With over 12 years of experience in business, Select Home Warranty is a well-known name in the home warranty industry. It’s available throughout almost the entire nation, and its coverage plans are fairly comprehensive. It has three to offer, including an appliance warranty, a system warranty and a complete package to cover both, as well as some supplementary coverage options.
While its services can be ideal for many homeowners, it lost points during our review due to some mixed-to-negative customer reviews. But we know that reviews don’t tell the whole story, so we performed a customer journey to learn more about Select.
Ultimately, we found that Select could be a great, affordable option for homeowners who are meticulous about record-keeping and maintenance. The relatively low monthly payment is a great deal for these folks.
Pros
- Affordable top tier package and all tiers come with roof coverage
- Generous coverage amount for HVAC systems
- Very simple quote and purchase process
Cons
- Poor customer reviews
- You can’t choose your own technician
- Strict with maintenance requirements
Table of Contents
- About Select Home Warranty
- Select Home Warranty Pricing
- Compare Select Home Warranty Plans
- Optional Add-Ons
- Securing a Home Warranty Plan: We Put Select Home Warranty to the Test
- What We Like About Select Home Warranty
- What We Didn’t Like About Select Home Warranty
- Payout Limitations and Other Considerations From Select Home Warranty
- Select Home Warranty Availability
- How Select Home Warranty Stacks Up
- Select Home Warranty Reviews and Experience
- Bottom Line: Is Select Home Warranty Right for You?
- Methodology: How We Rated Home Warranty Companies
One of the best ways to protect your wallet against unexpected issues around the house is with a home warranty. These policies can provide some peace of mind when an appliance or system stops working by shouldering the cost and finding someone to repair it. And that’s what Select Home Warranty does, protecting its customers if a covered appliance or system in their homes fails.
But is Select Home Warranty a decent company? Is it affordable, and what are the claims processes like? How hard is it to get a quote? In this Select Home Warranty Review, we’ll answer those questions and more. Keep reading to learn about this home warranty brand.
Featured Partners
1
Select Home Warranty
Plans Available
3
Response Time
Great
Number of States
46 + District of Columbia
2
Choice Home Warranty
Plans Available
2
Response Time
Excellent
Number of States
49 + District of Columbia
3
American Home Shield
Plans Available
3
Response Time
Excellent
Number of States
48 + District of Columbia
4
AFC Home Warranty
Plans Available
4
Response Time
Excellent
Number Of States
47 excl. WA, HI and CA
About Select Home Warranty
Select Home Warranty is a provider that offers policies to its customers to keep their home’s appliances and systems working. Unlike homeowner’s insurance, Select’s home warranties assist with repairing or replacing appliances and systems within the home. If something should break and it’s covered, the customer can file a claim, and if approved, Select will fix the issue, replace the problem item or reimburse the customer.
Select Home Warranty has been in business since 2011. The company headquarters are in Mahwah, New Jersey, and its services are available in 47 states and the District of Columbia. According to our research, the only states it doesn’t seem to serve are Nevada, Washington and Wisconsin. There is conflicting information about this, so be sure to check directly with the company first to confirm if your home is covered.
Select offers three coverage tiers: Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care. Bronze Care is the most basic, covering the majority of appliances in the home. Gold Care is also fairly basic, covering systems like electrical, plumbing, heating and HVAC systems. Platinum Care is comprehensive, encompassing both plans under one umbrella. There are also supplementary coverage options available.
Select Home Warranty’s monthly prices are around average, and the service fee isn’t extreme. However, Select can reportedly be a stickler for maintenance and may choose to deny a customer’s claim based on a lack of documentation.
Select Home Warranty Pricing
| BRONZE CARE | GOLD CARE | PLATINUM CARE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Per Month | $44.42+ | $44.42+ | $47.75+ |
| Service Fees | $60 - $120 | $60 - $120 | $60 - $120 |
Compare Select Home Warranty Plans
Finding the right home warranty is all about choosing a plan that fits your needs. Select Home Warranty has three plan options for customers to choose from, each covering different items within the home.
- Bronze Care is one of the two basic packages. It covers washers, dryers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, stoves, ovens, built-in microwaves, cooktops and dishwashers.
- Gold Care is the other basic option. This coverage plan covers air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical systems, as well as water heaters and ductwork.
- Platinum Care is the premium package, and it includes all of the Bronze and Gold items and more. It covers air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical systems. It also covers water heaters, plumbing stoppages, washers, dryers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, stoves, ovens, built-in microwaves, cooktops, dishwashers, ductwork, garage door openers and ceiling fans.
| FEATURE | BRONZE CARE | GOLD CARE | PLATINUM CARE |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC, cooling | No | Yes | Yes |
| Heating system | No | Yes | Yes |
| Plumbing system | No | Yes | Yes |
| Electrical system | No | Yes | Yes |
| Water heater | No | Yes | Yes |
| Plumbing stoppage | No | No | Yes |
| Clothes washer | Yes | No | Yes |
| Garbage disposal | Yes | No | Yes |
| Refrigerator | Yes | No | Yes |
| Stove/oven | Yes | No | Yes |
| Microwave oven (built-in) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cooktop | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dishwasher | Yes | No | Yes |
| Clothes dryer | Yes | No | Yes |
| Ductwork | No | Yes | Yes |
| Garage door opener | No | No | Yes |
| Ceiling fan | No | No | Yes |
Optional Add-Ons
Select Home Warranty also offers additional coverage for items not listed or protected under the three base plans. These items include:
- Central vacuum ($3.33 per month)
- Lawn sprinkler systems ($5.83 per month)
- Pools ($8.33 per month)
- Roof leaks ($0 per month)
- Septic System ($5.83 per month)
- Spa ($5.83 per month)
- Standalone freezer ($3.33 per month)
- Sump pump ($3.33 per month)
- Well pump ($3.33 per month)
It’s worth pointing out that roof leak coverage won’t cost the customer anything to add. Select is one of the only home warranty companies to offer roof leak coverage with its regular packages: Most don’t even offer it at all.
Securing a Home Warranty Plan: We Put Select Home Warranty to the Test
It was important that we tested Select Home Warranty to see how easy it was to navigate. We went through all of the steps up to actually purchasing the warranty to see what a warranty buyer’s journey looked like.
Getting a Quote
Getting a quote was very easy with Select Home Warranty. All that it required was basic information, such as the home’s zip code, some basic contact information (name, address, number and email) and pressing the submit button. The next screen brought us to a page explaining the three levels of coverage and their costs. There was also an additional section for adding individual supplementary insurance coverages.
Plan Selection
Plan and coverage selection is very straightforward. All that’s required is choosing your plan, entering any potential promo codes, adding any additional coverage and clicking the button that says “Next Step.”
Checkout
Checking out is just as simple as the rest of the process. The next page brings you to a credit card form. You can choose to pay for the plan monthly or select annual billing to receive two months free. Beyond that, there aren’t any other issues to contend with. We should note that we didn’t see any indication of the service fee associated with the plan we chose, though it’s unclear if you might see this after checking out.
What We Like About Select Home Warranty
There were quite a few things that we liked about Select Home Warranty. We appreciated that it was very easy to not only get a quote but also to navigate through the selection and purchase process.
Also, Select Home Warranty is one of the only home warranty companies to offer roof coverage with its plans at no additional cost. Most other home warranty companies don’t even offer roof coverage, so this is a major plus.
We haven’t gotten into them yet, but some of Select’s payout limitations are also quite generous: It offers up to $3,000 for HVAC repairs or replacement, for instance. While the company is known to be strict about maintenance, this limit is approximately $1,000 higher than most of Select’s competitors.
What We Didn’t Like About Select Home Warranty
Some issues need mentioning. For one, Select Home Warranty can be strict about standards for maintaining systems and appliances. If a homeowner files a claim, Select may demand to see paperwork documenting the proper maintenance performed on the device before it will repair or replace the item.
Also, Select Home Warranty isn’t clear about how much it charges for service fees. Most companies charge between $60 and $150 for a service call. Many have reported service fees from Select ranging from $60 to $120 based on factors like contract length.. Even within the process of securing a plan online, service fees weren’t clear before checkout, so this can be a major downside for those who value transparency.
Select doesn’t allow homeowners to choose their own technicians, which can be a dealbreaker for some, especially those who have used the same repair contractor for years.
Finally, online reviews for Select Home Warranty are fairly mixed. While it does have positive reviews, negative reviews refer to Select’s strict maintenance policy and complaints about communication and craftsmanship.
Payout Limitations and Other Considerations From Select Home Warranty
Home warranty companies have payout limitations. These limitations state that the warranty company will only pay a set amount toward the repair or replacement of an item within 12 months. Most often, they fall between $500 and $2,000, but Select Home Warranty has some generous terms.
- Any system without three years of maintenance records or pictures: $150
- HVAC and heating repair/replacement: $3,000
- Appliances: $500
- Electrical and plumbing systems: $500
- Additional coverage options: $400
- Freon: $200
Select Home Warranty Availability
Almost the entire country is eligible for a Select Home Warranty plan. The company appears to serve all states, excluding Nevada, Washington and Wisconsin, though this is another area where the company is a bit vague. It also covers Washington, DC, but not other territories.
How Select Home Warranty Stacks Up
| COMPANY | COVERAGE INCLUSIONS |
|---|---|
| Select Home Warranty | AC, cooling, heating system, plumbing system, electrical system, water heater, plumbing stoppage, clothes washer, garbage disposal, refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave oven(built in), cooktop, dishwasher, clothes dryer, ductwork, garage door opener, ceiling fan |
| American Home Shield | Shingles, tiles and shakes, flat (non-metal) roofing, flashing, underlayment, air conditioners, heating units, ductwork, built-in exhaust, vent & attic fans, main breaker & fuse panel box, doorbells, interior electrical, lines, ceiling fans, garage door openers, interior plumbing, lines, toilets, faucets & valves, whirlpool tub motor & components, water heaters, refrigerators, ranges/cooktops, ovens, dishwashers, built-in-microwaves, garbage disposals, instant hot/cold water dispensers, clothes washers, clothes dryers |
| Choice Home Warranty | Air conditioning system, heating system, electrical system, plumbing system, plumbing stoppage, water heater, whirlpool bathtub, refrigerator, oven/range/stove, cooktop, dishwasher, built-in microwave, garbage disposal, clothes washer, clothes dryer, ductwork, garage door opener, ceiling and exhaust fans |
*Note that these are the range of service fees we saw in our research for Select, but these can and will vary depending on many factors, including the length of your contract. Be sure to inquire with the company for more info.
Select Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield
Comparing Select to American Home Shield highlights some obvious differences. All of Select’s plans are close in price to the most affordable AHS plan. The top-tier AHS plan is almost twice as much. However, AHS is extremely comprehensive and the majority of its customers are happy with its services.
Learn more: American Home Shield review
Select Home Warranty vs. Choice Home Warranty
Select Home Warranty and Choice Home Warranty are both budget-friendly warranty plans. Both companies have similarly mixed reviews, but their plans are affordable and relatively comprehensive. Choice Home Warranty does boast a single service fee option and military discounts, which may put it over the edge.
Learn more: Choice Home Warranty review
Select Home Warranty Reviews and Experience
Online reviews can be a helpful resource when considering a home warranty company or any other service. While you should take them with a grain of salt, if you have specific things you’re looking for—or trying to avoid—looking into Select Home Warranty reviews is a good idea. Reviews about Select Home Warranty on sites like the BBB and Consumer Affairs are mixed to negative. Positive reviews mention an easy set-up process and good customer service, especially during follow-ups on repairs. There are also some negative reviews, with most of the issues coming from miscommunications and customers saying claims were not being paid.
Bottom Line: Is Select Home Warranty Right for You?
If you’re a meticulous recordkeeper and on a tight budget, Select Home Warranty might be the best option for you. As long as you’re able to present your maintenance records, items that are listed in your selected should be covered. Plus, you’ll benefit from no-cost, optional roof leak coverage as well.
However, if you’re not so great at keeping up with maintenance or you’d rather not deal with finicky claim disputes, you may want to consider another provider.
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Methodology: How We Rated Home Warranty Companies
To determine the home warranty companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 52 companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including years of experience, signup and restrictions, plan pricing, fees and discounts, coverage features, property coverage, customer reviews and support and nationwide availability.
You can find out more about how Forbes Home rates home warranty companies on our detailed methodology page.
All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does Select Home Warranty cost?
Select Home Warranty plans will vary in price, but according to our research, they will cost around $44 for the lower tiers and $47 for the premium plan. There are also a la carte coverage options available that shoppers can tack onto their base plans.
What does Select Home Warranty cover?
Select Home Warranty covers air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical systems, appliances, garbage disposals, ceiling fans, pools, roofs and other items.
Does Select Home Warranty cover roof leaks?
Yes. Select Home Warranty is one of the only warranty companies to offer roof leak coverage at no additional cost to its customers.
Are there any customer service complaints?
Yes, there are customer service complaints regarding Select Home Warranty. Complaints are often based on claims not being paid or miscommunications.
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