Sears Home Warranty Reviews

In 1893, Sears, Roebuck & Company initially launched as a watch retailer. It was not until 1925 that the company opened a retail location on Chicago’s west side, complete with a catalog center. During March of 2005, Sears and Kmart merged as Sears Holdings Corporation. Later, in February of 2019, Transformco formed and acquired the assets of the Sears Holdings Corporation.
As of November 2019, there were 182 Sears and Kmart stores left in the country. There are thousands of technicians nationwide performing over 7 million repairs annually. The company says it does not matter the brand, how old it is, or where it was initially purchased — a Sears home warranty covers many appliances and systems (as long as the covered items are in “good working order” when the warranty is activated).
Sears Home Warranty at a glance:
- Plan options: Warranty options include the appliance plan, systems plan and whole-house plan
- Length of contract: For individual appliances, coverage begins on the date the warranty was purchased for the covered items, and expiration is marked on the receipt from the original purchase. For Sears Home Warranties themselves, coverage starts 30 days after you activate it – provided all appliances and systems are working on the day of activation – and auto-renews for the next year so long as you are current on payments. You will receive a notice 30 days before renewal.
- Availability: Sears’ website boasts that they “serve all major metropolitan areas,” and while the metropolitan homepage lists serviced locations in Alaska and Puerto Rico, fine print on the What is a Home Warranty? page says that Sears Home Warranty is not available in Puerto Rico or Alaska.
- Prices start at $49.99 per month for the appliance plan and go up to $69.99 per month for the whole-house plan
- Service fees: There is a $75 service fee for the appliance plan, and a $100 fee for the system and whole-house plan
- Length of work guarantee: 180 days
- BBB accredited? No
- BBB Rating: NR
- Trustpilot rating: Bad
How Sears Home Warranty compares:
Sears | American Home Shield | America’s 1st Choice Home Club | |
---|---|---|---|
Plan options | Appliance plan, systems plan and whole-house plan | Systems plan, combo plan, and appliances plan | Silver, Platinum, Gold and Systems plans |
Length of contract | Coverage begins 30 days after signing up for the warranty and lasts for 12 months. It auto-renews if your account is in good standing. | 1 year | There are 1-year and 3-year plans |
Availability | Offers services in states where locations still exist and, in the case of Craftsman tools, at Lowe’s | 49 states | 46 states |
Price | Between $49.99 and $69.99 per month, according to the plan you choose | Starting at $36.99 to $54.99 per month, according to the plan you choose and location. You must contact the company for a free quote. | Between $43 and $60 per month, according to the plan you choose and location. You must contact them for a free quote. |
Service Fees | $75 – $100 | Up to $75–125 | $75–$125 |
Length of work guarantee | 180 days | 30 days | The lifetime of the plan |
BBB accredited? | No | Yes | Yes |
BBB Rating | NR | B | B |
Trustpilot rating | Bad | Bad | Average |
Sears Home Warranty pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
|
|
A deeper look at Sears Home Warranty
Sears Home Warranty offers 3 plans:
Appliance Warranty Plan
What does it cost?
What does it cover?
Systems | Appliances |
---|---|
|
|
Systems Warranty Plan
What does it cost?
What does it cover?
Systems | Appliances |
---|---|
|
|
Whole-House Warranty Plan
What does it cost?
What does it cover?
Systems | Appliances |
---|---|
|
|
Additional optional coverage
- Pool and (or) spa with heater (limit of $1,000 on the heater)
- Septic tank with pumping ($500 pumping limit and $1,000 limit for tank replacement)
- Stand-alone freezers
- Sump pumps
- Well pumps
Does Sears Home Warranty have coverage limits?
In its sample contract, Sears provides an extensive explanation regarding what is and what is not covered. When you dig further into each plan, there are coverage limits that include $10,000 per claim. There is also an annual coverage cap of $50,000. Sears does not put a limit on the number of service calls a consumer can make annually. Coverage does not exclude a product for its age or if it has unknown pre-existing issues.
Sears Home Warranty reviews
Sears home warranty does not have a BBB accreditation or rating. Companies receiving an NR rating means that the BBB is unable to obtain enough information about the business. It could also mean that there is an ongoing review or update in process for the business’s file.
Five-star Sears home warranty reviews indicate that customers are happy with the products, service, and support they need. Negative reviews on BBB show that some consumers have issues with service technicians being unable to find parts or holding off on servicing appliances until the warranty expires. When you visit Trustpilot, you can see five-star ratings from those who have incredibly positive experiences with their service technicians. However, out of the 38 reviews available, the majority of them have negative ratings. Many believe the warranty is not worth the money, and others have issues with service technicians not showing up to perform repairs.
The bottom line
With nationwide coverage, Sears home warranty is a good option for those who like several options and an easy-to-use website. In comparison to its competitors, Sears home warranty falls in line with pricing and the number of plans it offers. However, its lack of a BBB accreditation and rating makes it a challenge to determine if it is a reputable option.
Frequently asked questions
How does a Sears home warranty work?
A Sears home warranty protects many major appliances and other home systems, guarding you against having to spend on a major repair or replacement. Choose a plan that is best for your needs according to its coverage and monthly rate. Plan coverage lasts for one year, and there are optional add-ons you can include in your contract.
Does Sears Home Warranty cover garage doors?
Under the Systems warranty plan, there is coverage for a garage door opener.
Is the Sears Home Warranty worth it?
Because it has a 180-day workmanship guarantee and three plans to choose from, many believe there is value in this warranty option. However, others are frustrated because they have difficulty getting parts or a service technician out to perform repairs.