Select Home Warranty Versus Choice Home Warranty
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Choice Home Warranty vs Select Home Warranty – are you trying to find the service that offers the best coverage for your house? Being a homeowner is hard enough without having to juggle broken appliances, leaky roofs, and more. Home warranty services can make those struggles infinitely easier by providing quick and easy solutions, but first, you have to figure out which solution works best for you. Choice Home Warranty or Select Home Warranty – learn which is the better option below.
- 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
- Deductible is reasonable
- Customer representative teams
- Customized list of covered appliances and systems
- No home inspection required
- The Bad
- Coverage restrictive in some instances
- 30-day limit for full refund
- Charges $50 “administrative fee” if you cancel service
Choice Home Warranty is a relatively new kid on the home warranty block, having been in business for nine years. It offers plans targeted toward safeguarding clients from the high costs of repairs or replacement of home systems and appliances. Get a 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
- $370 to $450
Choice Home Warranty offers a slight discount on its premium rates when you opt to pay for the entire year up front. You’ll pay a few extra dollars per month if you go with a monthly payment plan. Its premium pricing is in line with comparable policies offered by competitors. Its flat fee of $60 for service calls is the same regardless of the plan you choose. Choice also offers a free month with a single payment plan purchase.
- 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
- 2 coverage plans offered
- Specific add-on coverage available
- Not available in California
Choice Home Warranty offers two coverage plans: The Basic Plan and the Total Plan. The Total Plan is the more expensive, at $40 per month if you choose monthly payments. The Basic Plan covers most appliances and some systems and will cost $34 per month for a monthly payment option. Other home systems and features, such as roof leaks, central vacuums and standalone freezers are eligible for coverage with optional additions at varying extra fees.
Comparing Plans
| Coverage | Basic Plan | Total Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Water System | x | x |
| Heating System | x | x |
| Plumbling System | x | x |
| Electrical System | x | x |
| Oven/Stove | x | x |
| Garbage Disposal | x | x |
| Dishwasher | x | x |
| Built-in Microwave | x | x |
| Ceiling/Exhaust Fans | x | x |
| Garage Door Opener | x | x |
| Whirlpool Bathtub | x | x |
| Ductwork | x | x |
| Washer | x | |
| Dryer | x | |
| Refrigerator | x | |
| Air Conditioning | x |
- 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
- Network of independent contractors
A review of Choice Home Warranty’s website reveals no specific partnerships with nationally recognized companies. Small print at the bottom of their landing page states that the company is not offering policies in California. It also boasts affiliation with Inc. 500 on its website.
- 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
- Personal service representative team
- Customizable list of covered appliances and systems
- No home inspection required
Choice Home Warranty operates its customer service in a different manner than most. It has a system in place that assigns each contract holder a small team of two to three representatives. These are the individual customer’s personal service contact teams that will work with the customer on contract questions, payment issues or needed service calls. This gives a personal touch to Choice Home Warranty that few competitors can match. The company also lets you add additional coverage of specific home appliances or systems as you see fit.
Select Home Warranty: User Reviews
Choice Home Warranty: User Reviews
Select Home Warranty: Comments
Choice Home Warranty: Comments
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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.
Choice Home Warranty offers home warranty coverage through two plans. Both are straightforward in the pricing structure and the coverage offered for your home appliances and major systems. It charges a flat $60 trade service call fee each time a technician comes to your home, which is standard practice in the industry. Choice Home Warranty’s fee is on the low end when compared to its competitors.
Choice Home Warranty has experienced some difficulties with its advertising practices, however. The state of New Jersey, where the company has its headquarters, recently fined Choice Home Warranty for deceptive advertising practices. Based on complaints, it seems the company faced accusations of using loopholes to get around paying for customer repairs. While what the company offers sounds good, its reputation has been greatly tarnished by the events in New Jersey and negative reviews online.
Having said that, there are some interesting features with Choice Home Warranty. Each customer gets a customer service team of two to three people whom he can call on 24/7. These are the people the customer deals with when needing repairs, filing a claim, resolving a dispute, and so on. This gives Choice Home Warranty’s customers a more personal experience with customer service. No one has really complained about not dealing with a massive call center.
Choice Home Warranty does not require an upfront home inspection, which is a nice feature in any plan. It also offers a 30-day service guarantee. This is better than some competitors, though not as good as others. If you decide to cancel the service, however, you have to do it within the first 30 days after purchasing the plan in order to get a full refund. After that time, you’ll only get a prorated refund, and regardless of when you cancel, you’ll receive a bill for a $50 “administrative fee” for discontinuing your policy.
How Does Choice Home Warranty Work?
When you sign up with Choice Home Warranty, you first have to choose which plan you want to purchase. You can then add additional coverage for specific home appliances or systems, such as sump pumps or roof leaks or electrical systems, if you want. Once you make a selection, you pay your first month’s premium. There is a 30-day waiting period before coverage starts but once that passes, your coverage on selected appliances and systems should be in effect.
Should a problem develop, you can call Choice Home Warranty 24/7 to report it, or you can submit a claim online. A technician will contact you to set up an appointment time to inspect your appliance or system to diagnose the problem. If the issue is resolvable with a repair, the technician will take care of it. If the problem is irreparable or beyond the technician’s capabilities, Choice Home Warranty will arrange a replacement or reimbursement.
That’s the way it’s supposed to work. However, based on reviews, there are multiple complaints that the company does everything it can to exclude any claims as non-covered occurrences or “pre-existing conditions.”
Coverage options
Choice Home Warranty offers two different plans, the Basic Plan and the Total Plan. It also offers Optional Coverage that includes items not covered by either the Basic or Total Plan. Here is how it breaks down:
Comparing Plans
| Coverage | Basic Plan | Total Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Water System | x | x |
| Heating System | x | x |
| Plumbling System | x | x |
| Electrical System | x | x |
| Oven/Stove | x | x |
| Garbage Disposal | x | x |
| Dishwasher | x | x |
| Built-in Microwave | x | x |
| Ceiling/Exhaust Fans | x | x |
| Garage Door Opener | x | x |
| Whirlpool Bathtub | x | x |
| Ductwork | x | x |
| Washer | x | |
| Dryer | x | |
| Refrigerator | x | |
| Air Conditioning | x |
Optional Plans
- Pool and Spa: $180.00
- Well Pump: $100.00
- Central Vacuum: $40.00
- Limited Roof Leak: $70.00
- Second Refrigerator: $40.00
- Stand Alone Freezer: $40.00
- Sump Pump: $40.00
- Additional Spa: $180.00
- Septic System: $120.00
- Septic Tank Pumping: $65.00
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 Choice Home Warranty contract.
- Noise from covered appliance
- Lint traps
- Refrigerator shelves
- Solar heating systems
- Smoke detectors
- Damaged clothing from washer/dryer
- Microwave door
- Oven clock
- Dishwasher racks
- Vents and flues on ductwork
- Damage done to disposal from anything other than food
What Makes Choice Home Warranty Stand Out?
The assignment of a customer service team is a feature that appears to be unique to Choice Home Warranty. If the system works, it sounds like it would be a great way to ensure customer satisfaction. If you take into account the plethora of negative reviews, however, you have to question the system’s effectiveness.
Choice Home Warranty’s feature that allows you to pick additional coverage for select items is an interesting one. While there is little flexibility in its respective plans, the add-on capability for specific appliances and systems frequently excluded by many similar policies, such as roof leaks, is a plus in Choice Home Warranty’s favor.
Common Reviews of Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty has positive and negative reviews across various online forums. At first glance, it seems that the negatives outnumber the positives by a great margin. When digging into the reviews, however, it becomes evident that a large percentage of the complaints came about because the homeowner did not read the contract in its entirety before signing.
For example, the contract states there is a 30-day waiting period before coverage is in effect. So, if your oven goes out two weeks after you purchase the policy, Choice Home Warranty is not going to fix the problem. A read of the contract should make this clear, yet there are multiple reviews available in different forums of customers complaining because Choice Home Warranty did not do what it said it would not do.
There are other examples of technicians who were not as skilled in their trade as they needed to be to handle customers’ problems. One reviewer stated he had to deal with a faulty gas water heater for over a week, the smell of gas permeating the home, because the technician couldn’t determine if there were repair parts available or whether he would need to replace the unit.
On the flip side, there are positive reviews of customer experiences with technicians. One customer reported her air conditioner went out. She called Choice Home Warranty, explained the problem and had a technician assigned within 10 minutes. She stated the technician was knowledgeable, professional and courteous. Her repairs were complete in short order, and she was happy to sing the praises of Choice Home Warranty.
Choice Home Warranty’s terms and conditions are in its contract agreement, and it is highly recommended that potential customers read the entire document before agreeing to it. Yearly renewal will be automatic unless you cancel in advance.
Is Choice Home Warranty for Me?
Choice Home Warranty’s coverage offerings are in line with those of most of its competitors. It operates nationwide, with the exclusion of California, and is available in the District of Columbia. It has a choice of coverage plans with some customization features, and will automatically renew itself unless you cancel — all pretty standard fare in the industry.
If online reviews and legal issues with advertising practices in New Jersey are of concern to you, it is probably better if you do more comparisons before deciding. Choice Home Warranty has gotten itself into a reputation quagmire, which doesn’t foster consumer confidence.
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.