Service technician fixing a range hood — Rockaa/iStockphoto

Service call fee:

Choice Home Warranty

Choice Home Warranty is a New Jersey-based home warranty provider with nearly nationwide coverage. Its combination plans and generous coverage limits can provide financial protection for budget-conscious homeowners who can’t afford to repair or replace their home systems or appliances unexpectedly.

Choice Home Warranty at a glance

Choice Home Warranty did not make our list of the best home warranty providers, namely due to an ongoing class-action lawsuit that began in 2019. Here are a few essential details about Choice Home Warranty (CHW):

Fast facts

Choice Home Warranty is a New Jersey-based home warranty company that offers services in every state except California.
Choice Home Warranty provides combination coverage for your home’s essentials, often for less than $50 for the Basic Plan and $60 for the Total Plan.
CHW is not accredited or rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
The company provides home warranty services in California through the Home Service Club of California, Inc.
In 2024, Georgia’s Safety and Fire Commissioner issued a cease-and-desist to Choice Home Warranty, which prevented the company from selling new policies in the state.

What we like

Choice Home Warranty offers longer workmanship guarantees than the industry-standard 30 days. It offers a 60-day guarantee for labor and a 90-day guarantee for parts. I also like that the online quote process is quick and convenient and that you can buy policies immediately. Customer service is available 24/7 for questions, purchases and claims.

What we don’t like

CHW’s customization opportunities are limited because of its combination plans — you can’t buy appliance-only or systems-exclusive plans.

Choice Home Warranty isn’t transparent about the company’s history, location and other corporate details. None of this information is spelled out on the company website, and you have to look hard to find out these basic details. I also ran into issues when contacting customer service about ongoing legal issues. When asked, company representatives weren’t informed about pending legal actions.

*BBB ratings are accurate as of September 2024.

Choice Home Warranty pros and cons

CHW’s services and terms may not be the best fit for all homeowners, so consider the pros and cons of what it protects and doesn’t. Choice Home Warranty delivers more than the standard warranties, has generous coverage limits and responds to issues quickly.

However, the company offers only combination coverage, sometimes excluding vital appliances and systems, with little room for customization. The company is also dealing with pending legal cases in multiple states.

Pros

60-day workmanship guarantee for labor and 90-day workmanship guarantee for parts
Responds to claims within four hours
$3,000 coverage cap per covered item for most items

Cons

Basic plan doesn’t cover air conditioning, refrigerator or laundry machines
Pending legal actions in Arizona and Georgia
Can’t buy appliance-only or systems-only policies

How much does Choice Home Warranty cost?

Home warranty companies set their prices based on your location, your home size and the plan you pick. So, comprehensive plans cost more than basic plans. Choice Home Warranty offers two plans, both of which cover a combination of built-in systems and appliances.

The plans have a $100 service call fee, which you’ll pay directly to your service technician at your appointment. You must pay a service call fee each time you file a claim unless the covered item has been serviced within the last 90 days. In that case, CHW’s workmanship guarantee covers the fee.

When you buy a plan, you can split payments into more affordable monthly installments or pay for the policy up front. You’ll receive an extra month of free coverage if you choose the latter option.

The prices in this section are based on quotes for a single-family home smaller than 5,000 square feet located in Edison, New Jersey, home of Choice Home Warranty. Your costs will differ if you live in a larger home or in another area. These prices exclude optional add-on costs.

What services does Choice Home Warranty offer?

Choice Home Warranty offers two plans. The Basic Plan doesn’t cover some essential items, such as washers and dryers, refrigerators or air conditioning systems. The Total Plan provides more comprehensive coverage.

Like many home warranty providers, Choice Home Warranty has a 30-day waiting period. After you buy a policy, you won’t be permitted to file a claim for the first 30 days. Choice Home Warranty may waive the waiting period if you can show previous coverage with no lapses from another home warranty provider.

Choice Home Warranty services

Choice Home Warranty add-ons and optional features

Choice Home Warranty doesn’t publicize its add-on costs because availability and pricing depend on your location and property type. I recommend requesting a quote to understand your costs for your desired coverage better.

Pool/spa

Pool and spa coverage applies only to in-ground pools and spas. It protects above-ground components of the heating, pumping and filter systems. The add-on policy doesn’t cover lights, liners, jets, ornamental fountains, pool covers and related equipment, cleaning equipment, fuel storage tanks or saltwater components.

Central vacuum

The central vacuum add-on covers all mechanical components of the system, but it doesn’t cover ductwork, hoses, blockages or accessories.

Second refrigerator or stand-alone freezer

This add-on covers all mechanical parts and components of a second refrigerator or stand-alone freezer. It doesn’t cover smart features.

Well pump

Well pump coverage applies to all parts and components of your well pump if it services your main dwelling. The add-on covers up to $500 to access, diagnose and repair the issue.

Limited roof leak

The roof leak add-on is only available for single-family homes. It protects shake, shingle and composition repairs to the roof over the main living structure. Detached structures are excluded. Home Choice Warranty caps roof coverage at $500, and it won’t pay out if the roof must be partially or completely replaced.

Sump pump

This additional policy protects permanently installed sump pumps that redirect groundwater but doesn’t cover portable pumps and backflow preventers.

Septic system

Choice Home Warranty’s system add-on pays up to $500 to access, diagnose and repair the sewage ejector pump, control box, aerobic pump or jet pump.

Septic tank pumping

With this add-on, homeowners with a septic system enjoy protection should a main line blockage occur. If the blockage causes a water or septic backup, Choice Home Warranty will pay for one septic tank pumping per plan term. Coverage is capped at $250.

What does Choice Home Warranty not cover?

Home warranties protect home systems and appliances when they break down because of normal everyday use. But all warranty plans have exclusions and limitations. Choice Home Warranty breaks down all its coverage limitations in its sample contract.

Here’s a review of the company’s stand-out exclusions. Its home warranties don’t cover the following:

Any item covered by a manufacturer or distributor warranty
Any item where the manufacturer has issued a recall
Code, zoning or permit costs
Commercial properties and equipment
Costs that exceed outlined coverage caps for each item
Disposal or haul-away of components or covered items
Known or unknown preexisting conditions
Malfunctions because of misuse, abuse or neglect
Multi-unit properties
Routine maintenance
Smart-home components and solar systems
Upgrades or modifications required to fit mismatched appliances or systems

Choice Home Warranty customer experience

While I had no issues getting a representative on the phone at different times of the day, some reviewers complained of difficulty scheduling with a local contractor after the company had initially responded to the claim.

Not all customers had complaints. For instance:

Service has improved so much. My claim was handled rapidly. The technician called on the appointed day and let me know when he would arrive. He had the necessary tools to solve the problem without having to leave and come back.

–– Elaine F., via Trustpilot (June 2024)

However, there were just as many dissatisfied customers. Some reviewers cloaked their negative reviews with high-star reviews because they worried the lower-star reviews weren’t being heard. For example:

We have had a problem with our ice maker since Feb 2024. Choice sent out appliance repair people who are slow to respond and then charges another $75 service fee when they don’t fix the issue and it’s been over 30 days. So almost 6 months and $150 later and I still have a refrigerator that doesn’t make ice. I would advise anyone to go with a home warranty plan where a one time service fee covers that problem until it is fixed 100%.

–– Anonymous Customer via Trustpilot (June 2024)

Additionally, CHW has dealt with multiple legal actions, including a class-action lawsuit in Arizona and a cease-and-desist case in Georgia, citing bad-faith claims denials and insufficient surety coverage. When I called to ask for more information about these legal actions and the company’s attempts to remedy them, several representatives denied the pending legal actions or said that they were already resolved.

The fine print: Terms and conditions you should know

Choice Home Warranty’s sample contract isn’t as transparent as those of other home warranty providers, such as Cinch Home Services or American Home Shield, our team has reviewed. While other providers explicitly state the covered and not covered items and scenarios, Choice Home Warranty only names the covered components, which can lead to confusion.

We’ve highlighted a few notable terms and conditions so you can be armed with information throughout the home warranty shopping process.

Details to know include:

Add-ons each have specific coverage caps. For instance, well pump coverage is capped at $500 per plan term.
All covered items have a $3,000 coverage limit unless explicitly stated elsewhere.
Plans exclude shared systems unless an entire building is covered by a Choice Home Warranty policy, making it a less-than-ideal choice for condo owners.

Choice Home Warranty vs. competitors

When shopping for a home warranty, call a company representative with a sample contract in front of you. If you have a specific item or system that’s a priority for you, such as your HVAC system, ask about that component and specific scenarios to see if you will enjoy coverage.

Choice Home Warranty didn’t score high enough in our rating system to earn a spot on our best home warranty companies of 2024, and because of pending lawsuits and other legal action, I can’t recommend it.

Choice Home Warranty could be a good fit for customers looking for competitively priced plans with relatively high coverage limits. Both of Choice’s plans protect a combination of appliances and systems, but only the Total Plan covers washing machines, a refrigerator and cooling systems.

However, the company’s $100 service call fee is higher than those of companies like Select Home Warranty or American Residential Warranty, both of which offer lower fees and more comprehensive plans. Select Home Warranty’s service call fee is $75, which is typical across the home warranty industry. American Residential charges only $55 per claim, which is an outlier.

Choice Home Warranty competitor comparison

*As of 2024, Georgia’s Safety and Fire Commissioner issued a cease-and-desist to Choice Home Warranty, which forbids the company from selling new policies in Georgia.

Methodology

Our team analyzed more than 1,500 data points from dozens of home warranty providers so we could deliver unbiased and informed recommendations to our readers. We assessed each provider’s coverage options and pricing to determine its value. We also researched each company’s guarantees, including money-back and workmanship windows.

Next, we evaluated each company’s reputation within the industry by reviewing its BBB profile, customer reviews and pending legal actions. We secret-shopped providers by requesting quotes and interfacing with customer service representatives to better understand the company’s transparency, helpfulness, wait times, nationwide availability and flexibility for different types of properties.

We regularly update our findings, connect with industry experts and monitor current events to ensure we’re informed about the items and terms most important to our readers.

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Choice Home Warranty review: A comprehensive guide to cost and coverage