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Sears Home Warranty Review
By Quinlan Grim MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
A home warranty is the best way to protect the systems and appliances you use every day. Depending on the plan you choose, your home warranty covers damage to your kitchen appliances, HVAC, septic system, and more so you don’t have to pay full price for expensive repairs.
Sears has been offering home warranty plans since 1999. Since being acquired by Transformco in 2018, it has continued to provide home warranty coverage. You can still buy a Sears home warranty today. But should you?
Like all the best home warranty companies, Sears Home Services plans have their pros and cons. This review will walk you through Sears home warranty coverage, benefits, customer service and more, so you can decide if this home warranty company is right for you.
24/7 support whenever your appliances fail
24/7 support whenever your appliances fail
- Large network of independent prescreened contractors and qualified technicians
- In business for over 30 years
- Good coverage on home systems
- Does not cover pre-existing issues
- They will replace items that fail if they can't be fixed regardless of age, make or model
No home inspection required
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- Online Business Bureau Accredited with A+ Rating
- Covers Major Home Systems, HVAC & Appliances
- Free Roof Coverage, No Inspection Needed
Industry leader since 1971
Limited Time Offer: $150 Off Select Plans!*
- Home Warranty Plans Starting at $29.99 a Mo.
- Covering 2 Million Plus Members for 50+ Years
- No Age Limits on Covered Systems & Appliances
- No Inspections or Records Required
Sears home warranty overview
Despite being one of the most popular department stores in the nation for years, Sears isn’t well-known as a home warranty provider. But a Sears home warranty applies to all the appliances and systems in your home regardless of where you bought them. In other words, this isn’t just an appliance warranty for Sears or Kenmore products.
Sears offers three basic plans: one for appliance coverage, one for systems coverage and one that covers both. Costs for those plans range from $50 to $70 per month for the average single-family home in California.
Sears home warranty coverage is fairly standard. However, its prices are higher than the average home warranty companies, and some customers have had issues with Sears’ customer service and response times.
Here’s how a Sears whole home warranty stacks up against other options:
- High coverage caps (up to $50,000)
- Trusted brand name
- Wide availability
- Discounted oil change included with coverage
- Company currently undergoing restructuring
- Higher prices
- Plans aren't as flexible as other companies
- Poor reviews for customer service
Sears home warranty services
A Sears home warranty plan offers standard repair and replacement services for covered appliances. If you’re wondering about the difference between a home warranty vs. home insurance, think of it this way: A home warranty plan covers what your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t. That includes new appliances that didn’t come with the home.
So what does a home warranty cover? That depends on the plan you choose. Like other home warranty providers, Sears offers multiple plans with varying coverage. We’ll get into the differences between those plans later in this article. First, let’s go over the features that set Sears apart from other home warranty companies.
What a Sears home warranty offers
Sears Home Services, the division of Sears that offers home warranties, has three available plans. Some home warranty companies only offer two, which gives Sears’ customers a little more flexibility in terms of what they want to pay for.
A Sears Home Services warranty comes with generous coverage caps: up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 as an annual coverage limit. That’s a lot more coverage than a standard home warranty plan offers.
Another benefit of a Sears home warranty is its discounts. The Appliances plan comes with a 25% discount on HVAC and water heater repairs, which aren’t covered in the plan — so you’re still saving even without the coverage. All Sears warranties also come with free yearly heating and cooling maintenance and discounts on oil changes at Sears Auto Centers. It’s unclear how the acquisition by Transformco will affect those benefits in the future. But for now, they’re still accessible.
What a Sears home warranty doesn’t offer
Every home warranty company has its limitations. For Sears, the biggest drawback is that the company is undergoing a huge transformation. The main reason that some Sears home warranty customers are canceling their contracts is a because of concerns about the future of the company. Sears’ customers aren’t sure what the company will look like two or three years down the road. In addition, some customers have also complained about unreliable customer service.
Although its maximum coverage caps are high, Sears doesn’t offer comprehensive coverage for every appliance. “Commercial-like” appliances, like high-grade stoves, have $1,000 coverage limits, and some heating systems have $1,500 limits.
Sears also doesn’t offer a workmanship guarantee. Some home warranty companies provide a 90-day or 180-day workmanship guarantee so you won’t have to pay a service fee for the same issue twice. With Sears, you’ll have to pay a service fee every time you file a claim.
Types of warranty plans available
Sears Home Services has three types of plans, each with its own fees and coverage. Here’s a quick overview of each.
Appliance plan
The Appliance plan is essentially a home appliances warranty. This plan covers all the important appliances in your home. That includes your:
- Refrigerator
- Built-in dishwasher
- Exhaust fan
- Stove (including cooktop or range and oven)
- Built-in microwave
- Washer and dryer
- Trash compactor
As a side note, it doesn’t matter whether you bought those appliances at Sears. The Sears home warranty is totally separate from the department store.
Pricing: The exact price for your coverage will depend on your location and home size. For reference, the cost for an average single-family home in California would be about $600 per year, or $50 per month. This is the cheapest home warranty plan Sears offers.
Major Systems coverage plan
Sears’ Major Systems plan only covers systems. With this plan, you’ll have coverage for your:
- Plumbing system and stoppages
- Electrical system
- Central heating
- Garbage disposal
- Faucets and toilets
- Water heater
- Water softener
- Ceiling fans
- Garage door opener
Again, those systems don’t have to be installed by Sears. It doesn’t matter if they came with your home or you purchased them yourself.
Pricing: For a standard single-family home in California, the Major Systems plan costs around $720 per year, or $60 per month. It’s slightly pricier than the Appliances plan because repairs for these systems can be a little more labor-intensive.
Whole House plan
Sears’ Whole House plan offers comprehensive coverage for everything in your home. All the appliances and systems listed above are covered by this plan. In addition, you have the option to add extra coverage for a price. Available add-ons are:
- Pool and spa
- Septic tank
- Stand-alone freezer
- Sump pump
- Well pump
Costs for these add-ons vary depending on your location. The most expensive is the pool/spa addition, at around $190 per year in California. You don’t have to pay for the Whole House plan to access these options — they can be added to any plan.
Pricing: The average price for the Whole House plan in California is around $840 a year, or $70 per month.
Sears home warranty accessibility
Let’s talk accessibility. It’s one thing to have a home warranty plan, but a whole other to actually use it. So, how accessible are Sears home warranty services? Here are a few factors to consider.
24/7 customer service
Sears has a 24/7 customer service line that can be used to file claims. All you have to do is call and provide your location and the details of your issue, and you’ll be connected with a technician within a few hours.
This should be a super simple system. Unfortunately, it isn’t always that easy. Sears home warranty customer service doesn’t have the best reviews. Hopefully, that will change as Transformco takes over and rebuilds the company.
Contractor response time
Sears is known for great response times. In most cases, a local contractor will respond and start service within two hours of the claim being filed.
But it’s important to include a disclaimer here, too. Recent Sears home warranty reviews have been written by customers who reported slower response times and difficulty getting in touch with contractors. This is another issue we hope will improve as the company rebuilds.
Contact information
To file a Sears home warranty claim, you can call the 24/7 helpline at 855-256-2467. Another option is to go through Cinch Home Services, Sears’ preferred vendor. Filing a claim online with Cinch might be an easier route if you’re having trouble getting ahold of a customer service representative.
Limitations
One downside of Sears home warranties is that the limitations aren’t always clear. Certain covered items have lower limits than others. For example, you won’t get the same coverage for a commercial-grade refrigerator as you would for a normal one. Look into the details of your warranty coverages before you buy your plan. If you have multiple high-end appliances, you might be better off with a more transparent home warranty company.
Sears home warranty customer satisfaction
Sears’ home warranty plans and services are similar to the best home warranty companies in the nation. Unfortunately, because of the recent changes to the company, customer satisfaction is where Sears struggles.
Third-party ratings
Unbiased third-party ratings are a great way to evaluate how a company treats its customers. Sears Home Services currently doesn’t have a Better Business Bureau ranking. But its parent company, Transformco, has an A+ ranking from the BBB. That score doesn’t necessarily apply to Sears home warranties, but it does bode well for the future of the company.
Customer reviews and complaints
Sears is one of the more commonly-reviewed companies in the country. Since the 2018 bankruptcy, those reviews haven’t been as positive as they used to be. Most negative customer testimonials and complaints refer to a lack of organization, poor customer service and difficulty getting answers to warranty questions.
Remember that Sears is in a transition period. As the company gets back on its feet under new ownership, you should (hopefully) see improvement in those areas.
Sears home warranty FAQs
What does a Sears home warranty cover?
A home warranty with Sears covers your appliances, systems or both, depending on the plan you choose. Your warranty plan will provide repairs and parts replacement. In some cases, a Sears home warranty plan can even cover product replacement for an appliance that breaks down.
How much is the service fee for a Sears home warranty?
Sears gives you the option to choose your service fee from $75, $100 or $125. A higher service fee means a slightly lower monthly payment, and vice versa.
Is a Sears home warranty the same as Cinch?
Cinch Home Services is an independent home warranty provider. However, it's also a vendor for Sears Home Services. You can buy your Sears home warranty plan through Cinch, but they are not the same company.
Can I cancel my Sears home warranty?
Yes, you can cancel Sears home warranty coverage at any time, with no charge. Contact the customer service helpline to find out how to cancel a Sears home warranty.
How we evaluated Sears home warranties
This Sears home warranty review looked into Sears’ coverage, plans, pricing and customer satisfaction in comparison with other home warranty companies.
The best home warranty plan provides comprehensive coverage at a fair price. Sears’ prices are a little higher than other companies, but the coverage is extensive and the limits are much higher than average. Plus, all three plans come with impressive benefits including free HVAC tune-ups and discounted oil changes.
While customer reviews aren’t the only way to evaluate a company, we did consider them. Sears is in a complicated situation and the customer complaints found online reflect that. At this point, the main drawback to a Sears home warranty is the unclear future of the company. That said, Sears’ service is still comparable to some of the best companies out there and a legitimate option if you want a plan with high coverage limits.
Summary of Sears home warranties
Even though Sears is undergoing changes, it still offers comprehensive coverage to its home warranty customers. This is an established home warranty company with high coverage caps, great benefits and adaptable plans.
Sears might not be the best home warranty company if you’re looking for dependability. The Transformco takeover makes it tricky to evaluate the quality of its service and response times. However, plans can be canceled at any time with no charge, so you won’t get locked into a contract with Sears if things don’t work out.
Here’s a final takeaway: if you’re shopping for home warranty plans, Sears Home Services is worth considering. You can get a free quote online or call the customer service helpline to see if a Sears plan fits your budget.