Best Home Warranty Companies in Idaho for 2023

Home warranties help cover the costs of repairing or replacing appliances and systems in your home that insurance does not. While they may not be worth it for everyone, if you’re considering one to cover your home appliances in Idaho, a number of companies offer plans in the state.

We evaluated the options available to Idaho residents and chose providers that stand out in a range of ways. Read on to find the best home warranty options in your state and to figure out if a home warranty is a good choice for you.

Table of contents

• Our top picks for the best home warranty companies in Idaho
• Best home warranty companies in Idaho reviews
• Best home warranty companies in Idaho guide
• Best home warranty companies in Idaho FAQ
• How we chose the best home warranty companies in Idaho
• Summary of Money’s best home warranty companies in Idaho 2023

Picks for the Best Home Warranty Companies in Idaho

• Best Overall: American Home Shield
• Best Workmanship Guarantee: Cinch Home Services
• Best Coverage Add-ons: First Premier Home Warranty
• Best for Availability: Choice Home Warranty
• Best for Transparency: Select Home Warranty
• Best for Customer Satisfaction: Liberty Home Guard
• Best Response Times:  ServicePlus Home Warranty

Best Home Warranty Companies in Idaho Reviews

This roundup covers seven home warranty providers in Idaho that we think offer the best services and prices for you to consider. Keep reading to see how these companies (and a few others) stack up against each other, and to determine if a home warranty is worth it.

Why we chose it: Due to its comprehensive, affordable plans and customer service, American Home Shield takes the spot as our best overall home warranty company in Idaho.

American Home Shield (AHS) offers comprehensive plans that cover most of the systems and major appliances that a homeowner’s insurance policy doesn’t cover.

AHS has three policy tiers available in Idaho: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum.

ShieldSilver covers 14 major systems in your home, including plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling. However, this tier doesn’t cover laundry and kitchen appliances. Some of the subsystems covered by this plan are attic fans, main breakers and fuse panel boxes, interior electrical lines and garage door openers.

The ShieldGold plan includes everything the Silver plan covers and adds kitchen and laundry appliances. That means your refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, microwave, garbage disposal, washer, dryer and hot and cold water dispensers are all covered.

Finally, the ShieldPlatinum plan includes everything the previous two plans cover and adds roof leak repair.

In each plan, you can choose add-ons and maintenance services. For example, roof leak repair is an add-on for the Silver and Gold plans. You can also add coverage for your home electronics, pool or spa, septic pump and well pump.

Pricing

AHS has coverage limits, like all home warranties. For instance, the Silver plan limits appliance repair coverage to $3,000 ($6,000 for the Platinum plan). Plans and prices can be different in each area of the state. Here are the plan prices for Meridian, Idaho, as an example:

• ShieldSilver: $19.99 per month
• ShieldGold: $39.99 per month
• ShieldPlatinum: $69.99 per month

Customer Service

According to online customer reviews, American Home Shield appears to have had issues with services not being provided for covered areas and appliances. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has more than 22,000 reviews that collectively rate the company at 2.25 out of 5 stars as of December 2022. AHS has also garnered more than 27,000 complaints between 2019 and 2022.

To the company’s credit, it has representatives responding to each complaint and working to solve the issues. AHS is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, with which it holds a B rating.

Why we chose it: We have chosen Cinch Home services as the company that offers best workmanship, because it offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee — which is longer than what most other companies offer.

Cinch Home Services offers a few different plans. It has three tiers: an Appliances Plan, a Built-in Systems Plan and a Complete Home Plan. The plan names tell you what each plan covers, but here’s a breakdown.

The Appliances Plan covers your kitchen and laundry appliances, including freestanding ice makers and trash compactors. The Built-in Systems Plan covers systems that are built into your home such as the electrical system, garbage disposals, plumbing system, toilets and heating and cooling systems. And the Complete Home Plan covers all of your appliances and built-in systems.

Pricing

The prices for Meridian ID vary by the deductible you choose. With the lowest deductible of $100, you would pay the following for each plan:

• Appliances Plan: $39.99 per month
• The Built-in Systems Plan: $47.99 per month
• The Complete Home Plan: $56.99 per month

Cinch Home Services vets each technician they use in its service areas to ensure a high quality of work. Technicians must be fully licensed and have background checks conducted before they begin servicing calls for Cinch.

Customer Service

The company had more than 3,800 complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau between 2019 and 2022, but it responded to all of them and attempted to address the concerns. It is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, with which it holds a worthy B rating.

Why we chose it: We have chosen First Premier Home Warranty as our best for coverage add-ons because of its wide variety of add-on coverage for items and appliances.

First Premier Home Warranty is a newcomer in the home warranty industry, getting its start in 2020. The company offers two plans, the Premier Plan and the Platinum Plan.

The Premier Plan covers the plumbing system, including stoppage long with the electrical system. Also covered are the water heater, whirlpool bathtub, oven/range/stove or cooktop; built-in microwave; dishwasher; garbage disposal; trash compactor; sump pump; ductwork; garage door opener; and ceiling and exhaust fans.

The Platinum Plan adds AC and/or heating systems (of up to 2 units), a clothes washer and dryer and a refrigerator.

First Premier offers 21 add-on options, some of which include pool or spa, roof leaks, additional sump pumps, well pump and more.

Pricing

The Premier Plan is $39.99 per month in Meridian, Idaho, and the Platinum Plan is $47.99 per month. If you want to add any of the additional coverage options to your plan, it’s an extra monthly cost ranging from about $12.50 per month to $2.92 per month.

Customer Service

First Premier has only been in business since 2020, so it is still establishing itself. It’s not accredited by the Better Business Bureau yet, but has only 97 complaints filed with the organization as of December 2022.

Why we chose it: Choice Home Warranty started in 2009 and eventually expanded coverage to nearly all 50 states, making it our top pick based on nationwide availability.

Choice provides two plans that are available to customers in Idaho: The Basic Plan and the Total Plan. The Basic Plan covers the typical systems that other providers cover as well, including heating, electrical, and plumbing (including stoppages) and a whirlpool bathtub. The plan also covers the oven/range/stove, cooktop, dishwasher, built-in microwave, garbage disposal, ductwork, garage door opener and ceiling and exhaust fans.

The Total Plan adds coverage for air conditioning and kitchen and laundry appliances. You can choose optional coverage for each plan on a pool or spa, a second refrigerator, roof leaks, a septic system, a septic pump and septic tank pumping.

Pricing

The Basic Plan is $46.67 in Meridian, Idaho, and the Total Plan is $55.00. Any of the optional add-on coverages cost an extra fee per month.

Customer Service

Similar to other home warranty companies, Choice has complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. The company has addressed all 10,500 complaints between 2019 and 2022. Choice isn’t accredited by the BBB, and holds a D+ rating with the organization, which is lower than some of the other companies on our list.

Why we chose it: We’ve chosen Select Home Warranty as the best service provider with the best transparency because you can find important information that you need to know on their website. Upon visiting its home page, you’re greeted with average appliance repair costs and its process for filing claims.

Select Home Warranty offers three plans. The Bronze Care plan covers appliances, the Gold Care plan covers systems like heating, air, plumbing and electrical and the Platinum Care plan covers both appliances and systems.

Pricing

The Bronze Care plan is $60.42 per month in Meridian, Idaho. The Gold Care plan is $60.42 per month, and the Platinum Care plan is $63.75 per month. You may be able to get a discount, depending on if the company is offering a promotion on their website at the time you sign up.

You can add optional add-on coverage for sprinklers, pools, well pumps and sump pumps for between $3.33 and $8.33 per month. Roof leak coverage is also optional but has a monthly fee of $0.

Customer Service

Select Home Warranty has many negative reviews and complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s website. The company has a 100% response rate to complaints, but the reviewers have rated it 1.55 out of 5 stars. It appears customers believe the company’s customer service is not where it should be, and some people have experienced that Select doesn’t honor the terms of the plans.

Despite the complaints and reviews, we’ve chosen Select Home Warranty as the service provider with the best transparency because you can find out everything you need to know about their policies, pricing and coverages on their website. Other companies don’t offer this much information unless you get a quote.

Why we chose it: We’ve chosen Liberty Home Guard as the best for customer satisfaction because it has higher reviews and ratings than many other home warranty companies. Additionally, its pricing is good with the flagship combo plan covering everything for less than many other warranty providers.

Liberty has three plans to choose from; Systems Guard, Appliance Guard and Total Home Guard.

System Guard, as the name implies, covers the air, heating, plumbing and electrical systems in your home. The Appliance Guard plan covers your kitchen and laundry appliances, ceiling and attic exhaust fans and garage door opener. Finally, the Total Home Guard plan covers all of your systems and appliances.

Pricing

Systems Guard costs $54.99 per month in Meridian, Idaho. The Appliance Guard Plan is $49.99 per month. The Total Home Guard plan costs $59.99 per month.

Customer Service

Liberty Home Guard is one of the highest-rated home warranty companies on our list of best home warranty companies based on reviews on third-party websites. Liberty isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but holds an A- rating with the institution. It also has a high customer rating with the BBB at 4.62 stars out of five — it only has 501 complaints filed with the organization between 2019 and 2022.

Why we chose it: Service Plus Home Warranty opened its doors in 2016 and has earned a reputation for being a responsive company. The company attests that customers will have their claims processed in 48 hours or less on weekdays.

ServicePlus has two plans to choose from (the Gold plan and the Platinum plan), with additional coverage options similar to other companies we have reviewed. The Gold plan covers plumbing, water heaters, bathtubs, ovens, dishwashers, garage door openers and ductwork in your home and the Platinum plan adds air and heating systems along with your refrigerator and laundry appliances

Pricing

The Gold plan is $59.92 per month in Meridian, Idaho. The Platinum plan is $66.58 per month. The add-on coverages cost extra each month.

Customer Service

Customers rate Service Plus Home Warranty 1.25 out of 5 stars. In 2021, its parent company, THS Group, LLC., settled a lawsuit filed by the Pennsylvania Attorney General for deceptive marketing practices. In response, the company claims to be overhauling its processes.

Other Companies We Considered

In addition to the seven companies listed above, we also found a handful of others that may be worth considering. The following companies didn’t quite make it to the top of our list, but may still be good options in Idaho.

AFC Home Club

AFC Home Club offers four plans, one of which is systems only. You can add options as needed, so the Systems Plan could be an excellent choice for someone who only wants home systems like air, heat and some select add-ons.

The Home Service Club

The Home Service Club is on our runner-up list of home warranty companies because the limitations and pricing its plans make them a bit less appealing than other companies. However, it has received good ratings from customers and the Better Business Bureau.

Priority Home Warranty

Priority Home Warranty offers tailorable plans to cover the appliances and systems you choose. Add-on coverage is limited, and all covered items depreciate in value according to the company’s terms by 60% after four months of coverage, which lowers its replacement costs.

Guide to the Best Home Warranty Companies in Idaho

What is a home warranty?

If you own a home, you’re likely to have homeowner’s insurance covering specific damage types. Lenders require homeowners to carry a home insurance policy, which covers damage to your home or items in emergencies like natural disasters, fire or theft.

In contrast, a home warranty provides you with coverage for the systems and appliances that traditional home insurance doesn’t cover. When we consider a home warranty vs. home insurance, a home warranty is not insurance; it’s financial assistance on costly replacements and repairs on the systems and appliances in your home.

Such warranties might not be worthwhile for everyone, but one can help share the cost of repairs or replacements. That, in turn, could give you the peace of mind that you can afford the cost should a major appliance or home system fail.

However, you still must bear part of the cost of repairs to covered systems and appliances. For instance, if your air conditioner stopped working, you’d have to pay the technician just to come out and diagnose the problem. A home warranty could, however, cover much or all of the amount required to complete repairs to the AC unit. (You would, however, need to weigh such payments against the amount you invested in paying premiums and service-call fees over the course of the warranty term.)

How do home warranties work?

A home warranty is an optional purchase. You can visit the company’s website and look over the plans to see what it covers. When you’re shopping around, consider getting quotes from multiple companies so you can compare costs and features.

When you select a plan, you pay the monthly premiums — sometimes you can get a discount for paying for the whole year upfront — and your coverage period starts. However, be aware that many companies have limitations on when you can begin to file claims. For instance, American Home Shield (and many others) has a 30-day waiting period before you can start making service requests under their plans.

Once you’ve made it through the waiting period, you can start filing service requests. If the item you’ve requested service for is covered, the company will book a technician in your area. Some companies may allow you to choose your technician and have the repairs made, then send it the bill. However, in most cases, the warranty company chooses from its pool of (hopefully) vetted technicians.

How do home warranties please their buyers?

In a perfect world, the technician visits your home and identifies the problem. The part is ordered if needed, repairs are made within a few days and you’re billed the service call fees and any portion of the costs that are your responsibility.

A quick read through customer reviews and complaints reveals that this perfect scenario doesn’t always unfold. In reality, you could deal with customer service representatives who aren’t completely familiar with the policies and coverages and technicians who incorrectly diagnose the problem. You might run into parts shortages, incorrectly charged fees, claims that are denied or other issues.

Once you work through all of the problems, your appliance or system is hopefully repaired and working. If it isn’t, you’ll need to contact the warranty provider and go through the process again. It can be frustrating, so it’s important to find a warranty company that’s transparent about coverage and prices, has a good reputation and works within your budget.

How to pick a home warranty

Picking a home warranty is not an easy task. There are many providers, each with different coverage plans and options you can choose from. Here are some tips to help you pick a home warranty service.

What to look for when choosing a home warranty

When choosing a home warranty, it’s important to consider several factors to ensure that you get the best value for your money and have peace of mind knowing that your home is protected. Here are some important factors to consider:

• Service fees and pricing: Home warranties come with different pricing structures and service fees. You should compare the pricing and fees of different home warranty providers to determine which one offers the best value for your money. Be sure to consider the deductible or service call fee you may have to pay for each claim.
• Coverage and plan options: Different home warranty providers offer different levels of coverage and plan options. You should carefully review what’s covered and excluded under each plan to determine which plan best meets your needs.
• Response times: A reliable home warranty provider should have a prompt response time to address your service requests. The quicker the response time, the less time you’ll have to spend dealing with repairs or replacements.
• Add-on coverage: Some home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for specific items that may not be included in the standard plan. Be sure to review what add-on coverage is available and the cost to add it to your plan.
• Discounts: Many home warranty providers offer discounts for different groups, such as seniors or members of the military. Be sure to check if you qualify for any discounts.
• Customer reviews: Reading reviews from other customers can give you a good idea of the quality of service and coverage provided by a home warranty company. Look for reviews on third-party review sites to get unbiased opinions.
• Trustworthiness: You want to choose a home warranty provider that is trustworthy and has a good reputation. Check the company’s ratings with the Better Business Bureau and look for any red flags such as a history of complaints or legal issues.
• Freedom to select one’s contractors: Some home warranty companies have a list of contractors they work with, while others allow you to choose your own contractor. If you have a preferred contractor, make sure the home warranty provider you choose will work with them.

What’s covered

It’s important to thoroughly understand what a home warranty covers. You’ll find that most home warranty plans fit into one of three types; those that cover mostly home systems, those that cover mostly home appliances and those that cover both systems and appliances.

However, some providers package systems and appliances in other ways they think will appeal to customers. For instance, you might see a plan covering all your plumbing and electrical systems and your refrigerator. Another tier from that provider might cover the previous items, your laundry appliances and your air conditioner. A third tier might cover everything the previous tiers cover and add roof leaks and garage door openers. Each company structures their plans differently.

These variations make it important for you to match your home with the right plan. Look over your home and estimate how much life the systems and appliances in your house have left. Carefully inspect the plans from each warranty provider and choose the one that covers most or all of your items for the lowest price. Only add the options you think you’re going to need.

Common items covered in these plans are:

• Kitchen appliances
• Laundry appliances
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• Ductwork
• Water heaters
• Heating and air systems

What’s not covered

In addition to understanding what a plan covers, it’s equally important to know what it doesn’t cover. Additionally, evaluate your home before purchasing. If you believe you’ll need to have an appliance or system repaired soon, you might want to purchase coverage that includes that item.

Examples of items not covered by most home warranties are:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Pet damage
• Damage from neglect or improper care
• Improperly installed systems and appliances
• The roof (but many cover leaks)
• Secondary damage from a failure

Costs and service fees

Costs should be at the top of the list of factors you use when comparing plans. However, it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. When you inventory your systems and appliances, find out how much it would cost to repair or replace well-known failures. If what you’ll pay to have someone repair them is more than you’d pay in monthly premiums and service fees using a warranty plan, you may save money.

If you decide the amount you would pay in total for the repairs you expect, and the warranty plan is more than you might pay without it, the plan may not be worth the expense.

Reputation

You may have noticed in our reviews that no home warranty company is blemish-free with regard to its reputation. The home warranty industry has its bad actors, and there are also customers that are never satisfied.

Reputation, often based on online reviews, goes a long way when choosing a warranty company. If the companies you’re considering appear to genuinely be trying to do the right thing and keep customers satisfied, they might be worth further consideration.

Choice of contractor

Choosing a contractor can be difficult for most people. Home warranty companies face the same difficulty. However, some do better than others in choosing technicians, both overall and in matching your needs to a repair specialist.

If you happen to know and trust repair specialists own your area, some companies let you use them with their plans. If you find a warranty provider that lets you choose, though, you may need to submit them to the warranty company for vetting before they they’ll be approved to do your work.

Home warranty regulations in Idaho

Like other states, home warranty companies are considered service providers in Idaho. When you sign up with one, you’re entering a service contract. Contract laws in Idaho regulate these agreements.

How We Chose the Best Home Warranty Companies in Idaho

We evaluated many factors in order to determine which companies are the best in Idaho.

Service fees and pricing

The primary factor in most people’s choice of warranty plans is pricing and fees. We evaluated home warranty providers to find the most affordable but not necessarily the cheapest.

Coverage and plan options

Second only to pricing, plan coverage and options weighed heavily in our choices. The companies needed to have comprehensive plans that provided the most for customers or supply something unique.

Response times

Response time is critical in some instances, so we chose a provider with the best self-reported (or self-promised) response times.

Add-on coverage

Add-ons are one of the best ways a warranty company can reduce the costs of its plans and attract customers. Consumers don’t want to pay for services they don’t need, so we chose some companies that offer lots of add-ons at reasonable prices.

Discounts

Discounts can mean the difference between purchasing a service or not. We considered whether a warranty company provided discounts on included services and options, and that those price breaks were.

Customer reviews

Reviews are important for gauging how a company interacts with its customers. However, the home warranty industry as a whole is plagued by complaints about service experiences. We counted customer reviews as important to know. However, since few companies were universally praised by customers, reviews are considered but weighted along with other factors.

Trustworthiness

Home warranty companies as a whole are struggling to become trustworthy in the eyes of consumers, a perception achieved by performing as promised and solving problems. We used customer reviews to gauge company trustworthiness.

Freedom to select one’s own contractors

Based on reviews, the choice of which contractor performs the work doesn’t appear to concern some customers. Other customers, however, may like the choice. We included this factor because most people have a better idea of the competent technicians in their area or have a preference.

Summary of the Best Home Warranty Companies in Idaho 2023

Home warranty companies are challenging to evaluate and choose from. Many are comparable and don’t have much that differentiates them. However, a few stand out and are working to remove the negative stigma associated with them. Our chosen best home warranty providers in Idaho have some of the best prices we’ve seen, along with the most comprehensive plans and options.

• Best Overall: American Home Shield
• Best Workmanship Guarantee: Cinch Home Services
• Best Coverage Add-ons: First Premier Home Warranty
• Best for Availability: Choice Home Warranty
• Best for Transparency: Select Home Warranty
• Best for Customer Satisfaction: Liberty Home Guard
• Best Response Times:  ServicePlus Home Warranty