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A home is more than just a place to live. It’s a place for people to build their lives, from relaxing after a long day of work to creating lasting memories with loved ones. For many Midwesterners, homes are also an incredibly valuable financial asset. It’s for this reason that some homeowners in Indiana decide to invest in a home repair warranty, which protects the home’s major systems and appliances in the event that repairs or replacements are needed.
But with a long list of home warranty companies to consider, it can be difficult for Indiana residents to know which plan and provider is right for them. The top home warranty providers can offer several benefits that may appeal to different homeowners. To help shoppers land on the right option for their particular situation, this guide covers everything prospective customers need to know about the best home warranty companies in Indiana.
- BEST OVERALL: AFC Home Club
- RUNNER-UP: American Home Shield
- BEST CLAIMS PROCESS: Cinch Home Services
- BEST ADD-ON COVERAGE: Liberty Home Guard
- ALSO CONSIDER: Select Home Warranty
What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Home Warranty Companies in Indiana
From home systems to home appliances, warranties can provide valuable peace of mind for the customers who opt for them, promising to protect the valuable assets that keep their homes running. But home warranty services can vary significantly from one provider to another, so to choose the best provider and plan for their needs, Indiana homeowners will need to consider a variety of factors, including coverage options, coverage amounts, workmanship guarantees, and costs.
Policies and Plans
To compare home warranty providers, one of the first factors homeowners will likely want to note is each company’s coverage options. Many home warranty companies offer multiple policy tiers for homeowners to choose from, with coverage options ranging from basic to comprehensive. Customers looking for extended home warranty coverage may want to consider purchasing service add-ons for repairs that may not be covered under a standard plan—sump pump and stand-alone freezer repairs, for example.
However, the specific home warranty plans available will depend on the provider. Each offers its own unique blend of standard coverage and add-on coverage options homeowners may be able to use to cover additional items throughout their home. To select the plan that best aligns with their specific needs, homeowners will therefore need to understand the coverage options available with each company on their short list.
Jessica Field, vice president and chief sales officer at American Home Shield, offers some worthwhile advice on weighing coverage options and selecting a policy. “It’s important to prioritize coverage of systems that impact the key functions of your home or any components [that] may lead to safety issues, such as electrical systems,” she says. “The good news is, homeowners can customize their plan and can opt to include larger systems, like a pool or spa.”
Maximum Coverage Limit
Home warranty coverage limits are another important factor to weigh, as the maximum coverage limit on a home warranty refers to the total amount the company is willing to pay for repairs on covered systems and appliances. Coverage limits matter because they can directly impact out-of-pocket costs, as homeowners may be on the hook to pay the difference in cost if they find themselves in need of repairs that exceed their coverage cap. But coverage limits can vary significantly from one company to another, and while some may apply these limits per item, others may set one coverage cap for the entire policy term. For this reason, homeowners will need to understand their coverage limit ahead of time.
Average Monthly Rate
When homeowners are comparing home warranty options, cost considerations are often a top priority. But to choose a home warranty to fit their budget, homeowners must first understand the total cost of coverage with each home warranty provider. Average monthly rates can help in this task, giving prospective customers a sense of how affordable each company’s plans are before accounting for add-ons, discounts, and other factors.
Monthly rates represent the up-front costs of a home warranty. Homeowners pay monthly rates in return for their home warranty coverage. Although the exact rate a homeowner pays will depend on several factors, average monthly rates can give homeowners an easy way to assess the overall affordability of each home warranty company across its different policy tiers.
Discounts
Budget-minded homeowners may be happy to learn that many home warranty companies offer discounts they can use to potentially lower the total cost of their home warranty coverage. But much like many of the other factors to consider, the specific discount opportunities available will vary between providers. Some home warranty companies may provide few—if any—discounts, while others may consistently offer discount opportunities all year round.
From limited time, promotional discounts meant to attract new customers to discounts offered as a reward for customers who pay up front for their policy, potential savings opportunities could significantly lower the cost of a home warranty. Homeowners looking for the best deal on their coverage will want to be mindful of these discount opportunities throughout their home warranty search.
Service Fee
If average monthly rates represent the price homeowners pay for their home warranty coverage, service fees represent the price they pay to actually use that coverage. Homeowners pay service fees when scheduling repairs on covered systems and appliances. While these fees are paid less frequently than monthly rates, service fees are still an important factor to consider, as they can present an unexpected out-of-pocket cost for homeowners who are not prepared for them.
Service fee costs can vary between home warranty companies, with some standardizing one fee across all policies and others allowing customers to choose from a small range of service fee options. Homeowners given the opportunity to select their service fee will want to note that choosing a lower fee typically results in paying a higher monthly rate, so they may want to consider their options carefully to find the right balance between up-front costs and out-of-pocket expenses owed down the road.
Waiting Period
Homeowners eager to put their home warranty to use will want to be aware that this type of coverage typically begins with a waiting period, during which they will be unable to submit any repair requests. Although waiting periods are common and usually relatively short at around 30 days, this can still present a potential gap in coverage that homeowners may be eager to avoid.
Some home warranty companies may allow new customers to bypass the standard waiting period under certain circumstances. For example, customers switching from another provider may be able to skip the waiting period by showing proof of their previous policy, and other customers may be able to achieve the same result by agreeing to an inspection of their home systems and appliances. However, waiting periods will vary depending on providers, so homeowners looking to avoid any potential coverage gaps will want to pay attention to this detail.
Claims Process
When a critical home system or appliance breaks down, homeowners with a home warranty will need to submit a claim to schedule the necessary repairs. But the home warranty claims process can be quite different from one provider to another. Indiana homeowners may find that the amount of time it takes to process a claim, how technicians are selected, and even how claims are submitted can all vary.
While home warranty company reviews may shed some light on the typical customer experience, analyzing the claims process is one of the best ways for homeowners to make sure they end up with a company they can trust. Otherwise, they could find themselves navigating a complicated or slow claims process that stands in the way of scheduling much-needed repairs.
Workmanship Guarantee
If initial repairs fail to resolve the underlying issue with a covered system or appliance, homeowners who contact their home warranty company to schedule additional repairs may be on the hook to pay an additional service fee—unless they are protected under the company’s workmanship guarantee.
A workmanship guarantee protects repairs on covered items for a specific period of time, ranging from as little as 30 days to up to several years, depending on the company. Because workmanship guarantees can directly impact out-of-pocket costs, homeowners won’t want to overlook this detail when comparing home warranty providers.
Our Top Picks
When picking the best home warranty companies for Indiana residents, prospective customers may want to weigh a variety of factors—ranging from costs to coverage—to determine which companies offer the best overall value to homeowners in the Hoosier state.
Best Overall
AFC Home Club
Why It Made the Cut:
With locked-in rates, lengthy workmanship guarantees, and flexible options for homeowners to select technicians, AFC Home Club earns its spot at the top of this list.
New customers looking to avoid gaps in home warranty coverage may be able to achieve their goal by going with AFC Home Club, as the company offers to waive its standard 30-day waiting period for homeowners who agree to an inspection of their home systems and appliances. AFC Home Club also promises to lock in rates for new customers for up to 5 years, allowing homeowners to retain their original rate even if the company’s prices increase during that time. By locking in their monthly rate, Indiana homeowners could lower their long-term costs if they decide to stick with AFC Home Club for years to come.
Prospective policyholders will want to note that AFC Home Club will not accept any HVAC repair requests unless the homeowner can provide a satisfactory maintenance report from the previous 12 months, proving that the system was in good working order. While some customers may view this as an additional cost to bear, annual maintenance is often recommended for HVAC systems, so fulfilling this requirement could allow homeowners to prevent more costly issues from arising.
When scheduling repairs, AFC Home Club customers are given the flexibility to choose their own technician or let the company select one from its preferred network. Other membership perks include a workmanship guarantee that lasts the entire length of the customer’s policy. With policy terms ranging from 1 to 3 years, this is an impressively long guarantee, which means customers who opt for AFC Home Club won’t need to worry too much about paying additional service fees should they find themselves in need of follow-up work on covered repairs.
Specs
- Maximum coverage limit: $3,000
- Average monthly rate: $54
- Service fee: $75 to $125
- Claims process: Online, phone
- Workmanship guarantee: 1 or 3 years
Pros
- Customer-selected technician option
- 5-year guarantee on monthly rate
- Extremely long 1- or 3-year workmanship guarantee
- Waiting period waived with home inspection
Cons
- Annual HVAC maintenance required
Runner-Up
American Home Shield
Why It Made the Cut:
American Home Shield’s notable offerings include some unique standard coverage inclusions alongside robust HVAC protection, with high coverage limits and free or discounted tune-ups.
American Home Shield’s standard coverage includes protection on several items that many other home warranty companies would typically exclude. This includes coverage for home system and appliance malfunctions due to rust, corrosion, and sediment damage, as well as unknown pre-existing conditions. In this case, pre-existing conditions refer to mechanical failures that are not readily detectable through a visual inspection or a simple test of the system or appliance’s functionality. These standard coverage inclusions may help homeowners get more use out of their home warranty since they allow for more situations to submit repair requests.
Potential customers will want to be aware that American Home Shield’s workmanship guarantee is relatively short at just 30 days, which means homeowners will need to be diligent about checking their covered repairs to ensure the underlying issue is resolved before their guarantee expires. However, in place of a lengthy guarantee, the company offers other perks to its customers, including free or discounted HVAC tune-ups, depending on the policy tier.
Though the exact cost of an American Home Shield warranty will depend on several factors, based on average quotes, the company’s rates sit pretty high in the Indiana market at $83 per month. However, this higher cost could be due to the company’s coverage limits, which include a particularly high limit of $5,000 on HVAC systems. This amount of coverage may allow homeowners to cover more expensive repairs, and as a bonus, it’s available with even the most basic and affordable policy tier, so all American Home Shield customers can take advantage of these generous coverage limits on HVAC repairs.
Specs
- Maximum coverage limit: $5,000 (for HVAC repairs)
- Average monthly rate: $83
- Service fee: $100 or $125
- Claims process: Online, phone
- Workmanship guarantee: 30 days
Pros
- Relatively high $5,000 coverage limit on HVAC repairs
- Coverage for unknown pre-existing conditions included
- Rust, corrosion, and sediment coverage included
- Free or discounted HVAC tune-ups
Cons
- Relatively short 30-day workmanship guarantee
- Relatively high $83 average monthly rate
Best Claims Process
Cinch Home Services
Why It Made the Cut:
From low monthly rates to a speedy claims response time and standard coverage on rust, corrosion, sediment, and pre-existing conditions, Cinch Home Services is a versatile provider worth considering.
Based on average prices, Cinch Home Services can offer pretty competitive rates in Indiana, averaging $46 per month. Although homeowners could wind up paying more or less than this amount, depending on their coverage options, these prices indicate that Indiana customers may be able to get a good deal on their warranty by going with Cinch Home Services.
It’s important for homeowners to be aware that Cinch Home Services does not offer roof-leak coverage in any capacity. However, the company’s home warranties do include coverage on pre-existing conditions, which home warranty providers commonly exclude from their coverage. This coverage specifically refers to unknown pre-existing conditions that cannot be detected by a visual inspection or simple mechanical test. The company’s policies also cover issues due to rust and corrosion, adding even more value for Indiana homeowners.
Though the company’s service fees run a little high, with options ranging from $100 to $150, these higher costs may be worth paying in return for Cinch Home Services’ claims process, with the company vowing to begin contacting technicians within 2 hours of receiving a repair request. This rapid claims response time could make it easier for homeowners to handle urgent repairs without delay.
Specs
- Maximum coverage limit: $3,000
- Average monthly rate: $46
- Service fee: $100 to $150
- Claims process: Online, phone
- Workmanship guarantee: 180 days
Pros
- Coverage for unknown pre-existing conditions included
- Rust and corrosion coverage included
- Relatively low $46 average monthly rate
- Quick response within 2 hours of service request possible
Cons
- No roof-leak coverage available
- Relatively high $100 to $150 service fee
Best Add-On Coverage
Liberty Home Guard
Why It Made the Cut:
Liberty Home Guard gives customers dozens of service add-ons, several service fee choices, and multiple payment options to choose from, allowing homeowners to design their ideal home warranty.
With Liberty Home Guard, homeowners gain access to an extensive portfolio of coverage options, with more than 40 service add-ons customers can purchase to expand the scope of their home warranty policy. In Indiana, the most popular add-ons include coverage on stand-alone freezers, sump pumps, well pumps, septic system pumping services, and limited roof-leak repairs. Liberty Home Guard customers also have multiple service fee options to choose from, with fees as low as $60. Should they need to file a claim, homeowners who select this option may be able to reduce their out-of-pocket costs.
Liberty Home Guard’s user agreement states that certain repairs may only be covered up to $500 in the first 90 days, while other repairs may only be covered for up to $250 during that time. As such, homeowners may not be able to cover the full cost of repairs if a system or appliance breaks down within the first 3 months of their policy. Once this period has ended, Liberty Home Guard policies have a maximum coverage limit of $2,000. Though this may seem like a relatively low limit at first glance, it’s important to understand that this coverage cap is applied per item, not per term, so homeowners won’t need to worry about cumulative costs exceeding this amount.
Liberty Home Guard also gives its customers a variety of flexible payment options. In addition to monthly and annual payment plans, customers can choose to pay for up to 5 years of coverage up front. Customers who pay in full for an annual or multiyear policy will receive an additional 2 months of coverage at no extra cost. Meanwhile, homeowners who want to purchase a multiyear policy but are unable to pay in full up front can instead take advantage of the company’s interest-free payment plans, which could make it easier to budget for long-term home warranty coverage.
Specs
- Maximum coverage limit: $2,000 (per item)
- Average monthly rate: $55
- Service fee: $60 to $125
- Claims process: Online, phone
- Workmanship guarantee: 60 days
Pros
- Wide variety of service add-ons
- Low $60 minimum service fee
- Flexible payment plans
- 2 months of free coverage with annual payment
Cons
- Relatively low $2,000 coverage limit per item
- Some plans may restrict coverage limits until 90 days after policy inception
Also Consider
Select Home Warranty
Why It Made the Cut:
Free limited roof-leak coverage is just an added bonus with Select Home Warranty, where deal-seeking homeowners may be able to find frequent discount opportunities.
Budget-minded homeowners may be drawn to Select Home Warranty, where discount opportunities are plentiful. Customers searching for the best deal on their home warranty may find it on the company’s website, with frequent promotional discounts homeowners can use to potentially reduce the total cost of their coverage. Though the specific promotions available may vary throughout the year, these discounts can be sizable, giving Indiana customers plenty of opportunities to save money on their home warranty.
When repairs are needed, prospective policyholders will want to be aware that Select Home Warranty will only accept repair requests via email or through the online portal, meaning there is no option to submit a claim over the phone. This could be inconvenient for homeowners who prefer to speak directly with a representative to describe their issue, though submitting claims through digital channels may save homeowners time. After submitting their service request, homeowners will want to be prepared to potentially wait as long as 4 days for a response. However, it should be noted that this response time refers specifically to claims submitted on holidays or weekends, so claims submitted during regular business hours may be processed much faster.
Customers may get more value out of their home warranty by paying up front for their annual policy, with the company providing an additional 2 months of coverage free of charge. This offer can effectively reduce the total cost of coverage by giving homeowners 14 months of coverage for the price of 12. This coverage includes some roof-leak protection as an added perk as well. Because this type of coverage is typically only available as an extra add-on with many home warranties, Select Home Warranty’s free inclusion of limited roof-leak coverage is notable, especially because it is packed into every policy tier.
Specs
- Maximum coverage limit: $3,000
- Average monthly rate: $62
- Service fee: $75 to $100
- Claims process: Online, email
- Workmanship guarantee: 60 days
Pros
- Free limited roof coverage with every policy
- 2 months of free coverage with annual payment
- Frequent promotional discounts
Cons
- Relatively slow claim response of up to 96 hours after receiving service request
- No phone option for submitting claims
Our Verdict
We gave the award for Best Overall to AFC Home Club due to the company’s locked-in monthly rates, lengthy workmanship guarantees, and flexible option for customers to select their own technician for home repairs. The Runner-Up award goes to American Home Shield because of its standard coverage on rust, corrosion, sediment, and pre-existing conditions as well as its HVAC benefits, which include high coverage limits and free or discounted repairs.
How We Chose the Best Home Warranty Companies in Indiana
To determine the top home warranty companies in Indiana, we began by assessing each company’s available coverage options, including standard coverage terms and any service add-ons homeowners may be able to use to customize or expand the scope of their home warranty.
Cost considerations were another important factor, so we considered each company’s average monthly rates, service fees, and any potential discount opportunities to understand the total cost of coverage homeowners might incur. Last but not least, we weighed factors ranging from the claims process to the workmanship guarantee to understand the potential customer experience with each home warranty company.
Before You Choose One of the Best Home Warranty Companies in Indiana
Because no two home warranties are the same, homeowners will need to take the time to understand their specific home warranty needs before they will be able to choose from one of the best home warranty companies in Indiana.
After all, the best home warranty for buyers may differ from the best home warranty for sellers. Homeowners with aging systems and appliances may opt for one of the best home warranties for older homes, while others may be seeking coverage on a specific type of property, settling on one of the best home warranties for condo coverage. With home warranty programs varying so significantly from one provider to another, homeowners will need to determine their priorities before beginning their home warranty search.
Cost of Opting for One of the Best Home Warranty Companies in Indiana
Home warranty costs can be broken down into two main categories: monthly rates and service fees. These combined costs typically total between $264 and $1,425 annually, though the national average cost of a home warranty is $600 per year. Prices can vary from one state to another, though, and Indiana residents may find that home warranty rates in their area can be higher or lower than national averages.
In addition, because the exact price a homeowner pays for their coverage will depend on several factors, including the size of their home as well as the specific coverage options they select, obtaining home warranty quotes is the best way for homeowners to compare the costs of coverage between home warranty providers.
The Advantages of Opting for One of the Best Home Warranty Companies in Indiana
There are many reasons a homeowner might decide a home warranty is worth it for them. Whether they are concerned about old systems or looking to protect new ones, this type of coverage can provide valuable peace of mind to the homeowners who opt for it, regardless of their specific home warranty needs. Other benefits of selecting one of the best home warranty companies in Indiana include:
- Long workmanship guarantees that allow customers to schedule follow-up work on covered repairs at no additional cost;
- Robust standard coverage including protection for rust, corrosion, sediment, and pre-existing conditions, in some cases; and
- Speedy response times to service requests that allow customers to schedule repairs without delay.
FAQs
From reviewing ratings of home warranty companies to asking friends for personal recommendations, homeowners have a lot to consider when choosing from among the best home warranty companies. To eliminate uncertainty in the search, prospective customers can begin by reviewing the following frequently asked questions.
Q. How much does a home warranty cost in Indiana?
Based on the companies included on this list, an Indiana home warranty costs an average of $60 per month, though costs with other providers may vary.
Q. Is a home warranty required in Indiana?
Though home warranties are not required in Indiana, they can be a good investment for homeowners looking to protect their home’s major systems and appliances. Indiana homeowners may decide that they need a home warranty to help pay for repairs or replacements in the event these items break down due to age or normal wear and tear.
Q. What is the difference between homeowner’s insurance and a home warranty?
Unlike a home warranty, insurance protects the home from structural damage or loss of property due to theft, vandalism, wind, hail, and fire. When comparing home warranties vs. home insurance, it’s important to remember that home warranties exclusively cover wear and tear. With that in mind, pairing the two together can create an ideal home protection plan with more extensive coverage.