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Home Warranty FAQs

Purchasing a home is likely the biggest buying decision you’ll ever make. When you’re investing that much money in a single purchase, you may be wondering if a home warranty is right for you. Also known as a home protection plan, this coverage can help protect you and provide peace of mind in case an appliance or system breaks down unexpectedly in your home.

What’s the difference between a home protection plan and homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance protects your home from unexpected disasters, such as fires, lightning, storms, and theft; if a covered disaster occurs, then the insurance pays for the repairs to your home. However, homeowners insurance doesn’t cover normal wear and tear on your home. Eventually, everything wears out over time, and your homeowners insurance doesn’t help you replace appliances or systems when they simply break down.

A home protection plan, on the other hand, is a service contract between you, the homeowner, and the company issuing the plan, such as Cinch Home Services (opens in a new tab). Depending on the plan you choose, it covers the repair or replacement costs of designated appliances or systems in your home, such as the refrigerator, heating and cooling system, dishwasher, clothes dryer, and more. With a home protection plan, you don’t have to worry about finding someone to handle the repairs or coming up with the money to buy a replacement. 

Who should buy a home protection plan?

  • Your home or appliances are several years old. A home protection plan, just like all warranties, provides you with peace of mind so that you don’t have to tap into your savings or take out a loan to pay for an unexpected appliance or system breakdown.
  • You bought a new home with limited information. When purchasing a new home, it can be difficult to obtain extensive details around the quality of the home (whether it’s brand-new or several years old). A home protection plan can help ease any concerns about the unknown history of a home.
  • You’re selling your home. Putting your home on the market is already complicated. Letting potential homebuyers know that your home is protected by a home warranty can help your property stand out and put a buyer’s mind at ease.
  • You’re concerned about how an appliance or system breakdown will impact your budget. Sooner or later, something will break down in your home. If you don’t have several hundred to several thousand dollars set aside to cover the repair or replacement of a critical function in your home, then a home warranty plan can bridge that gap for you.

What does a home protection plan cover?

Cinch offers affordable plans with a broad range of coverage. You can choose from one of the following plan options:

  • Water Essentials Plan – This plan covers important home water components from appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, garbage disposals and clothes washers to plumbing, water heaters and more.
  • Systems Essentials Plan  Protect the core systems that power your house with this plan, including air conditioning, heating, plumbing (such as toilets, water line leaks, etc.) and electrical components.
  • Complete Home Plan – Get the most for your money with this plan that covers over 20 home systems and appliances.

All plans come with Cinch’s 180-day workmanship guarantee on covered repairs. Plus, all plans include coverage for unknown pre-existing conditions, rust and corrosion. 

What do I do when something breaks down?

  • Call or go online to complete a quick and easy claim form.
  • Cinch will connect you with a local service professional in your area (prescreened) who will diagnose the problem.
    • If a repair is needed, the service professional will handle the repair, which is backed by a six-month workmanship guarantee.
    • If it can’t be repaired, the service professional will work with Cinch on getting a replacement.
  • Relax and enjoy!

Where can I learn more?