Key takeaways:
When you spend your hard-earned money on your home and appliances, you want them to last a long time. However, machines and home systems can break down over time and lead to costly repairs or replacements. Securing a home warranty, an annual service agreement that provides coverage for repairs and replacements on home systems and appliances, protects your investment when these problems occur.
Home warranties can help provide peace of mind knowing that your home systems and appliances will be repaired promptly by reputable technicians. They may also help ensure you’re not stuck with surprise expenses. To be sure that your home systems and appliances remain covered, knowing how long your home warranty lasts is crucial.
Understanding how home warranties work
For the average homeowner, most home warranties typically last for one year. Home warranties are contract agreements between the home warranty provider and the customer, and most providers offer one-year contracts as the standard for their plans.
When exploring home protection plans from Cinch Home Services, it’s important that you first understand how home warranties work. The process is simple: you first have to choose the best plan for your coverage needs and budget, whether it’s our Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan or Complete Home Plan1. Then, any time a covered appliance or system breaks down due to normal wear and tear, you can request service 24/7 and we’ll send a vetted service provider to get it back up and running quickly2. So, how long do these plans last for?
At Cinch Home Services, our home protection plans provide coverage for one year from the effective date of the agreement. The plans automatically renew so you won’t have to worry about protecting your home and budget for years to come.
1 All plans are subject to terms, conditions and limitations in your service plan agreement. Deductible due at time of service call. Non-covered charges may apply to certain repairs and replacements. Coverage and pricing may vary by state. Sales tax may apply.
2Covered items must be in good working order, with no apparent visual or operational malfunctions, as of your service agreement effective date. Non-covered, incidental charges and dollar amount caps may apply.
How to make the best use of your home warranty plan
Buying a home is often a major financial commitment, so it can be beneficial to protect yourself from unexpected costs by investing in a home inspection and home warranty. According to a 2022 U.S. News & World Report New Homebuyer Worries Survey, 90% of homebuyers have a home inspection performed before closing on the sale of their new home.
Getting a home inspection can help determine if any appliances or home systems may need to be repaired or replaced soon. If any appliances or systems were to fail suddenly, it is a good idea to obtain a home warranty to protect yourself against having to pay hefty repair costs.
A report from Redfin states that nearly half of U.S. homeowners (49.9%) sometimes, regularly or greatly struggle to afford their housing payments. Although a home warranty may seem like another expense, it can protect you from having to pay for repair and replacement costs entirely out of your own pocket, often making it a worthwhile investment.
At Cinch Home Services, we offer home protection plans with prices starting at just $30.99/month. Cinch home warranty plans cover 25 home systems and appliances due to normal wear.
You can choose the best plan for your needs and budget, whether you only want to protect your appliances, your home systems or both. To make the best use of your home warranty, it helps to:
Understand waiting periods
When you purchase a home warranty for an existing home, there is typically a waiting period of around 30 days before coverage begins and you can request service. Different providers offer varying service agreements for their home warranty plans, so the waiting period will depend on your plan.
With Cinch Home Services, you'll be advised exactly when your coverage begins before you complete your purchase. However, when purchasing a new home warranty plan with Cinch Home Services, coverage often starts 30 days after you purchase your plan. To determine your plan’s waiting period rules, look at your service agreement to determine how they apply.
Perform preventative maintenance
Getting a home inspection completed before obtaining a home warranty is often recommended to help homeowners know what future maintenance issues may arise and what type of warranty coverage will be best for them. Some home warranties have coverage limitations, including exclusions for pre-existing conditions or lack of maintenance, so it’s important to review your service agreement carefully. This can help you determine if you need to perform preventative maintenance to be fully covered.
Submit claims on time
According to a Forbes Home Warranty Survey, 85.27% of respondents found using their home warranty to be simple. At Cinch Home Services, we also aim to make the home warranty and claims process simple.
As soon as you notice a problem with a covered system or appliance, request service by calling or reaching out to us online. We will have a service provider contact you to schedule an in-person appointment so your appliance or system can be diagnosed, repaired and/or replaced. It’s important to submit claims promptly to prevent further damage, potentially leading to more expensive repairs that may not be fully covered by your warranty.
Get support when you need it
At Cinch Home Services, we provide homeowners with support when they need it. Whether you need guidance about when can you buy a home warranty, answers to other frequently asked questions or wish to request service, we make it easy. You can request service anytime via My Account or by calling (884) 324-5688.
What happens if you don’t have home warranty coverage?
When you don’t have home warranty coverage, you will be responsible for paying the full repair and replacement costs of major appliances or systems that break down once the coverage stops. Without the protection of a home warranty, paying for repairs and replacements becomes more challenging. Some might run into debt, which can cause anxiety. Research indicates that high levels of debt are associated with increased stress and unhappiness.
Besides being saddled with expensive repair costs, there are several other reasons to keep a home warranty plan, including not being skilled in home repairs and owning an older home.
What to do if your home warranty expires without you knowing
Most home warranty providers will send a notice when your coverage is about to expire. However, if your home warranty has expired without your knowledge and you want to reinstate it, contact your home warranty company immediately.
If you have a home protection plan with Cinch Home Services that has not auto-renewed, contact customer service as soon as possible to discuss your situation and explore potential options. We may be able to reinstate your coverage depending on the circumstances, especially if the lapse was due to a billing error or a lack of notification.
The Cinch Home Services promise
Investing in a home protection plan from Cinch Home Services, and renewing it accordingly, can help protect you against expensive repair and replacement costs. With more than 45 years in the business and quality home protection plans that are backed by award-winning customer service, you can trust Cinch for your home warranty needs. Contact us today to learn more about our plans, how long our home warranties last or to get an instant quote.
*The product being offered is a service contract and is separate and distinct from any product or service warranty which may be provided by the home builder or manufacturer.
*The information in this blog library is intended to provide general guidance on home warranties, and on the proper maintenance and care of systems and appliances in the home. Not all of the topics mentioned are covered by our home warranty or maintenance plans. Please review your home warranty contract carefully to understand your coverage.
*Our blog library may link to third-party sites that offer products, services, coaches, consultants, and/or experts. Any such link is provided for reference only and not intended as an endorsement or statement that the information provided by the other party is accurate. We are not compensated for any products or services purchased from these third-party links.