keywords CHM - choice home warranty BBB - Better Business Bureau
Introduction
Customers who purchase Choice Home Warranty (CHW) benefit from comprehensive coverage at a low cost and are spared the expense of costly appliance and system repairs and replacements. To find out more about the plans, prices, and customer feedback, keep reading this review. Victor Hakim established Choice Home Warranty in New Jersey in 2008. For the repair and replacement of malfunctioning appliances or home systems, Choice offers home warranty service contracts. Choice serves more than 1.6 million homes through a network of more than 25,000 independent contractors in its customer service department. In this post, we examine Choice Home Warranty in-depth and examine how it stacks up against the competition.
What We Think about Choice Home Warranty
After examining dozens of home warranty providers, we determined that Choice Home Warranty provided nationwide availability, cheap plan options, and minimal service fees. The company’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating has been increased to D. (as of August 2022). According to a pattern of complaints, the BBB claims that CHW has continued to charge customers for services they have canceled and has made it difficult to get those expenses reimbursed.
A consumer fraud case against Choice Home Warranty was also brought by the Arizona Attorney General in 2019. In the latter half of 2021, a representative informed us that the business couldn’t comment on proposed laws, but that as of October 2021, 90% of the 1.1 million claims submitted in 2021 had been accepted.
Due to its affordable prices, quick response times reported by reviewers, and extensive coverage, Choice Warranty stands out as one of our top picks for the best home warranty providers. There are two options available from the company: a basic plan and a total coverage plan. The latter has an annual fee of $660, while the basic plan has a fee of $560. The service price for each plan is $85; this covers the cost of a professional’s visit and diagnostic testing to determine the issue with the targeted covered item.
Choice Home Warranty Plans and Coverage
The Basic Plan and the Total Plan are the two home warranty service options that Choice Home Warranty offers. Electrical systems and dishwashers are covered by the Basic Plan. Consider the Total Plan, which includes coverage for necessary equipment like a home’s air conditioner, refrigerator, washer, and dryer, for total safety.
Home appliances and systems are covered by a home warranty plan. It is frequently confused with home insurance, which generally includes damage from fire, flood, theft, and natural disasters and covers more of a home’s structural assets.
You can pick between the Basic and Total plans when you choose Choice Home Warranty for your coverage requirements. The majority of systems and appliances are covered by the Basic plan, but some of the larger ones, including the air conditioner, refrigerator, washing, and dryer, are not.
It makes sense to choose the Total plan if the manufacturer’s warranty on your refrigerator, washer, or dryer has expired and you’d like the security of more coverage.
Choice Home Warranty Plans
| Item Covered | Basic Plan | Total Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Heating System | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electrical System | ✔ | ✔ |
| Plumbing System | ✔ | ✔ |
| Plumbing Stoppage | ✔ | ✔ |
| Water Heater | ✔ | ✔ |
| Whirlpool Bathtub | ✔ | ✔ |
| Oven, Range, and Stove | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cooktop | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ |
| Built-In Microwave | ✔ | ✔ |
| Garbage Disposal | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ |
| Garage Door Opener | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ceiling and Exhaust Fans | ✔ | ✔ |
| Air Conditioning System | – | ✔ |
| Refrigerator | – | ✔ |
| Clothes Washer | – | ✔ |
| Clothes Dryer | – | ✔ |
Here’s more detail about what CHW specifically covers for a few items listed above:
- Plumbing system: Covers leaks and breaks of water, valves for shower and tub, and stoppages in lines up to 100 feet from an access point
- Air conditioning: Covers compressors and condenser coils
- Ceiling and exhaust fans: Covers motors, switches, controls, and bearings
Pros and Cons of Choice Home Warranty
✔ does not demand home inspections before coverage is initiated
✔ guarantees repairs for 90 days if a product malfunctions following a repair.
✘ does not permit clients to select their own technician
✘ has certain issues with its reputation that homeowners should be aware of before buying a plan
Choice home warranty additional protection
Customers of Choice Home Warranty have the option to pay an extra cost to obtain protection for items that are not included in the plans. We advise reading the user agreement carefully before buying a home warranty so that you are aware of the entire scope of coverage and what is and isn’t covered by your policy.
The following add-ons are also available for coverage:
- Pool and spa
- Central vacuum
- Second refrigerator
- Well pump
- Limited roof leaks
- Standalone freezer
- Sump pump
- Septic system
- Septic tank pumping
What choice home warranty does not cover
Preexisting ailments are not included in Choice Home Warranty’s coverage. It’s crucial to buy coverage before problems arise if you believe your home systems are old enough to start having problems.
Other items that are not covered include the following:
- Cosmetic items, such as knobs, rollers, handles, and doors
- Air conditioning maintenance and associated registers or grills
- Sediment build-up or reservoir tanks for water heater coverage
- Damage caused by acts of God, theft, fire, and storm damage
Choice Home Warranty Pricing
This Old House Reviews Team called Choice Home Warranty for a quote on a single-family home in Charlotte, North Carolina, and gathered the following data.
- Monthly Cost: $45–$55
- Annual Cost: $560–$660
- Optional Add-Ons (additional annual cost): $40–$180
- Service Fee Cost: $85 per claim
When a technician shows up to fix a problem, policyholders must pay the technician directly for the service price. The fee charged by Choice Home Warranty is in accordance with industry norms, which normally place service fees in the $75–$125 range. No matter how much the repair or replacement really costs, this charge still applies.
Reviews of a Choice Home Warranty
A home warranty provider’s performance can be estimated by looking into its web reputation. Customers have both good and bad things to say about CHW.
While surprise claim denials are a prevalent issue in negative reviews, other homeowners commend the organization for its rapid service. The failure of the provider’s suppliers to accurately detect problems has also been brought up by readers of This Old House, and our Reviews Team has also heard from clients who had difficulty receiving refunds after canceling services. The BBB also notes a pattern of customer complaints right now about costs that appear after cancellation and trouble getting refunds.
Conclusion
Choice Home Warranty provides two reliable plan choices if you’re looking for a fundamental plan. The supplier also does not reject coverage on the grounds of the age of your house. However, you should check customer evaluations and be alert for any troubling trends before selecting any service provider.
We advise getting at least three personalized estimates from reputable home warranty companies before selecting a plan.