Deciding factors | |
|---|---|
Monthly cost | $30.99 and up. |
Service fees | $100, $125 and $150. |
Annual coverage cap* | $10,000 aggregate for all claims. |
Average customer service rating† | 2.94 out of 5. |
Technician choice | Yes, if no contracted technician is available. |
*Annual coverage cap assumes a 12-month plan.†Average customer service rating is based on three sources: Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs (both consumer review sites) and the Better Business Bureau. | |
» MORE: What is a home warranty?
How does Cinch Home Services work?
A Cinch Home Services home warranty covers repairs and replacements of certain appliances and systems when they malfunction due to everyday wear and tear.
Exclusions
Like most of its competitors, the company doesn’t pay to repair items that:
Malfunctioned because of physical damage.
Are under manufacturer or extended warranty.
Have been recalled by the manufacturer or the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Break because of natural disasters or weather-related events, such as floods.
Malfunction due to situations that are covered by homeowners insurance, such as a fire.
Unlike most of its competitors, Cinch Home Services will cover some preexisting conditions if the company believes you couldn’t identify the issue before you purchased the home warranty.
Cinch Home Services Plans
Cinch Home Services has three plans:
Appliances covers major kitchen appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, cooktops, ranges and range exhaust hoods, built-in ovens, built-in microwaves, trash compactors, freestanding ice makers and built-in food centers (a food center is a counter-mounted motor that powers a mixer, blender, sharpener, shredder or other small appliance). It also covers clothes washers and dryers.
Built-In Systems covers most home systems, including HVAC and ductwork, electrical systems, plumbing systems including toilets, water heaters, sump pumps, attic and ceiling fans, garbage disposals, garage door openers, central vacuums, instant water dispensers, doorbells, smoke detectors and built-in whirlpool/jetted tubs.
Complete Home combines the Appliances and Built-in Systems plans.
The company has optional coverage available outside of its plans. Add-ons are available for:
Other systems and appliances, including swimming pools (including salt water pools), spas, free-standing freezers, septic systems, well pumps and water softeners.
Utility lines outside the main residence, including gas lines, sewer lines and water lines.
Coverage up to $1,000 of noncovered charges for approved repairs or replacements, such as disposing of old appliances.
» MORE: What does a home warranty cover?
Making a claim
Cinch Home Services’ coverage cap is $10,000 for all claims combined. This means that no matter which appliances or systems the company pays to repair or replace, once you hit the $10,000 limit, it won’t pay any other claims. Most of the company’s competitors have limits on specific items, such as $2,000 on each appliance, instead of an aggregate coverage cap.
Customers can file a claim online or by phone 24 hours a day. The company will try to contact a technician within two hours of a customer filing a claim — and within 24 hours for customers who submit claims outside of business hours.
All customers pay a service fee when a technician is assigned to their claims. Once an appointment is scheduled, a technician visits your house and diagnoses the problem.
If the company approves the claim, it pays the technician to repair the item; however, if it denies the claim, it won’t pay for the repair, and you still have to pay the service fee.
» MORE: How to budget realistically for home repairs
How much does a Cinch Home Services home warranty cost?
Cinch Home Services’ home warranty plans start at $30.99 per month.
Examples of Cinch Home Services quotes for monthly premiums
We gathered quotes from Cinch Home Services to compare pricing across its three plans. We requested quotes for each plan in three cities that represent different costs of living.
City | Appliances monthly premium | Built-in Systems monthly premium | Complete Home monthly premium |
|---|---|---|---|
Anaheim, California | $30.99. | $35.99. | $44.99. |
Boise, Idaho | $32.99. | $39.99. | $49.99. |
Tulsa, Oklahoma | $38.99. | $43.99. | $54.99. |
Average price | $34.32. | $39.99. | $49.99. |
Monthly premiums shown in this table are with a $150 service fee. Choosing a lower service fee will increase the monthly premium. | |||
On average, the Built-in Systems plan was $5.66 more per month than the Appliances plan, coming out to $67.92 more annually. The Complete Home plan averaged $10 more per month or $120 more annually than the Built-in Systems plan.
Like its competitors, Cinch Home Services charges a service fee every time a technician visits your home to respond to a claim. You’ll pay this fee even if the company ends up denying your claim because of the technician’s report. The company has three service fee options: $100, $125 and $150.
Customers pick their preferred service fee amount when they purchase a plan. Paying a higher service fee reduces your monthly premium, regardless of the plan you choose.
» MORE: How much does a home warranty cost?
A feature that makes Cinch Home Services stand out compared to other home warranty companies is its repair guarantee. Most competitors guarantee their repair work for 30 or 60 days, depending on the company, but Cinch Home Services has a 180-day guarantee. If an approved technician repairs a covered item and has to return to fix it again, you won’t have to pay a service fee within the first 180 days after the initial repair.
Themes from customer reviews
NerdWallet considered customer reviews from three review websites to get a wider perspective of customer experiences. We’ve highlighted the types of experiences that we’ve found to be most common, keeping in mind that online reviews tend to lean toward negative experiences.
Trustpilot: 3.8 out of 5.
ConsumerAffairs: 3.9 out of 5.
Better Business Bureau: 1.12 out of 5.
Negative reviews of Cinch Home Services mention long wait times for repairs and poor customer service experiences. Customers with positive reviews say technicians are professional and that customer service representatives are helpful and professional. However, many customers who mention good customer service experiences are discussing purchasing a plan rather than calling about a claim.
» MORE: Are home warranties worth it?
Where is Cinch Home Services available?
Customers can purchase Cinch Home Services home warranty plans in 48 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, and Washington, D.C.
Pros of Cinch Home Services
Benefits to Cinch Home Services’ plans include:
High coverage limits. The company covers up to $10,000 for all claims.
180-day repair guarantee. If an approved repair fails within the first 180 days, Cinch Home Services will send out another technician without charging another service fee. That’s a big guarantee compared to competitors’ guarantees.
Access repair coverage. If a technician has to cut into walls, floors or ceilings to access covered systems, Cinch Home Services will pay up to $1,000 to repair the surface to a rough finish.
Decent customer satisfaction ratings. Customer reviews show decent satisfaction with repairs and service.
Coverage in 48 states. The company has coverage in Washington, D.C., and every state except Alaska and Hawaii.
Cons of Cinch Home Services
Downsides to the company’s plans include:
Coverage limits are aggregated. Instead of capping individual coverage types, such as $2,000 for HVAC systems, Cinch Home Services limits all coverage at $10,000. So you can quickly max out on your coverage if you have one expensive repair, in which case the company would deny any remaining claims.
Can’t choose your own technician in most cases. The company requires customers to use its technicians. If it can’t find a technician in your area, it will let you choose one, but you’ll have to have the technician’s company approved in advance.
» MORE: Home warranty vs. home insurance: Which is better?
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Methodology
NerdWallet's Home Services team evaluated home warranties across several factors, including cost, covered items, coverage limits, customer ratings, ability to choose your own technician and warranty on work completed. Because costs can vary by location, it's best to get quotes from multiple companies before making a decision. Read more about how NerdWallet rates home warranties.
