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Jesus Sanchez Garcia is a senior writer for USA TODAY Homefront. His expertise focuses on home warranties, with over 50 hours spent reviewing provider sample contracts to understand their benefits. He also regularly performs consumer research, such as surveys and customer interviews with an eye on incorporating data into his writing. Jesus has a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, Stanislaus, and is still located within California’s vibrant Central Valley. When he is not researching or writing, he enjoys supporting his favorite sports teams, spending time with loved ones and chasing new adventures outdoors.
Your home’s major appliances and systems require routine maintenance to ensure they last. However, these items can still break down even with regular upkeep. Consider a home warranty to help reduce the financial shock of repairing or replacing a malfunctioning system or appliance.
The USA TODAY Homefront team analyzed and reviewed the best home warranty companies in the nation and selected the top options available in the Empire State. Our top two recommendations are 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty and Liberty Home Guard. Both companies provide competitive pricing, coverage caps and a wide range of additional coverage options.
To get started, request free quotes from the providers below.
Our team compared more than a dozen home warranty providers and chose the companies offering the highest number of standard coverage options for our New York recommendations. Check out our list of the best home warranty companies in New York.
Your coverage needs are unique, meaning certain home warranty providers may better suit you than others. For example, American Home Shield is a better choice than Liberty Home Guard if you want larger payouts for home items. However, due to its extensive list of add-ons, Liberty Home Guard works well if you own unique items.
In the comparison table below, we gathered pricing information by requesting quotes across all 50 states and calculating a national average for all featured companies. We used a 2,000-square-foot, single-family home in each state to obtain our quotes. Your pricing will vary based on your home’s size, location and coverage needs.
The three companies below are our top picks for scope of coverage and peace of mind. Each company features solid coverage caps and customizable protection.
When collecting quotes from home warranty providers in New York, we based them on a 1,749-square-foot, single-family home in Port Jefferson Station. However, pricing will vary based on your home’s location and coverage needs.
What we like
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty is our top choice for New York residents due to its budget-friendly plans, solid system and appliance limits and additional coverage perks. One of its perks is its Appliance Color Match, which stipulates that 2-10 will match the color of your replacement appliance to the broken one. Here are a few other things we like about 2-10:
What we don’t like
While 2-10 has many benefits, it also has some drawbacks. Here are some factors we dislike about 2-10:
2-10 offers three home protection plans, each with $65, $85 and $100 service fee options. Your monthly premium will increase if you choose a lower service call fee and vice versa.
Here is a coverage and pricing overview for 2-10’s home warranty plans:
Add-on options
2-10 provides 16 additional coverage options, which is more than some companies featured in this article. The add-ons range from freshwater pool protection to septic system coverage. Based on our quote, septic system protection costs an additional $4 per month.
Other factors that influence coverage
2-10 provides an unlimited workmanship guarantee, meaning it’ll re-service a previously repaired item free of charge for the length of the policy term. The company offers a $2,000 coverage limit per covered system and appliance. It raises its limits to $5,000 per item with its Luxury Package add-on.
2-10 has an A rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a poor customer rating of 1.2 out of 5. Some unfavorable reviews mentioned response time as a negative. In a 1-star review on BBB, Joseph S. wrote that after a three-day wait for a response about his malfunctioning oven, 2-10 told him it could not find a technician within 100 miles of his home.
However, some positive reviews highlight 2-10’s quick service. These customers said they experienced a seamless claims process — from submitting claims online and over the phone to repairs from an assigned in-network provider. Others appreciated 2-10’s speed in confirming a service appointment.
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is another top provider for New York homeowners who value flexibility. It provides a $2,000 coverage limit for home appliances and systems. In addition, it pairs all items with a 60-day workmanship guarantee. Here are some additional features that we like:
LHG requires you to file a claim as soon as you notice an issue, otherwise, it may deny your claim. Here are some additional aspects of LHG we dislike:
Provides lower payouts for electrical and plumbing systems
Liberty Home Guard provides three home warranty coverage plans. While requesting our quote, we found that it didn’t provide pricing for its service call fee.
We spoke with an LHG representative who said LHG adjusts your service call fee based on your home’s size and location and your plan selections. He added that the service call fee ranges from $65 to $125 per claim.
Here is a coverage and pricing overview for LHG’s home warranty plans:
LHG provides 42 unique add-on options and lists New York customers’ most popular add-on choices — pool and spa protection. According to our quote, LHG charges $20 monthly for pool and spa protection.
Similar to 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, LHG provides a $2,000 coverage cap for most of its covered items, except for electrical and plumbing systems. According to LHG’s sample contract, it will only pay up to $250 for electrical or plumbing repairs within the first 90 days of coverage. After 90 days, LHG increases its plumbing and electrical limits to $500 per claim.
Liberty Home Guard is currently not rated (NR) on BBB. LHG responded to losing its A rating with a statement that the company’s customer satisfaction levels remain the highest relative to its scale. LHG also stated that in February 2024, it received the lowest number of cancellation requests in its history.
Aside from its NR rating and pattern of complaints, customers rate LHG highly — it has a customer rating of 4.5 out of 5. Many reviews stated that filing a service request with LHG is a seamless experience.
American Home Shield (AHS) provides comprehensive major systems and appliance protection and flexible service call fees. Here are a few other things we like about AHS:
Here are some features we don’t like about the provider:
American Home Shield offers two service call fee options for each coverage plan. You can choose from a $100 or $125 service fee — the higher the service fee, the lower your monthly payment.
Here is a coverage and pricing overview for AHS’ home warranty plans:
As mentioned above, AHS doesn’t have many add-on options. However, it does provide roof-leak coverage as an add-on, unlike some other home warranty companies. According to our quote, AHS charges an extra $10 monthly for roof-leak coverage.
AHS provides a $5,000 coverage limit per claim for HVAC systems and offers an unlimited coverage cap for other systems, such as plumbing and electrical. Regarding major appliances, AHS extends a $2,000 limit per appliance claim in its ShieldGold plan and raises it to $4,000 in ShieldPlatinum. AHS provides an industry-standard 30-day workmanship guarantee.
AHS holds a B rating and a customer review score of 2.1 out of 5 on BBB. Some negative reviews cited AHS’ inconsistency when it comes to coverage.
That said, we found BBB reviews commending AHS’ friendly and helpful customer service representatives, with several noting how well they answer questions and concerns. One customer stated that he kept his AHS plan active due to the improved customer service he experienced.
The home warranty companies listed below didn’t make our top three list due to fewer standard convenience features and higher service call fees. However, these companies are still worth checking out if you need total home protection or coverage for unique items.
Elite Home Warranty offers over 20 add-ons, generous coverage limits and competitive pricing. Here are some additional features that Elite offers:
After reading Elite’s sample contract, we found that it limits repair and replacement coverage caps for older items. Here are some additional aspects of Elite we dislike:
Elite Home Warranty offers three coverage plans and a fully customizable plan. The custom plan cost varies depending on the items you select. It pairs most plans with a $70 service call fee. You can choose from a $100 or $130 service fee on its annual plans.
Here is a coverage and pricing overview for Elite’s home warranty plans:
Elite offers more than 25 add-on options for those needing customizable home protection. It offers items such as central vacuum and well pump coverage. According to our quote, central vacuum coverage costs an extra $8 monthly.
Elite provides a 90-day workmanship guarantee, three times the industry standard’s length. It also offers system and appliance coverage caps ranging from $500 to $3,000 per appliance claim and $750 to $4,000 per systems claim.
Elite has a stellar customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 and an A+ rating on BBB. Many of Elite’s BBB customer reviews praised the company’s customer service representatives. Customers appreciate their knowledge, helpfulness and willingness to customize plans based on their needs. Many positive reviews mentioned a specific customer service representative.
Cinch Home Services is our final recommendation for New York residents. The company features an extensive list of covered appliances and systems and includes several perks within each plan. Here are some other features we like about Cinch:
Cinch excludes roof-leak coverage. Here are some additional features we don’t like about Cinch:
Cinch Home Services provides three coverage options and three service call fees. When signing up for a plan, you can choose from $100, $125 and $150 service fees.
Here is a coverage and pricing overview for Cinch’s home warranty plans:
Cinch Home Services only offers six additional coverage options. However, its Premier Upgrade Package add-on covers permit fees and more. According to our quote, the Premier Upgrade Package costs $13 monthly.
Cinch Home Services extends a 180-day workmanship guarantee on all completed repairs. In addition, Cinch provides various coverage caps depending on the item. For example, it covers up to $2,000 per appliance claim. Cinch has an aggregate limit of $10,000 per policy term.
Cinch Home Services has a customer rating of 1.1 out of 5 and a B+ rating on BBB. Many poor reviews cited Cinch’s lack of communication or miscommunication, especially during the post-claims process. In a 1-star review for BBB, a customer wrote that Cinch delayed a promised furnace replacement in early January 2023 multiple times.
Many positive BBB customer reviews center on Cinch’s knowledgeable sales representatives. Several customers reported that the representatives who helped them thoroughly explained plan options and answered their questions well.
Before buying a home warranty, consider the major systems or appliances you use regularly. Also, keep in mind which items are near the end of their life cycle.
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, most appliances last between five and 20 years. It’s important to consider which coverage options you need to ensure you choose the right home warranty company.
In New York, the average cost of a home warranty is $67 monthly or $806 annually. Note that your ZIP code, home size and plan choices affect your home warranty cost. Therefore, we suggest obtaining a custom quote from the home warranty companies listed in this article.
The infographics below display the average premium costs for eight popular home warranty companies.
Heating and cooling account for 27% of New York households’ total electricity consumption, according to the United States Energy Information Administration’s 2020 survey on electricity consumption by state.
Your home’s HVAC systems are crucial for your comfort and safety during the summer and winter. Since these systems tend to be used throughout the year, it’s likely they’ll break down at some point.
Therefore, we advise you to consider a home warranty with a minimum $2,000 coverage cap for heating and cooling systems.
Generally, many home warranty companies are reputable and will repair or replace your broken system or appliance when you file a claim. However, you should avoid certain companies based on several factors.
When researching a company, note if its website or sample contract features vague language. Speak with the company’s sales representatives. See if they answer your questions thoroughly or if they provide generic responses.
Another way to discover a company’s potential red flags is to read customer ratings on websites such as BBB, Google Reviews and Trustpilot. Common customer complaints to look for are arbitrary rate increases, confusing coverage terms and delayed communication.
To lower the chances of an unexpected claim denial, we recommend reading your provider’s sample contract. Many customers typically overlook this crucial step. All home warranty companies include coverage limitations and exclusions within their contracts, and a claim denial may shock you if you are unaware of these stipulations.
Below are sample contract sections to pay particular attention to:
The covered items and coverage limits section highlights the items a company covers plus the dollar amount it’ll pay for a repair or replacement.
The limits of liability are conditions that void coverage for a particular item, situation or condition. For instance, providers won’t cover items with preexisting conditions or mold damage.
The cancellation policy is typically at the end of the sample contract. Generally, providers list how they process cancellations and give instructions to cancel your plan successfully.
New York’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) supervises the enforcement of regulatory oversight on home warranty companies.
Home warranty companies must fulfill several requirements before legally selling service contracts in New York, according to New York State’s Insurance Code Article 79, section 7903. For example, companies must pair their service contract sale with a sample contract clearly outlining all its terms and conditions.
The DFS also offers consumer protections, such as an online complaint form, in case you experience a problem with your home warranty provider.
Due to the vast number of home warranty companies available, knowing which provider to choose can be challenging. We give our overall recommendation to 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty because it features unique add-ons, numerous coverage perks and budget-friendly premiums. We also recommend Liberty Home Guard for its high coverage limits and HVAC-friendly coverage.
Whenever you’re shopping for a home warranty provider, you should a quote from a minimum of three providers to compare coverage options and pricing.
We research and rate home warranty providers to help you choose the right one for your budget and your home. The best home warranty companies offer multiple coverage choices, high coverage limits, competitive pricing, good reviews, solid service and extra features.
We rate companies based on our in-depth methodology. We score companies out of 100 on factors related to their coverage options, coverage limits, pricing, reputation, customer service and extra features. We then divide their final score by 20 to obtain a 5-star rating in our reviews.
BBB reviews are accurate as of April 2024.
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.
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