Select Home Warranty Versus American Home Shield
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- The Good
- Three-tier coverage array
- Customer service 24/7, 365 days
- 2017 “Best in Service” Award from Home Warranty Awards
- Quick service
- The Bad
- High monthly costs by comparison
- Does not cover pre-existing conditions
Since Select Home Warranty is a member of the National Home Warranty Association, it must operate within guidelines and must guarantee the quality of its work. Perhaps because of this, it pre-screens its professional contractors who come to your home to assess problems and effect repairs. Get a quote here.
Other Home Warranty Reviews
- The Good
- Different plans to choose from
- Reasonable monthly pricing
- Long established business
- 24/7 customer support
- Boasts high-quality contractors
- The Bad
- Trade call service fees required
- Contractors available only during normal business hours
- Some contractors not highly rated by customers
- Inadequate service by some contractors
American Home Shield (AHS) offers home protection plans to cover frequently-occurring system breakdowns in your home. American Home Shield has been in business for 40 years. Such longevity tends to project stability but reviews of service don’t reflect a customer base that’s highly satisfied. You can get a free quote here.
Other Home Warranty Reviews
- Annual Premiums Range
- $299 to $499
Select Home Warranty offers its customers a choice of three types of home warranty plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care, not including the $60 service flat fee. Select Home Warranty lists its coverage parameters for each of its plans on its website but does not list a base price. There is a button to click to “get a free quote.” Doing so asks for all your contact information and the specifications on your home (square footage, age, etc.) Some digging around uncovered prices listed at $36 per month for the Bronze Care plan and $42 per month for the Platinum Care plan. The Gold Care plan monthly price remains a mystery.
- Annual Premiums Range
- $249 to $600
Annual premiums differ by the type of plan you choose and the Trade Service Call Fee. This is the deductible, or amount that you’re required to pay to the contractor who makes the service call to your home. These fees are set at $75, $100 and $125. You get to choose the fee price you want on your contract, and this will influence the final cost of your yearly premium.
- Coverage
- 3 choices in coverage plans
- All plans are customizable
- $500 cap on A/C repairs during first three months
Select Home Warranty’s Platinum Care plan offers the maximum and most comprehensive coverage. Coverage on all plans is expandable to additional appliances and systems from an approved list. The company does not restrict service on appliances because of age, and it does not require a home inspection before accepting a contract application. The initial cap on A/C repairs extends to $2,000 after the required three-month period.
Comparing Plans
| Coverage | Bronze | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water System | x | x | |
| Heating System | x | x | |
| Plumbling System | x | x | |
| Electrical System | x | x | |
| Ductwork | x | x | |
| Air Conditioning | x | x | |
| Washer | x | x | |
| Dryer | x | x | |
| Refrigerator | x | x | |
| Oven/Stove | x | x | |
| Garbage Disposal | x | x | |
| Dishwasher | x | x | |
| Built-in Microwave | x | x | |
| Ceiling/Exhaust Fans | x | ||
| Garage Door Opener | x |
- Coverage
- Build Your Own Plan to customize coverage
- Combo plan for max coverage
- Optional coverage for certain items
There is no payout limit for repairs or replacement for many of the items American Home Shield covers. Some items do have caps in place, however. These are reasonable and there is no yearly max on the cap. For example, appliances have a cap of $3,000, which is a generous limit. Some heating and cooling units have payout limits, as do obstructed plumbing and systems difficult to access.
- Partners
- Pre-screened contractors
- Network of licensed contractors extends nationwide
Select Home Warranty does not appear to currently partner with any nationally recognized companies, although it does boast of its affiliation with the National Home Warranty Association. According to their website, they use only qualified, licensed contractors. Should they not have a qualified technician in your area to handle your problem, they may authorize you to engage a qualified licensed contractor of your choosing, and they will reimburse you, up to the dollar limit set in your contract, within 30 days.
- Partners
- Over 13,000 independent contractors with 45,000 technicians
- Covers all makes/models of appliances and systems
- Sub-company of The ServiceMaster Company
American Home Shield states they will cover any make or model of appliance or system, regardless of the age of the unit. Customer reviews state that some of the contractors utilized by AHS are “second-tier” operations, while others state that AHS has sent contractors from reputable national companies such as Sears.
- Additional Features
- Copy of contract provided
- Accepts claims by telephone, online form or email
- Quick service
Select Home Warranty commits to getting a contractor to your location within two days if you get your claim submitted within normal business hours. For claims on the weekends, at night or on public holidays, it may be four days before you see a contractor. If you’re unable or unwilling to pay the $60 service fee, Select Home Warranty reserves the right to suspend your service.
- Additional Features
- Flexible plans you can “build” yourself
- Short 15-day waiting period
- No home inspection required
- 24/7 service request
American Home Shield allows you to build your own plan, giving you options on out-of-pocket expenses. While most competitors require a home inspection and a 30-day waiting period, AHS proudly boasts it requires no home inspection. AHS also limits its waiting period to a simple 15 days. If you need a repair, you can put in a request 24/7. Repair contractors don’t come to your home on that time-table, however.
Select Home Warranty: User Reviews
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Select Home Warranty Review: Select offers homeowners coverage for appliances and home systems across the United States. They are one of the smaller home warranty companies, but they offer coverage at prices that keep them competitive in the market. They frequently offer sign-up bonuses, such as two months of free coverage with initiation of service.
As with any contract service agreement, it is imperative that you read it before you sign it. Select Home Warranty will provide you with a copy of the agreement. The limits of their service are clearly presented and include such stipulations as noncoverage of items that have been previously repaired. They also require limited coverage for the first three months of service. If you have appliances or systems that are questionable at the time you’re considering a home warranty package, you may want to reconsider your selection.
In the fine print of the contract agreement, Select Home Warranty reserves the right to replace any appliance or system with another of any color, size or model. You could end up with a black refrigerator in a kitchen full of stainless appliances. Or you could get an HVAC unit that is much noisier than the old one. These are considerations in the agreement that must be clearly understood before agreeing to the contract, for your protection as well as the protection of the company.
Select Home Warranty’s three coverage plans are comprehensive and fairly standard for the industry. Their top plan, the Platinum, provides all the services of the two lower plans, plus a few extras. The Bronze Plan deals mostly with appliances, while the Gold Plan targets home systems such as HVAC and A/C systems, in addition to appliances.
How Does Select Work?
When a covered appliance or system breaks down in your home, you contact Select Home Warranty’s 24/7 customer service repair hotline. You’ll need to provide information on what the problem is and some background information on the appliance or unit.
Select will have a qualified service professional contact you within two to four days, depending on when you made your request for service. The contractor will set up an appointment to come to your home to inspect the malfunctioning appliance or system. If repair is necessary and is possible, and providing your policy covers the appliance or system, the contractor will make the repairs you need. If the appliance or system is irreparable, your contractor will take whatever steps are necessary to get the unit replaced.
Coverage options
Select Home Warranty offers three different plans to choose from: Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care. It also offers optional coverage for items not covered by these plans. Here’s the breakdown:
Comparing Plans
| Coverage | Bronze | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water System | x | x | |
| Heating System | x | x | |
| Plumbling System | x | x | |
| Electrical System | x | x | |
| Ductwork | x | x | |
| Air Conditioning | x | x | |
| Washer | x | x | |
| Dryer | x | x | |
| Refrigerator | x | x | |
| Oven/Stove | x | x | |
| Garbage Disposal | x | x | |
| Dishwasher | x | x | |
| Built-in Microwave | x | x | |
| Ceiling/Exhaust Fans | x | ||
| Garage Door Opener | x |
Optional coverage (cost per month)
- Pool: $8.33
- Central vacuum: $3.33
- Sump pump: $3.33
- Well pump: $3.33
- Roof leak: Varies
- Stand-alone freezer: $3.33
- Lawn sprinkler system: $5.83
- Septic system: $5.83
Plan Exclusions
Most home warranty companies have exclusions in your contract. While the company says it covers your water heater, it may not cover it for rust or calcium build up. It’s important to read your contract carefully and figure out what the exclusions are. Here’s a list of exclusions that can appear in a Select Home Warranty contract.
- Solar water heaters
- Ceiling fan lights
- Portable air conditioners
- Metal roofs
- Ice maker water line
- Water softeners
- Sewer lines outside the home’s foundation
What Makes Select Stand Out?
Select Home Warranty has a lot of negative feedback in online forums, and that’s the main feature that sets it apart from its competitors. The agreement customers sign with Select is clearly laid out, however, and a large portion of these unsatisfactory outcomes were preventable had the customer been aware of the terms and conditions to which they were agreeing.
Select Home Warranty’s limited coverage on its plans for the first three months is also not something its competitors have adopted in large numbers. The company does provide customers with a copy of the service agreement, something many competitors do not do. The terms and conditions in its contract are clearly spelled out, including limitations.
Common Select Home Warranty Review
More than one online review demonstrates the specific nature of the service agreement required by Select Home Warranty. One customer reports that his contract stated Select Home Warranty would repair or replace a refrigerator “located in the kitchen” of the home. The customer’s refrigerator was in a utility room off the kitchen. When it broke down, Select Home Warranty declined the claim because of the refrigerator’s location. Were they within their rights to do so? Absolutely. But it doesn’t bode well for their image as a customer-friendly company.
Unfortunately, there are more negative reviews of that nature regarding Select Home Warranty. One customer lamented, “The list of what they (Select Home Warranty) doesn’t cover is longer than what they do cover.” Again, it goes back to reading the fine print and understanding what you’re buying. It isn’t exactly fair to the company to complain about them not covering an item that they clearly stated they would not cover.
On the opposite side of the coin, Select Home Warranty has its share of satisfied customers. One gentleman in Hawaii recently posted a review about his oven going out. He called Select Home and a repair technician came to his home, fixed the problem and had the entire affair completed within eight hours.
Another satisfied customer in West Virginia relates that his sprinkler system stopped working unexpectedly. He contacted Select Home Warranty. Within 48 hours, he was in touch with a technician who came to his home and fixed the problem. The very happy gentleman has a working sprinkler system now.
Overall, there are a lot of positive reviews for Select Home Warranty. However, they seem to get buried under the negatives when searching for reviews of the company. A careful examination of the negative reviews will reveal that a large majority of them trace to a lack of understanding what is in the service agreement.
For the most part, it appears that Select Home Warranty is holding up its end of the bargain.
Is Select for Me?
Select Home Warranty offers an affordable home warranty program, with a few caveats. If you live in or are purchasing an older home, you may wish to look elsewhere for a policy. Also, be sure you understand that the company does place caps and limits on its payouts and coverage for the first three months.
American Home Shield has a customer base of over 1.5 million customers and is the largest home warranty provider in the U.S. AHS has been in the home warranty services business since 1971; in fact, they spearheaded the development of the industry.
This company specializes in coverage for repair or replacement of all the standard household systems and appliances. To sweeten the pot, AHS offers a “build your own plan” option that lets the homeowner select the items they want covered instead of signing up for a predetermined list of appliances and systems.
American Home Shield ranks high when measuring customer experience and plan value but it really tops its competitors with the size and depth of its contractor network. Although there is a plethora of customer reviews and even complaints to the Better Business Bureau about sub-par service from repair contractors, AHS offers one of the least restrictive contracts in the industry.
The contract required by American Home Shield is available for download online. There are stipulations included in the “fine print” that place limits on when the coverage applies. The wording of the contract takes certain decisions out of the hands of the customer, such as the color of replacement appliances. It is important for potential customers to get their homework done before signing up for any home warranty service to avoid surprises that may pop up when a repair need comes along.
How Does American Home Shield Work?
American Home Shield offers contracts on a 12-month basis. First, you choose the protection plan you want, including the amount you’re willing to pay as a Trade Call Service Fee each time a contractor or technician comes to your home. You pay your first month’s premium, and this triggers your 15-day waiting period.
Once you’ve cleared the waiting period hurtle, your home warranty coverage is active. You can get any covered system or appliance that breaks down repaired or replaced by contacting American Home Shield through their website or via phone, 24-hours per day, seven days a week.
If you have an AHS policy and move into a new home during your policy period, your protection plan may be transferable. If your new location is not something that is specifically excluded by the contract, your policy will likely transfer.
When a covered system or appliance breaks down, you contact American Home Shield to speak to a service representative, who will schedule a contractor to come look at your problem. Here is where there seems to be some serious contention among customers: you can contact a service representative 24/7 but your contractor will only contact you during normal business hours. Apparently, based on reviews, a lot of people neglect to read this part of the contract.
You will need to pay your Trade Call Service Fee directly to your contractor upon arrival. Once you’ve paid the agreed-upon fee, they will begin diagnosing your problem. The contractor must contact AHS to verify that your policy covers the identified problem. If the policy covers the appliance or system, the contractor will begin work.
What Makes American Home Shield Stand Out?
American Home Shield has been around since 1971; the longevity of the company in a rather volatile business market has to say something about it. It is available in all 50 states and boasts a massive stable of contractors and technicians it calls on to service the needs of its customers.
Another point that places American Home Shield apart from its competitors is its short waiting period after the initial payment of your premium. Most companies require a 30-day waiting period, while AHS has shortened that to a mere 15-days. And there is no home inspection required before you’re approved for a policy. These two points alone make it a sweeter deal than most others in the field.
Common Reviews of American Home Shield
American Home Shield currently holds a “B” rating from the Better Business Bureau, mostly due to an onslaught of complaints about contractors performing subpar work or not completing repairs at all. This sort of consumer complaint is a running theme through most reviews with a negative bent.
There are not a lot of positive reviews out there for American Home Shield, but there are some. One review stated the customer reported a problem with his water heater. He received an email within a few hours with the name of a contractor who would be doing the covered repair work. The contractor called the next day to schedule a repair date.
The customer continued, relating how the contractor called to ask permission to come earlier than originally scheduled. The contractor came and got the job fixed in no time. The customer reported the contractor was professional, courteous and thorough.
Other reviews related incidences of customers buying homes that came with an AHS warranty attached. There were no issues in getting a contractor to fix problems under the transferred policy. Others related just the opposite, complaining about multiple contractors showing up, each diagnosing a different problem and each requiring the policyholder to pay out the Trade Call Service Fee. These payments can quickly add up.
Another reported buying an older home with a current AHS warranty in place. Within a few months of moving in, the oven failed. The homeowner called AHS and a repairman showed up the next day, looked at the oven and informed the homeowner that parts were no longer available for that model. It took a little over a week but the homeowner received a check for $550 toward the purchase of a new oven.
On the other end of the spectrum, those who post negative reviews are very negative. There are many one-star ratings out there for American Home Shield. To be fair, many of the complaints were avoidable had the customer simply understood what they were buying.
Is American Home Shield for Me?
The experience you may have with American Home Shield could vary depending on your location. It seems to have better luck satisfying customers in certain regions and not others.
AHS seems as solid as any other company offering a similar policy. As with any contract, however, reading the entire contract before agreeing to it is highly recommended, and get any questions clarified before you sign on the dotted line.
Bob Tobias • May 30, 2019
You have overlooked on key point, that Select Home Warranty DOES NOT COVER LABOR COSTS associated with a covered repair. When you encounter this unexpected charge they are quick to point you to the third sentence of subparagraph iii in section 8 of their agreement where it ambiguously states that installation is not covered.