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Choice Home Warranty Vs. Select Home Warranty

rachelm
Rachel Morey Updated: November 9, 2023 • 5 min read
select home warranty vs choice home warranty

A home warranty covers your home's appliances and other mechanical systems. Without a home warranty, if your furnace, air conditioner, water heater, refrigerator, or any other major system break down, you'll have to pay the cost to repair or replace them out-of-pocket. 

Buying a home warranty reduces your chances of having to pay for expensive repairs when your appliances and internal systems break down. When it's time to choose the best home warranty company, you have many options. 

While it's essential to choose a reputable company with excellent customer reviews and a history of paying claims, you also need an affordable home warranty with a comprehensive plan. It can be tough to balance all of those criteria, but Select Home Warranty and Choice Home Warranty are two significant players in the world of home warranty companies that stand out among the competition. 

It's safe to add both companies to your shortlist. Here's what you need to know about each of these home warranty companies before you decide which one best meets your needs. 

Home warranty vs homeowner's insurance

Your homeowner's insurance is different from a home warranty. Homeowner's insurance often has a deductible that is more than the cost to replace a broken appliance or system. It covers damage to your home resulting from common hazards such as fire, wind, weather-related incidents. 

Home warranty vs builder's warranty

If you have a newly-built home, you may also have a warranty from the builder. This plan typically covers workmanship and materials for most things included with the home during the first year. You may also have coverage for your HVAC systems, plumbing, and electrical systems for two years. A builder's warranty doesn't usually cover household appliances, though. Check your current coverage to make sure you don't pay for additional coverage on things that your builder's warranty handles. 

Choice Home Warranty vs. Select Home Warranty Basics

These two home warranty companies have a lot in common. There are a few differences worth noting, however. For example, Select Home Warranty offers a more robust promotional offer, but Choice Home Warranty has been in business for four years longer. 

$60-$75

Service Fees

$2,000 limit per system or $500 for appliances

Payout Cap

2 Free mo. + $150 Off + Free Roof Coverage

Promotions

3

Coverage

A nationwide network of licensed contractors

Contractors

Not Required

Home inspection

Yes

Other Fees

None

Origination Fee

None

Prepayment Fee

Per occurrence

Benefit Limit Type

B

BBB Rating

No

NHSCA MEMBER

Typically, under 24 hours

Response Time

12 months

Contract Length Available

Pros & Cons

drop-down-btn
  • con-icon Signup perks available, including $100 off per year or two months free
  • con-icon Free roof coverage available
  • con-icon Unlimited number of customer repairs available
  • con-icon Requires annual maintenance reports
  • con-icon Does not cover service from contractors outside their network

Plan Types

drop-down-btn

  • Gold Care Plan
    Pricing from $52.5 monthly/$629.99 yearly
  • Bronze Care Plan
    Pricing from $52.5 monthly/$629.99 yearly
  • Platinum Care Plan
    Pricing from $56.25 monthly/$674.99 yearly

Min $85

Service Fees

Maximum of $3,000 per item

Payout Cap

$50 Off + 1 Month Free!

Promotions

2

Coverage

Not Required

Home inspection

Yes

Other Fees

None

Origination Fee

None

Prepayment Fee

B

BBB Rating

No

NHSCA MEMBER

Home visit within 48 hours

Response Time

12 months

Contract Length Available

Pros & Cons

drop-down-btn
  • con-icon Multiple plans and customizable plans
  • con-icon Several add-on coverage options
  • con-icon First month free if you sign up for the year
  • con-icon Home inspections aren’t required
  • con-icon Available 24/7
  • con-icon If you’re paying month-to-month, there is no discount
  • con-icon Not available in every state

Plan Types

drop-down-btn

  • Basic Plan
    Pricing from $46 monthly/$560 yearly
  • Total Plan
    Pricing from $55 monthly/$660 yearly

SHW vs CHW Comparision

  Select Home Warranty Choice Home Warranty
Promotional Offer $100 off any plan + 2 months free + free roof leak coverage $75 + 1 month free*
Monthly Premium Cost $52.5-$56.25 $46-$55
Service Call Fee $75 per claim $85 per claim
Claim waiting period 30 days 30 days
Free Quote Yes Yes
Availability    
BBB Rating B B
Years in Business 8 12
Service Area Everywhere in the US except Alaska Everywhere in the US except California, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin)
Additional Fees $75 cancellation fee  

*Promotional offers change frequently, so please check each company's website to confirm their current offers before deciding. 

What Do Home Warranty Plans Cover?

Every home warranty company provides lists of specific items they cover under each tier of their plans. These coverages vary widely from one company to the next. You'll get a quote based on the coverage plan you want plus any additional coverage you choose. 

Choice Home Warranty Basic Plan covers:

  • Heating system
  • Electrical system
  • Plumbing system
  • Plumbing stoppages
  • Water heater
  • Whirlpool bathtub
  • Oven
  • Range
  • Stove
  • Cooktop
  • Dishwasher
  • Built-in microwave
  • Garbage disposal
  • Ductwork
  • Garage door opener
  • Ceiling fans and exhaust fans

The Choice Home Warranty Total Plan adds coverage for:

Air conditioner

  • Refrigerator
  • Clothes washer
  • Clothes dryer

You can choose these optional coverages with Choice Home Warranty plans:

  • Well pump
  • Septic tank pumping
  • Limited roof leaks
  • Pool and spa
  • Central vacuum
  • Second refrigerator
  • Stand alone freezer
  • Sump pump
  • Septic system

There are three options with Select Home Warranty plans. The Bronze Care plan offers coverage for:

  • AC/Cooling
  • Ductwork
  • Electrical system
  • Heating system
  • Plumbing system
  • The Gold Car offers coverage for:
  • Cooktop
  • Dishwasher
  • Garbage disposal
  • Built-in microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Stove
  • Oven
  • Clothes washer
  • Clothes dryer

The Platinum Care plan offers coverage for all appliances and systems included with the Bronze Car and Gold Car packages plus:

  • Garage door openers
  • Plumbing stoppages

You can choose up to 12 optional add-on coverages with your Select Home Warranty:

  • Stand alone freezer
  • Second refrigerator
  • Switches and outlets
  • Well pump
  • Sump pump
  • Plumbing fixtures
  • Refrigerator ice maker
  • Lawn sprinkler system
  • Lighting fixtures
  • Central vacuum
  • Septic system coverage
  • Pool and spa equipment

How To Get A Quote

Select Home Warranty and Choice Home Warranty both require you to give them your email address, zip code, and name before you can find out how much you'll pay for a home warranty. 

Home Warranty Price Ranges:

  • Select Home Warranty - $35 to $38 per month
  • Choice Home Warranty - $36 to $44 per month

The price ranges for each service are similar, but get quotes customized to your zip code, the size of your home, and any optional coverages you need before you make a decision. 

choice_l
Choice Home Warranty
  • Hassle-free 24/7/365 claims support
  • Superfast signup, starting with a free quote
Visit Site
liberty home guard
Liberty Home Guard
  • Plans starting at just $1/day!
  • 'A' grade from BBB with 4.65/5 Stars
Visit Site
select-home-warranty_l
Select Home Warranty
  • Highly rated and recommended by users
  • Flexible plans starting at $42/month
Visit Site

Home Warranty Claims Process

If you need to make a claim on your home warranty, you'll start by calling the 24/7 claim line to have a customer service rep open a claim for you. They'll assign a local professional to come out and take a look to see if you need a repair or replacement. Your home warranty company pays the costs associated with replacing or repairing the system or appliance, minus your service fee. 

Some customer reviews noted that Select Home Warranty paid only for the depreciated value of their irreparable appliances, instead of the replacement value. If you have older systems and appliances you want to cover with a home warranty, verify the claims payout policy with each company to avoid unpleasant surprises down the road. 

Home Warranty Company Customer Reviews

Choice Home Warranty has 12,900 reviews on Trustpilot. 64% of their customer reviews rate the company as "Excellent". Choice Home Warranty has responded to 95% of their "Bad" ratings within one week of the customer posting the negative review. 

Select Home Warranty has 1,289 reviews, 55% of which are "Excellent." This company hasn't replied to a negative review in more than 12 months. 

The Choice Home Warranty BBB profile shows a "B" rating from the organization. There were 7,063 complaints closed in the past three years. 

The Select Home Warranty BBB profile shows a "B-" rating with 4,132 complaints closed in the past three years. 

The COVID crisis has impacted many industries, including those that serve customers in their homes. Delays in getting a technician out to assess a broken appliance or system may be more common now than they were in the past. This could cause an uptick in negative reviews posted to sites like Trustpilot. 

 

How to Choose A Home Warranty Company

When choosing a home warranty company, evaluate your options based on more than a few reviews from a single website to make sure you get the best possible information. Get customized quotes so you understand the real monthly costs, instead of basing your decision on a range of costs. 

Both Select Home Warranty and Choice Home Warranty offer somewhat flexible plans in similar price ranges. Select Home Warranty has a 3.5-star average rating on Trustpilot, and Choice Home Warranty has a 3.9-star average rating. 

The differences between the company are subtle, but if you go into the process of understanding your needs, it should be easy to figure out which is the best home warranty for your household.

Article Topics

rachelm
Written by Rachel Morey

Rachel Morey is a journalist specializing in finance content. She has written for some of the major lenders in the online personal and business finance industry. She has been writing professionally for nearly a decade and has projects in print and broadcasting. A native Iowan, Rachel has a special fondness for the open roads of rural America.