Cinch home services: Reviews and pricing

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If you own a house or are thinking about buying one but are put off by the time and expense required for maintenance, a home warranty may be the way to go. There are many home warranty companies to consider, but today, we’re reviewing just one: Cinch Home Services.

What is a home warranty?

Most people are familiar with the manufacturer warranties tied to appliances or electronics – but home warranties are different. Home warranties, sometimes called home protection plans, aren’t tied to a specific manufacturer or appliance. Instead, they cover categories of appliances, like major home systems or kitchen appliances.

The age of your appliances or systems won’t impact your home warranty. Everything is covered for standard wear and tear long after a manufacturer’s warranty expires.

Eventually, every home system or appliance breaks down and needs to be repaired or replaced. It’s generally a good idea for homeowners to save anywhere from 1% to 3% of their home’s purchase price, depending on the age of their home, for annual home maintenance and to review and compare home warranty companies.

Understanding Cinch Home Services

Cinch Home Services (formerly Cross Country Home Services) is based out of Boca Raton, Florida. The company has been providing home warranties to homeowners for more than 40 years, offering home warranty plans that help make the repair and replacement of systems and appliances efficient and affordable.

Cinch Home Warranty plans

Cinch offers three home warranty plans: one for appliances, one for built-in systems and one for complete home coverage.

The monthly cost of coverage will depend on a homeowner’s location and their coverage deductible. The more you pay per month, the lower your deductible.

Please note that all pricing quotes in this article are based on a sample home in Columbus, Ohio, with a $125 coverage deductible.

You pay a deductible every time a professional visits your home and fixes a problem. Cinch Home Services provides an example of this on their website. If a plumber and electrician visit your home, their fees go toward separate deductibles.

Homeowners can make unlimited service requests that are subject to monetary caps based on the categories specified in their contracts. Read your contract carefully to familiarize yourself with any exclusions in your area.

Finally, there’s a waiting period before coverage kicks in to ensure a homeowner purchased the warranty for future coverage, not existing problems in the home. The waiting period is standard practice in the home warranty industry.

Cinch Home Warranty plans pricing

We’ll review each plan in more detail below, but you can scan our chart breaking down what Cinch Home Services covers:

Appliances Plan

This plan covers major appliances – think clothes washers, microwaves, dishwashers, dryers and refrigerators. If you can afford to cover your home’s built-in systems (electrical, water heaters, plumbing, HVAC, etc.), then the Appliances Plan, which is the cheapest package, should fit your warranty coverage needs. Based on our sample home with the $125 deductible, premiums will cost $39.32 a month.

Built-In Systems Plan

Systems coverage includes your electrical and plumbing systems, HVAC and air conditioning. Built-in systems are big-ticket repair items. In our pricing scenario, a built-in systems plan will cost $44.32 a month.

In terms of pricing, the Built-In Systems Plan falls midway between appliance coverage and whole home coverage. This plan is a good option for homeowners who can afford to replace appliances but consider home system repairs a major expense.

Complete Home Plan

The Complete Home Plan includes everything in the Appliance Plan and the Built-In Systems Plan. And there’s an additional perk: if you have a homeowners insurance claim, Cinch Home Services will reimburse up to $500 of your deductible with this plan – an unheard-of practice at other home warranty companies. Based on our sample home with the $125 deductible, the Complete Home Plan premium will cost $53.32.

Optional Coverage

You can add several optional items to your coverage plan, including:

• Pool/spa
• Septic tank/pumping
• Well pump

The pool and spa coverage includes the heater. Homeowners can also add the Premier Upgrade Package. Under your standard coverage, systems or appliances are covered, but any extra work required beyond fixing the appliance or system itself isn’t covered.

Cinch Home Services reviews

Of course, it never hurts to read what other experts are saying. Read through these Cinch warranty reviews from trusted sources.

U.S. News

Cinch was awarded 3.8 stars out of 5. The U.S. News & World Report reviewer liked that you could purchase coverage from service providers anywhere in the contiguous United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Additionally, Cinch Home Services offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee. The reviewer felt the service fees were a little expensive, but the monthly costs were competitive.

This Old House

Cinch was awarded 4.6 stars out of 5. This Old House felt it was easy to get a quote online. The home improvement brand specifically mentions the discounts Cinch Home Services offers on new appliances. The review noted that the company offers fewer add-on services than other home warranty providers.

ConsumerAffairs

Cinch was awarded 3.9 stars out of 5. Some common themes emerge from the 10,812 customer reviews on ConsumerAffairs. Customers like that Cinch Home Service plans start at around $31 a month and appreciate the lengthy workmanship guarantee. However, customers noted that the company’s service fees are higher than comparable providers.

Why we like Cinch Home Warranty

There’s a lot to like about Cinch Home Services. For starters, the coverage area extending across the lower 48 states is noteworthy in an industry where random coverage gaps are typical. Even partial reimbursement of the homeowners insurance deductible is a benefit many competitors don’t offer.

Cinch Home Services also provides appliance discounts and a free water sensor, which can help detect leaks. The monthly pricing is competitive. The coverage for components and other parts, such as knobs, doors and drawers, is another plus. And Cinch also offers a program for real estate agents.

Cinch Home Services FAQs

Have more questions about Cinch Home Services? Check out some frequently asked questions.

My home's systems and appliances are old. Will Cinch cover them?

Yes, a Cinch home warranty covers the cost of maintaining, repairing and replacing home systems and appliances regardless of age. However, coverage will depend on the plan you’ve enrolled in.

How long does the Cinch workmanship guarantee last?

The workmanship guarantee lasts 180 days. You can contact Cinch Home Services if the repaired or replaced system or appliance breaks down within 180 days, and they’ll fix the issue for free.

What is the difference between a home warranty and homeowners insurance?

A home warranty covers servicing, repairs and replacements for home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance covers unexpected events involving disasters or accidents.

The Bottom line: Cinch Home Protection may be worth exploring

If you prefer to hand off the time and financial expense of home appliance and systems repair, a home warranty from Cinch Home Services may be a great solution. The provider’s plans start at $31 per month. And the Cinch 180-day workmanship guarantee is longer than the industry standard of 30 – 90 days.

You can take advantage of appliance discounts, and it’s the only service we’ve seen that offers $500 worth of homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement with its Complete Home Plan. Cinch Home Services is worth checking out if you’re in the market for a home warranty.

Methodology

Our writers perform in-depth research from various sources that may feature customer reviews and third-party ratings. These sources include – but are not limited to – Better Business Bureau (BBB) and U.S. News & World Report. We take into account company transparency and plan exclusions, as well as pricing, coverage options and any outstanding legal issues. Writers use this research to compose their reviews of each company.