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Best Home Warranty Companies in South Dakota

Author Image Written by Dana Getz + 1 other Reviewer Icon Reviewed by Michael Mansueto Updated 05/07/2024

Home warranty companies cover repair and replacement costs when your home systems and appliances break down from regular use. Your provider also helps you find a qualified repair technician, ensuring you receive affordable, hassle-free coverage for your home. We compared top home warranty companiesโ€™ coverage, costs, and customer reviews to find the best providers in South Dakota. We recommend Liberty Home Guard as our top pick due to its high customer ratings and extensive list of more than 30 add-ons.

Key Takeaways

The best home warranty companies in South Dakota are Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield, based on our extensive research of nearly 60 home warranty providers.
A home warranty costs $30โ€“$89 per month in South Dakota, depending on your provider and coverage.
Our survey revealed 92.7% of policyholders were satisfied with their current home warranty plan.
Did You Know?

In the last 30 days, more than 2,500 people bought home warranties from the above providers.

South Dakotaโ€™s Top 5 Home Warranty Companies

The highest-rated home warranty companies in South Dakota include these:

Liberty Home Guard: Best Customer Ratings
American Home Shield: Best for Comprehensive Coverage
Elite Home Warranty: Best Flexible Coverage
First American Home Warranty: Best Appliance Coverage

To determine the best home warranty companies in South Dakota, we compared third-party customer reviews, plans, pricing, benefits, and more. These are the providers that we believe provide the best coverage at the most affordable prices.


Summary of the Best Home Warranty Companies in South Dakota

Monthly Cost in SD Service Fee Response Time BBB Rating Link
Liberty Home Guard Liberty Home Guard $49โ€“$59 $65โ€“$125 Up to 48 hours NR VISIT SITE
American Home Shield American Home Shield $59โ€“$119 $100โ€“$125 Up to 48 hours B VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty Elite Home Warranty $44โ€“$58 $70 Up to 48 hours A+ VISIT SITE
Select Home Warranty Select Home Warranty $44โ€“$47 $60โ€“$75 48-84 hours B- VISIT SITE
First American Home Warranty First American Home Warranty $52โ€“$92 $75โ€“$125 4-48 hours B VISIT SITE
Liberty Home Guard
Logo Liberty Home Guard
Monthly Cost in SD $49โ€“$59
Service Fee $65โ€“$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating NR
VISIT SITE
American Home Shield
Logo American Home Shield
Monthly Cost in SD $59โ€“$119
Service Fee $100โ€“$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating B
VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty
Logo Elite Home Warranty
Monthly Cost in SD $44โ€“$58
Service Fee $70
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating A+
VISIT SITE
Select Home Warranty
Logo Select Home Warranty
Monthly Cost in SD $44โ€“$47
Service Fee $60โ€“$75
Response Time 48-84 hours
BBB Rating B-
VISIT SITE
First American Home Warranty
Logo First American Home Warranty
Monthly Cost in SD $52โ€“$92
Service Fee $75โ€“$125
Response Time 4-48 hours
BBB Rating B
VISIT SITE
Company BBB Rating Monthly Cost in SD Service Fee Visit Site
NR $49โ€“$59 $65โ€“$125 VISIT SITE
B $59โ€“$119 $100โ€“$125 VISIT SITE
A+ $44โ€“$58 $70 VISIT SITE
B- $44โ€“$47 $60โ€“$75 VISIT SITE
B $52โ€“$92 $75โ€“$125 VISIT SITE
No results were found.

*We based the pricing information in this table and throughout the article on sample quotes we obtained for a 2,080-square-foot, single-family home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Your pricing may vary depending on your homeโ€™s location, size, type, and plan selections.

Why Trust Us? Our review and rating process for the best home warranty companies
57
Companies Considered We carefully considered 57 companies to find the best home warranty providers available.
2000
Homeowners Surveyed We surveyed 2,000 home owners to see what they care about most for home protection.
57000
Reviews Analyzed We went through 57,000 customer reviews of home warranty companies to see what people had to say about each provider.
31
Coverages Compared We compared 31 policies to find the best home warranty offerings on the market.

Reviews of the Best Home Warranty Companies in South Dakota

Liberty Home Guard

Best Customer Ratings
4.5 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.

Liberty Home Guard (LHG) offers three coverage plans, a 60-day workmanship guarantee, and more than 30 add-ons. LHG also provides accessible customer service via its live-chat feature on its website.

Why We Chose Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in our rating system. It has the best customer ratings of any home warranty provider on this list, holding an A rating* with the BBB and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. We recommend LHG for homeowners with specific coverage needs, as it offers an extensive list of add-ons ranging from pool coverage to water softeners.

Our team spoke with multiple customer representatives to learn how LHG handles customer inquiries. Based on our experiences, it holds up to its stellar ratings, with each representative picking up the phone in under one minute and answering all of our questions thoroughly.

Pros and Cons

Pros Extends a 60-day workmanship guarantee Offers 38 unique optional add-ons, including pest control and gutter cleaning Provides two additional months of coverage if you sign up for an annual plan Cons Doesn’t allow plan price or service call fee customization Covers high-end appliances only with add-on purchase Lacks transparency about service call fees during the quote process

Plans and Pricing

Liberty Home Guard offers three service plan options: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. We read through Liberty Home Guard’s sample contract to get an understanding of what is covered in their plans along with associated service fees. Unlike providers with flexible service call fees, LHG assigns a service call fee to your account based on your plan, add-on selections, and location. According to the representative we spoke with, service fees range from $65 to $125. All LHGโ€™s covered items are subject to a $2,000 coverage cap, except for electrical and plumbing systems. LHG provides a lower $500 coverage limit for these systems. All covered repairs are subject to a 60-day workmanship guarantee, which is double the industry standard of 30 days.

Below are the monthly prices for LHG plans. Expect to pay between $600 and $720 annually. Per our research, LHG offers two additional months of coverage if you sign up for an annual plan. LHG allows you to pull a quote over the phone or online.

Here are details on LHGโ€™s plans and optional add-on coverage:

  • Appliance Guard:ย Covers appliances, such as dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers
  • Systems Guard: Covers built-in systems, such as air conditioning, heating, ductwork, and water heater
  • Total Home Guard:ย Covers all the items in the Appliance Guard and Systems Guard plans
  • Optional add-ons: Up to 38 options, including pest control, re-key service, gutter cleaning, floor cleaning, and generator coverage. When we pulled our quote, a representative informed us that pest control coverage costs an extra $15 monthly.

Details on LHG plan pricing can be found in the table below:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Service Fee

Coverage Cap

Appliance Guard

$49.99

$65–$125

$2,000

Systems Guard

$54.99

$65–$125

$2,000 (Plumbing & electrical: $500)

Total Home Guard

$59.99

$65–$125

Coverage caps remain the same

What To Expect

Homeowners can pull quotes for Liberty Home Guard through its customer support line or with its online tool. The LHG tool requires your name, phone number, and email address to begin the process. Next, youโ€™ll enter your home address, home type, and whether itโ€™s smaller than 5,000 square feet. You can then switch between monthly and annual premiums to find the best fit for your budget.ย 

LHG will send one of its in-network service technicians to repair your appliances. If there are no technicians in your area, the company will let you select your own.ย 

After reading online reviews, we learned that homeowners appreciated the companyโ€™s professionalism and quick claims process. However, some customers stated their claims payouts were less than expected.

American Home Shield

Best for Comprehensive Coverage
4.4 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.
  • Provider Review: American Home Shield Review
  • State Availability:ย 48 (excluding Alaskaย andย Hawaii)
  • Monthly Cost: $59โ€“$119

American Home Shield (AHS) offers comprehensive major systems and appliance coverage alongside service call fee flexibility. Additionally, AHS covers unique instances other providers typically donโ€™t, such as rust, corrosion, or sediment damage.

Why We Chose American Home Shield

We rated AHS 4.4 out of 5 stars in our review standards. We consider AHS to be the best provider for comprehensive coverage due to its three coverage plans, multiple service call fees, and solid industry reputation. It covers several things other companies donโ€™t, such as rust damage and improper installations.

We thoroughly read American Home Shieldโ€™s sample contract and found it applies a $2,000 limit per covered appliance in its ShieldGold plan. It doubles its coverage cap to $4,000 per covered item in the ShieldPlatinum plan.

AHS coverage plans provide extensive coverage; even its basic plan, ShieldSilver, covers your HVAC system. Its multiple service call fees allow you to customize your monthly premium to fit your budget.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers a flexible service call fee model that allows customers to adjust monthly fees for their budget Provides coverage for unknown preexisting conditions and items damaged by rust and corrosion Sets generous coverage caps (up to $5,000 on built-in systems and $4,000 on appliances with its ShieldPlatinum plan) Cons Charges higher monthly premiums than other providers Doesnโ€™t offer an appliance-only coverage plan Offers less coverage flexibility than most providers with only a few add-on options

Plans and Pricing

American Home Shield offers three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. We looked through American Home Shield’s sample contract directory and called an AHS representative to ask about the companyโ€™s plans. The representative noted that AHS imposes a $5,000 coverage cap per covered system in its systems-only plan, ShieldSilver. ShieldGold adds coverage for appliances, which have a $2,000 coverage limit. ShieldPlatinum also combines system and appliance coverage and increases its appliance limit to $4,000; plus, it adds roof-leak coverage, up to $1,000 in code upgrades, an HVAC tune-up, and air filter discounts.

AHS allows you to pull a quote by calling a representative or using its online tool. When we used AHSโ€™s quote tool, it allowed us to choose a service call fee of $100 or $125. AHS states that a higher service call fee will result in a lower monthly premium and vice versa. All AHS plans come with a 30-day workmanship guarantee on any completed repairs covered by the plan.

While pulling our quote, we discovered that AHS only offers monthly premium options. It doesnโ€™t include an annual premium discount like other providers on this list.

Here are details on each of American Home Shieldโ€™s plans:

  • ShieldSilver: Covers home systems, such as heating, cooling, and electrical
  • ShieldGold: Covers major systems and appliances, such as air conditioning, roof leaks, and plumbing
  • ShieldPlatinum: Covers systems and appliances and adds additional benefits, such as $1,500 for roof-leak repairs
  • Optional add-ons: Electronics, pools/spas, guest units, septic pumps, and well pumps. Based on the quote we pulled, we found that AHS offers competitively priced add-ons. For example, septic pump coverage costs an extra $5 per month.

Details on AHS plan pricing can be found in the table below:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Service Fee

Coverage Cap

ShieldSilver

$59.99–$79.99

$100–$125

$5000

ShieldGold

$79.99–$99.99

$100–$125

Systems: $5,000
Appliances: $2,000

ShieldPlatinum

$99.99–$119.99

$100–$125

Systems: $5,000
Appliances: $4,000

What To Expect

Our team received quotes from American Home Shield over the phone and online. The AHS online tool requires your home address, ZIP code, and email address. We were able to switch between the different plan and service fee options, with pricing updating instantly.ย 

AHS does not let you use your own contractor for service repairs. You must select a service technician from its in-network options. One of our team members has an AHS plan and filed a claim for a leaking bathroom pipe. When he called in, an AHS representative located a local plumber in an hour and scheduled a next-day service appointment. All repairs were completed successfully, and he was only charged the service call fee.ย 

After reading AHS customer reviews, he discovered homeowners liked the companyโ€™s prompt claims processes. The customer service department received mixed reviews, with some homeowners disappointed that their claims reimbursement was lower than anticipated.

Elite Home Warranty

Best for Flexible Coverage
4.6 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.

We recommend Elite Home Warranty for homeowners who want flexible premiums and coverage. The company offers three base plans with a standard $70 service call fee (a lower service call fee than many providers) and 27 add-on options.

Monthly cost: $44โ€“$58

How We Scored Elite Home Warranty

We rated Elite Home Warranty 4.6 out of 5 stars in our review standards. We awarded high scores for its coverage and add-on variety. We deducted points for only offering one service call fee and limited online options. Hereโ€™s how Elite rated in key categories:

  • Coverage (4.6 out of 5): Elite scored high for its three customizable coverage plans and extensive add-on catalog.ย 
  • Value (4.25 out of 5): We deducted points because the company only offers one service call fee and charges a higher fee for high-end appliances.ย ย 
  • Trustworthiness and transparency (4.8 out of 5): Elite scored well for its excellent customer review scores on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and other third-party sites.ย 
  • Availability and service (4.5 out of 5): Elite lost points for its limited online services. Unlike other providers, it doesnโ€™t offer an online quote tool.

Pros and Cons

Pros Includes a 90-day workmanship guarantee for completed repairs Offers higher coverage limits for high-end appliances Rolls your service call fee into your annual premium, avoiding a per-claim charge Cons Charges a higher service call fee for high-end appliance repairs Excludes workmanship guarantee on repairs done with an out-of-network technician Requires you to call for a quote

Plans and Cost

When reading through the Elite Home Warranty sample contract, we learned that the company offers a $15,000 annual limit for all plans. This breaks down to a $7,000 claim limit for appliances and $8,000 for systems, which is a higher limit than many providers. However, claim limits vary among coverage items. For example, air conditioners receive up to $4,000 while electrical systems are capped at $2,000.

We recommend reading through the sample contract or getting a quote for full details on coverage caps.ย 

Below are the details of Eliteโ€™s coverage plans:

  • Elite Appliances: The appliance-only plan covers eight essential appliances, including cooktops, clothes washers, and dishwashers. Coverage caps vary by appliance but are subject to a $7,000 term limit.ย 
  • Elite Systems: This system-only plan covers eight home systems, such as air conditioning, heating, and electrical systems. This plan has an $8,000 annual limit, though coverage caps vary by system.ย ย 
  • Elite Complete: The highest plan tier combines the Elite Appliances and Elite Systems plans for comprehensive systems and appliance protection.ย 

Based on our sample quotes, Elite Home Warranty charges a monthly premium of about $44โ€“$58. The company has a standard service call fee of $70. It charges $150 for high-end appliance repairs and service calls that occur after hours or on the weekend.

More details on Elite’s plans and pricing can be found in the table below:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Service Fee

Coverage Cap

Elite Appliances

$44.49

$70

Varies per Item

Elite Systems

$49.99

$70

Varies per Item

Elite Complete

$58.99

$70

Varies per Item


Elite offers 27 add-on options, one of the largest catalogs weโ€™ve seen from a home warranty company. Based on our research, most providers offer eight to 15 add-ons. Eliteโ€™s add-on coverage limits vary by item. There is a $5,000 total limit per term.ย 

Weโ€™ve highlighted some of Eliteโ€™s most attractive add-on options below. View the full list on Eliteโ€™s website:

  • Annual maintenance
  • Drainage, sewer, and water service lines
  • Pool and spa equipment
  • Geothermal heating and cooling systems
  • Guest house
  • Septic system

Our Experience with Elite Home Warranty

One of our team members tested the Elite Home Warranty claim process to repair his broken high-end dishwasher. Hereโ€™s a summary of his experience:

  • He submitted his claim online and received an Elite claims specialist call within 30 minutes.ย 
  • He received a next-day appointment for his repair.ย 
  • The technician arrived on the assigned day but realized the repair would require out-of-stock parts.ย 
  • After an initial service visit on Tuesday evening, the technician returned with the required parts the following Monday morning.
  • The technician completed the repairs within an hour.

Elite sends in-network technicians to complete its repairs. It backs its coverage with a 90-day workmanship guarantee. If you choose your own repair technician, Elite will pay them for labor at an hourly rate not to exceed the standard hourly rate in your area. You wonโ€™t receive any workmanship coverage from Elite if you choose your own technician. However, the local technician should provide their own workmanship guarantee, likely around 30 days.

Select Home Warranty

Best Value
4.3 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.
  • Provider Review: Select Home Warranty review
  • State Availability:ย 47 (excluding Nevada,ย Wisconsin, andย Washington)
  • Monthly Cost: $44โ€“$47

Select Home Warranty provides affordable coverage plans for those who need basic coverage. It offers appliance-only, systems-only, and combination plans. In addition, Select offers a service call fee under $80 per claim.

Why We Chose Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty scored 4.3 out of 5 stars in our review standards. Itโ€™s an affordable home warranty with all plans costing less than $50 per month. Select stands out by offering roof-leak repair coverage in each protection plan. Home warranty companies donโ€™t typically offer roof-leak coverage without an additional fee.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers annual premium discounts on multiyear coverage plans Includes a generous $3,000 coverage limit for HVAC systems Covers additional refrigeration and stand-alone freezers Cons Excludes coverage for tankless water heaters Offers lower coverage caps than many competitors Charges multiple service fees if there are multiple claims at the same time

Plans and Pricing

Select Home Warranty offers three plan options: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. Select charges a $60โ€“$75 service call fee per claim. Our team discovered via secret-shopping that Select offers its lower service call fee as an over-the-phone deal only.ย 

After reviewing Select Home Warranty’s sample contract, we found it provides a $3,000 cap for HVAC systems. However, Select limits other covered systems, such as plumbing and electrical, plus appliances, to a $500 coverage cap. This is low and could leave the homeowner absorbing costs that they thought would be covered. Selectโ€™s plans include a 30-day workmanship guarantee.

Select Home Warranty offers monthly and annual premium options. Expect to pay between $533 and $573 annually. According to the quote we pulled, Select offers up to $150 off and two additional months of coverage if you choose an annual premium. It lets you pull a quote by calling or using its online tool.

Here are more details about Select Home Warrantyโ€™s plans:

  • Bronze Care: Covers appliances, such as clothes washers and dryers,ย garbage disposals, refrigerators, and cooktops
  • Gold Care: Covers systems, such as air conditioning, heating, plumbing, electrical systems, water heaters, and ductwork
  • Platinum Care: Covers all the appliances and built-in systems in the Bronze and Gold Care plans, plus garage door openers and ceiling fans
  • Optional add-ons:ย Central vacuums, lawn sprinkler systems, pools,ย septic systems,ย spas, stand-alone freezers, sump pumps, and well pumps. Select Home Warranty also offers low prices for its add-ons. For example, it charges less than $4 monthly for central vacuum coverage.

See a breakdown of Select Home Warranty plan pricing below:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Service Fee

Coverage Cap

Bronze Care

$44.42

$60–$75

$500

Gold Care

$44.42

$60–$75

$500 (HVAC: $3,000)

Platinum Care

$47.75

$60–$75

Coverage caps remain the same

What To Expect

During our secret shopping process, we created sample quotes over the phone and through Selectโ€™s online quote tool. Surprisingly, you donโ€™t need your home address for the tool. You only enter your name, phone number, email address, and ZIP code. We did learn that Select prefers resolving plan issues and processing claims over the phone.ย 

In most cases, Select will choose a service technician from its network of contractors. If there are no technicians in your area, the company will let you choose your own. However, Select must approve the choice before the repair process begins.ย 

Based on online reviews, homeowners appreciated Selectโ€™s affordable plan options and simple sign-up process. However, many reviews mentioned issues reaching customer support to file their claims.

First American Home Warranty

Best Appliance Coverage
4.6 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.

*(excludingย Alaska,ย Connecticut,ย Delaware,ย Hawaii,ย Illinois, Louisiana, Maine,ย Massachusetts,ย Minnesota,ย New Hampshire,ย New York,ย North Dakota,ย Rhode Island,ย Vermont, andย Wisconsin)

First American Home Warrantyย offers comprehensive coverage for both appliances and systems. The company also offers a suite of add-ons plus a plan upgrade that covers miscellaneous fees home warranties typically donโ€™t cover.

Why We Chose First American Home Warranty

We rated First American Home Warranty 4.6 out of 5 stars in our review standards. If you own high-end appliances, First American is a solid choice due to its high appliance coverage caps. After reading its sample contract, we found First American pairs each appliance with a $3,500 limit in the Starter and Essential plans, which is higher than most other providers. Its Essential and Premium plans offer the First American Advantage upgrade, which protects systems and improperly maintained, modified, or installed appliancesโ€”a rarity in the home warranty business.

Pros and Cons

Pros Provides unlimited coverage caps on heating, cooling, and ductwork Covers up to $1,000 in limited roof-leak repair Offers customers access to appliance discounts Cons Covers air conditioning only as an add-on in the Starter Plan Limits service to 33 states, which is considerably fewer than many other providers Omits home system coverage from its basic plan

Plans and Pricing

First American Home Warranty offers three plans: the Starter Plan, the Essential Plan, and the Premium Plan. It offers customers the choice of a $75, $100, or $125 service call fee. We read through First American’s sample contract for more details on their plans. The provider sets the coverage limit for appliances at $3,500 per item in its Starter and Essential plans and increases coverage limits to $7,000 per covered appliance in its Premium Plan. Upon speaking with a representative, we discovered the company doesnโ€™t outline hard limits for built-in systems coverage except for water heaters. First American covers all repairs for 30 days.

First American Home Warranty also offers an annual premium. Annual plan costs range from $540 to $1,040. Unlike other providers that offer annual premiums, First American doesnโ€™t include extra months of coverage or a discount if you choose an annual premium. First American provides an online quote tool or a sales phone line to pull a free quote.

Here are more details about First Americanโ€™s plan coverage:

  • Starter Plan: Coversย built-in microwaves, dishwashers, ductwork, electrical system, heating, plumbing systems, oven/cooktop, plumbing stoppages, refrigerators, and toilet tanks, bowls, and mechanisms
  • Essential Plan: Includes everything in the Starter Plan plus air conditioning, ceiling/attic/exhaust fans, clothes washers, clothes dryers, First American Advantage upgrade, garage door openers, trash compactors, and water heaters
  • Premium Plan: Covers all items in the Essential Plan plus full garage door systems, instant hot water dispensers, luxury appliances, shower heads and arms, and window air conditioning units
  • Optional add-ons: Additional refrigeration, air conditioning for Starter Plan, HVAC tune-up, limited roof-leak coverage, pool and spa equipment, septic tank systems and pumping, water softeners, and well pumps. First American offers limited roof-leak coverage for less than $9 per month.

Details on First American’s plan pricing can be found below:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Service Fee

Coverage Cap

Starter Plan

$52–$62

$75–$125

Systems: Unlimited

Appliances: $3,500

Essential Plan

$57–$72

$75–$125

Systems: Unlimited (Water heaters: $1,000)

Appliances: $3,500

Premium Plan

$72–$92

$75–$125

Systems: Remain the same Appliances: $7,000

What To Expect

First Americanโ€™s online quote tool requires you to enter personal information, such as your name, phone number, email, and home address. You must also enter your homeโ€™s type and the estimated square footage. Once you do, it generates your monthly quote. Although there is extra information you must fill out, we found it simple to adjust our premium based on our chosen service call fee. It also conveniently displays each plan’s coverage options below the price figures.

First Americanโ€™s sizable coverage limits make it a great choice for those who want total home protection. However, it excludes air conditioning coverage from its entry-level Starter plan. You must pay extra to obtain air conditioning coverage. Other providers include it within their basic plans. We would rank First American Home Warranty higher if it covered more states. The company covers the lowest number of states of all the companies in this article.

First American handles claims by sending in-network service contractors to fix your issues. It allows you to use your own if an in-network provider isnโ€™t available near you. One of our team members purchased a plan to test the claims process. He filed a claim for his garage door opener on a Friday and reported First American sent a service technician the following Monday. The technician arrived at his home on Monday and fixed his issue in less than 30 minutes. All he paid was his service call fee.

Our team read dozens of customer reviews. Similar to other home warranty providers, First American holds mixed reviews. A positive theme was how simple it is to file claims. A negative theme involved delays in fulfilling service requests.


Manufacturer’s Warranty vs Home Warranty

When you purchase a new product, like a home appliance, the manufacturer gives you a warranty that protects the item against defects for the first few years of its life. After that, repairs and replacements are your responsibility. With a home warranty, your systems and appliances are covered if they break down due to normal wear and tear, and your provider will cover the repair or replacement costs.


Annual Home Warranty Cost Calculator

Our team created a calculator to break down the estimated annual cost of owning a home warranty. Enter your monthly premium, service call fee, and estimated number of claims to see your projected annual cost. Itโ€™s best to request a quote directly from one of our recommended providers, as annual costs and service fees vary between them.

ApplianceAverage Repair CostAverage Replacement Cost

Dehumidifier

$50โ€“$200

$1,300โ€“$2,800

Microwave

$50โ€“$400

$60โ€“$2,000

Dishwasher

$50โ€“$500

$400โ€“$3,000

Exhaust Fans

$16โ€“$300

$250โ€“$950

Electric Range

$100โ€“$500

$230โ€“$3,000

Gas Range

$100โ€“$500

$230โ€“$3,000

Dryer

$100โ€“$400

$450โ€“$2,300

Oven

$100โ€“$430

$400โ€“$3,000

Washer

$50โ€“$450

$400โ€“$2,300

Freezer

$90โ€“$500

$160โ€“$2,900

Refrigerator

$40โ€“$350

$200โ€“$5,000

Note: The annual cost figure generated by our home warranty calculator is not an indication of a companyโ€™s actual plan cost, as annual costs and service fees vary based on your plan selections and your homeโ€™s size, type, and location.


What’s a Home Warranty Coverage Cap?

Home warranty companies typically set a coverage cap, or a maximum amount theyโ€™re willing to pay, to repair or replace a covered item. This amount is laid out in the terms and conditions of your contract. If a fix costs more than the coverage cap, the homeowner has to pay the remaining amount.


When Will A Home Warranty Provider Replace an Item Instead of Repairing it?

If the covered item canโ€™t be repaired or it isnโ€™t cost-effective to repair it, the home warranty company will replace the item instead. Your provider may not offer a replacement with the same make, model, and color as your previous one, but the item will function the same.


Our Conclusion

With a plan through one of these providers, you can get customizable and affordable coverage for your South Dakota home. Since estimates in this review may change depending on the size of your home and how you customize your plan, we recommend getting quotes from both before deciding on a provider.


Other Resources for Residents in South Dakota


How Do I Find the Best Home Warranty Company in My Area?

Find in-depth reviews on the best home warranty companies for each state and major US city below.


Our Rating Methodology

We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to score each provider objectively. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. 

We score each provider against our review standards, which include four comparison categories: coverage, value, trust and transparency, and availability and service. We rate each provider across 31 factors within these categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We then convert the final scores to a 5-star rating. 

Hereโ€™s a breakdown of our weighted factors:

  • Coverage (40%): We scored coverage based on included home systems and appliances, add-on options, and unique benefits. We also compared coverage caps and policy exclusions.
    • Additional coverage items
    • Annual coverage cap
    • Home systems coverage
    • Major appliances coverage
    • Obstructed wall coverage cap
  • Value (30%): We compared the coverage level received to monthly pricing to determine plan value. We considered premium pricing, service fees, and flexibility in customizing plan costs. 
    • Average monthly cost
    • Cost flexibility
    • Lowest service fee
  • Trust and Transparency (16%): We evaluated each companyโ€™s reputation using the Better Business Bureau ratings and customer reviews on third-party review sites. We read through plan change policies, workmanship protections, and sample contract availability. 
    • Brand reputation
    • Policy change flexibility
    • Sample contract availability
    • Workmanship guarantee length
  • Availability and Service (14%): We award higher scores for faster claim processing and response times. We also considered service technician policies, including options to choose your technician. 
    • Claims process
    • Guaranteed response time
    • Service flexibility

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