Best Home Warranty Company?

[bu2]

I used Home Security of America and got a new coil and later a new compressor, but it was really a chore. It was sometimes a week between visits. I think we were without air for 3 weeks in the summer the first time. Now when one contractor couldn't fix it, they did give us a different one. Be aware that not all contractors will do home warranty work.

They had to order the part through HSA and that took 3 or 4 days and then they ordered the wrong part.

If your concerned about sudden large costs or particular features such as AC or heat, its worthwhile, but it may not be easy. We didn't renew. I couldn't see being without a heater for 3 weeks in the winter.

[fortyfiver]

In the last month I have had an unhappy experience with Old Republic. Just like bu2, I had no a/c for almost 3 weeks. My very old a/c system had begun to fail, and after after three unsatisfactory visits from OR's contractor (based 45 miles from my home), I had to call another firm (based in the city, and highly recommended by friends). To cut a long story short, my system had indeed died, and I now have a new, very efficient (and somewhat expensive) system.
The problem with Home Warranty companies is that they appear to contract with smaller companies who may not have the best staff or equipment, and often are located out of town (eg Jarrell, Bastrop, etc). A Home Warranty is useful for newcomers who don't yet know who's who among local repair firms, but once a homeowner has built up a network of contacts, the Home Warranty isn't much of a saving - you get what you pay for.

[TexasEd]

Originally Posted by Don in Austin

Any home warranty company functions as a middleman. They receive considerably more in fees than they pay repair contractors How else could they stay in business? That means that, on the average, they win and the homeowner loses. No thanks...I will take my chances and manage home repairs myself.

Don in Austin

I don't know a middleman who is willing to pay for labor and parts for an evaporator coil replacement. Cost me about $60 for the guy to come out and Old Republic paid about $900 for the rest. In this case, homeowner wins.

Originally Posted by fortyfiver

In the last month I have had an unhappy experience with Old Republic. Just like bu2, I had no a/c for almost 3 weeks. My very old a/c system had begun to fail, and after after three unsatisfactory visits from OR's contractor (based 45 miles from my home), I had to call another firm (based in the city, and highly recommended by friends). To cut a long story short, my system had indeed died, and I now have a new, very efficient (and somewhat expensive) system.
The problem with Home Warranty companies is that they appear to contract with smaller companies who may not have the best staff or equipment, and often are located out of town (eg Jarrell, Bastrop, etc). A Home Warranty is useful for newcomers who don't yet know who's who among local repair firms, but once a homeowner has built up a network of contacts, the Home Warranty isn't much of a saving - you get what you pay for.

Do you guys get that home warranties charge you a service fee, and then according to what plan you get, they cover most or all of those costs as well? They don't just hook you up with someone. They hook you up with the repair costs, too. I'm not sure how "you get what you pay for" applies here.