Guard Home Warranty
3.5
5.4
Overall Score
Author: Kalicia Bateman
Guard Home Warranty (GHW) offers warranty packages primarily for dwellings under 5,000 square feet, like single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and mobile homes. Three packages are available, covering up to 21 items. The plans are split, covering appliances, systems, or both, ranging from $39 to $54 per month for single-family homes.
Claims can be submitted online through the online customer portal, and you can contact the sales and service team by phone, live chat, or email.
Continue reading to learn more about this home warranty company or jump down to read Guard Home Warranty reviews from real customers.
Top Ranked Companies
Pros
- Guard Home Warranty Plans
- Guard Home Warranty Payment Options
- No Home Inspection Required
- Appliances of All Ages Covered
- Choice of Contractor
- Online Member Portal
Guard Home Warranty Plans
Guard Home Warranty offers three home warranty packages for consumers to choose from:
- Appliance Package — $39 per month
- Systems Package — $39 per month
- VIP Package — $54 per month
Here is how each package compares:
| Appliance Package | Systems Package | VIP Package | |
| Refrigerator | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Cooktop/range/oven | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Trash compactor | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes washer/dryer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garage door opener | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Air conditioning | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Heating | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Water heater | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Plumbing/plumbing stoppage | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Sump pump | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Ceiling and exhaust fans | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Central vacuum | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Doorbells | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Electrical | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Instant water dispenser | ✔ | ✔ |
It is worth noting that Guard Home Warranty doesn’t offer any optional coverage items, a common practice among home warranty companies, allowing customers to more easily adapt and personalize their home warranty plan.
Guard Home Warranty Payment Options
GHW offers three different billing frequencies to choose from:
- Monthly payments
- Quarterly payments
- Annual payments
If you opt for quarterly or yearly billing, on top of the flexibility, you get a discount for upfront payment. Paying quarterly saves 5 percent, while paying annually saves a full monthly payment.
No Home Inspection Required
With Guard Home Warranty, no home inspection or maintenance records are necessary. Within the industry, this isn't always the case. Some companies require proof of maintenance, or an inspection to rule out possibilities of pre-existing conditions.
Appliances of All Ages Covered
Some home warranty providers only cover systems or appliances that are less than 15 years old, no matter what. However, Guard does not refuse to work with your appliances or systems, based on how old they are.
One thing to keep in mind is that they must have been installed correctly to be claimable, and they must be working properly at the time you engage a contract, as pre-existing conditions are not covered.
Choice of Contractor
Guard Home Warranty is one of very few home warranty companies that lets customers choose their own repair company. This policy is an important point of distinction between GHW and the majority of home warranty alternatives. Customers who have an existing relationship with a local repair service they trust will appreciate this policy.
Online Member Portal
Guard Home Warranty makes it easy for customers to submit claims online, see past claims, and check statuses through an online customer portal. This self-service option stands in stark contrast with many home warranty companies that only accept claims via phone.
Cons
- Limited Service Area
- No Coverage for Known Pre-Existing Conditions
Limited Service Area
Guard Home Warranty operates in 13 states currently, including the following:
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
That said, the company will soon be expanding to offer coverage in 49 states.
No Coverage for Known Pre-Existing Conditions
If you make a claim that is the result of a known pre-existing condition, it won't be covered by your Guard Home Warranty. This type of exclusion policy is pretty standard within the industry, but essential for consumers to know. You cannot have a broken dishwasher and A/C unit and then sign up for a warranty claim to get them fixed.
Known pre-existing conditions are also why GHW coverage doesn't start immediately. There is a 30-day waiting period from your enrollment date/first payment before your policy is active. If you are just switching warranty companies, GHW offers to waive the waiting period, if you can provide proof of prior coverage, showing no lapse between your policies.
There is an exception for real estate clients, whose contract starts at the close of sale.
The Bottom Line
Guard Home Warranty is a newer home warranty provider. Despite this, it seems to be a promising choice for consumers living in its service area. Warranty plan prices are very competitive. The company's service call fee is on the higher end, at $95, though the company states that most customers only have two service calls per year.
Customers benefit from multiple billing cycle options, solid coverage plans, the option to choose their own repair service, and numerous ways to contact GHW — including an online portal where claims can be submitted and tracked.
