Pivotal Home Solutions, which rebranded in 2023 to Oncourse Home Solutions, provides home warranty coverage plans to help homeowners manage unexpected repairs. Based in Naperville, Illinois, the company has held accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2010 and currently holds an A+ rating. However, its coverage is not available in all states or throughout entire regions in the areas it services.
Our review breaks down Oncourse Home Solutions’ plans, pricing, service fees, coverage limits, and claims process. By understanding these details, you can determine whether or not Oncourse is the best home warranty provider that aligns with your needs.
What Plans and Coverage Does Pivotal Home Solutions Offer?
Oncourse Home Solutions presents homeowners with numerous plan options. In addition to bundled packages for comprehensive protection, policyholders can choose to cover specific systems like plumbing, heating, or cooling.
Here’s what our team found when requesting coverage in the company’s hometown of Naperville, IL.
Complete Line Protection
The Complete Line Protection plan offers coverage for sewer lines, natural gas lines, outside water lines, and more. Under this plan, Pivotal Home Solutions offers up to $24,500 worth of combined annual coverage.
- Exterior sewer lines
- Outside water lines
- Repairing sidewalk or driveway after line repair
- Landscape restoration
- Interior media lines
- Natural gas lines
- Interior and exterior electrical wiring
- Power surge
Complete Home Protection
Policyholders who choose the Complete Home Protection plan gain a warranty that covers most essential home systems and appliances, including:
- Exterior sewer lines
- Outside water lines
- Heating system
- Cooling system
- Water heater
- Washing machine
- Clothes dryer
- Oven range
- Refrigerator
- Built-in microwave
- Garbage disposal
- Dishwasher
- Garage door opener
- Interior media lines
- Natural gas lines
- Electrical wiring
- Main water supply and drainage lines
With this comprehensive package, up to $44,500 in combined annual coverage is provided.
While this coverage includes protection for the same appliances and systems under the Complete Home Protection Plan, the enhanced package includes higher financial contributions for select equipment.
Preferred Home Protection Plan
| System | Complete Home Protection Coverage Cap | Preferred Home Protection Coverage Cap |
|---|---|---|
|
Heating System |
$2,000 per contract or $400 per incident |
$3,000 per contract or $1,500 per incident |
|
Air conditioning |
$2,000 per contract or $400 per incident |
$3,000 per contract or $1,500 per incident |
|
Natural gas lines |
$2,500 per contract |
$3,500 per contract |
The upgrades in the select maximum allowances result in up to $47,750 worth of combined annual coverage under the Preferred Home Protection Plan.
When our team requested coverage, there wasn’t a way to include optional add-ons to our policy. This is different than other home warranty companies, such as Liberty Home Guard, that include coverage for additional systems and appliances like pools, spas, or sump pumps for an additional fee.
Here are the states where Oncourse Home Solutions provides their services, but not all cities in these states are covered.
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
What Are Pivotal Home Solutions Coverage Caps?
A coverage cap, or coverage limit, refers to the maximum amount a home warranty company will pay out for appliances and home systems per term or per item. Oncourse Home Solutions offers relatively generous term limitations between $2,000 and $4,000, while the company’s per-item payouts are a little on the low side at $400 per item for major appliances and home systems.
What’s Not Covered Under Pivotal Home Solutions?
When reviewing a residential service contract from the company, the terms and conditions are clear about what’s not covered by Oncourse Home Solutions. Notable exclusions include cosmetic damage, preventative maintenance, issues caused by abuse, unauthorized modifications, acts of God, and pre-existing conditions.
A warranty from Oncourse will protect against problems from normal wear and tear, electrical or mechanical failure, and defects in workmanship to cover products within the main foundation of a home.
We received quotes for a home in Naperville, IL, to reveal how much you should expect to pay for the comprehensive packages offered by Oncourse. Keep in mind, the average cost of a home warranty is between $558–$649 a year.
How Much Does Pivotal Home Solutions Cost?
| Package | Contract Cost | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|---|
|
Utility Line Protection |
$29.99 per month $359.88 per year |
$24,500 |
|
Complete Home Protection |
$69.95 per month $839.40 per year |
$44,500 |
|
Preferred Home Protection |
$79.95 per month $959.40 per year |
$47,750 |
Service Fees
Most home warranty companies require a service fee of $75–$125 to be paid to technicians when they arrive to address an issue. With an Oncourse Home Solutions policy, customers don’t have to pay a service fee to contractors.
How Do You File a Pivotal Home Solutions Claim?
With Oncourse Home Solutions, policyholders have a few options to file a claim.
For emergency breakdowns, you can reach the provider’s 24/7 phone number. For non-emergencies, policyholders can fill out a repair service form and expect a response within two business days. The service form asks general questions like:
- Your name and address
- Account number
- The type, brand, and model of the broken appliance or system
- A detailed excerpt about the issue you are experiencing
Once Oncourse processes your claim, an agent will dispatch a service technician from its local network of experts to address your problem.
Pivotal Home Solutions Reviews
As with any decent home warranty company, Pivotal Home Solutions has a mix of positive and negative customer reviews. Customers praise Pivotal Home for providing professional, reliable, and cost-effective home warranty services, with friendly technicians and hassle-free claims processes.
Here are a few BBB reviews from Pivotal Home Solutions customers:
“Great professional service. No doubt it has saved me net dollars through great maintenance performed over the last 14 years…” — John C., via BBB
“Best service ever! Have had this service for over 20 years. I have the whole house covered. I have never had any problems [submitting] any claims. The service technicians are all very friendly and professional.” — Rosanne G., via BBB
We also received this feedback from one of our readers:
“[Oncourse Home Solutions was] non-responsive, very nonprofessional on the phone and unwilling to help. They try to wear you out by putting you on hold and then never returning to the phone. This is one of their tactics because it happened to me back in 2020 and just happened to me again this week when I called for my in-laws. I would NEVER recommend Oncourse to anyone.” — Jeffrey G., via email
Pivotal Home Solutions Alternatives Analyzed
After reviewing 13 home warranty companies, we narrowed down the top Oncourse Home Solutions alternatives in the table below:
| Company | Star Rating | BBB Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NR | $57–$68 | $65–$125 | ||
B | $36–$100 | $100–$125 | ||
B- | $44–$48 | $60–$75 | ||
B | $45–$60 | $70 ($150 for after hours and weekends) | ||
B | $77–$130 | $100–$125 | ||
B | $44–$82 | $75–$125 | ||
B+ | $51–$68 | $100–$150 | ||
A | $27–$61 | $65–$100 |
How To Choose the Right Home Warranty
Before buying a home warranty plan, consider key factors that impact coverage and costs. We go over these factors in detail below.
- Annual and monthly costs: Review the total cost of the plan, including monthly or yearly premiums, cancellation fees, and potential administrative costs. Some providers charge additional fees for transferring a warranty to a new homeowner, while others may require a multi-year commitment for lower pricing. Understanding the full financial commitment upfront helps avoid unexpected expenses later.
- Optional add-ons: Many home warranty providers offer optional coverage for items like pools, septic systems, well pumps, and high-end appliances. If you have specialized systems in your home, check if these add-ons are available and whether they justify the extra cost. Some providers may bundle add-ons at a discount, so it’s worth comparing package deals.
- Coverage limits: Each provider sets specific limits on how much they will pay per repair or replacement. Some plans cap payouts at $500 per covered item, while others offer higher limits for critical systems like furnaces or water heaters. Understanding these limits ensures you won’t be stuck with high out-of-pocket expenses when making a claim.
- Service fees: Every home warranty includes a service call fee, which you must pay whenever a technician visits your home for a repair. Fees typically range from $70 to $120 per visit, depending on the provider. Choosing a plan with lower service fees can save you money if you anticipate frequent repairs, but plans with higher fees may offer lower monthly premiums.
- Provider reputation and reliability: Verify that the home warranty company is licensed in your area and has a strong rating with the BBB. Look at customer reviews on multiple platforms to assess claim response times, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. A lower-cost home warranty with poor claims processing could leave you covering repair costs out of pocket, defeating the purpose of the warranty.
Our Final Take on Pivotal Home Solutions
The most significant advantage of Oncourse Home Solutions is its lack of a service fee for its policyholders. However, we feel that the lack of this expense may be a contributing factor to the high monthly premiums. We can also give points to the company for utilizing a 24/7 emergency repair hotline, as appliance or home system breakdowns can occur at any time.
While Oncourse has been in operation for numerous years, the company lacks in some notable areas compared to other companies. For example, our quote revealed that Oncourse’s most comprehensive package in Naperville, IL, will cost policyholders nearly $1,000 annually. While the coverage caps are generous, the fee is significantly higher than companies that offer similar protection for a portion of the price.
Another disadvantage is its limited service area. With only 12 states listed as eligible per its website—and only select regions in each state—a large portion of U.S. residents are disqualified from obtaining service. We recommend considering American Home Shield if Oncourse doesn’t service your area.
FAQs About Home Warranties
What types of homes do home warranties cover?
The type of home a home warranty covers varies per provider. Most providers cover single-family homes, mobile homes, condos, and townhomes. Multi-family homes and apartment complexes are usually not covered. Home warranties also cover rental properties.
Do home warranty companies guarantee their work?
Yes, reputable home warranty providers offer a workmanship guarantee for completed repairs. The industry standard is a 30-day guarantee. If a repaired item breaks down during the 30 days, your provider will send a service technician to fix it for free (no additional service call fee).
Some providers, such as Liberty Home Guard and Cinch Home Services, offer a longer workmanship guarantee than the industry standard.
Are home warranties worth the cost?
Each situation is different. A home warranty is worth the investment for someone who can’t afford an expensive appliance or home system repair. A home warranty can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in home repairs depending on what items break down and what your coverage is.
Can I transfer my home warranty to another home?
Yes, most home warranty providers allow you to transfer your policy to another home. In addition, some allow you to transfer your policy free of charge. However, you must contact your provider before moving into your new home to process the policy transfer correctly.
Our Rating Methodology
We use a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each home warranty company we review. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and running focus groups and homeowner surveys.
We use this information to score each provider in six comparison categories that we think are most important when choosing a home warranty. We rate each provider across 23 factors within those categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We convert the final scores to a 5-star rating.
Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:
- Coverage (35%): This category looks at how comprehensive each provider’s coverage is, including whether it covers unique items. Companies that cover the most items and have higher annual limits received the highest scores. We docked points from providers that impose long waiting periods or have depreciation policies that decrease your payouts for aging items.
- Cost (20%): We looked at average monthly prices and service call fees. We gave the most points to companies offering pricing at or below the industry average that don’t impose any surcharges or extra fees.
- Trustworthiness (15%): To gauge reputation and reliability, we reviewed customer ratings across sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot, as well as companies’ responses to complaints. We also checked for National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA) membership. Providers with the highest ratings and longest workmanship guarantees received higher scores. We deducted points for any ongoing legal issues.
- Plan transparency (10%): We read terms, policies, and disclosures in provided contracts and on each company’s website. Providers with transparent contract details and policies received more points.
- Customer support (10%): Companies with multiple claims filing options, fast response times, and accessible customer support scored well in this category.
- Flexibility (10%): We awarded more points to providers offering more plan options, larger add-on catalogs, the ability to choose your own technician, and customer-friendly cancellation policies.
