Select Home Warranty Review (2023)

Select Home Warranty (SHW) stands out for its value-oriented coverage. Founded in 2012, SHW offers home warranty coverage to homeowners in 47 states. Select provides competitively priced plans that cover appliances, systems, or a combination of both. Additionally, the company includes roof-leak coverage with every plan, a rare basic inclusion in the industry. However, Select has various customer complaints centered on a lack of communication. That said, its solid HVAC system coverage and additional perks make it worth considering.

After researching dozens of home warranty service providers, we determined that Select Home Warranty is among the best home warranty companies for homeowners nationwide. We considered factors such as plan options, the total number of covered items, the quality of available additional coverage options, coverage limits, customer service experience, and claim response time.

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Select Home Warranty Rating and Review

Select Home Warranty scored 3.9 out of 5 stars in our rating system. The company scored well for coverage variety and pricing. The provider earned additional points in the price range category because of its low monthly and service call fees. Select lost points for its short workmanship guarantee few additional features, and limited coverage caps.

Here’s how we rated Select Home Warranty on key metrics:

• Available Plans (4.3 out of 5): Select offers three plans, including one combination plan, and a handful of add-on options. 
• Plan Coverage (3.5 out of 5): Select’s basic plans cover major systems and appliances. It has lower coverage limits than other providers and doesn’t offer coverage for additional appliances or built-in systems.
• Price Range (4.5 out of 5): Select offers two monthly plans for less than $45. Additionally, its service call fee ranges from $60–$75, which is on the lower end of the industry average. As a potential downside to customers, it doesn’t offer a flexible service call fee option.
• Industry Reputation (4.7 out of 5): Select rated well for industry reputation due to its tenure in the industry, nationwide availability, and the ease of locating its sample contract online. 
• Customer Support (4.3 out of 5): Select responds to most claims within two business days. However, its workmanship guarantee is shorter than other providers in the industry at only 30 days.
• Additional Features (2.7 out of 5): Select doesn’t allow you to choose your own contractor or upgrade your coverage limits. However, it provides transferable plans. Additionally, it includes roof-leak protection with all policies. It also covers high-end appliances, and its plans cover faucets and fixtures.

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The Best Home Warranty Companies

Here are the top home warranty providers based on our research:

• Select Home Warranty: Best Value per Plan
• American Home Shield: Best for Comprehensive Coverage
• Liberty Home Guard: Best Unique Coverage
• First American Home Warranty: Best for Home Systems Coverage
• America’s 1st Choice Home Club: Best Plan Flexibility
• Cinch Home Services: Best for Pool Coverage

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How Select Home Warranty Compares to the Competition

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Fast Facts About Select Home Warranty

• Founded: 2012
• State Availability: 47 states (all but Nevada, Washington, and Wisconsin)
• Service Fee: $60–$75
• Number of Plans: Three
• Get a Quick Quote: Visit SHW’s site

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Benefits and Drawbacks of Select Home Warranty

Benefits:

• Roof-leak coverage: Select includes up to $400 in roof-leak coverage with every plan.
• Generous heating and cooling system coverage: Select provides a reputable $3,000 coverage limit for HVAC heating and air conditioning systems.
• Annual discounts: You can receive two months of free coverage when you pay annually.

Drawbacks:

• Low coverage caps: Select’s $500 coverage cap for appliances is lower than some competitors.
• Service call fee per claim: Select charges a service call fee for each claim filed, which means Select could charge you twice if you have multiple issues to address during a technician’s visit.
• Fewer add-on options: Select offers limited add-on options compared to other providers.

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Select Home Warranty Coverage Options

Select Home Warranty offers three base coverage plans. The Bronze Care plan covers home appliances, such as your refrigerator and clothes washer. The Gold Care plan covers home systems, such as your air conditioner and water heater. The Platinum Care plan provides comprehensive coverage for both built-in systems and major appliances. Each plan tier comes standard with free roof-leak coverage.

Additionally, the company offers a workmanship guarantee of 30 days. If a serviced item breaks down within a month of an approved repair, Select will send another verified technician at no additional cost. 

We recommend that you read the company’s sample agreement carefully to ensure you know all coverage caps and exclusions. 

Bronze Care

This plan covers major appliances, including your cooktop, dishwasher, garbage disposal, built-in microwave oven, refrigerator, stove/oven, clothes washer, and clothes dryer. 

Gold Care

This plan covers your home’s built-in systems, including your air conditioning, ductwork, heating system, electrical system, plumbing system, and water heater. 

Platinum Care

This plan covers all the systems and appliances in the earlier Bronze and Gold Care plans, plus your garage door opener and plumbing stoppages. 

The table below highlights Select’s coverage options in each plan.

Coverage	Bronze Care	Gold Care	Platinum Care
AC/cooling	–	✓	✓
Built-in microwave	✓	–	✓
Ceiling fan	–	–	✓
Clothes dryer	✓	–	✓
Clothes washer	✓	–	✓
Cooktop	✓	–	✓
Dishwasher	✓	–	✓
Ductwork	–	✓	✓
Electrical system	–	✓	✓
Garage-door openers	–	–	✓
Garbage disposal	✓	–	✓
Heating system	–	✓	✓
Plumbing stoppages	–	–	✓
Plumbing system	–	✓	✓
Refrigerator	✓	–	✓
Stove/oven	✓	–	✓
Water heater	–	✓	✓

Optional Add-ons: 

• Central vacuum
• Lawn sprinkler system
• Pool
• Septic system
• Spa
• Stand-alone freezer
• Sump pump
• Well pump

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Select Home Warranty Pricing

With Select Home Warranty, you can expect to pay between a $60 and $75 service call fee each time you request service, no matter where your home is located. 

According to our quote for a single-family home smaller than 5,000 square feet in Atherton, California, plan prices range from roughly $44 to $48 per month. The Bronze Care and Gold Care plans are priced at $44.22 per month, while the Platinum Care plan is priced at $47.75 per month. If you choose an annual premium, you can expect to pay $530–$573 with two months free. 

Because pricing will vary from home to home even within the same city, we recommend requesting a personalized quote before making your final decision.

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Select Home Warranty Coverage Caps

Select Home Warranty will pay up to $400 for roof-leak repairs; $500 for covered appliances, plumbing, and electrical systems; $3,000 for HVAC; and $400 for add-on options.

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Select Home Warranty Reviews

When we analyzed more than 1,000 Google and Trustpilot reviews for Select Home Warranty, we found that many customers enjoyed the easy sign-up process. Several reviewers noted how well customer service representatives answered their questions and explained policy terms. 

Several customers, however, noted Select was difficult to reach. Others lamented Select’s tendency to deny claims. Consider your needs and budget before signing up for a Select Home Warranty plan.

“For the most part, I am very satisfied with Select. Early on, I made the mistake of not reading the coverage of my sprinkler system on my policy, and had to replace the system as well as a few heads out of pocket. I blindly thought that adding sprinkler system coverage to my policy would cover all expenses therein. Otherwise, it is very easy to make and follow up on claims using Select. They did pay for a completely new garage door motor which saved [me] a lot of money. Plus, the $75 service fee is very reasonable. Overall, I am satisfied. Just ensure that you read your contract thoroughly to know what components of each appliance are covered.” —Maximilian Werner via Google Reviews

“After my horrible experience with [my] last home warranty company, I was hopeful Select Home Warranty would be different. Boy, did they make good on their promise to provide me with quick and professional service. The day I called Select about my heater not working, it only was a few hours until a heating and air company contacted me and had a technician at my home the next day. I [am] very pleased my house no longer feels like a beer cooler.” —Tracy Tomasian via Google Reviews

“Just renewed with Select Home Warranty for a second year. Pros include: They did replace my water heater and garbage disposal and also helped fix an electrical short in my kitchen; customer service is available and accessible with reasonable wait times. Cons include: Turnaround times could take days for a contractor to accept the claim, and even weeks to finally get the problem fixed once you submit the claim because of this process. Overall, great bang for my buck with Select Home Warranty, and septic tank and system coverage in California were some of the reasons I continue to bring them my business.” —Larry via Google Reviews

“Joel was very accommodating and patient when explaining what he was doing and why. When I contacted the company to see if the replacement of my garage door opener was covered, they were eager to help, and I was surprised to find that indeed it was covered. Filing a claim was a breeze, I’m so glad my friend recommended them to me!” —Jonathan Raia via Google Reviews

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Our Recommendation

Select Home Warranty is a worthwhile consideration for any homeowner who wants inexpensive home protection. With this provider’s plans, you can cover up to 16 essential built-in systems and appliances, including your laundry machines, plumbing system, and kitchen appliances, arguably the most used components of any lively household. If you need to cover more items, you can add coverage for up to eight additional items, such as your pool and spa.

To request a personalized quote from Select Home Warranty, call 888-370-3956.

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Understanding Home Warranty Fine Print

With so many home warranty companies in the industry, you should read your service contract’s fine print to understand your coverage options and exclusions. Doing so prevents surprises when you file a claim. Some of the most common sections to know when reading your provider’s service contract include the following:

• Cancellation
• Claims process
• Covered items and components
• Exclusions and limitations

Many providers offer a cancellation period that refunds the premium you paid in full if you cancel within the allotted time. However, if you cancel past the cancellation period, the provider will give you a pro-rated refund, less any service costs. 

Almost all providers accept claims 24/7. Every home warranty provider, however, handles claims differently. Generally, providers send a service technician they select within 48 hours of receiving your claim. If you file a claim during standard business hours, the provider may send someone sooner. After standard business hours or on recognized holidays, expect a longer wait for a service technician, as many only operate during standard business hours.

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Reviews of Other Home Warranty Providers

• American Home Shield Review
• Liberty Home Guard Review
• First American Home Warranty Review
• AFC Home Club Review
• Cinch Home Services Review

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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 customer-review analysis and interviews with industry experts. Our in-depth methodology guides our review process to provide transparent information about the companies we review.

During this process, we determined that the most critical aspects of a home warranty company include available service plans and add-ons, depth of coverage, plan cost, industry reputation, customer support infrastructure, and additional features. We also focused on the ability to choose your own contractor; upgrade your coverage package; transfer your plan to another owner; and cover roof leaks, high-end appliance brands, ceiling fans and exhaust fans, and faucets and fixtures.

Our research supported that plan coverage should carry the most weight, with customer support as the second-most important factor. Industry reputation, plan availability, and additional features were rated equally. Therefore, we determined that price range, while worth considering, should not be the primary basis for choosing a home warranty provider for your home’s needs.