Choice Home Warranty Add-Ons: A Must-Have or a Waste of Money?
By Ben Carter
Choice Home Warranty Add-Ons: A Must-Have or a Waste of Money?
When you sign up for a home warranty, you're buying peace of mind against costly, unexpected repairs for major home systems and appliances. Choice Home Warranty offers robust standard plans, but they also provide a menu of optional add-ons. This leaves many homeowners asking a critical question: Are these extra coverages a smart investment or an unnecessary expense? At Consumer's Best, we believe in making informed decisions. This guide will break down Choice's optional add-ons to help you determine if they're worth it for your home.
Understanding Optional Add-On Coverage
Think of a standard home warranty plan as a foundational safety net. It covers the essentials found in most homes—things like your heating system, plumbing, electrical, oven, and dishwasher. Optional add-ons are specialized protections for items that not every homeowner has. Instead of bundling these into a more expensive base plan for everyone, Choice allows you to customize your policy by adding coverage only for the specific items you own. This a la carte approach ensures you're not paying to protect a septic system you don't have or a pool that doesn't exist in your backyard.
What Add-Ons Does Choice Home Warranty Offer?
Choice offers a variety of add-ons to extend your coverage. While availability can vary, here are the most common options homeowners can select:
Pool and Spa: This is one of the most popular add-ons. It covers the above-ground and in-ground components of your pool and spa, including the pumping, filtration, and heating systems. Given the high cost of pool repairs, this offers significant value for pool owners.
Well Pump: For homes that rely on well water, a pump failure can be a major emergency. This add-on covers all components of the well pump that get water to your home.
Sump Pump: Essential for preventing basement flooding in many regions, a sump pump is another critical system not always covered in standard plans. This add-on protects it from mechanical failure.
Septic System: Repairing or replacing a septic system can cost thousands. This optional coverage protects the main components, including the ejector pump and septic tank, from failure due to normal wear and tear.
Limited Roof Leak: This add-on provides repair services (not replacement) for specific types of leaks in the roof of your single-family home.
Additional Appliances: Standard plans typically cover one of each major appliance. If you have a second refrigerator, stand-alone freezer, or second washer/dryer, you can add coverage for them.
The Verdict: Are They Worth The Cost?
The value of Choice Home Warranty's optional add-ons is not universal—it's entirely dependent on your property's specific features. The evaluation is simple:
If you own one or more of these specialized items, particularly high-cost systems like a pool, spa, or septic system, the add-on is almost certainly worth it. The small monthly fee for the add-on acts as an insurance policy against a potentially devastating repair bill that could easily reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars. However, if your home does not have any of these features, then there is no reason to purchase the additional coverage. The beauty of the add-on system is that you only pay for what you need. Before making a final decision, take an inventory of your home and compare the modest cost of an add-on to the potential out-of-pocket expense of a major repair. For a detailed comparison of plans and pricing, see the complete Consumer's Best review of Choice Home Warranty.
