We invest a great deal of money into our homes—not only in regards to the physical structure, but in interior design, added features, and, of course, the items inside.
To help protect us financially, items often come with a warranty, offering a repair or replacement if the piece breaks down.
Many of us would not think twice about taking out a warranty for our refrigerator or washing machine.
When it comes to our properties, however, many homeowners are not prepared or covered in the event of an incident.
A home warranty can help to protect you and offer both peace of mind and financial compensation, but first, you need to pick the right home warranty provider.
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About American Home Shield
American Home Shield tops our list of the best home warranties. It is a firm providing home protection plans, which are specially designed to cover some of the most common issues and system breakdowns that may occur within your home.
Operating since 1971, they claim to cover over 2 million homeowners across 49 states.
They also boast a team of more than 17,000 contractors who can provide the services you need to get your home up and running.
How It Works
American Home Shield has a simplified process for coverage. The system works on the basis of a twelve-month contract.
From this date, you are fully covered. Plans come in a range of options and can be paid via monthly payments to help make them more affordable.
How to Make a Claim
If you need to make a claim, you can contact American Home Shields via the website or phone, 24/7. This will put you in touch with a service representative, who will arrange for a contractor to be sent to your property.
Important to Note
The company claims that all of its contractors are of the highest quality to ensure that their customers remain completely satisfied, though some feedback has expressed concerns with the contractor they received.
How American Home Shield Assesses Claims
Upon arrival, the contractor will request a trade call service fee paid directly to them to start the process for them to diagnose the issue.
They will contact American Home Shield before taking any further action to check that your plan covers the problem before repairing or replacing the system.
While the consensus is that this phase is carried out effectively in most cases, there have been reports of some contractors failing to diagnose the issue after receiving the fee.
Benefits of American Home Shield’s Process
There are some bonuses to the system.
First, your plan is fully transferable, ensuring that you are covered even if you move from your house to another one during your policy period.
The policies are also ‘all risk,’ meaning that everything will be included unless explicitly stated; any exclusions will be made clear to you when you take out the plan.
Types of Plans
As we have mentioned, there are a variety of plan types available, depending on your needs. Pricing may vary according to location but can be paid via affordable monthly payments.
The policies on offer include:
| Plans | Monthly Cost | Service Call Fee |
|---|---|---|
| ShieldSilver™ | $30–$40 | $100–$125 |
| ShieldGold™ | $50–$60 | $100–$125 |
| ShieldPlatinum™ | $80–$90 | $100–$125 |
What Is Covered
AHS stands out among competitors by covering some types of damages and perils that other home warranty companies don’t. For instance, AHS covers systems and appliances of any age, even if they were poorly maintained or improperly installed. AHS covers the following under all of its plans:
- Items of any age.
- Undetectable pre-existing conditions.
- Multiples of the same item, like a second refrigerator.
- Breakdowns caused by rust, corrosion, or sediment.
- Breakdowns are caused by a lack of maintenance and normal wear and tear.
- Item removal and disposal (when necessary).
- Items with few or no maintenance records.
- Items that were improperly installed, repaired, or modified.
What Is Not Covered
Although American Home Shield covers many situations that other home warranty providers don’t, its home warranty plans do still have limitations. Some exclusions, like those below, can be difficult to find because they’re hidden in the fine print of your contract. That’s why you should review your contract before you commit to a policy.
- Each covered home system and appliance has certain components or circumstances that aren’t covered by AHS, which will be outlined in your AHS service contract.
- AHS makes the final decision on whether your broken item will be repaired or replaced.
- AHS is not required to install an item of the exact dimensions, brand, or color of your old appliance during a replacement.
- AHS may offer you cash in lieu of repair or replacement, which is “substantially less than the retail cost.”
- AHS will not cover any repair or replacement already covered under a distributor, builder, manufacturer, or extended warranty.
The conditions of your AHS contract may vary slightly in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. Read a sample contract from your state on AHS’s website.
Alternatives to American Home Shield
In Conclusion
Taking out a home protection policy can be a great way to protect your home and belongings, providing peace of mind and a financial safety net if anything goes wrong, and eliminating the need to worry or search for a contractor to fix the problem fast.
American Home Shield offers a variety of flexible and affordable plans to suit every lifestyle and budget and helps to protect homeowners from high bills later on.
As with any policy, however, exclusions and exceptions apply, and it is a good idea to make sure you are fully aware of these before committing.
How We Review Home Warranty Companies:
Good Financial Cents evaluates home warranty companies by examining coverage breadth, responsiveness, and the reliability of claims processes. Our goal is to offer homeowners a balanced and informative perspective. Editorial transparency is a consistent focus in our reviews.
We actively gather information from home warranty companies, reviewing the specifics of coverage plans and service agreements. This data, paired with our research and customer feedback, informs our evaluation process. Companies are then rated based on their performance, leading to a star rating from one to five.
For further insight into the criteria we use to rate home warranty companies and our evaluation approach, please refer to our editorial guidelines and full disclaimer.
Product Name: American Home Shield Product Description: American Home Shield (AHS) is one of the leading providers of home warranty services in the U.S., offering coverage for major home systems and appliances. Established in 1971, AHS aims to provide homeowners with peace of mind by safeguarding against the high costs of unexpected repairs or replacements. Their service plans cater to various needs, whether it's for appliance-only coverage, system components, or a combination of both. Summary of American Home Shield Having pioneered the home warranty industry, American Home Shield brings with it decades of experience and expertise. With an expansive network of professional service contractors, AHS ensures prompt and efficient repair or replacement services for homeowners. Their service plans are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing homeowners to choose from appliance plans, systems plans, or combo plans that offer comprehensive coverage. Additionally, the company provides a customizable plan, giving homeowners the ability to select the specific items they wish to cover. The primary objective of AHS is to alleviate the financial stress and hassle that often accompanies unforeseen home breakdowns, aiming to offer swift solutions and ensure home functionality is restored with minimal disruption. Pros Cons
American Home Shield Review
Overall
I am getting nervous, My contract starts April 24 and I cannot get in touch to have some clarifications. I am thinking of cancelling
Oh boy! How many times have you contacted them?
AHS has very poor service. MY contrac# 6458407
My central Air and heating went down over three months ago, American home shield finally send technician with inside unit to replace with the old one, but brand new unit did not have Auxiliary heat kit. as a result we are not able to turn the heater on, my home is cold and we have no hitter. and both of us got cold and got sick and have no idea when and how i can get the missing hit kit back to my inside unit so I can turn the heter on. evry time I call, the staff from philipin give me nonsence sponce.
AHS did not cre and did not provide me any help at all, also so far for only this missing part i got charged $2052.00