4 Best Home Warranty Companies for Condos (2024)
We selected Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield as top providers for condo home warranties. Our guide explains the importance of condo protection and includes additional recommended providers.
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Owning a condominium or townhouse varies slightly from owning a single-family home. However, just like with single-family houses, condo home insurance only covers certain types of catastrophic damage, which means your condo’s systems and appliances won’t be protected from issues that occur from a lifetime of use. A condo home warranty safeguards your budget from repair costs due to normal wear and tear.
After reviewing dozens of top home warranty providers with condo warranties, we recommend Liberty Home Guard due to its specialized appliance plan and 42 add-on options. American Home Shield also tops our list due to its generous coverage caps. Read our guide below on the benefits of this type of warranty and our top picks for the best home warranties for condos.
Key Takeaways
Top 4 Home Warranty Companies for Condos
Here are our top picks for home warranty providers that cover condominiums and townhouses:
Comparing the Best Home Warranty Companies for Condos
The table below compares the best condo home warranty companies based on some of the key factors from our in-depth rating methodology, including BBB ratings, service fees, and monthly cost.
| Company | BBB Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NR | $49–$59 | $65–$125 | VISIT SITE | |
| B | $29–$89 | $100–$125 | VISIT SITE | |
| B- | $44–$47 | $60–$75 | VISIT SITE | |
| B | $42–$82 | $75–$125 | VISIT SITE |
| Star Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Response Time | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Home Guard | | $49–$59 | $65–$125 | Up to 48 hours | VISIT SITE | |
| American Home Shield | | $29–$89 | $100–$125 | Up to 48 hours | VISIT SITE | |
| Select Home Warranty |  | $44–$47 | $60–$75 | 48-84 hours | VISIT SITE | |
| First American Home Warranty |  | $42–$82 | $75–$125 | 4-48 hours | VISIT SITE |
| Liberty Home Guard | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost | $49–$59 |
| Service Fee | $65–$125 |
| Response Time | Up to 48 hours |
| American Home Shield | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost | $29–$89 |
| Service Fee | $100–$125 |
| Response Time | Up to 48 hours |
| Select Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost | $44–$47 |
| Service Fee | $60–$75 |
| Response Time | 48-84 hours |
| First American Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost | $42–$82 |
| Service Fee | $75–$125 |
| Response Time | 4-48 hours |
How Do Home Warranties for Condos Work?
Condo home warranties offer financial protection for unexpected system and appliance breakdowns, similar to warranties for single-family homes. However, condos have slightly different repair needs than most single-family houses. Condo warranties cover appliances and systems within individual residences, while the condo association maintains shared amenities, such as HVAC and plumbing.
Many home warranty companies offer either condo-specific coverage or customized plans that protect home appliances. They may also offer add-on items for additional systems, appliances, or home services.
How Much Does a Condo Home Warranty Cost?
Based on our research, the average condo home warranty costs $53 per month or $636 annually. This is significantly lower than coverage for a traditional home. Our team sent a home warranty survey to 1,000 homeowners in February 2024 to help us determine typical home warranty costs. We learned that the average single-family home warranty costs $89 per month, 68% higher than condo coverage. The lower costs are a result of the more specific coverage that condo home warranties provide.
Service call fees remain consistent across all home warranty types despite the reduced coverage. Our survey revealed most homeowners pay between $58 and $150 per service technician visit. Additional cost factors may include your location, add-on coverage options, and included coverage. We recommend getting quotes from multiple providers and comparing their services to find the best pricing.
Reviews of the Best Home Warranty Companies for Condos
Liberty Home Guard
Best Customer Ratings
American Home Shield
Best for Comprehensive Coverage
Select Home Warranty
Best Value
First American Home Warranty
Best Appliance Coverage
Does Your Condo Need a Home Warranty?
A home warranty is a worthwhile investment for a condo owner as it protects individual appliances not covered by the condo association. The condo association’s master insurance policy will cover shared spaces and the overall structure of a building, but you’re responsible for coverage inside your unit.
Condos tend to have slightly different repair needs than most single-family houses. For one, some of a building’s amenities and systems may be shared with other units. If two or more units share an appliance or system in your condo, a technician may find it more difficult to assess fault for the damage. Unless a multiunit dwelling has a single home warranty for the entire building, damage to shared systems nearly always falls outside of coverage.
Condo home warranties cover any items not covered by the condo association’s protections. The level of protection offered by condo associations can vary, so it’s best to check with yours to understand which shared systems and amenities are covered. Then, you can choose a condo home warranty covering any gaps their protection leaves.
Our Final Take on Condo Home Warranties
The process for purchasing a condo home warranty is similar to the process for purchasing coverage for a single-family home. However, since condo estimates aren’t as readily available, we recommend contacting each company directly to see how much your unit would cost to cover.
Annual Home Warranty Cost Calculator
Our team 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. It’s best to request a quote directly from one of our recommended providers, as annual costs and service fees vary between them.
| Appliance | Average Repair Cost | Average Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Dehumidifier |
$50–$200 |
$1,300–$2,800 |
|
Microwave |
$50–$400 |
$60–$2,000 |
|
Dishwasher |
$50–$500 |
$400–$3,000 |
|
Exhaust Fans |
$16–$300 |
$250–$950 |
|
Electric Range |
$100–$500 |
$230–$3,000 |
|
Gas Range |
$100–$500 |
$230–$3,000 |
|
Dryer |
$100–$400 |
$450–$2,300 |
|
Oven |
$100–$430 |
$400–$3,000 |
|
Washer |
$50–$450 |
$400–$2,300 |
|
Freezer |
$90–$500 |
$160–$2,900 |
|
Refrigerator |
$40–$350 |
$200–$5,000 |
Note: The annual cost figure generated by our home warranty calculator is not an indication of a company’s actual plan cost, as annual costs and service fees vary based on your plan selections and your home’s size, type, and location.
FAQ About Home Warranties for Condos
What is typically included in a condo home warranty?
Condo home warranties typically include protection for your unit’s individual appliances and systems. This type of home warranty plan doesn’t cover shared systems or amenities maintained by your condo association.
Is a condo home warranty still worth it if shared items aren’t covered?
It’s still worth getting a condo home warranty since not all items in the condo are shared. The appliances in your unit, such as the refrigerator or clothes washer, may still require coverage if they fail due to normal wear and tear. Condo plans are typically a little cheaper to make up for the fact that not everything is covered.
Is a condo home warranty different from a home warranty?
No, a condo home warranty offers the same item coverage as a home warranty for a traditional home. Home warranty companies offer access to the same plans as single-family homeowners despite lower prices for condo coverage.
Related Resources
- Best Home Warranties for Mobile Homes
- Best Home Warranties for Rental Properties
- Liberty Home Guard Review
Our Rating Methodology
We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to score each provider objectively. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys.
We score each provider against our review standards, which include four comparison categories: coverage, value, trust and transparency, and availability and service. We 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.
Here’s 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
- Trust and Transparency (16%): We evaluated each company’s 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
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
