Many homeowners are all too familiar with Murphy’s Law: what can go wrong will go wrong. For many homeowners, and especially those in the first year of owning a new home, a home warranty can save you money when things break.
If you’ve been wondering if you need a home warranty, we have good news. A recent Reviews.com survey on home warranties found most people are satisfied with their policies.
According to the results, 73% of U.S. adults who have purchased a home warranty and have filed a claim were satisfied with the outcome and 36% were very satisfied. In addition, 92% of Americans said all or most of the claims they submitted were approved.
For many Americans, a home will be the biggest purchase they ever make, so it can be worthwhile to consider purchasing a home warranty to protect it.
However, the survey results revealed most people don’t shop around for quotes when buying a policy. The survey found 30% of home warranty customers only considered a single provider, and 32% only considered two.
Art Chartrand, executive director of the National Home Service Contract Association, thinks consumers are missing out if they’re not shopping around.
“Consumers need to shop around – for everything. We (as in The National Home Service Contract Association) are a big believer in people being educated” Chartrand says “The better educated they are, the better we are … we have a pretty competitive industry out there, and it’s a good thing. You should get competitive quotes.”
At the beginning of the home warranty industry, contracts were purchased through real estate agents in connection with the sale of a home, says Chartrand. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing – agents generally knew who the good providers were. But now, it’s easy to shop around. Our guide to the best home warranty companies can help get you started.
But “don’t shop around just on price,” Chartrand says. “Price is one factor but … you want to make sure that these people are providing the experience and satisfaction … at the time you have a claim.”
In some cases, it may be hard to shop around because the home you’re purchasing comes with a home warranty policy.
In this case, it’s still a good idea to read the policy. Ray Carlisle, founder
Overall, our survey tells us most home warranty customers are satisfied with their plan.
“Before buying a home warranty, your biggest question is probably whether it’ll actually cover the things it’s supposed to,” says Adam Morgan, Senior Finance Editor for Reviews.com. “This survey confirms that most people are happy with their home warranty plans after submitting claims, which should put your mind at ease if you’re worried about whether a home warranty is worth the cost.”
For real estate agents and sellers, including a home warranty with the sale of the property provides real value for the buyer. “For the sellers offering [the policy] it’s a good marketing tool,” Carlisle says. “I don’t see a downside to the home warranty policy.”
Study Methodology
Reviews.com commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,584 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken Aug. 1-4. The survey was carried out online and meets rigorous quality standards. It employed a non probability-based sample using both quotas upfront during collection and then a weighting scheme on the back end designed and proven to provide nationally representative results.
What’s Next
Guides and Resources
- best home warranty companies
- Do I need homeowners insurance and a home warranty?
- if you need a home warranty
Provider Reviews
About the Authors
Alivia McAtee is a contributing writer for Reviews.com. When she isn’t covering the best services for Reviews.com, she’s probably running or eating dessert (because balance). Alivia’s current subscriptions she couldn’t live without include Amazon Prime, Birchbox, and Classpass.