Home Improvement

Dwelling Safety of America Overview (2023)

Dwelling Safety of America is somewhat totally different from most residence guarantee firms. Whereas most suppliers allow you to join a plan at any time, HSA solely helps you to signal on in case you’re a homebuyer or vendor and your actual property agent affords it.

This would possibly sound tempting, however after researching the corporate, I discovered that it’s higher to buy one other coverage later from certainly one of our greatest residence guarantee suggestions.

My analysis revealed that the essential HSA plan doesn’t cowl almost sufficient, leading to further prices for add-ons. Plus, many shoppers have needed to dwell with out important techniques and home equipment as a result of the repairs don’t at all times work the primary time round.

Our Most well-liked Dwelling Guarantee Alternate options

At this time’s House owner recommends just a few residence guarantee firms to our readers. Beneath you’ll see our newest solutions and their money-saving offers. You may as well learn our evaluation of the most effective residence guarantee firms to be taught extra about these high picks.

Finest Protection Limits

american home shield

Go to Website

Restricted Time:

$150 Off All Plans

Finest Claims Acceptance

choice home warranty logo

Go to Website

Restricted Time:

$50 Off + 1 month free!

Finest for Customization

liberty home guard logo

Go to Website

Restricted Time:

$200 Off + 2 Months Free

Finest Worth

select home warranty logo

Go to Website

Restricted Time:

Use code HOUSE25 for $150 off


Our Overview of Dwelling Safety of America

Complete Rating: 81.5%

A house guarantee from Dwelling Safety of America helps sellers add worth to their properties on the market and ensures homebuyers really feel assured about their buy. For those who’re promoting your own home, chances are you’ll get pleasure from how properly it helps ease consumers’ worries and improves your likelihood of promoting quick.

As a homebuyer, you would possibly love this plan if you would like further safety in opposition to expensive unexpected repairs. You may even get protection for unusual objects, like roof leaks and electronics. Further advantages sweeten the deal, like low cost HVAC tune-ups, rekeying companies for as much as six locks, and low-cost tech set up companies by means of Whats up Tech.

At $25,000 per contract, HSA affords the best combination restrict I’ve seen in my residence guarantee analysis. So, you’re not prone to exceed your per-contract declare restrict on system and equipment repairs. The protection additionally comes with beneficiant per-item sub-limits of as much as $5,000.

Timing is every thing in getting a plan as a result of you’ll be able to solely buy this guarantee at or close to closing — in case your actual property agent affords it. In the event that they don’t, you’re out of luck. You can’t purchase HSA residence guarantee protection by yourself or after closing. You might be additionally out of luck if the property is in any of the 23 states HSA doesn’t service.

Throughout the remainder of the 27 states, the essential plan doesn’t cowl all the usual gear, like laundry home equipment. Getting the Purchaser 7-Begin Improve and quite a lot of add-ons is a should to get full safety on your residence. Even with full protection, a comparatively excessive variety of exclusions can preserve you from getting essentially the most out of your plan.

Rating: 90%

Dwelling Safety of America means that you can declare as much as $25,000 in elements and labor in every contract interval. This super-high combination restrict is among the finest within the trade, matched by just a few different firms like Achosa Dwelling Guarantee.

Mechanical techniques even have a excessive $5,000 restrict per declare except in any other case listed. This helps defend your backside line by stopping you from having to cowl a portion of main repairs. The Electronics Safety Plan has a $2,000 per-claim restrict and a $5,000 combination restrict. Except you’re an audiophile or avid PC gamer, this could cowl a lot of the units in your house.

Not like many different residence guarantee plans, Dwelling Safety of America earns bonus factors for providing protection for 2 slightly unusual objects: roof leaks and electronics. When coupled with the excessive protection limits, this pushes its rating even increased.

Protection for laundry applies doesn’t come commonplace. That is extremely uncommon and really regarding. In my residence, laundry home equipment work simply as exhausting as kitchen home equipment. So, I really feel like they deserve the identical stage of protection with out an additional cost.

The HSA guarantee has the next variety of exclusions than different plans. This might lead to extra out-of-pocket prices regardless of the excessive protection limits.

Rating: 91%

State-by-state interactive brochures remove the necessity for an concerned quote course of. Clients can simply evaluation the brochure for the property location to see if it fits their wants and finances.

Whereas doing that, you’ll discover that this firm’s residence guarantee pricing is kind of affordable. Even in the costliest states, like New York, the bottom plan prices only a smidge over $50 per thirty days, and every add-on is lower than $15 per thirty days.

New development properties get a reduction on fundamental protection. The plan begins one 12 months after closing and covers the three following years for round $700.

Protection for frequent objects, like washers and dryers, doesn’t include the essential plan. It’s finest to count on that the sticker worth received’t be what you’ll pay ultimately.

You actually should get the client’s improve and a minimum of just a few add-ons to get protection much like plans provided by most different residence guarantee suppliers. As you begin including objects, the $560 annual worth climbs to $900 and past. A reduced bundle of the best hits might assist make the fully-equipped residence guarantee rather more reasonably priced.

Not like most residence guarantee plans, you can not make month-to-month funds, both. As a substitute, you could fork over the money in a single lump sum at closing. As a purchaser, this may have pushed my already stretched funds to their limits.

Rating: 69%

The corporate’s Google rankings have landed within the paltry three-star vary, largely as a result of an enormous quantity of five-star and one-star residence guarantee critiques. Dwelling Safety of America critiques recommend that you’ll both love or hate this firm. There’s no in-between.

Rating: 81%

HSA residence guarantee protection doesn’t have a ready interval. The protection begins on the primary day after closing. This lets you promptly deal with any points revealed as you compromise into your new residence.

It’s good that you simply don’t have to sit down on the cellphone for hours to file a declare. The web portal makes it simple to submit your declare any time of the day or night time. Third-party distributors contact you on to schedule their go to, stopping miscommunication points that may come up when passing messages by means of customer support.

The 30-day workmanship assure is pretty commonplace, however it does provide you with recourse if the repairs don’t work. You’ll be glad you may have it if something goes mistaken, which is a risk for the reason that service high quality can fluctuate wildly.

I actually don’t love that you simply can’t join the house guarantee plan your self. You have to work immediately with an actual property agent to take action, which entails far too many touchpoints for my liking.

It’s additionally disappointing that you simply by no means actually know what stage of experience the HSA third-party restore vendor may have if you file a declare. My analysis revealed that some distributors full the repairs in report time with none additional points, whereas others can’t even determine what’s mistaken. That’s regarding, particularly if you want your techniques or home equipment again on-line quick.

Every time you attain out to the customer support group, there’s one other 48-hour watch for service. This has left far too many shoppers with out very important techniques and home equipment, together with HVAC models and fridges, for weeks or months.

Rating: 44%

Who doesn’t love an internet portal that permits you to submit your declare any time of the day or night time? I do know that I recognize it, particularly when my busy days begin to mix collectively. Nonetheless, this doesn’t essentially stand out anymore now that that is fairly commonplace within the residence guarantee trade. I’m happy, although, with the flexibility to name the customer support group immediately, simply in case the web site doesn’t work as anticipated.

A 48+ hour response time is virtually unforgivable this present day. If the customer support group is obtainable 24/7, they need to be capable to course of the declare and return the decision in lower than 24 hours.

Cinch Dwelling Providers, HomeServe, and Sears Dwelling Guarantee all have 24-hour response occasions. Selection Dwelling Guarantee will get again to you in 12 hours. HSA doesn’t even expedite the method if the primary go to didn’t repair the issue and also you want repeat service.

Rating: 40%

As a Washington State resident, I can’t say there’s a lot to love in regards to the availability of Dwelling Safety of America residence guarantee plans. For those who dwell in one of many 27 states the corporate helps, like Alaska and Wisconsin, you could be much more happy than I’m.

Dwelling guarantee protection is simply plain unavailable in 23 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming. If that’s the place you’re promoting a house or wish to dwell, you’ll must discover a totally different residence guarantee supplier.

Dwelling Safety of America Plans and Protection Choices

Dwelling Safety of America permits homebuyers and sellers to join its One-12 months Primary Plan. For those who’re promoting your own home, you’ll want so as to add the Vendor HVAC Possibility to make sure your guarantee covers all of the objects within the purchaser’s plan. As a homebuyer, you’ll be able to add the Purchaser 7-Star Improve and different add-ons to broaden your protection much more.

The desk under exhibits the annual prices and repair name charges for single-family residence plans. Costs differ for brand new development properties, cell properties, and multi-family dwellings.

Plan Annual Value Service Payment
One-12 months Primary Plan $560 $100
Purchaser 7-Star Improve $149 $100
Vendor HVAC Possibility $60 $100
Quotes listed within the tables above have been collected on 6/18/2023 for a single-family residence in Michigan on a one-year contract time period. Declare your free quote to be taught extra about pricing in your state or space.

One-12 months Primary Plan: The One-12 months Primary Plan covers kitchen home equipment and main residence techniques. You have to join this plan to get commonplace protection and be capable to get the Purchaser 7-Star Improve, Vendor HVAC Possibility, and add-ons.

Purchaser 7-Star Improve: The Purchaser 7-Star Improve eliminates many exclusions and limitations within the fundamental plan. With this improve, you don’t have to fret about mismatched HVAC techniques, improper installations, allow charges, code violations, and plenty of equipment-specific exclusions, like storage door springs.

Vendor HVAC Possibility: For those who purchase the One-12 months Primary Plan when promoting your own home, it excludes all of the HVAC gear. The Vendor HVAC Possibility tacks it again on, so you’ll be able to ease potential homebuyers’ worries in regards to the situation of the heating and air-con system.

Dwelling System or Equipment One-12 months Primary Plan (Purchaser) Purchaser 7-Star Improve One-12 months Primary Plan (Vendor)
Electrical Techniques      
Constructed-in exhaust, vent and attic fan
Ceiling fan
Doorbell and chimes
Storage door opener
Inside electrical strains
Essential breaker and fuse panel field
Heating and Cooling Techniques      
Air conditioner X
Ductwork X
Heating unit X
Plumbing Techniques and Equipment      
Taps and valves X X X
Inside plumbing strains
Bogs
Water heater
Whirlpool bathtub motor and parts
Kitchen Home equipment      
Constructed-in microwaves
Cooktops/ranges
Dishwashers
Rubbish disposal
Ice maker X X
On the spot scorching/chilly water dispenser
Fridges
Range/ovens
Laundry Home equipment      
Garments dryers X X
Garments washers X X
Roof      
Roof leak restore X

What Optionally available Add-ons Does Dwelling Safety of America Supply?

Solely consumers can improve their fundamental residence guarantee plan with add-ons. Furthermore, add-ons are solely accessible for single-family properties. For those who’re getting a guaranty for a brand new development residence, plan to pay a bit extra for every add-on. The one exception is the Electronics Safety Plan, which is identical worth for all single-family properties.

Purchaser Add-On Value Per 12 months
Garments washer and dryer $70
Digital air cleaner $40
Electronics safety plan $216
Dwelling freezer $40
Sizzling tub $125
Pool/scorching tub combo (with frequent mechanicals) $175
Swimming pool $150
Water softener $40
Water properly pump/septic system $100

Does Dwelling Safety of America Have Any Exclusions?

Dwelling Safety of America has an extended record of exclusions for every system and equipment coated below the plan. These exclusions restrict the sorts of repairs and alternative companies offered below the guarantee. For those who want the excluded work carried out, chances are you’ll must pay further or rent a distinct restore skilled to deal with the job.

Exclusions you might even see in your contract embody:

  • Pre-existing circumstances: All points that existed earlier than you signed up for the plan, together with regular put on and tear
  • Central air: Registers, fuel models, non-ducted air conditioners, and vitality restoration models
  • Central heating: Fireplaces, chimneys, house heaters, and improperly-sized ductwork
  • Electrical: Chandeliers, phone wiring, smoke alarms, and central vacuums
  • Kitchen home equipment: Ice makers, beverage dispensers, and digital screens
  • Plumbing: Bathe heads, sinks, tubs, sprinkler techniques, and bidets
  • Roof leaks: Climate injury, skylights, gutters, and downspouts
  • Septic system: Drain fields, leech beds, cesspools, and septic tank pumping
  • Swimming pool: Underground plumbing, skimmer gear, and lights
  • Water heater: Photo voltaic-assisted models, enlargement tanks, and circulating pumps

You could find out what your plan covers by studying the contract. Dwelling Safety of America has a distinct contract for every state, however you’ll be able to evaluation Michigan’s interactive brochure to get an thought of the way it works.


Does Dwelling Safety of America Have Any Protection Limits?

Dwelling guarantee protection limits cap the whole quantity you’ll be able to spend repairing or changing objects within the contract. You may even see limits set per incidence, declare, or contract, relying on the system or equipment in query. Protection limits don’t apply to every thing within the contract, however it’s frequent for high-value or advanced objects, like HVAC models.

Overview the desk under to discover the protection limits usually present in Dwelling Safety of America contracts.

Lined Merchandise Protection Restrict
Electronics safety plan $2,000 per declare
Geothermal warmth pump techniques $1,500 per contract
Pool/scorching tub mixture $1,000 per incidence
Skilled collection/Extremely premium fridge $3,000 per contract
Roof leaks $750 per contract
Septic system $300 per incidence
Swimming pool $1,000 per incidence
Bogs $600 per incidence
Water heater $1,500 per contract
Water properly pump $1,500 per contract

Dwelling Safety of America Buyer Opinions

After studying a whole bunch of critiques about Dwelling Safety of America, one factor turned fairly clear to me: The client expertise varies drastically relying on the situation and repair name kind.

The result’s a really mediocre three-star common score on Google, with most individuals both very proud of the service or extraordinarily dissatisfied with the corporate as an entire. Yelp critiques development towards one-star extremely adverse remarks, whereas BBB critiques earn the corporate 2 out of 5 stars.

Optimistic Opinions of Dwelling Safety of America

Almost all of the constructive critiques come from prospects who received their system or equipment fastened promptly and with out repeat service calls. Many comfortable prospects follow the corporate long-term, renewing their contracts yearly for many years.

“I had a furnace situation final week and known as HSA. I had a repairman right here inside 48 hours! He was on time, he was well mannered and he recognized the issue inside a couple of minutes. Now that is service. The furnace was repaired in a well timed style and everybody was protected and sound and heat once more. I am unable to say sufficient about hsa. I’ve had the service for a couple of 12 months and a half and I’ve been very very happy.”

Peggy M. 04/2023

“Total good expertise with utilizing HSA. I’ve had their guarantee on my residence for over 10 years and have used it for a number of objects that have been coated. … Like all warranties, you could learn and perceive what is roofed so that you simply don’t ask for one thing to be coated that isn’t within the coverage.”

Andy Milligan 10/2022

Detrimental Opinions of Dwelling Safety of America

Detrimental critiques come from prospects who known as for service solely to get the runaround or skilled repeated failed makes an attempt to resolve the issue. Many of those prospects needed to dwell with out important objects, just like the furnace, AC unit, or water heater, for weeks or extra.

“I dwell in Minnesota. Our furnace went out three weeks in the past, it’s now -10 and HSA nonetheless hasn’t gotten my furnace. I known as and expressed it was an emergency as December is COLD and with out warmth, our pipes might freeze. Our home is barely livable proper now as a result of we have now 6 house heaters going full blast and solely use the oven.”

Jesse Bertram 01/2023

“Each name I made to HSA was a horrible expertise. Then nothing was coated, so I wasted $100 deductable every name. My realtor purchased this for me and it ended up costing me a number of hundred {dollars} with no profit.”

Charlie D. 06/2023


How To File a Declare With Dwelling Safety of America

Dwelling Safety of America means that you can file a declare by means of the net ‘service request portal or by dialing the cellphone quantity for the customer support group. You may file a declare 24 hours a day, seven days every week, which helps reduce your watch for service.

To file a declare, you simply must:

  1. Log into the net portal or name the customer support line
  2. Present details about the issue, together with the affected techniques and when it began
  3. Anticipate the customer support rep to evaluation your declare and discover a certified restore professional in your space
  4. Schedule an appointment for the service name and plan to be residence to satisfy the contractor on the specified time and date
  5. Pay the $100 to $125 commerce name charge to the contractor earlier than they begin the prognosis and repairs

If the service skilled can’t resolve your criticism, you could contact the customer support group for a decision. They might must ship one other restore skilled or work out a distinct resolution with you.


Dwelling Safety of America vs. Different Dwelling Guarantee Corporations

* Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB) rankings are correct as of June 2023.

Is Dwelling Safety of America Value It for You?

If I ever wish to promote my mid-century residence, a house guarantee would actually assist ease consumers’ worries. However I wouldn’t really feel snug getting one from Dwelling Safety of America. I’d additionally move on HSA plans when shopping for a house sooner or later — and I like to recommend that you simply do, too.

The advanced signup course of, sluggish response occasions, and inconsistent service high quality are sufficient to have me wanting elsewhere for a plan. The entire level of getting a house guarantee is figuring out that you simply’ll get immediate restore companies when it’s wanted, in any case.

There are numerous firms providing simply that, too, together with these listed within the desk under. So, it’s properly price wanting into the alternate options for the suitable stage of protection and assist.

Finest Protection Limits

american home shield

Go to Website

Restricted Time:

$150 Off All Plans

Finest Claims Acceptance

choice home warranty logo

Go to Website

Restricted Time:

$50 Off + 1 month free!

Finest for Customization

liberty home guard logo

Go to Website

Restricted Time:

$200 Off + 2 Months Free

Finest Worth

select home warranty logo

Go to Website

Restricted Time:

Use code HOUSE25 for $150 off


FAQs About Dwelling Safety of America

Is Dwelling Safety of America the identical as American Dwelling Defend?

Dwelling Safety of America and American Dwelling Defend are separate residence guarantee firms. Dwelling Safety of America works finest for properties with luxurious home equipment. American Dwelling Defend is a good decide for householders who need excessive protection limits.


Do I want a house inspection earlier than I purchase a plan with Dwelling Safety of America?

You do not want a house inspection earlier than shopping for a plan from Dwelling Safety of America. The plan doesn’t cowl any issues with the house that existed earlier than signing up. Solely objects which can be correctly put in, maintained, and in good working order at sign-up will qualify for protection.


Does Dwelling Safety of America protection switch to a brand new proprietor if I promote my home?

Dwelling guarantee plans from Dwelling Safety of America switch to the client in case you promote your own home in the course of the contract interval. The client will then get pleasure from protection by means of the top of the prevailing contract. After that, they’ve the choice to resume the contract.



Methodology: How We Ranked Dwelling Safety of America and Different Dwelling Guarantee Corporations

At At this time’s House owner, we try to convey you essentially the most clear, correct data on your residence enchancment tasks. Our residence guarantee firm rankings emphasize what issues most to you — whether or not you’re on the lookout for low-cost protection, a hassle-free restore course of, 24/7 help, or the entire above.

Our rankings for Dwelling Safety of America are based mostly on publicly accessible details about every firm, secret buying on-line and over the cellphone, customer-review evaluation, and discussions with actual property professionals and restore contractors.

An organization can earn a most of 100 factors throughout six classes transformed to a five-star scale. We researched greater than 60 residence guarantee suppliers to develop the next components:

  • Plans and Protection (24 factors): A house guarantee supplier can earn the utmost level worth on this class if it affords a number of strong plans that cowl all fundamental techniques and home equipment and elective add-on protection. We give bonus factors to firms that cowl unusual objects, comparable to electronics and roof leaks.
  • Affordability (22.5 factors): When evaluating prices, we not solely contemplate month-to-month plan costs, however we additionally take into consideration the price of add-on protection, service charges, and whether or not firms supply free cancellation intervals or money-back ensures. If a supplier permits potential prospects to view pattern contracts earlier than getting a quote, that transparency earns extra factors on this class.
  • Buyer Expertise (18.5 factors): A house guarantee firm should give its prospects ample assist once they expertise points. We gauge total assist by taking a look at buyer critiques and conducting house owner surveys. We additionally undergo the quotes course of with every firm and take meticulous notes in regards to the friendliness of salespeople, how detailed every quote is, and the way typically the supplier contacts us after giving a quote.
  • Firm Repute (17.5 factors): On this class, we take a look at a mixture of buyer critiques and respected organizations such because the Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB). We additionally contemplate the years of firm expertise, how glad its staff are, and whether or not it has been hit with any client rights violations or lawsuits.
  • Claims Course of (12.5 factors): We rating suppliers extremely once they supply quick response occasions, a number of methods to file claims, and around-the-clock availability. Corporations can earn bonus factors if they’ve a superb repute for fast and simple claims processing.
  • Availability (5 factors): Suppliers that serve extra areas can have expertise coping with a wider vary of house owner complications. An organization earns the utmost factors on this class if it affords companies in most U.S. states.

We monitor firm knowledge on an ongoing foundation to maintain rankings and data updated.



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