Best Home Warranty Companies In Illinois Of 2024

• AFC Home Warranty: Best Overall
• Liberty Home Guard: Best Value
• American Home Shield: Best Customer Reviews
• Cinch Home Services: Best Response Time
• Home Warranty of America (HWA): Best Availability

A home warranty policy offers protection for your home’s appliances and systems when something requires repair or a full replacement. Whereas a home insurance policy pays for damages caused by unexpected events, home warranties cover damage caused by routine wear and tear of the everyday usage of your home’s appliances and systems that will occur with time.

A home warranty policy is a convenient insurance to have that helps homeowners avoid big expenses out of pocket when an appliance or system breaks down. Pairing the two policies together covers most of your bases when it comes to unexpected home damage.

Illinois’ Service Contract Act, has initiated a handful of standard regulations for home warranty companies. One of which is that providers must be registered and up to date with the Department of Insurance, which is responsible for regulating the industry. If you believe your provider has not honored your contract or have any other concerns, you can file a complaint with the state.

The cost of a home warranty in Illinois will vary from company to company depending on the type of protection you choose to purchase.

For a single-family house in Illinois, you’re looking at paying about $40 to $90 per month on the low end of the spectrum, with the average cost falling at about $50 to 60 per month. This does not include service fees.

The average annual cost is likely to fall between $300 and $650 per year, excluding service fees.

As with any big home investment, there are a few specific ways every Illinois homeowner should approach the process of selecting a home warranty company that goes beyond our review, including looking at local reviews, contractor experiences and any additional regionally-specific needs that Illinois locals near you can anticipate for home maintenance.

Read Local Reviews

It’s inevitable that each region of the state will have different needs when it comes to home protection. That’s why it’s so important to look at reviews for each company that is specific to your area to find out how their service stacks up against the competition when it comes to responsiveness, cost and ability to meet your needs.

Research Local Technicians

Not all home warranty companies allow customers to choose their own technicians, and those that do likely require customers to select their technicians from within their vetted network of professionals. Before deciding on a company, it’s good practice to also do your own research on the quality of the local contractors they deploy to make repairs and replacements. It’s not helpful if the company you hire works with sub-par technicians who are unable to do the work you require, so vetting the contractors yourself can help you make a more confident selection.

Illinois-Specific Needs

Wherever you call home in Illinois, you’re likely to have certain home systems or appliances that get more usage depending on the climate and time of year. For example, during the coldest winter months, you’ll probably see extensive usage of your heating system, which could lead to more frequent repair and maintenance needs.

If your region gets a large volume of precipitation—such as heavy snow in the wintertime—or even flooding, you may also need a home warranty company that offers additional coverage for services like roof leakages or gutter cleaning.

Alternatively, if your region is prone to pests at certain times of year, you may want to research home warranty companies that offer coverage or add-on services for pest control for the particular type of home invaders that are most expected in your neighborhood. More important than opting for the cheapest company, be sure you get your money’s worth with coverage tailored to your home’s individual needs.

Whether or not a home warranty is worth it comes down to you and your individual situation. For many, a home warranty is a good idea because it helps protect homeowners from unexpected and often costly repairs. However, if you prefer to pay for repairs and replacements out of pocket, or your home and appliances are brand new, a home warranty might not be necessary.

Owning a home in Illinois comes with its own set of challenges, from scorching summers to monsoon rains. To further protect your investment from the unpredictable nature of homeownership, a comprehensive home warranty plan is your shield against unforeseen issues. Not all home warranty plans are created equal, and in Arizona, where the climate can be demanding, finding a plan tailored to the state’s unique needs is essential.

Forbes Home compiled data from 1,000 participants in a 2023 home warranty survey to understand consumer trends and customer satisfaction when it comes to the best Arizona home warranty companies. These comprehensive findings are valuable information to guide you in making well-informed decisions about your home warranty plan.

• 55.27% of homeowners in Illinois reported their home warranty is worth the cost they pay for it.
• 36.7% of Illinois residents reported saving between $201 to $300 on average with a home warranty.
• Most homeowners in Illinois have two to three things that break or need repairs in an average year. To break it down, 33.76% reported two incidents, while 23.21% reported three.
• Roughly 79% of Illinois residents reported that signing up for a home warranty plan was very simple or somewhat simple and that they received a quote fairly easily.
• More than 33% of Illinois residents feel they underutilize their home warranty plans.

To determine the home warranty companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 54 companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including:

Credibility and Customer Satisfaction (19%)

Credibility and customer satisfaction ratings were determined by each company’s BBB grade, accreditation, reviews, complaints and the number of years in business, as well as consumer ratings on Trustpilot and Google Maps.

Nationwide Availability (19%)

Ratings for nationwide availability include the number of states, plus DC, in which coverages are available.

Pricing (17%)

When looking at pricing, we looked at subcategories such as example pricing as shown on the website, instant quotes and highest and lowest service fees.

What’s Included in Coverage (12%)

The number of covered items in the policies and the number of optional items available for coverage determined the included coverage rating.

Sign-up and Restrictions (8%)

Sign-up and restriction ratings were based on the number of plans available, whether or not an inspection is required, available contract terms and whether or not age is a factor for denying system coverage.

Option to Pick Your Own Technician (5%)

This Category rating was based on whether customers have the option of choosing their own technician or if the company assigns one.

Contract Cancelation (5%)

We looked at any fees or penalties resulting from discontinuing coverage before the company’s threshold.

Other Editorial Judgment Points (5%)

We added or removed additional points based on average service fees and customer representative responsiveness.

Customer Support (4%)

When ranking each company on customer support, we looked at service request methods and availability.

Discount Availability (3%)

Discount ratings for each company were determined by the availability of veteran or military discounts and any sign-up price reductions.

Property Types Covered (3%)

When rating for property types covered, we examined coverage availability for homes such as mobile or manufactured houses, condos and rental properties in addition to typical single-family home coverage.

All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.