Best Home Warranty Companies in North Carolina (2024)
Functioning home systems are essential for North Carolina residents who experience hot Outer Banks summers and cold Blue Ridge Mountain winters. If your air conditioner or heating system breaks down, your home may be vulnerable to harsh conditions and emergency repair bills. A home warranty protects you against home emergencies, helping to minimize repair and replacement costs.
We compiled a list of the countryโs best home warranty companies and chose our preferred providers for North Carolina residents. Our top picks include Liberty Home Guard, which provides specialized HVAC protection, and American Home Shield, which offers HVAC coverage in all plans. Keep reading to learn our full list of the best home warranty companies for your North Carolina home.
Summary of Top Home Warranty Companies in North Carolina:
Liberty Home Guard offers roof-leak protection and unique coverage options, such as multiple AC units. American Home Shield provides comprehensive coverage for most major systems and appliances, plus roof-leak coverage add-ons. Weโve listed our top choices for home warranty companies in North Carolina below:
Comparing the Best Home Warranty Companies in North Carolina
Our table below compares key factors of the top North Carolina home warranty companies.
Company | BBB Rating | Monthly Cost in NC | Service Fee | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|---|
NR | $49โ$59 | $65โ$125 | VISIT SITE | |
B | $49โ$109 | $100โ$125 | VISIT SITE | |
B- | $44โ$47 | $60โ$75 | VISIT SITE | |
B | $47โ$87 | $75โ$125 | VISIT SITE | |
B | $38โ$64 | $75โ$125 | VISIT SITE |
The pricing information in this article is based on a 2,217-square-foot, single-family home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Your monthly premium may vary based on your homeโs location, size, and your plan and add-on choices.
How We Rated Home Warranty Companies in North Carolina
Our process of identifying North Carolinaโs top home warranty companies began by consulting with local real estate agents, repair technicians, and home builders. They helped us identify the common home repairs and replacements faced by residents. We then spoke with representatives from each home warranty company, analyzed service plans, gathered sample quotes, and reviewed policy terms.
Next, we scored each provider against our review standards in four categories: coverage, value, trust and transparency, and availability and service. To assess coverage, we looked for HVAC and roof-leak protection in base policies or through add-on options to assess coverage. We compared premiums against the value of coverage offered. We researched brand reputation and customer reviews on third-party sites. Finally, we examined policy factors such as claims processing speed, customer support, and filing procedures.
Do I Need a Home Warranty in North Carolina?
Home warranties help North Carolinians reduce costly repairs and replacements of essential home appliances and systems.
A functioning HVAC system helps protect your home during the stateโs hot summers and freezing winters. In addition, North Carolina roofs face wear and tear from extreme weather, such as coastal hurricane-force rains and heavy snowfall in mountainous regions.
Weโve identified the home systems and appliances North Carolina homeowners often repair and replace:
Item | Average Cost to Repair | Average Cost to Replace |
---|---|---|
Gas furnace | $30โ$150 | $3,800โ$10,000 |
Air conditioning | $100โ$650 | $2,500โ$15,000 |
Heat pumps | $100โ$650 | $1,500โ$5,000 |
Plumbing leaks | $150โ$450 | $200โ$5,000 |
Roof leaks | $150โ$2,000 | $5,000โ$13,000 |
Data sourced from The Home Depot
How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost in North Carolina?
A home warranty costs an average of $59 per month or $696 annually in North Carolina. Multiple factors affect your home warranty coverage costs, such as your homeโs size and type, location, and plan selections. We explain additional factors that affect home warranty cost below:
- House size: Home warranty companies factor in home size in your premium costs. After pulling more than 100 home warranty quotes across North Carolina, we found providers charge more for homes larger than 5,000 square feet.
- House type: Most home warranty providers in North Carolina charge the same monthly fee for various home types, such as single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums. However, some companies exclude certain home types from coverage, such as mobile homes.
- Location: Your location within North Carolina can affect your planโs total cost. If you live in more historic areas such as Raleigh or Charlotte, you may be charged slightly more because your home is older. Coastal homes may get charged more due to flooding and hurricane vulnerability. Home warranty companies usually charge more for homes in areas they deem high-risk.
- Plan selections: Home warranty providers charge more for plans that cover more items. Add-on coverage can also raise your monthly premium. We recommend carefully considering the items you wish to protect to avoid overpaying for unnecessary home warranty coverage.
Reviews of the 6 Best North Carolina Home Warranty Companies
How To Choose a Home Warranty in North Carolina
The best North Carolina home warranty company is one offering the coverage and customer service that fits your needs. Consider these factors before you buy a home warranty:
- Review brand reputation: Look up providers on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Avoid home warranty companies with patterns of complaints or a score lower than a C.
- Verify customer service: Call each home warranty company with coverage questions to learn how the customer service team handles your inquiries and how promptly they address concerns. We also recommend reading third-party reviews to gauge customer satisfaction with each company.
- Read sample contracts: Providers should offer sample contracts on their websites for the sake of transparency. We recommend shortlisting three home warranty companies and reading their sample contracts to compare their coverage plans, service fees, exclusions, and limitations. Ensure the coverage caps are high enough to cover an item replacement, not just a repair. Request free quotes from each company and compare premiums, available discounts, and add-on costs.
How Are Home Warranties Regulated in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) oversees home warranty regulation within North Carolina. However, our research shows that the NCDOI specifically regulates home appliance service contracts. According to General Statute ยงยง 66-371โ372, companies that offer home appliance service agreements must maintain a detailed claims register to record each claim they receive from consumers.
We also found there isnโt clear legislation that oversees service home warranty contracts covering major systems. However, you can file a complaint with the NCDOI if you believe your provider isnโt meeting its contractual obligations.
Alongside government oversight, home warranty companies self-regulate. Industry associations such as the Service Contract Industry Council (SCIC) are one of several organizations that oversee service contract companies. It works closely with North Carolina legislators to develop laws centered on consumer protection.
Home Warranty Cost Calculator
We created a calculator to break down the estimated annual cost of owning a home warranty. Enter your monthly premium, service call fee, and estimated number of claims to see your projected annual cost. Itโs best to request a quote directly from one of our recommended providers, as annual costs and service fees vary between them.
Note: The annual cost figure generated by our home warranty calculator is not an indication of a companyโs actual plan cost, as annual costs and service fees vary based on your plan selections and your homeโs size, type, and location.
Life span and repair cost data sourced from InterNACHI and Home Depot
Other Resources for Residents in North Carolina
FAQ About Home Warranties in North Carolina
What is the difference between a home warranty and home insurance?
The difference between a home warranty and home insurance comes down to protections. A home warranty offers financial relief from repair costs for normal wear and tear on appliances and systems. Home insurance protects your entire home and belongings against natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes.
What are the cons of a home warranty plan?
Some cons of home warranty plans include limiting your technician choices, excluding certain item conditions, and restricting coverage caps. Some warranty contracts require proof of regular maintenance for appliances and systems for claim approval. Some companies also take several days to process a claim and issue a technician, making it ineffective for urgent home repairs.
What does a home warranty cover in North Carolina?
A home warranty cover in North Carolina typically covers the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances. Depending on the provider, your plan may cover just systems or just appliances, or offer combined protection. We recommend reviewing your home warranty plan to understand your exact coverage terms and exclusions.
How Do I Find the Best Home Warranty Company in My Area?
Find in-depth reviews on the best home warranty companies for the top cities in North Carolina below.
Find Home Warranties in NC
Our Detailed Rating Methodology
We score each provider using a detailed rating methodology to score each provider objectively. We use four comparison categories and rate each provider across 31 factors within these categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We then convert the final scores to a 5-star rating.
Hereโs a breakdown of our weighted factors:
- Coverage (40%): We scored coverage based on included home systems and appliances, add-on options, and unique benefits. We also compared coverage caps and policy exclusions.
- Additional coverage items
- Annual coverage cap
- Home systems coverage
- Major appliances coverage
- Obstructed wall coverage cap
- Value (30%): We compared the coverage level received to monthly pricing to determine plan value. We considered premium pricing, service fees, and flexibility in customizing plan costs.
- Average monthly cost
- Cost flexibility
- Lowest service fee
- Trustworthiness and Transparency (16%): We evaluated each companyโs reputation using the Better Business Bureau ratings and customer reviews on third-party review sites. We read through plan change policies, workmanship protections, and sample contract availability.
- Brand reputation
- Policy change flexibility
- Sample contract availability
- Workmanship guarantee length
- Availability and Service (14%): We award higher scores for faster claim processing and response times. We also considered service technician policies, including options to choose your technician.
- Claims process
- Guaranteed response time
- Service flexibility
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