Servicemen tidying up after fixing an air conditioner. — fstop123 /iStockphoto

Founded in 1978, Cinch Home Services offers three distinct coverage plans in all 50 states. Homeowners can benefit from the company's flexible service fee options, 24/7 online claims portal, 180-day workmanship guarantee and additional benefits like a $25 credit toward air conditioning or refrigerator filters and a water leak sensor.

Cinch Home Services at a glance

Fast facts

Cinch Home Services operates in all 50 states and has a network of more than 18,000 contractors.
Cinch Home Services offers three plans and three service call fee options, giving customers more customization than some competitors.

What we like

Cinch offers multiple customer service avenues, including 24/7 online claims filing, an automated phone line for claims and opportunities to speak to representatives directly during business hours.
The company often responds to claims made during business hours in as little as two hours.

What we don’t like

Cinch’s service agreement gives the company a lot of authority over your home’s repairs. It requires you to use a contractor of its choosing and maintains sole discretion to decide whether to repair or replace a covered item.
The company’s coverage caps are inconsistent. For example, coverage for geothermal HVAC and concrete-encased ductwork is limited to $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, which is not enough money to replace those items if needed.

Cinch Home Services pros and cons

All home warranty companies have advantages and disadvantages. A significant upside of Cinch Home Services is its long 180-day workmanship guarantee, which protects homeowners for more time than other companies. It also covers preexisting conditions that aren’t obvious upon an inspection, and its multiple service call fee options give you more control over your monthly pricing.

Cinch Home Services doesn’t allow you to work with a contractor you choose. When you submit a claim, the company assigns you a service technician. Finally, Cinch offers only a few add-on coverages, which may suit some customers, given that its policies deliver broad coverage.

Pros

180-day workmanship guarantee, significantly longer than the 30-day industry standard
Covers unknown preexisting conditions and damage due to rust and corrosion
Flexible service call fees to adjust your monthly pricing to fit your needs

Cons

Can’t choose your contractor
Doesn’t offer many add-on options

How much does Cinch Home Services cost?

Cinch Home Services uses a dynamic pricing model that considers the location of the covered property, the selected plan and add-on options. So, pricing can vary significantly. The company also offers a flexible service fee, which means you can choose a fee based on how it fits your budget and affects your monthly or annual price.

Cinch allows homeowners to pay for their plan upfront or split premiums into monthly installments. However, paying upfront doesn’t result in a discount.

Here’s a sample quote for a single-family home in the 19008 ZIP code outside of Philadelphia. Exact pricing varies by location.

When you request a quote, Cinch says the $150 service call fee is the most popular option. You can conveniently compare costs by requesting a no-obligation quote online or by phone.

Savings and discounts

Cinch Home Services offers a few opportunities to save money. Here’s what we found:

Flexible service call fees: You can lower your premiums by selecting the $150 service call fee. Inversely, you can lower your service call fee if you’re willing to pay more for your overall policy.
Two months free: If you select the monthly billing option, Cinch will provide two months of coverage at no additional cost.

What services does Cinch Home Services offer?

Cinch Home Services offers three plans that cover appliances, built-in systems or a combination. Compared to other providers, Cinch covers more components and scenarios, including, but not limited to, unknown preexisting conditions and malfunctions due to rust and corrosion.

Beyond that, the company operates like any other home warranty provider. It covers damage to your covered items when it results from normal wear and tear but won’t cover anything related to improper repairs, insufficient maintenance or misuse.

Cinch doesn’t specify a waiting period in its service contract, but a customer service representative confirmed that it will provide these details to you before you buy your policy, and you will only be charged once your plan is active.

Cinch services

After selecting your plan, you can customize your policy with add-ons.

Cinch Home Services add-ons and optional features

For additional peace of mind, you can pay $12.50 monthly or $150 a year for the Premier Upgrade Package, which expands the coverage of the three base plans to include permits and code upgrades for the covered property.

Cinch will provide up to $500 toward non-covered charges if you have the appliance or built-in systems-exclusive plans. This allowance rises to $1,000 with the Complete Home Plan.

Customers can only file one Premier Upgrade Package Claim per policy term.

Other add-ons include

Pool: You can elect coverage for your in-ground pool, heater included, at $22 per month or $264 a year. This rider covers all above-ground heating, pumping and filtration components, up to $1,500 per policy term.
Spa: The spa add-on covers all above-ground components of your heating, pumping and filtration systems for the same price as the pool add-on. You have $1,500 in protection per policy term.
Pool with spa: If your pool and spa share components or are connected, you can select the pool with spa add-on for $22 per month or $264 annually. Like the separate add-ons, this option will cover all above-ground components of your heating, pumping and filtration systems.
Septic tank: For $4.58 per month or $55 annually, Cinch offers septic tank coverage as an option for new customers for one year. You can’t renew it after that. It will cover main line stoppages and one main line pump for up to $500. If you must replace the tank, Cinch will provide up to $1,000 toward that purchase.
Well pump: For $12.50 per month or $150 a year, Cinch covers all parts and components that help deliver water to your home. Coverage is limited to $1,500 per term, but there are a few notable exclusions, such as well casings and re-drilling of wells.

Cinch Home Services add-ons

What does Cinch Home Services not cover?

Home warranties don’t cover everything and it’s essential to understand your policy’s exclusions before making any assumptions.

Here’s a short list of some of the scenarios and items Cinch Home Services doesn’t cover:

Known preexisting conditions that someone can detect with a visual or mechanical inspection
Secondary damages caused by a covered item’s malfunction
Structural components of your home
Any system or appliance covered by another warranty or guarantee
Appliances and systems located outside the main dwelling
Minor systems and appliances, such as humidifiers, air purifiers and kitchen items that aren’t built-in

Cinch offers customer service options by phone, and existing customers can use the online portal to file claims and manage their accounts. We had no trouble getting a representative on the phone at all hours of the day. We even called at 10 p.m. on a weekend and spoke to someone on the claims hotline.

Cinch Home Services customer experience

According to our investigation into reviews on reputable sites, including BBB, Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs, subscribers have had varying experiences with Cinch Home Services. Some customers rave about knowledgeable representatives, efficient technicians and speedy claims processing, while others note difficulty getting a straight answer and delayed reimbursement for covered replacements.

Here’s a positive review from a customer who had their issue repaired on the same day they filed a claim:

We initially had some issues with our water heater, but Cinch called me directly and had the problem fixed that day. I appreciate their thoroughness in dealing with the matter.

Another customer had a very different experience, despite Cinch’s service contract stating it would respond to claims made during business hours within two hours and all other claims within 24 hours.

I have been out of a washing machine since November. After finally approving a payout for a replacement (after multiple delays and service visits), I still haven’t received my claim check… It’s now February.

The fine print: terms and conditions you should know

The most important thing any home warranty customer can do is thoroughly read the sample agreement for any company they’re considering. Cinch makes this process straightforward by displaying sample terms for each policy during the quote process.

Cinch lays out its terms in marked sections with a table of contents. The overall policy has a maximum payout of $10,000 per term, but appliances and systems have more specific coverage caps. For example, HVAC units and ductwork that require access through a concrete floor or wall will be limited to $1,000 to diagnose, access and repair the entire system to a rough finish. There are also limits on the number of HVAC units you can cover. In this case, it’s a maximum of two units per property.

Cinch Home Services vs. competitors

Cinch Home Services stands out amongst its competitors because its policies are not only comprehensive but also include uncommon perks, like a free water sensor that can detect leaks before they cause significant damage and a $25 reimbursement for air and water filters, which provides an incentive to keep up with your home maintenance. Similarly, Cinch offers a six-month workmanship guarantee, more than six times the length of the typical workmanship guarantee.

However, its service call fees are higher than those of other companies we reviewed. American Home Shield and AFC Home Club — companies that offer a similar flexible service call fee model — offer a $75 service call fee option, which is closer to the industry standard. For this reason, we wouldn’t recommend Cinch to homeowners whose budget is among their most pressing concerns.

Cinch Home Services competitor comparison

Methodology

The CNN Underscored team put ourselves in our readers’ shoes by thoroughly investigating home warranty companies’ backgrounds, including — but not limited to — existing customer reviews, secret shopping calls to representatives, Better Business Bureau profiles and past or present legal actions. We evaluate their coverage, property types, workmanship guarantees and limitations. We also request sample quotes and factor in the pricing and its value into our rating.

Our team developed a rating system that scores and weights nearly 1,500 data points to arrive at our picks for the best home warranty companies. We regularly update and fact-check our scoring system to ensure its accuracy and relevance to our readers. We also consult industry experts to gain insight and verify contract details further.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Ally Sabatina

Cinch Home Services review: A comprehensive guide to cost and coverage