Best Home Warranty Companies in North Carolina (With Customer Feedback)
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Owning a home in North Carolina means you’ll sometimes deal with difficult weather. Balmy summers and—in some years—fairly cold winters can take a toll on your home’s systems and appliances, leaving you with significant, unexpected repair expenses. Thankfully, a good home warranty company can give you access to a network of trusted technicians and help you save money on repair costs.
To help North Carolina homeowners find the best home warranty company, we reviewed 13 of the top providers in the industry. American Home Shield and Choice Home Warranty are our top picks for N.C. residents. AHS covers up to $5,000 per year in HVAC repairs, which is particularly valuable during hotter months when your air conditioning may go out. Meanwhile, Elite Home Warranty’s highly customizable plans make it ideal for North Carolina’s diverse range of climates.
Top Home Warranty Companies in North Carolina
After reviewing 13 of the top home warranty companies (and testing 11 of them), we picked these as the best for North Carolina residents.
- American Home Shield
- Choice Home Warranty
- Elite Home Warranty
- First American Home Warranty
- Liberty Home Guard
Comparing Top NC Providers
We gathered custom quotes from each company featured in this article for a 2,057-square-foot home in Raleigh, North Carolina. The following table compares these Carolina home warranty costs as well as other key factors you should think about:
| Star Rating | Monthly Cost in NC | Service Fee | Workmanship Guarantee | BBB Rating | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Home Shield |  | $29–$89 | $100–$125 | 30 days | B | VISIT SITE | |
| Choice Home Warranty |  | $46–$55 | $100 | 90 days | B | VISIT SITE | |
| Elite Home Warranty |  | $40–$60 | $70 | 90 days | B+ | VISIT SITE | |
| First American Home Warranty |  | $42–$82 | $100–$125 | 30 days | B | VISIT SITE | |
| Liberty Home Guard |  | $49–$59 | $65–$125 | 60 days | NR** | VISIT SITE |
| American Home Shield | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost in NC | $29–$89 |
| Service Fee | $100–$125 |
| Workmanship Guarantee | 30 days |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Choice Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost in NC | $46–$55 |
| Service Fee | $100 |
| Workmanship Guarantee | 90 days |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Elite Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost in NC | $40–$60 |
| Service Fee | $70 |
| Workmanship Guarantee | 90 days |
| BBB Rating | B+ |
| First American Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost in NC | $42–$82 |
| Service Fee | $100–$125 |
| Workmanship Guarantee | 30 days |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Liberty Home Guard | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost in NC | $49–$59 |
| Service Fee | $65–$125 |
| Workmanship Guarantee | 60 days |
| BBB Rating | NR** |
| Provider | Our Score | Monthly Plan Cost* | Service Call Fee | Workmanship Guarantee | BBB Rating | Get a Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $29–$89 | $100–$125 | 30 days | B | VISIT SITE | ||
| $46–$55 | $100 | 90 days | B | VISIT SITE | ||
| $40–$60 | $70 | 90 days | B+ | VISIT SITE | ||
| $42–$82 | $100–$125 | 30 days | B | VISIT SITE | ||
| $49–$59 | $65–$125 | 60 days | NR** | VISIT SITE |
*Pricing may vary depending on your home’s location, size, type, and plan choices.
**NR, or “No Rating,” means that the BBB has not issued a rating due to an ongoing review or update to a company’s profile.
Our Reviews of Top Providers in North Carolina
When evaluating home warranty companies in North Carolina, we recommend choosing a provider that offers coverage that fits your home’s specific needs. For example, while American Home Shield scored highest against our rigorous rating methodology, Liberty Home Guard might be a better option for you if you need coverage for items typically not included in core home warranty plans.
Below, we go deep on each of our top picks in N.C.
American Home Shield
Choice Home Warranty
Elite Home Warranty
First American Home Warranty
Liberty Home Guard
Our Experience Filing Home Warranty Claims
As a part of our research process, our team members interact with companies’ customer service reps, sign up for contracts, and test the claims process directly. One of the companies we have tested is American Home Shield, our top pick for home warranty coverage in North Carolina.
When testing American Home Shield’s service, our team member filed a claim for a leak in their bathroom. They used the online claims process, which they found to be quick and easy.
Five minutes after they submitted a claim, the assigned technician reached out to set up a next-day appointment. The technician arrived ahead of schedule, repaired the leak in less than two hours, and even gave suggestions about how to address a mold issue caused by the leak.
Home Warranty Costs in NC
North Carolina homeowners can expect to pay an average of $492–$804 annually for a home warranty plan, or between $41 and $67 monthly. This price is slightly below the national average home warranty cost of $516–$864. However, keep in mind that costs vary depending on your plan, location, home size, add-on choices, and other factors.
| Average Home Warranty Cost in North Carolina* | National Average for Home Warranty Costs | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $41–$67 | $43–$72 |
| Annual | $492–$804 | $516–$864 |
*We compiled the pricing information in this table using sample quotes from each home warranty company on this listing using the same 2,057-square-foot home located in Raleigh, North Carolina. National pricing is based on sample quotes we pulled for each state in the United States for a single-family home of less than 3,000 square feet.
Advice From a North Carolina Homeowner
Investing in a home warranty plan is a big financial decision. Reading online reviews, it’s clear that not all homeowners are happy with their home warranty purchase. To give you a full picture of customers’ experiences, we interviewed multiple homeowners with home warranties and surveyed thousands of home warranty users.
Our survey found that 92.7% of homeowners were satisfied with their home warranty plan. However, even with a reliable company, you’ll want to make sure you’re keeping up communication with your provider to ensure jobs get done promptly.
We spoke to Neil F., a North Carolina homeowner who has a home warranty plan with Select Home Warranty. After Neil filed a claim, Select failed to follow up and independently maintain consistent communication, causing delays in assigning a repair person to complete the job. Neil emphasized that homeowners may need to proactively communicate with home warranty companies if they want prompt results, stating:
“You really have to kind of get on the phone and be an advocate and be someone that is pushing on them, and it’s a big deal. But again, by doing that, you can hopefully resolve claims and get coverage, repairs, or replacement of your potentially expensive appliances. So in the end, it can be worth it.”
FAQ About Home Warranties in North Carolina
Is a home warranty worth it for North Carolina homeowners?
Yes, a home warranty can be worth it as long as you find the right policy that fits your needs. A home warranty policy should cover the major systems and appliances of your home, fit within your budget, and provide prompt, reliable service. With the right plan, you can majorly save on repair costs for your home systems and appliances.
How are home warranties regulated in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) oversees home warranty regulation in North Carolina. However, our research shows that the NCDOI specifically regulates home appliance service contracts. According to General Statute §§ 66-371–372, companies that offer home appliance service agreements must maintain a detailed claims register to record each claim they receive from consumers.
What are the cons of a home warranty in North Carolina?
One of the biggest cons of a home warranty in North Carolina is disputed or denied claims. Some companies use unclear language or strict contracts to limit payout amounts for covered items. Because of this, it’s important to carefully read your service contract before signing up to understand its exclusions.
What’s typically covered in a North Carolina home warranty?
Typically, a North Carolina home warranty covers the following items:
- Water heaters
- Clothes washers and dryers
- Garage door openers
- Plumbing stoppages
- HVAC systems
- Garbage disposal systems
- Common kitchen appliances
- Refrigerators
- Built-in microwaves
- Dishwashers
- Stovetops
- Ovens
However, your specific policy will vary depending on your plan, add-ons, and location.
How We Evaluated Home Warranty Providers
Below is an outline of our research methodology and scoring criteria that we used to choose North Carolina’s top home warranty providers.
Our Rating System
To gain a well-rounded perspective on home warranty providers in North Carolina, we researched the top companies in the state, consulted industry experts, analyzed service contracts, secret-shopped providers, surveyed thousands of customers, and spoke with real home warranty owners.
Using this research, our team developed a detailed methodology to score each company on six categories: coverage (35%), cost (20%), trustworthiness (15%), plan transparency (10%), customer support (10%), and flexibility (10%).
When analyzing home warranty plans for North Carolina homeowners, we considered these key factors:
- Essential coverage for the region: North Carolina has a unique climate that combines coastal sea air, above-average rainfall, thick forests, and mountainous terrain. We looked for home warranty companies offering plans with a range of inclusions that can help homeowners in the region. For example, we viewed air conditioning coverage as a key component given the state’s hot, humid summers.
- Price and trustworthiness: A home warranty is only valuable to homeowners if it provides tangible value through the coverage they’ve purchased. As such, one of the key rating criteria we use when looking at home warranty companies is cost. If a company’s price is too high for the coverage it offers, we won’t recommend it. We also look out for companies that fail to pay out claims fairly or adequately.
- First-hand experience submitting claims: Our team gained firsthand experience by submitting home warranty claims with several providers, including the top pick for North Carolina, American Home Shield. This experience helped us learn more about the claim process and provide valuable contextual information to homeowners.
- Opinions from real homeowners: Research, reading online reviews, and even secret shopping can only offer so much information. To get an honest idea of what it’s like to work with a home warranty company, you should ask homeowners who use these services about their experience. We spoke with homeowners directly about how they felt about their home warranty providers and what kinds of experiences they had. Furthermore, we surveyed thousands of real homeowners to get a larger-scale understanding of the home warranty user experience.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at [email protected].
