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America’s Preferred Home Warranty Review
By Diane Fogle MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Purchasing home warranty coverage is a smart move for many people. Unlike homeowners insurance, which protects you financially from natural disasters, theft and liability, a home warranty helps cover the cost of the mechanical breakdown of your home’s systems and large appliances.
Having a heating system fail in the middle of winter or an air conditioner go out in the middle of summer isn’t just inconvenient – it can be dangerous. And it can also wipe out your savings. In the current economic environment, it’s important to make sure that if something in your home breaks down, most of the major systems in your home can be back up and running again within a reasonable amount of time for a price that fits your budget.
But not every home warranty company or policy fits every situation. If your needs are fairly straightforward and you prefer not to do a lot of research yourself, check out this article about the best home warranties. If you’re the type to do your own repairs or if you’re about to remodel your home, a home warranty may not be the best choice for you.
But if you’re curious about home warranty coverage, read on to decide whether America’s Preferred Home Warranty is right home warranty company for you.
America’s Preferred Home Warranty overview
Founded in 1999, America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) has been in business for 22 years. It describes itself as “a Christian based company” that’s “dedicated to providing our customers with high-quality products, competitive pricing and unsurpassed service.” According to APHW’s website, the company upholds these values by donating to charities and providing excellent customer service.
APHW is located in Jackson, Michigan and offers home warranty coverage in 49 states. The only state where you can’t get America’s Preferred Home Warranty service right now is California. The cost of an America’s Preferred Home Warranty plan is generally about the same from state to state, but there are a few states where the monthly cost is a little higher or lower. Overall, APHW’s costs line up closely with or fall just below the industry average.
APHW offers options for different types of homes, including single-family homes, condos, townhouses, new construction and multifamily units. The company’s basic plan is written for single-family homes; for other types of housing, you’ll need to call and get a custom quote.
The standout feature of America’s Preferred Home Warranty is that it gives homeowners the freedom to choose any licensed or certified contractor they want. This high level of autonomy for homeowners makes America’s Preferred Home Warranty unusual in the home warranty industry.
Is APHW the right home warranty choice for you?
America’s Preferred Home Warranty coverage
What it offers
America’s Preferred Home Warranty offers coverage that protects you from bearing the full cost of repairing or replacing major home systems and large appliances that fail due to normal wear and tear. APHW offers coverage for several different types of homes and has add-on options.
APHW only offers one plan, but it’s flexible on both price and items covered. Roof leak coverage is included in the basic plan, which will cost you extra at most other warranty companies. You can even add separate technology and electronics coverage.
With America’s Preferred Home Warranty, you control which contractor does the work on your home (as long as they’re licensed for those repairs). Your contractor can get approval for the claim while they’re on-site but before beginning to work by calling America’s Preferred Home Warranty.
What it doesn’t offer
Like all home warranty companies, America’s Preferred Home Warranty excludes certain items from its coverage. Covered items have to be installed correctly and working before the coverage period begins. APHW doesn’t offer coverage to the sellers of foreclosed or repossessed homes, and it imposes a 30-day waiting period for buyers of those types of homes.
APHW only covers your primary residence. It doesn’t cover any secondary or investment properties. The plan also doesn’t cover anything outside the footprint of the home’s foundation.
APHW doesn’t offer a network of contractors. Instead, it lets the homeowner choose any contractor they want. Being able to choose your own contractor is a bonus for most people, but if you don’t know any competent, reputable and trustworthy contractors, this could be a drawback.
America’s Preferred Home Warranty plans
APHW offers just one basic home warranty plan, but you can customize your plan with add-ons, including coverage for:
- Additional refrigerators
- Gas fireplace
- In-ground pool or spa
- Premium saltwater pool or spa
- Sprinkler system
- Termite control
- Water softener
In addition to the items listed below, America’s Preferred Home Warranty coverage extends to some plumbing stoppages and roof leaks, which is not something that every home warranty company provides.
What does America’s Preferred Home Warranty cover? Check out the lists below.
Appliances
America’s Preferred Home Warranty covers the large appliances in most homes, such as:
- Washer and dryer
- Water heater
- Built-in dishwasher
- Built-in oven
- Refrigerator
- Garbage disposal
- Built-in microwave
- Humidifier
Systems
APHW coverage for the systems in your home under the basic plan includes:
- Central air conditioning
- Heating system
- Septic system
- Plumbing
- Electrical system
- Sump pump
- Ductwork
- Attic and exhaust fans
Exclusions
There are several exclusions for most of the items that America’s Preferred Home Warranty covers, but the main exclusion is that APHW only covers items that are installed correctly and working effectively at the start of the plan.
Beyond that, each item has its own exclusions — for instance, attic and exhaust fans are covered, but shutters, belts and filters, and circulation or paddle-type fans are not covered. There’s a small paragraph in the contract for every covered item that outlines the parts not covered. It’s a good idea to become very familiar with these clauses.
APHW only covers items that are permanent to the home. For example, a humidifier has to be mounted to the house’s furnace and a sump pump can’t be auxiliary.
Some complaints about America’s Preferred Home Warranty’s plan center around the difficulty of knowing what’s covered and what’s not. Plumbing stoppages within the footprint of the house’s or attached garage’s foundation are covered, unless they’re caused by tree roots. One exclusion frequently mentioned in negative customer reviews is that the wiring between two covered items is not covered.
Be sure to read America’s Preferred Home Warranty service agreement and exclusions list carefully before committing to the plan to make sure it works for you.
America’s Preferred Home Warranty FAQ
How we evaluated America’s Preferred Home Warranty
The biggest factors in our assessment of America’s Preferred Home Warranty were cost, consumer reviews, and coverage. Since the items covered by APHW’s plan are fairly standard, that left cost and reviews as the two key areas of differentiation that we evaluated.
APHW’s flexible cost is a great feature. Your choice of a higher- or lower-deductible will have an effect on the cost of your warranty. If your house is brand new, you might choose a high-deductible, low-cost option. If you have an older house or suspect you will have issues with more than one system or appliance in the next year, you might choose the more expensive lower-deductible plan. The difference in the plan costs is just under $50 per year, so for most people, the lower-deductible plan is the better option.
America’s Preferred Home Warranty’s long history and good BBB rating bode well. Like all home warranty providers, APHW does get mixed reviews, but most of the reviews compel the conclusion that it pays to know, understand, and use the language in the contract to get full coverage. Customers who understood their policies tended to write positive reviews, while those who didn’t usually wrote negative ones.
America’s Preferred Home Warranty summary
America’s Preferred Home Warranty is a great option, especially if you want additional coverage for electronics or technology. APHW’s long history, mostly good reviews and A+ BBB rating can give peace of mind to homeowners, while the pricing options for an APHW home warranty won’t break the bank.
Diane Fogle is the owner and sole freelance writer at The Little Green Bird. She received her Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Denver. The research skills gained through that program, combined with a love of learning and intellectual freedom, have led her to a passion for helping businesses communicate with their customers. She lives in Colorado where she hikes with her husband, two young daughters, and an old greyhound.