Everything You Need To Know About Select Home Warranty Coverage Options

When you become a homeowner, it’s a great feeling. At the same time, you gain a whole new set of responsibilities. You’re responsible for everything that goes wrong. A home warranty is a great way to make sure that the systems and appliances in your home are covered. Today, we’ll take a look at one such provider, Select Home Warranty.

Overview Of Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty has been in business for 10 years. As with other home warranty companies, the idea behind the service is that they save homeowners a ton of grief and money. Instead of having a large bill when both the washer and refrigerator break down in the same month, they would be covered under warranty. Instead of thousands of dollars, you would be paying a monthly fee and the cost of a service call.

The company offers coverage for both appliances and home systems like HVAC. Let’s run through some more information on the plans below.

The Plans

Select Home Warranty offers three distinct home warranty plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care. This allows homeowners to select the appropriate plan for them based on their budget and what they want covered.

We’ll get more into what’s covered under each plan in a minute, but let’s start with some general guides. Gold Care covers home systems like air conditioning and electrical. Bronze Care covers appliances like washers and dryers. Platinum Care covers all of the systems and appliances covered in the other two plans. You can also get add-on coverage for certain items not covered under the default plans.

We’ve included the current listed cost of each plan on a monthly and annual basis based on a home in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The cost of a home warranty typically varies depending on where you’re located. Additionally, your service call fee will vary depending on the length of your contract. You get 2 months free on the first year if you sign up for annual billing.

Coverage Types

The different plans offered by Select Home Warranty cover different home systems and appliances. See the breakdown of what’s offered under each plan in the table below:

Optional Coverage

For many homeowners, it may be that they only need the coverage provided under one of the plans offered by Select Home Warranty. However, in the event that you want coverage for an appliance, system or fixture that’s not included under one of the basic plans, there are several options for add-on coverage.

Below, you’ll find a table of additional coverage items and their cost based on the same Michigan location used before. One quick note on roof leak coverage: It’s currently being offered free for people who sign up. However, the price could change when the contract renews or after the time of writing. It’s just something to be aware of.

Select Home Warranty Reviews

If you’re trying to determine whether a Select warranty is right for your needs, one of the best things to do as a homeowner is to check out reviews and see what others have to say about their service and breadth of coverage. Let’s check out some reviews from around the web.

U.S. News

At U.S. News, the reviewers really liked the substantial discounts on annual plans as well as the free roof leak coverage that’s often offered. The roof coverage is a deal that goes on and off. For its part, the company says this is a frequent sale offer. Right now, in addition to the roof coverage throw in, you get 2 additional months and $150 off by paying annually. U.S. News gives Select Home Warranty 3.9 stars out of 5.

On the downside, they point out that the terms of the contract state that you can be charged a separate service call fee for each issue. It’s important to note this because you won’t save money by scheduling repairs on your air conditioner and oven at the same time.

They also note that Select Home Warranty has lower than average limits, meaning the maximum they will pay for an appliance or system repair relative to others in the industry is lower. There is a sample contract available on the website so that you can get an idea of what these limits are.

This Old House

The folks over at This Old House liked that there was coverage available across much of the nation. They also mentioned the 90-day repair guarantee offered as well as special discounts available to those who sign up for a multiyear coverage plan. Of the home warranty companies they looked at, the editors felt that Select Home Warranty offered the best value.

The one negative they touched on that wasn’t mentioned by U.S. News is the fact that the plans don’t tend to cover fixtures. The only coverage is for ceiling fans on the Platinum Care plan.

Consumer Affairs

Consumer Affairs likes the fact that they have a 24/7 claims number. You can contact them whenever trouble strikes. There is also a 30-day trial period during which you can cancel without penalty. Consumer Affairs awards Select a 4.3 stars out of 5.

On the downside, they didn’t like the fact that some claims were denied. While it doesn’t matter how old your appliances are, the company does specify in its terms and conditions that they have the right to request service records for any appliances or systems. These have to be in good working order at the time the warranty was taken out in order to be covered.

Additionally, for each category of appliance or system, every home warranty company has a list of components that are covered and a list of exclusions. Be sure to carefully read the contract to familiarize yourself with these terms.

Better Business Bureau (BBB)

The company has a B rating from the BBB. It’s important to note that by the very nature of the site, they only list complaints, so it can be easy to get negative about any company from reading through these. However, the redeeming value here is that you can see how complaints are handled, and in some cases, whether the consumer was satisfied.

When a consumer does complain to the BBB, the company seems to respond fairly quickly. Most of the issues seem to be around the processing of refunds or reimbursements and their claims managers are able to resolve the complaint in fairly short order.

Home Warranty Reviews

The folks at Home Warranty Reviews gave 4 out of 5 possible stars. They liked the huge network of available contractors in addition to the same-day response you can often get on claims.

They do note that they don’t offer the electronics protection plans offered by some other providers. One other note is that you’re responsible for any costs beyond the coverage limits listed in the contract for specific components. This is pretty standard as is the 30-day waiting period between when you sign up for coverage and when it actually starts.

What We Like About Select Home Warranty Coverage

We’ve gone over a lot of the ins and outs, but it’s time to tell you what we think sets Select Home Warranty apart.

Free Roof Coverage

One of the big pluses from Select is that they often offer free coverage of roof leaks. Other companies offer this, but it’s usually at an additional cost to the consumer. This is listed by the company as a $99 value.

The coverage only applies to leaks, so if you had major roof damage, you would have to file a homeowners insurance claim, but it’s free and better than nothing.

Widespread Coverage Area

The best home warranty deal in the world doesn’t matter if you can’t get the service in your area. Select Home Warranty has a bigger coverage footprint than many of its competitors in the space, covering 46 states.

The only remaining states in which coverage is unavailable are Nevada, New Mexico, Washington State and Wyoming.

Great Pricing Transparency

Most home warranty companies allow you to get a free quote simply by putting in the area where you live and some basic information. Select Home Warranty is no different.

However, they do one better than their competitors by being very upfront on the costs of the add-on coverage they offer. While other competitors might certainly offer pool coverage, the cost of such coverage isn’t always spelled out publicly. We really appreciate the upfront dealing in this area.

Discounts On Coverage

Select Home Warranty offers several discounts on coverage. The current deal on the website lets consumers know they can save $150 and get 2 months free by signing up for an annual plan rather than being billed on a monthly basis.

The company also boasts discounts for multiyear coverage. Although these prices aren’t listed online, many consumers have spoken in their reviews about saving hundreds of dollars. You may also be able to negotiate better terms if they know you’re going to be a long-term customer.

One thing that’s very publicly mentioned is that the service fee, which is in the $75 – $100 range at the time of this writing, is dependent on the length of your contract. You’ll likely get a lower service fee with a longer term.

Select Home Warranty FAQs

Before we conclude this article, let’s answer a few frequently asked questions about Select Home Warranty.

What’s the difference between a manufacturer’s warranty and a home warranty?

If you have a home system or appliance that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, that warranty only applies to that specific system or appliance. Additionally, it is generally limited to a number of months or years after installation.

In contrast, home warranty companies, including Select Home Warranty, generally don’t care what model your appliance is or the age of the appliance as long as it’s in a covered category. If your plan covers home systems and your air conditioner breaks after 5 years, the home warranty company is going to repair, replace or give you the monetary value of the AC unit.

I have homeowners insurance. Do I need a home warranty?

Homeowners insurance covers damage to your home. If you have contents coverage, items can be replaced when stolen. However, you cannot file a homeowners claim when your dishwasher gives out after 10 years of normal wear and tear. Homeowners insurance would only replace it if you had, say, a lightning strike that caused a massive power surge and fried the components.

On the other hand, a home warranty does offer coverage for normal wear and tear.

Where can I find what’s covered and what isn’t?

With any home warranty contract, it’s extremely important to be clear about the covered items as well as the exclusions. We highly recommend you check out this sample contract from Select Home Warranty. To give you an idea of what to look for, here are some examples:

• One refrigerator is covered, including the major parts of that refrigerator. However, sealed systems are excluded.
• Dishwasher coverage excludes the racks and rollers within the dishwasher.
• Water heater coverage includes all the major parts, but excludes leaks. Also not covered are tankless or solar water heaters.

What if I want to cancel?

You can cancel within the first 30 days of your coverage without penalty, provided that no service has been completed under the home warranty. If you cancel after that point, there is a $75 cancellation fee and the refund is prorated at the nondiscounted annual plan cost.

When does coverage start?

Home warranty companies place a delay on the start of coverage so you can’t sign up when you suspect something is about to break and immediately get it fixed. The waiting period for Select Home Warranty is 30 days from the completion of your order.

Does it matter how old my home systems and appliances are?

There’s no age limit. However, in the event that your appliance or system is replaced or you receive the cash value, it’ll be based on the covered item’s current-day value.

What types of properties are covered?

Select Home Warranty covers single- and multiunit properties, rentals, manufactured housing, mobile homes and condos.

What’s the trade service call fee?

A home warranty isn’t exactly like insurance, but you do pay monthly premiums. Similarly, you can think of the trade service call fee as being like a deductible. At Select Home Warranty, this fee is in the range of $75 – $100 depending on the length of your contract.

The Bottom Line: Select Home Warranty Can Help You Protect Your Home And Wallet

A home warranty is a way to spread out the cost of home maintenance. We generally recommend that homeowners plan to save roughly 1% – 3% of the price of their home every year for home maintenance, depending on the age of the home. Rather than having one big $1,500 bill when the air conditioning breaks, with a home warranty, you pay a monthly premium and a small service call fee.

Select Home Warranty offers plans that cover home systems, appliances or both. You can also get several add-ons to cover other items not available under the base plans. Unlike other companies where the service call fee is based on the amount you pay in monthly or annual premiums, Select’s trade service call fee is based on the length of your contract.

We really like the pricing transparency offered as well as the deep discounts on coverage, especially for those with multiyear plans. This is a real differentiator from competitors. They also offer free roof coverage on a fairly regular basis. It’s also important to note that their coverage area outclasses many others in the industry, spanning 46 states.

If you’re considering a home warranty, you have many options available to you. We encourage you to check out our list of top home warranty companies. This will enable you to find one that fits within your budget and has the coverage flexibility to meet your needs.