American Home Shield Review

Our Opinion 

American Home Shield’s vast experience in the home warranty space lends them a lot of credibilities as well as loyalty from customers. However, what makes it one of our top choices is its constant reinvention of coverage options to fit the different needs of the modern-day homeowner. 

American Home Shield Cost

On average, the plans of American Home Shield cost about $40-$70 a month, and when calculated yearly, the amount may range from $500-$850. 

American Home Shield offers you three deductibles (i.e., service charge for technicians) – $75, $100, and $125. The plan pricing is beneficial (provided you use it carefully) and is set so that the lower your deductible, the higher your monthly charge. 

You should note that the overall costs may vary based on the size of your home, the add-ons you choose, the area your property is set in, etc. 

Here’s an overview of how American Home Shield’s pricing when compared to the industry standard –

*Covered caps are conditional.

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Discounts/Offers

American Home Shield offers multiple offers and discounts to potential and existing customers. Some of their popular savings deals include – 

• An Amazon Gift Card for referrals worth $25 
• MSRP appliances discount and retail items
• $50 off for multiple properties

Note: Existing AHS members are privy to additional discounts and deals.

American Home Shield Plans & Coverage 

Home warranty plans are designed to fit the needs of different customers and offer varying levels of coverage. Listed below are homeowner and real estate plans offered by AHS.

Homeowner Plans

American Home Shield offers three plans for homeowners – ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. 

• ShieldSilver – Covers major home systems and related parts
• ShieldGold – Covers nine appliances (in addition to the items part of the ShieldSilver)
• ShieldPlatinum – Covers all the items in the initial plans, plus roof leak repairs, coverage boosts, free HVAC tune-ups, and more.

Real Estate Plans

Specially designed while keeping homebuyers, sellers, and realtors, American Home Shield offers three real estate plans – ShieldEssential, ShieldPlus, and ShieldComplete. The coverage levels of these three are similar to the homeowner plans. 

 ShieldEssential covers home systems, ShieldPlus covers both appliances and systems, and ShieldComplete offers comprehensive coverage of the three plans.

The below table comprises items covered by each (homeowner) plan of American Home Shield. Take a look – 

American Home Shield covers only certain parts of their covered items. For example, take a look at what components of the following are covered – 

• Pool – Above ground components and parts of the heating, pumping, and filtration system, including pool, sweep motor and pump, pump motor, blower motor and timer, plumbing pipes and wiring, and plumbing and electrical.
• Garage Door – All components and parts, springs.
• Electrical System – All components and parts, including Direct Current (D.C.) wiring and built-in exhaust/vent/attic fans.

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Add-Ons

American Home Shield Coverage Limits 

The coverage cap of American Home Shield in the ShieldGold plan is $3000 and $6000 for ShieldPlatinum plan holders. For systems, AHS claims unlimited coverage, albeit on conditional terms. 

Like all home warranty companies, American Home Shield also has set coverage caps for their covered items, meaning that any extra charges will have to be borne by you. 

Plan Exclusions

There are other vital exclusions that you should know. Foremost among this is the understanding that home warranties only cover damages resulting from routine wear and tear. So, breakdowns caused by any natural disasters, mold, water damage, accidents, etc., are not covered. 

If your covered item has any known pre-existing conditions, it won’t be covered. However, AHS, along with a handful of other home warranty providers, do cover unknown ones.

Another significant consideration you need to consider is that all the covered items have excluded parts. To cite an example, when you read AHS’ sample contract, it is clear that the plumbing coverage will include leaks and breaks of water, drain, gas, etc. However, there are excluded parts – stoppages caused by collapsed, damaged, or broken drain, etc.

Note: Contractual terms and plan fees vary for each customer. Go through your home warranty policy in detail before signing.

Quality Of AHS Customer Service

American Home Shield’s customer service is available and accepts service requests round the clock. There seems to be mixed consensus among their customers regarding assistance with queries and claims. Their response time for scheduling appointments matches the industry standard of within 48 hours.

Claim Filing Process 

Filing a claim process with American Home Shield is relatively simple. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how/what the process could look like:

• File a service request by phone or online on their portal. Your claim details will be noted down and verified.
• After successful verification, the service contractor will reach out to schedule an appointment.
• The service technician will arrive to perform an inspection to diagnose the problem. You’ll also have to pay the service fee at this juncture.
• If the cause of the damage is covered and approved by AHS, then the next course of action is repair or replacement. 
• American Home Shield will decide to repair or replace the broken item.

In some cases, American Home Shield may authorize or request you to find an independent contractor on your own to perform the repair. The company will later provide reimbursement  for the spent amount. There are also instances where AHS may offer you a cash-out option instead of a replacement.