American Residential Warranty Review

American Residential Warranty Ratings at a Glance

American Residential Warranty provides home warranty policies throughout the United States. Before discussing home warranty policies and their inclusions and exclusions, it’s important to address what a home warranty usually does and doesn’t cover.

A home warranty is a type of subscription home protection that helps you cover repairs and replacements that wouldn’t be covered by your homeowner’s insurance protection. Your home warranty policy might cover your home’s major appliances (like your stove and your exhaust hood), home systems (like an air conditioning and electrical system) or both. Some companies also offer extended protection for things like electronic systems and countertop appliances.

When you sign onto a home warranty policy, your plan will include a list of covered components. You will only be able to claim repairs and replacements on the specific items listed in the terms of the policy — so if you want to be sure a specific component of your home is covered, ensure it’s laid out in the policy. Similarly, your policy will also include a list of situations when you can use your coverage, similar to the perils listed on a homeowner’s insurance policy.

You can use your residential warranty to correct problems with your home components not covered under homeowner’s insurance. For example, you might own a home with an older internal air conditioning system that suddenly stops working one day. With a home warranty, you can receive a deeply discounted repair or replacement for the system, even if it stopped working due to normal wear and tear.

American Residential Warranty provides three home warranty policy options: Kitchen Plus, Platinum Premium and the 4-in-1 Bundle. Let’s take a closer look at what’s included in each plan.

Kitchen Plus

The Kitchen Plus plan is American Residential’s most basic and affordable policy offering, covering only a few major home components. The Kitchen Plus policy focuses on protecting the major investments you make in your kitchen, as well as the electrical system that powers these appliances. This plan includes coverage for the following.

• Interior electrical system
• Refrigerator
• Range
• Oven
• Cooktop
• Dishwasher
• Built-in microwave
• Garbage disposal
• Kitchen exhaust fan
• Water heater

Platinum Premier

The Platinum Premier plan extends coverage to include more of your home’s major systems. The plan includes coverage for all of systems and appliances found on the Kitchen Plus plan, in addition to the following.

• Central air conditioning
• Central home heating
• Humidifier
• Plumbing (both the system itself and stoppages)
• Ductwork
• Garage door opener  
• Ceiling fans

This is the company’s most popular home warranty option. 

4-in-1 Bundle

The 4-in-1 Bundle includes every component on the Platinum Premier plan plus the following.

• Clothing washer
• Clothing dryer
• Air conditioning refrigerant and coils
• Refrigerant recapture
• Plumbing faucets and fixtures
• Coverage for permits and code updates after local government determines that there is a violation on your property
• Toilets and internal mechanisms
• Improper installation
• Mismatched systems
• Garage door springs and tracks
• Water and sewer lines

In addition to your home’s systems and appliances, the 4-in-1 Bundle also includes American Residential’s “Ultimate Electronics Protection” package. This feature extends your home warranty coverage to include protection for appliances like laptops, flat-screen televisions and gaming consoles.

No matter which policy you choose, you’ll pay a monthly premium to maintain your coverage each month as well as a per-incident service fee. Be sure to consider this service fee when you determine the true cost of your plan.

When you need to use your coverage, you’ll file a claim with American Residential Warranty via phone. The company will assess your claim and determine whether or not you’re covered under your policy. If the requested appliance or system is covered under your policy, American Residential will dispatch a service professional to provide your repair or replacement. The company aims to provide standard response services in 48 hours and emergency service within 24 hours of approving your claim.

Unlike most home warranty companies, American Residential Warranty does not require you to sign a long-term contract to begin coverage. You can cancel your service at any time, and your contract renews on a month-to-month basis. However, policies do include a 30-day waiting period before you can begin using your benefits. This period remains in place to avoid covering pre-existing conditions that were already present in your home before you signed up for coverage. 

One area where American Residential Warranty can afford to improve its offering is within its customer service department. Currently, the company only offers one point of contact that customers can use to ask questions about their policies and file claims. To get in touch with American Residential via phone, call 1-888-508-8886. Customer service and claims reporting are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Like most home warranty service providers, American Residential also offers an FAQ section that you can use to explore some of the most common inquiries the company receives. However, this FAQ is not as robust as that of competitors, and only covers a few basic areas of service. Policy terms and conditions are available online, which you can explore before committing to a policy or contacting a representative. In the future, American Residential can focus on improving customer convenience by offering online claims service and a more comprehensive FAQ section. 

American Residential Warranty prices its plans based on your individual property, and you must consult with a representative to find out exactly how much you’ll pay for your coverage.  Depending on the plan that you choose, you can typically expect to pay between $34.99 to $134.99 for coverage, but policies may extend outside of these boundaries depending on where you’re located. Optional coverage add-ons (like electronic coverage on Kitchen Plus and Platinum Premier plans) begin at $24.99 per month. These prices are competitive when compared to other home warranty service providers offering similar plans.

In addition to your monthly premium, you’ll also pay a $55 to $75 service fee each time you use your coverage. The service fee you’ll pay will vary depending on where you live. This fee is lower than most other home warranty companies, which may require a service fee as high as $125 per visit. Keep in mind that your service fee is due every time you call — it’s not like a health insurance deductible, which you must meet only once. 

American Residential Warranty offers a number of benefits to its customers that are above and beyond the company’s competitors. Some of the most unique benefits offered by American Residential’s policies include the following.

• Month-to-month contracts: When you buy a home warranty policy from American Residential, you aren’t locked into a long-term contract. If you aren’t satisfied with the benefits you’re getting from your policy, you can cancel at any time without paying for months of coverage you no longer want or need.  
• Affordable pricing: Premiums on American Residential policies start at less than $35 per month, and you could pay as little as $55 each time you use your policy. This rate is more affordable than most other home warranty policies on the market.
• 24/7 customer service: American Residential offers 24/7 claims reporting and customer service, meaning that you have assistance standing by at all hours of the day or night.

American Residential Warranty’s policies are straightforward and easy to understand. Its plan comparison chart clearly lays out the differences between each policy option, making comparison shopping simple. You can view a sample contract for any state in the country without committing to a policy or requesting a quote, which can be an invaluable asset when comparing policies between companies.

Though you cannot get a quote online, American Residential’s contact request form is easy to use. The company aims to respond to all non-emergency claims and inquiries within 48 hours. In the future, American Residential can improve its usability by adding the ability to file claims and contact customer support online. 

American Residential Warranty vs. Competitors

While American Residential Warranty provides multiple policy options that will fit with most residential homeowner’s insurance policies, they aren’t the only home warranty provider offering coverage. Competitors like Choice Home Warranty, Liberty Home Warranty and Old Republic Home Protection also offer a host of home warranty coverage options throughout the country.

Benzinga offers insights and reviews on the following home warranty companies. Consider beginning your search for the right coverage with a few of the links below. 

American Residential Warranty provides affordable home warranty policy options in all 50 states. Though you cannot currently sign up for a policy or get a custom quote online, submitting a contact request form takes only a minute. Policies are affordable when compared to other home warranty service providers, and the company’s $55 service fee is also lower than competitors. This feature can make American Residential a viable option for anyone looking to extend their homeowner’s insurance protection without breaking the bank.

To get the most benefit from your plan, you may want to consider the 4-in-1 Bundle, which includes coverage for a range of electronic devices. While you can cancel your American Residential Warranty at any point because there are no long-term contracts, note that every new policy comes with a 30-day waiting period before you can use your benefits. Be sure to carefully read the terms of your policy to be sure what is and isn’t covered under the coverage you’ve selected.

Frequently Asked Questions