Best Home Warranty Companies in South Dakota

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

➕ Flexible pricing structure: AHS allows you to choose your own service call fee, which provides a degree of customization that not all companies offer

➕ Comprehensive coverage: AHS covers improper installation and modification, unknown preexisting conditions, and items damaged by rust and corrosion

➕ Excellent roof-leak protection: AHS includes roof-leak coverage of up to $1,500 per claim in the ShieldPlatinum plan

Drawbacks

➖ Limited contractor flexibility: AHS doesn’t allow customers to choose their own contractor unless the company can’t locate a technician

➖ Not as many add-ons: AHS offers fewer add-on options than other providers

Plans and Pricing

American Home Shield (AHS) offers three plan options: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. Plans are $360–$894 annually with service fees of $100 or $125 per visit. Below is a coverage and pricing breakdown for AHS plans:

• ShieldSilver ($29.99–$39.99 per month): Covers 14 major systems, including air conditioning, heating units, ductwork, built-in exhaust, vents, attic fans, main breaker, and fuse panel boxes; doorbells, and chimes; interior electrical lines; ceiling fans, garage door openers, interior plumbing lines, toilets, faucets, and valves; whirlpool tub motor and components, and water heaters
• ShieldGold ($49.99–$64.50 per month): Covers all the items in the ShieldSilver plan plus up to $4,000 of coverage for laundry and kitchen appliances, including refrigerators, ranges, cooktops, ovens, dishwashers, built-in microwaves, garbage disposals, instant hot/cold water dispensers, washers, and dryers
• ShieldPlatinum ($68.99–$74.50 per month): Covers all of the items in the ShieldGold plan and raises the coverage cap for appliances to $4,000. It also covers up to $1,500 for roof leaks and provides a discounted annual HVAC tune-up, unlimited AC refrigerant, and up to $1,000 in code upgrades
• Add-ons: Electronics Protection Plan, guest unit, pool or spa, septic system and pump, and well pump

Coverage Caps

American Home Shield lists your plan’s coverage caps and exclusions in your service contract. Below are a few notable items we pulled from the sample service contract:

• Appliances: Covered up to $2,000 with the ShieldGold plan; $4,000 with the ShieldPlatinum plan
• Air conditioning, heating, HVAC: A $5,000 coverage cap for units up to 5-ton capacity. It covers up to $1,500 for geothermal, water source heat pumps, glycol, hot water, or steam circulating systems
• Plumbing: A $5,000 coverage cap for accessible plumbing systems, but it will only pay $1,000 for systems in obstructed walls, ceilings, and floors
• Roof leaks: Will pay up to $1,500 for roof leaks, but it excludes all metal roofs and items that penetrate the roof, such as skylights, roof-mounted installations like solar panels, gutters, and downspouts
• General exclusions: Doesn’t cover routine maintenance; repair of cosmetic defects; malfunctions due to missing components, parts, or equipment; lack of capacity; or improperly sized systems

Reviews

American Home Shield is accredited and holds a B rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)*. We analyzed more than 800 positive and negative reviews and listened to dozens of customer service calls to determine how AHS handles its customer service. Overall, customers shared that they appreciate the quality of repairs done for their home items and the customer service they received.

A member of our team who owns an American Home Shield plan tested its services and agreed with many of the positive customer service themes in reviews. American Home Shield connected him with a local provider in under an hour when he filed his most recent claim. He appreciated how quickly the service provider repaired his issue. He had a similar experience with other claims he’s filed. He reported that American Home Shield always sent someone within 24 hours, and he only paid his service call fee for each completed repair.

However, we found there were several complaints regarding slow response time and miscommunication while reading consumer reviews.

*BBB rating is accurate as of July 2023

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

➕ Unique coverage: LHG offers more than 38 add-on options, including coverage for pro-series appliances

➕ Customer service chat: LHG provides a 24/7 live-chat feature on its website to quickly connect with a representative if you have questions or concerns

➕ Workmanship guarantee: LHG re-services all approved repairs and replacements within 60 days at no additional charge

Drawbacks

➖ Opaque service call fees: LHG lacks transparency with its service call fee pricing as you pull a quote

➖ Fine print: LHG excludes its workmanship guarantee on repairs made by service providers outside its network

Plans and Pricing

Liberty Home Guard (LHG) offers three plan options: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Plans typically cost $600–$720 annually with service fees of $65–$125 per visit. A representative will assign a service fee to your account based on the location of your home, plan selection, and any additional coverage options you select. You can ask a representative about your service call fee during the quote process or review your assigned fee via your online portal after you sign up. Down below is a coverage and pricing breakdown for LHG plans:

• Appliance Guard ($49.99 per month): Covers your clothes washer, clothes dryer, refrigerator with ice maker and display, built-in microwave oven, dishwasher, garbage disposal, range, oven, cooktop, ceiling and exhaust fans, and garage door openers
• Systems Guard ($54.99 per month): Covers your air conditioning system, heating system, ductwork, plumbing system, electrical system, and water heater
• Total Home Guard ($59.99 per month): Combines the coverage of the appliance and systems plans into one comprehensive package
• Add-ons: Liberty Home Guard offers up to 38 additional coverage options, including carpet cleaning, guest units, gutter cleaning, lawn sprinkler systems, pro-series appliances, saltwater pools, and reverse osmosis systems. You can add any add-on to the plan options above

Coverage Caps

Liberty Home Guard lists its coverage caps and exclusions in its sample contract. A few to note include these:

• Appliances: Up to $2,000 per item
• Major systems: Up to $2,000 per item
• Electrical and plumbing: $500 per item and $250 within the first 90 days of signing up
• Add-ons: $500 per item $250 within the first 90 days of signing up

Liberty Home Guard does not cover any preexisting conditions or any damage that results from improper installation or modification.

Reviews

Liberty Home Guard holds an A+ rating from the BBB. Through our research, we discovered that LHG customers appreciate the claims experience due to its user-friendliness and prompt over-the-phone service. However, some customers noted LHG does not cover labor costs when a technician completes a repair.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

➕ Roof-leak coverage: Select includes up to $400 in roof-leak coverage with every plan

➕ Generous HVAC coverage: Select provides a $3,000 coverage limit for air conditioning and heating systems

➕ Annual discounts: Select grants an additional two months of coverage when you pay annually

Drawbacks

➖ Low coverage caps: Select provides a $500 coverage cap for appliances–lower than some competitors

➖ Fewer add-on options: Select offers limited add-on options compared to other providers

➖ Service call fee per claim: Select charges a service call fee for each claim filed, which means you could be charged twice if you have multiple issues to address during a technician’s visit

Plans and Pricing

Select Home Warranty offers three standard plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. Its standout feature is the inclusion of limited roof-leak coverage up to $400 with all plan tiers. Plans cost between $533–$573 annually, with a service fee of $60–$75 per claim. A Select representative we spoke with stated Select will grant you a lower service call fee if you sign-up over the phone.

More than 50% of the Trustpilot reviews we read rated Select Home Warranty four stars or higher. Many noted how easy and quick it was to sign up for coverage. One customer mentioned that Select’s representative explained its coverage clearly and concisely. However, other customer reviews we read lamented Select’s inconsistent customer service. Down below is a coverage and pricing breakdown for Select’s protection plans:

• Bronze Care ($44.42 per month): Covers your home’s appliances, including your clothes washer, clothes dryer, garbage disposal, refrigerator, stove, oven, built-in microwave oven, cooktop, and dishwasher
• Gold Care ($44.42 per month): Covers built-in systems, including your air conditioning system, heating system, plumbing system, electrical system, water heater, and ductwork
• Platinum Care ($47.75 per month): Covers all the items in the Bronze Care and Gold Care plans, plus garage door openers and ceiling fans
• Add-ons: Central vacuum, lawn sprinkler system, pool, septic system, spa, stand-alone freezer, sump pump, well pump

Coverage Caps

As mentioned above, Select Home Warranty’s coverage caps are slightly lower than other home warranty companies. We outlined notable coverage caps below:

• Appliances: Covered up to $500 per item
• Air conditioning, heating, and HVAC: Covered up to $3,000 per plan term
• Electrical and plumbing: Covered up to $500 per item
• Roof-leak coverage and other add-ons: Up to $400 per covered item
• General exclusions: Only covers systems and appliances in a single-family dwelling, individual condominium units, townhouses, and modular homes. Prices may vary. It only covers systems and appliances properly and permanently installed and located within the living area of the home. Excludes coverage for systems or appliances in commercial properties or residential properties used for business purposes. Doesn’t cover preexisting conditions

Reviews

Select Home Warranty holds a B- rating with the BBB. As part of our analysis for Select, we combed through more than 1,000 Google and Trustpilot Reviews from existing customers. We found many customers enjoyed Select’s helpful and knowledgeable service providers. However, several customers lamented Select’s lack of communication. Others stated it was difficult to get ahold of a representative when filing a claim or making changes to their coverage plan.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

➕ Generous coverage caps: Covers up to $3,500 for all covered appliances in the Starter and Essential plans, and many home systems don’t have a pre-set coverage limit

➕ First American Advantage Upgrade: First American provides this upgrade package that expands the coverage of First American’s Essential and Premium plans by covering additional components, debris disposal, code upgrades, and other costs

➕ Flexible Simple service fee model: First American allows you to choose from a $75, $100, or $125 service call fee

Drawbacks

➖ AC as an add-on: First American excludes air conditioning in the Starter Plan. You can still purchase it, however, as an add-on if you opt for the Starter Plan

➖ Limited service provider choices: First American doesn’t allow you to choose your technician unless there isn’t an in-network contractor near you.

Plans and Pricing

First American Home Warranty offers three plans: the Starter Plan, Essential Plan, and Premium Plan. Plans cost between $564 and $912 annually with a service fee of $75 to $125 per visit. The Starter Plan and Essential Plan cover essential appliances and systems, and the Premium Plan extends that protection by increasing its coverage limit per appliance and select systems. It’s important to note that First American’s Starter Plan doesn’t cover air conditioning equipment, but coverage can be added for $8.33 per month. Down below is our plan and pricing breakdown for First American coverage:

• Starter Plan ($47–$61 per month): Covers your built-in microwave, dishwasher, ductwork, electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, kitchen range hood, oven/cooktop, plumbing stoppages, refrigerator, and toilet tank
• Essential Plan ($57–$66 per month): Covers all items in the Starter Plan. Includes additional coverage for air conditioning, ceiling, attic, and exhaust fans, clothes washers, clothes dryers, First American Advantage upgrade, garage-door openers, trash compactors, and water heaters
• Premium Plan ($72–$76 per month): Covers all items in the Essential Plan and includes central vacuum and full garage door systems, faucets, garbage disposals, instant hot water dispensers, luxury appliances, shower heads and arms, and window air conditioning units
• Add-ons: Additional refrigeration, central air conditioning (electric, Starter Plan only), HVAC tune-up, limited roof-leak repair, pool, and spa equipment, septic tank pumping and system, water softeners, well pump

Coverage Caps

First American Home Warranty’s sample contract outlines important coverage caps and exclusions. The most notable exclusions and coverage caps are noted below: 

• Appliances: Covered up to $3,500 per appliance in the Starter and Essential plans. The Premium Plan increases limits to $7,000
• Air conditioning and heating systems: No preset coverage caps for heating, but air conditioning is only available as an add-on in the Starter Plan; geothermal or water source heat pumps or combination water heater/heating units may be limited to $1,500 per claim
• Plumbing and electrical: No preset coverage cap, but coverage may be limited to $500 if technicians have to access it through concrete walls, floors, or ceilings. The Premium Plan increases the access limit to $1,000
• Add-ons: Coverage may vary depending on the item. For example, First American limits additional refrigeration to $500 and well pumps to $1,500 per plan term
• General exclusions: First American excludes commercial-use properties, construction costs, hazardous or toxic materials, and shared systems coverage

Reviews

First American holds a B rating with the BBB. Our research process involved listening to dozens of customer service calls and thoroughly reviewing online reviews left by customers on sites such as Trustpilot and the BBB.

Overall, customer reviews are positive. Customers enjoy First American’s quick service and comprehensive coverage limits. Its lack of coverage in 18 states plus miscommunication issues lead some customers to leave dissatisfied reviews.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

➕ Plan variety: AFC offers customizable plans via four coverage plans and three service call fee options

➕ Longest repair guarantee: AFC provides a workmanship guarantee that extends the life of your plan per completed repair

➕ Additional benefits: Includes security perks such as identity protection and free credit monitoring services

Drawbacks

➖ Coverage exclusions: Doesn’t cover items with preexisting conditions

➖ Limited coverage caps: AFC limits reimbursement for covered items older than five years to their depreciated value

Plans and Pricing

America’s 1st Choice Home Club (AFC Home Club) offers four plan options. Plans cost between $435 and $649 annually with services fees of $75–$125 per claim. Additionally, AFC Home Club provides an extensive workmanship guarantee and additional membership perks. Down below is a coverage and pricing breakdown for AFC protection plans:

• Silver Plan ($36.25–$40.55 per month): Covers essential appliances, such as your clothes washer and dryer, kitchen refrigerator, oven, range, cooktop, stove, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and garage door opener
• Systems Plan ($43.17–$48.55 per month): Covers your water heater, air conditioning system, heating system, electrical system, plumbing system, and ductwork.
• Gold Plan ($50–$51.95 per month): Combines the coverage of the two basic plans into one comprehensive package
• Platinum Plan ($51.95–$54.13 per month): Includes all the items in the Gold Plan plus coverage for built-in microwaves, faucets, ice makers, and plumbing stoppages
• Add-ons: Built-in microwave, central vacuum, double oven, electronic coverage, hot water dispenser, ice maker, in-ground pool, septic system, stand-alone freezer, sump pump, tankless water heater, and well pump

Note: Our quote did not include ductwork in the Systems Plan. When we reached out to the provider for clarification, a representative informed us that this confusion resulted from a clerical error. However, all plans that cover systems will also cover ductwork.

Coverage Caps

In general, AFC Home Club’s offers similar coverage terms compared to other home warranty providers. Here are a few key limitations and exclusions to consider:

• Appliances: Up to $3,000 per covered item
• Systems: Prorated coverage based on the depreciated value of systems five years or older
• Add-ons: Varies by item (e.g., $500 for pool and spa equipment, sump pump, and well pump, but $200 for central vacuums)
• General exclusions: Malfunction or improper operation due to rust or corrosion, collapsed ductwork, known or unknown preexisting conditions, routine maintenance, cosmetic defects, and secondary damage caused by an uncovered item

Reviews

AFC Home Club holds a B rating from the BBB. We reviewed hundreds of customer reviews on the BBB website and Google Reviews to determine that AFC Home Club has an overall satisfactory rating from existing customers.

AFC Home Club customers admire the friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives and minimal hold times. Several customers wrote complaints regarding coverage—the biggest complaint being coverage claims denied due to technicalities. We recommend you review your service contract and plan options carefully with any provider before signing up.