upgrades, etc.)
Cinch Home Services Prices
The trade-off for Cinch Home Services’ workmanship guarantee and reasonable premiums is its higher than average service fees, which range from $100 to $150 depending on your plan. Here are the starting premium prices if you choose the highest deductible.
Our Conclusion
We find the best home warranty company in Los Angeles to be American Home Shield. However, other providers may offer prices or extras that are more enticing to you. First American Home Warranty, with its wide range of coverage options, represents the best value on our list. Select Home Warranty offers the lowest deductible and premium of the plans we’ve covered. Finally, Cinch Home Services excels with its lengthy workmanship guarantee. The right home warranty for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.
How much does a home warranty cost in Los Angeles?
If you go with a nationally available home warranty company, the price for a home warranty in Los Angeles will not be significantly different from the costs in other parts of the country. Premium prices tend to range between $30 and $60 a month ($360 to $720 a year), and service call fees range from $60 to $150. Generally speaking, the more you pay, the more coverage you’ll receive.
What does a home warranty cover in Los Angeles?
Most home warranties only cover normal wear-and-tear damage to well-maintained systems and appliances. That means if a system or appliance breaks down in the course of normal use, the home warranty will pay to repair or replace it. Some home warranties may cover pre-existing conditions, damage from improper installation or modification, or code upgrades, but this isn’t the norm. Home warranties do not cover acts of God or manufacturer’s defects.
What are the benefits of a home warranty in Los Angeles?
The cost of living in Los Angeles is already high, so local homeowners appreciate the peace of mind that a home warranty can bring. Although you’ll pay a premium every month, you know you won’t be on the hook for large, unexpected repair or replacement costs should a covered item wear out. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
