The post Super Home Warranty Review by Philip Loyd, Licensed Insurance Agent appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.
Founded in 2014 by entrepreneur Jorey Ramer, Super offers three types of home warranty plans for homeowners who need help safeguarding their home systems and appliances. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company is new to the market and only available in eight states including California, Texas and Virginia. The three home warranty protection plans include Secure, Signature and Lux. Plans range from $64 to $118 per month and include routine and preventative maintenance and no limit on service claims.
Secure plan
The Secure plan covers most home systems and appliances. It also includes maintenance services like pest control and window cleaning. Premiums start at $64 per month.
- Dishwasher
- Range/oven/cooktop
- Built-in microwave
- Garbage disposal
- Trash compactor
- Range exhaust fan
- Kitchen refrigerator with ice maker and dispenser
- Clothes washer
- Clothes dryer
- Ductwork
- Interior plumbing
- Water heater
- Interior electrical
- Ceiling fans
- Central vacuum
- Garage door openers
- Sprinkler and timer system
- Rekey service
- Preseason A/C and heating system tune-up service
- Lawn fertilization service
- Lawn pre-emergent service
- Weed-kill treatment
- Carpet cleaning service
- Window cleaning service
- Pest control service
- Termite treatment
- Ceiling fan and light fixture installation
- Dryer vent cleaning service
Signature plan
The Signature plan covers everything in the Secure plan, plus the “It’s Covered Upgrade.” The upgrade includes warranty coverage for your hot water heater, indoor plumbing, microwave and other systems and appliances. Items included in the upgrade include:
- Heating registers and grills
- Faucets
- Showerheads
- Pressure regulators
- Instant hot water dispensers
- Sewage ejectors
- Toilets
- Expansion tanks and problems caused by sediment
- Built-in lighting fixtures
- Smoke detectors
- Doorbells
- Rotisseries, racks, handles, knobs, dials and interior of your oven
- Racks, rollers and baskets in your dishwasher
- Door glass, interior linings and shelves of your microwave
- Enhanced plumbing stoppage coverage
- Springs, hinges and remote transmitters for your garage door
- Permits and code upgrades
- Refrigerant recapture and disposal
- Equipment disposal
- Structural modifications (to accommodate replacement equipment)
Signature plan premiums start at $75 per month.
Lux plan
The Lux plan covers everything under the Signature plan, plus the following items and services:
- Brand-for-brand appliance upgrade
- Outdoor plumbing
- Smart home devices
- Warming and cooling drawers
- Gas fireplaces and outdoor gas fire pots/pits
- Landscape lighting
- Expanded coverage limits
Lux plan premiums start at $119 per month.
Additional coverage
Super offers the following items in addition to its plans:
- Washer and dryer
- Kitchen refrigerator with ice maker and dispenser
- It’s Covered Upgrade
- Brand-for-brand appliance upgrade
- Outdoor plumbing
- Smarthome devices
- HVAC equipment incompatibility coverage
- Additional refrigeration units
- Built-in pool/spa
- Saltwater pool/spa
- Additional pool pumps
- Water softener
- Guesthouse
- Septic system
- Well pump
All warranty plans require a $75 service fee per claim.
Coverage limits
There is no limit on the number of claims a customer can make, but there are coverage limits. Some examples include:
Item
Secure Plan
Signature Plan
Lux Plan
Dishwasher
$3,000 per claim
$3,000 per claim
$10,000 per claim
Range/oven/cooktop
$3,000 per claim
$3,000 per claim
$10,000 per claim
Built-in microwave
$3,000 per claim
$3,000 per claim
$10,000 per claim
Air conditioning
No limit
No limit
No limit
Heating system
No limit
No limit
No limit
Interior plumbing
No limit
No limit
No limit
Water heater
$1,500 per claim
$1,500 per claim
No limit
Interior electrical
$5,000 per plan
$5,000 per plan
No limit
Garage door openers
No limit
No limit
No limit
Sprinkler system
$1,000 per plan
$1,000 per plan
$2,000 per plan
In the Clear
In 2021, Super launched its In the Clear program for real estate agents. The first of its kind, the program protects new homeowners from being denied a claim because of breakage caused by unknown preexisting conditions. No other home warranty company offers such protection.
In the Clear is a new program by Super that helps both homebuyers and real estate agents during the home-buying process. The In the Clear program initiates an inspection report prior to the sale of the home. This way, no breakage claims filed with the company will be denied because of preexisting conditions. In short, the inspection tells Super which systems or appliances need repairs or replacement prior to the purchase of the home.
For potential customers, Super home warranty doesn’t have all the bells and whistles on its website. There is no Chat function or form to submit. You’ll need to contact the company the old-fashioned way: by phone.
Existing customers can submit a claim on Super’s mobile app, or simply call the company. Customer service is open seven days a week. Hours are:
- 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST Monday through Friday
- 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST Saturday
- 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST Sunda
In case of emergency, existing members can call a special line for immediate assistance.
While Super offers services other home warranty companies do not, it’s quite costly. All three plans are higher than the industry average, which hovers just above $50. The Secure plan comes in at $64 and at $75 and $119, respectively, both the Signature and Lux plans cost considerably more than the industry average. Both Fidelity National Home Warranty and Landmark Home Warranty charge under $35 per month. While prices are high, Super offers services that others do not, including preventative maintenance and waivers for preexisting conditions.
While Super is one of the most expensive home warranty companies, there are many benefits to the consumer. All three plans provide comprehensive coverage. Through the use of modern technology and preventative maintenance, many of the costs involved with making claims can be reduced. Remember, while the monthly premiums are high, the fewer claims you make means more money in your pocket. Fewer service fees mean you spend less.
While the per-claim limits for both the Secure and Signature plans are around industry standards of $3,000 maximum per claim, the Lux plan allows claims for as much as $10,000. Some systems like A/C and heating, interior plumbing and water heaters have no limits at all. The In the Clear program assures breakage claims filed with the company won’t be denied because of preexisting conditions.
Super Home Warranty provides an easy user experience when it comes to requesting maintenance. There is no limit on the number of service appointments you can schedule, although there is a $75 service fee applied to each claim. Preexisting conditions are covered with the buyer’s coverage.
While the mobile app offers easy-to-use functions, making claims much easier, the website itself is not very informative. If you’re a potential customer, there’s not much to see. There is a toll-free number to call if you want to sign up, but no Chat or links to social media.
Super Home Warranty Versus Competitors
When it comes to price, don’t bother to try comparing Super to its competitors. Super is expensive. Compared to two of its competitors, all three of Super’s plans are more expensive.
- Super Secure plan: $64
- Super Signature plan: $75
- Super Lux plan: $119
- Fidelity: $30
- Landmark: $35
What Super lacks in price competitiveness, however, it makes up in quality of service. None of its competitors offers a program like In the Clear, Super’s program for real estate agents. In the Clear guarantees that no breakage claim will be denied because of preexisting conditions by inspecting both systems and appliances prior to the sale of a home.
Unlike its competitors, Super emphasizes avoiding breakage before it happens. Through routine and preventative maintenance, the company tries to offset the higher costs of its premiums. The less breakage you have, the less service fees you have to pay. That’s real money in your pocket.
Unlike its competitors, Super is only available in a few states, including:
- Arizona
- California
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Texas
- Virginia
Super is also available in Washington D.C.
Super is not your father’s home warranty company. Instead, Super uses modern technology to help its customers manage home maintenance. The company is different from other home warranty companies in that it offers a reward system. Its technological system allows customers to monitor repairs, and track savings and budgets. The company also offers routine maintenance to help prevent breakages before they even happen.
Best For
- Preventative maintenance
- Modern technology
- Reward system
- Routine maintenance
- High coverage limits
- High coverage options
- Routine maintenance
- Mobile app
- No limit on service appointments
- Covers preexisting conditions
- Limited availability
- High prices
- No 24/7 customer service
Get started
securely through Choice Home Warranty’s
website
Choice Home Warranty plans allow you to protect much of your home, covering everything from the appliances to garage door openers and more. You can get a quote online, and you can also use this platform if you are a contractor or realtor—home buyer or seller.
Best For
- Home protection
- A menu of extra coverages
- Affordable prices
- Two robust plans
- Coverage for several entities, including contractors
- Several optional coverage options
- Basic and Pro plans are fairly similar
Get started
securely through Select Home Warranty’s
website
Select Home Warranty offers 3 major plans for homeowners, buyers, sellers, contractors and real estate professionals. You get coverage for appliances, systems and extras. Plus, you can add roof coverage, get quick service and contact their customer service team for support when needed.
Best For
- Appliance and home warranties
- Quick services
- Trusted across the nation
- Regular promotions on all plans
- Multiple plans to choose from
- Compare plans on the website
- Prices can vary
Overall, Super gets 4 out of 5 stars. Broken down, the numbers don’t exactly support it. Customer service seems to be stuck in prehistoric times, and if you compare the company on pricing alone, it wouldn’t stand a chance. Even so, because of the quality of service and attention to breakage prevention it provides, Super gets extra points. While expensive, Super offers high-quality services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth it to extend a home warranty?
If you signed up for a home warranty and didn’t use it, you may feel like it’s a waste of money. On the contrary. Your home systems and appliances break down when you least expect it. The longer you use them, the greater the chance they’ll need to be repaired. Just because nothing’s gone wrong so far, doesn’t mean it won’t in the future. Yes, it is worth it to extend your home warranty.
Answer Link
How long does a warranty last on a house?
Home warranty contracts usually are written for a term of one year, with the option of making monthly premiums or paying the whole year in advance (often for a discount). Renewals occur every year with the option to alter the exact terms of the contract or cancel it altogether.
Answer Link
The post Super Home Warranty Review by Philip Loyd, Licensed Insurance Agent appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.
