When you sign up with Choice Home Warranty, you’re basically getting an extended warranty for your home appliances and systems. You can choose to pay for a full year upfront or opt for monthly payments. If something like your water heater breaks down, you file a claim, and they’ll arrange for a local technician to come out. You’ll just pay a service fee at the time of the visit, and if it’s covered, that’s all you’ll pay. Note that pre-existing conditions aren’t included in the coverage.
While Choice Home Warranty doesn’t require a home inspection before you can get coverage, there are still some snags in the contract that can prevent your claim from being accepted. Here are some examples of things Choice Home Warranty contracts don’t cover:
- Routine maintenance or repairs due to misuse, abuse, or physical damage (like dents or scratches)
- Upgrades or modifications due to incompatibility
- Manufacturer’s recalls or defects under warranty
- Code violations or cost to meet new building requirements
Permits - Electronic energy management, lighting systems, and solar systems
- Disposal fees
- Service provider’s negligence or conduct
- Commercial properties or equipment
- Delays due to uncontrollable events (e.g. labor strikes, pandemics)
- Attorney fees, indirect, or punitive damages
Remember, though, that these aren’t necessarily a point against CHW. All of these limitations and exclusions are pretty common with home warranty companies. In fact, Choice Home Warranty has fewer exceptions and limitations than we’ve seen in other home warranty contracts.
The Choice Home Warranty contract also lays out its coverage “caps.” Caps are how much they will cover for repairs and replacements on certain items.
Here’s the coverage cap information we gathered from the CHW:
- They will pay up to $3,000 to repair or replace an item, as long as they don’t list a lower cap in your contract.
- Limited roof leaks are covered up to $500.
- Well pump coverage is capped at $500 for diagnosis and repairs.
- Septic tank pumping is covered up to $250.
- Septic systems are capped at $500.
- Sprinkler systems are covered for up to $500.
- Stand-alone ice makers have a cap of $500.
- Trash compactors are covered for up to $500.
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