Home Warranty Companies in Texas (Dallas, Cove: sale, insurance, appliances)

[CarolinaTexasGirl]

Help Needed in comparing Home Warranty Companies/coverages (what's not covered, actually)/trip charges/co-pays, etc. We have owned our home in Dallas for a year now, having Nations Home Warranty in place as part of the sale to us. We have been fairly pleased with them so far, but being new to this homeowner stuff, I am educating myself about companies thru Angie's List (somewhat helpful) and Consumer Reports online (which, btw, only compared homeowner's insurance companies, but not home warranty companies as of now, I was sorry to learn.) Since other "comparison" websites seem to be mostly for the participating companies, does anyone know where to get a real comparison of coverage, prices, etc. for home warranty coverage offered to Texas homeowners? That may be asking too much from the companies who seem to make sport of confusing the consumer, so any recommendations for or against such companies? Thanks in advance for helping this newbie to this forum!

[KathrynAragon]

As a former realtor, I don't recommend wasting your money on a home warranty - unless you bought an older home filled with old appliances.

[FalconheadWest]

First, RUN from Nations. My husband and I sued them as they are a very scrupulous company with no morals. They will deny every claim you make. I wrote a blog about it, and even though that was in 2006, I get at least 5 emails a year from people telling me their situation.

Second, no, there's no site that will compare them. You just need to read the small print to see the things not covered. The company that covers the most pre-existing and improper installs right now is the American Home Shield Combo Flex plan which includes their Service plus and Coverage plus plan. Having these two coverages is what includes the preexisting and improper installs.

My disclosure is I do not recommend any warranty companies to clients anymore, but still give them brochure examples of companies I've heard good things about. AHS, Old Republic, First American, Allied...

[BigDGeek]

My house was built in 1957 and while it is in good general condition, some systems/appliances in it are old and have broken down before.

The warranty paid for itself 3x over the first winter I was in the house when I had a gas leak in a new hot water heater that was improperly installed. The warranty covered all repairs.

I have also used it to have minor electrical work done which was made necessary when an old dimmer switch broke down and caught on fire (damage was EXTREMELY minor), when my oven's heating element broke, when the A/C fritzed out a couple of years ago, when the old dishwasher repeatedly broke down (I eventually replaced it on my own dime), etc.

Mine is through American Home Shield and I hear a lot of complaints about them but so far I haven't had any trouble with them at all.