Elite Home Warranty has served homeowners in 46 states since 2020. The company provides generous major system and appliance protection at a competitive rate. In addition to solid coverage offerings, Elite provides great customer service. Our team tested the company’s claims process and analyzed its plan variety, coverage costs, and optional add-ons to determine if it fits on our list of the best home warranty companies.
Fast Facts About Elite Home Warranty
- Claim response time: Up to 48 hours
- Cost: $44–$59 per month
- Coverage limits: $15,000 annual limit
- Service call fee: $70
- State availability: 46 (all but California, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin)
- Type of plans: Appliances only, systems only, and combination
Elite Home Warranty Rating and Review
Elite Home Warranty scored 4.3 out of 5 stars in our rating system. Elite scored well due to its selection of home warranty coverage plans, additional coverage options, and an affordable service call fee. The company holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has earned an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars across multiple third-party customer review sites.
However, we discovered through our secret-shopping process that Elite Home Warranty doesn’t provide pricing information when you request a quote online. You must call the company or wait for an Elite representative to call you. It also limits coverage on items older than 10 years.
Here’s how we rated Elite Home Warranty in key categories:
- Available plans (5 out of 5): Elite scored 5 out of 5 points in this category because it offers three standard home warranty plans, one of which is a combination plan. It also provides a fully customizable plan where you choose the individual items you want covered. The company offers over 20 additional coverage options, which is more than most companies.
- Plan coverage (4.6 out 5): Elite scored well here due to its comprehensive list of covered systems and appliances. The company lost points due to its lower appliance and system coverage limits.
- Price range (3.5 out of 5): Elite gained points by offering a service call fee of less than $70 and a combination plan for less than $60, based on our quote. However, it lost points for only featuring one service fee—many other companies offer two to three options.
- Industry reputation (4.3 out of 5): Elite maintains a good reputation based on its high BBB rating and positive customer reviews. We deducted points, however, for its limited industry presence.
- Customer support (4 out of 5): Elite scored fairly well in this category due to its lengthy workmanship guarantee, low cancellation fee, and 24/7 claims phone line. However, it lost points for its lack of an online claim-filing portal.
- Additional features (3.65 out of 5): Elite doesn’t have as many additional features as other home warranty companies, so we deducted points. For instance, it doesn’t cover items with preexisting conditions or damage outside of normal wear and tear.
*BBB rating is accurate as of September 2023.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Elite Home Warranty
We appreciate Elite’s customer-centric business model and fully customizable coverage plan. While a minor inconvenience, Elite’s quote process involves more steps than other home warranty companies. Below is our full list of Elite Home Warranty’s benefits and drawbacks:
Benefits
➕ Has a lengthy 90-day workmanship guarantee
➕ Offers up to 27 add-ons
➕ Provides a low $70 service fee for standard coverage
Drawbacks
➖ Charges a $100 service fee for high-end appliances
➖ Excludes workmanship guarantee if you use your own technician
➖ Requires several steps to get coverage pricing
Elite Home Warranty Coverage Options
Elite Home Warranty offers three standard home protection options: an appliances-only plan, a systems-only plan, and a bundled plan that combines home appliance and system coverage. All Elite Home Warranty plans include a $70 service call fee.
The company provides a 90-day workmanship guarantee when an in-network technician responds to your service request. Upon reading the company’s sample contract, we found it won’t uphold its workmanship guarantee if you choose your own service provider.
As part of our review, we contacted Elite Home Warranty and tested its claims process. We filed a claim for a broken dishwasher. Within 30 minutes, an Elite Home Warranty representative scheduled service for the following business day.
Once the in-network technician arrived and assessed our issue, he determined that the repair required out-of-stock parts. The technician ordered the parts and returned four business days later to complete the repair. We noted the professionalism of the service provider and Elite’s claims specialist. However, our team member had to reach out to Elite to obtain a status update while he waited for the ordered parts.
Below is a coverage breakdown of each plan Elite Home Warranty offers:
Elite Appliances
The Elite Appliances plan strictly covers major appliances. It covers your home’s built-in microwave, ceiling fans, clothes washer, clothes dryer, cooktop, dishwasher, garbage disposal, oven, range, and refrigerator. Elite also covers the refrigerator’s ice maker and water dispenser. Most providers cover these refrigerator components as an add-on only.
Elite Systems
The Elite Systems plan only covers major systems, such as air conditioning, electrical and heating systems, garage door openers, plumbing systems, fixtures, and stoppages. Elite also covers water heaters in this plan.
Elite Complete
The Elite Complete plan bundles the Elite Appliances and Elite Systems plans into one comprehensive coverage plan.
Optional Add-Ons
Elite Home Warranty offers up to 27 add-on coverage options, many of which are items most home warranty companies don’t cover. Here is the full list of optional add-ons Elite offers:
- Annual maintenance
- Central vacuum
- Drainage, sewer, and water service lines
- Effluent pump
- Ejector pump
- Freestanding freezer
- Freestanding ice makers
- Freestanding spa equipment
- Generator
- Geothermal heating and cooling systems
- Grinder pump
- Guest house
- Jetted and hot tubs
- Lawn sprinkler system
- Lift pump
- Limited roof-leak repair
- Pool and spa equipment
- Pool equipment
- Premium appliances
- Premium benefits
- Premium systems
- Premium systems plus
- Septic system
- Sump pump
- Water softeners
- Well pump
- Wine coolers
Elite Home Warranty Pricing
Our team pulled a quote using a 3,200-square-foot, single-family new home in Modesto, California, to obtain sample pricing. The representative we spoke with priced plans between $44 and $59 monthly. He also noted Elite pairs each plan with a $70 service call fee.
We highly recommend requesting a custom quote since your home’s size and location, and your chosen coverage will affect your home warranty cost.
Elite Home Warranty Coverage Caps
Elite Home Warranty pairs all protection plans with an annual coverage cap of $15,000. However, we discovered that the company offers different limits for appliances and systems: The total annual coverage cap for appliances is $7,000, while the annual limit for systems is $8,000.
Elite Home Warranty also has individual coverage caps per covered item. The table below displays the coverage limits of several covered items:
| Item | Coverage Cap |
|---|---|
|
Clothes washer and dryer |
$1,000 |
|
Garage door opener |
$1,000 |
|
Range, oven, or cooktop |
$2,000 |
|
Electrical system |
$2,000 |
|
Refrigerator |
$3,000 |
|
Air conditioner |
$3,000-$4,000 |
If you’d like more information on the coverage limits for each item, check out Elite Home Warranty’s service contract directory.
Elite Home Warranty Reviews
Our team conducted an in-depth analysis of Elite Home Warranty’s customer reviews. We sourced these reviews from third-party websites, such as the BBB, ConsumerAffairs, Google Reviews, and Trustpilot. Based on the dozens of reviews we read, we found most Elite customers were satisfied with the sign-up process and the claims experience. Our team member who tested Elite’s claims process had a similar positive encounter overall.
However, some Elite customers were dissatisfied with the company’s response time to fulfill service requests. We also experienced a slight delay during our testing process. However, this was due to our item needing out-of-stock parts.
Here are several positive customer reviews we found for Elite Home Warranty:
“Elite kept me in the loop as to the day and time of my repair. They called me in the morning and again when the tech was coming. Great service. I was with two other companies prior and never had this kind of service.” —Howard D. via BBB in August 2023
“I love that the rep didn’t harass us to join the company. He explained and answered our questions and waited for us. We truly look forward to having you as our providers.” —Jenni S. via Google Reviews in August 2023
“I had a claim for the garage door opener, and Elite handled it well. I called on a Thursday night, and they answered and called me back the next day. They sent somebody out to fix it, and the tech was awesome. It’s one of the better experiences that I’ve had. Also, props to the guy I called to get the policy. I told him I was going to call him back, but we had something come up, and a month later, that guy checked back up with me.” —Jason via ConsumerAffairs in August 2023
Here are a few negative reviews we found for Elite Home Warranty:
“I only called once, but my rep tried to sell me a used car—well, it felt like it anyway. It was by far the worst service I have ever received from a home warranty company, and this was not my first. I had high hopes, but the service sucks.” —Jennifer C. via Google Reviews in August 2023
“They have not covered anything. I spoke to a supervisor, who told me I had not had a plan for at least a year. I am going back to my old company. This one is a waste of money.” —Michele V. via Google Reviews in July 2023
“Worst company to deal with. I listened to their representative talk to the service technician. I worked over 52 years and had thousands of employees; if one of them talked to a service contractor or anyone like Elite’s representative did, I would have fired them on the spot. You do not treat another person like that. I canceled my warranty with Elite at once.” —Byron B. via BBB in February 2023
How Elite Home Warranty Compares to the Competition
The table below, listed from highest to lowest rating, displays how Elite Home Warranty compares to other top home warranty companies.
| Provider | Star Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
4.6 |
$29–$90 |
$100–$125 |
|
|
4.4 |
$47–$87 |
$75–$125 |
|
|
4.3 |
$32–$69 |
$85 |
|
|
4.2 |
$49–$60 |
$65–$125 |
|
|
4.2 |
$35–$62 |
$100–$150 |
|
|
4.1 |
$38–$63 |
$75–$125 |
|
|
3.7 |
$44–$48 |
$60–$75 |
Our Recommendation
Elite Home Warranty is one the best home warranty companies we’ve reviewed. It offers multiple coverage plans, an affordable service call fee, and a generous workmanship guarantee for added peace of mind. Elite also offers an extensive suite of add-on coverage options. Thanks to these offerings, Elite can build a coverage plan that suits your exact needs. It’s not for everyone, however. The company won’t uphold its workmanship guarantee on repairs made by out-of-network technicians, so if you prefer to choose your own contractor, we recommend AFC Home Club.
For your free quote, fill out the Elite Home Warranty quote form or call 888 408-6411.
Elite Home Warranty FAQ
Does Elite Home Warranty have a waiting period?
Yes, Elite Home Warranty has a 30-day waiting period during which you can’t file a claim. The company has a waiting period to ensure the items you purchase coverage for don’t have preexisting conditions.
How quickly does Elite Home Warranty schedule service requests?
In our testing experience, Elite Home Warranty scheduled a service request on the same day we filed a claim. That said, the representative we spoke with noted response time depends on the date and time you file a claim and technician availability.
Can I choose my own technician with Elite Home Warranty?
Yes, Elite Home Warranty allows you to choose your technician once Elite approves your service request. However, it won’t provide a workmanship guarantee on the repair or replacement your technician completes.
What is a service call fee?
A service call fee is a predetermined amount you must pay your home warranty company to send a technician to repair your appliance or system breakdown. Think of it as a deductible. Each time you file a claim, Elite will charge you a service call fee unless your issue occurs again within the 90-day workmanship guarantee.
How We Chose the Top Home Warranty Providers
Our team reviewed and researched dozens of home warranty providers, thoroughly analyzed sample agreements, and identified customer pain points based on our analysis of customer reviews and interviews with industry experts. Our in-depth methodology outlines our review process to provide transparent information about the companies we review.
We determined that the following factors are the most important when comparing home warranty companies: available plans, plan coverage, price range, industry reputation, customer support, and additional features. Our research supported that plan coverage, customer service, and industry reputation should carry the most weight. While important, the other factors should not have as much influence when choosing a home warranty provider.
