Overview
TotalProtect
N/A
$125
N/A
N/A
Undisclosed
American Home Shield
3
$75
Annual
No
55 Years
Ratings
TotalProtect
American Home Shield
Reviews
TotalProtect
Reviews
American Home Shield
Reviews for TotalProtect
Helpful Favorable Review
Kathleen Gibbons
August 25th, 2018
Henderson, NV
DETAILS
Kathleen Gibbons, Henderson Nevada Aug 24, 2018 I have just read several depressing reviews regarding claims and customer service.. HOWEVER I must live in the right place with the best providers. I called regarding my A/C late Tuesday August 21. By Thursday August 23 my A/C was back in business. The company's name is Controlled Comfort and the tech's name is Jared. I was called that he was running late (not surprising in Las Vegas - A/C's seem to fail in 112 degree heat). To my surprise I got a call from Jared at 8:30 at night asking if I still wanted him to come this late! He had worked a full day but wanted to finish this last job. I was so grateful. Even at 8:30 the temp still was about 100. I call that GREAT customer service.
Helpful Critical Review
Dcranmer
December 28th, 2020
Walsenburg, CO
DETAILS
Total Protect or now called Cinch Home Service. Complete rip off. They find some unknown reasons to pay claims. Now they take the deductible up front then never do the job. Refused to refund the $125 even though repairs never made or even attempted. Just a scam.
Reviews for American Home Shield
Helpful Favorable Review
Heather Nuffer
January 18th, 2023
Pleasant Grove, UT
Mr. Mint, the Peppermint Lumberjack and Keeper of the Royal Peppermint Forest, is at the Licorice Castle. Let's play trivia! Question: What flavor of Pop Tart does Buddy the Elf use in his spaghetti? Ready for the answer? Here it is: Chocolate. Did you know that? I did! Their friends enjoy saying, "You can't buy happiness, but you can buy a video game, and that's pretty close." It's time to fix wiring and clear asteroids before the Imposter finds and kills me.
Helpful Critical Review
Paul Rivera
April 19th, 2022
Reno, NV
DETAILS
Stay AWAY!!! This company has the worst service in the world. Complete theft. Their policies are to keep billing you even when you sell your home and cancel. Then they tell you they can't do anything about refunding the money. They Keep auto-drafting because it's their policy. DO NOT GET American Home Shield.
The Final Word
American Home Shield has a flexible service fee that varies depending on if you prefer a lower monthly fee or a lower service fee. This gives customers a say in how much they want to pay in out-of-pocket expenses, specifically repair fees. You have the choice between a $75, $100, or $125 service fee. If you choose the cheaper service fee, your warranty plan will increase in price, whereas if you select the more expensive service fee, your plan will decrease in price. Having flexibility enables you to either pay more in upfront repair costs when you make a service claim or pay more each month on your monthly bill.
TotalProtect requires a $125 service fee for all of its packages, making its offering less flexible and more expensive than American Home Shield's.
Home Warranty Cost (Winner: American Home Shield )
TotalProtect and American Home Shield have similar price points for most of their home warranty plans. However, American Home Shield offers a flexible service fee, which may be a deal breaker. If you want the choice between a cheaper monthly fee or a cheaper service fee, we suggest going with American Home Shield.
Contract (Winner: American Home Shield)
American Home Shield and TotalProtect require one-year contracts for their warranty services. However, if you renew your AHS warranty after one year, the company will offer you a month-to-month contract option. If you want a more flexible contract and plan to keep your home warranty for more than one year, American Home Shield is your better option.
Basic Coverage (Winner: TotalProtect)
- American Home Shield's Basic Plan: $419.88 per year (based on a $125 service fee)
- TotalProtect's Basic Plan: $383.40–$491.40 per year (based on a $125 service fee)
TotalProtect's Appliances Plan ($383.40 per year) includes the following:
- Unknown pre-existing condition coverage
- Refrigerator with built-in ice and water dispenser
- Cooktop/range
- Built-in wall unit oven
- Range exhaust hood
- Built-in microwave
- Built-in trash compactor
- Built-in dishwasher
- Clothes washer
- Clothes dryer
- Refrigerator
- Range/oven/cooktop
- Clothes washer
- Clothes dryer
- Dishwasher
- Built-in microwave oven
- Trash compactor
- Freestanding ice maker
- Garage door opener
- Built-in food center
- Unknown pre-existing condition coverage
- Garbage disposal
- Air conditioning (two units)
- Heating system (two units)
- Water heater
- Toilets
- Plumbing lines
- Plumbing stoppages
- Sump pump
- Whirlpool bath
- Attic/Whole house fan
- Central vacuum
- Doorbells and chimes
- Garage door opener
- Smoke detectors
- Main breaker/fuse panel box
- Interior electrical lines
- Interior gas line
- Air conditioner and ductwork
- Heating and ductwork
- Electrical
- Doorbells
- Smoke detectors
- Ceiling fans
- Plumbing (including stoppages)
- Water heater
- Garbage disposal
- Instant hot/cold water dispenser
- Central vacuum
- American Home Shield's Combo Plan: $539.88 per year (based on a $125 service fee)
- TotalProtect's Combo Plan: $635.40 per year (based on a $125 service fee)
American Home Shield's cost for combo coverage is nearly $100 cheaper than TotalProtect's. If you don't mind the few missing items on the company's combo coverage, American Home Shield is definitely the better home warranty for you, especially if you're looking for the cheaper price point.
Add-On Coverage Options (Winner: American Home Shield)
TotalProtect only lists optional pool and spa coverage as add-on coverage, and there is no price available, so it is unclear what the homeowner will need to pay for this additional coverage. American Home Shield, on the other hand, offers a variety of add-ons, including coverage for pools and spas ($159.96 per year for pool only), well pumps ($84.96 per year), septic pumps ($30 per year), a guest unit ($179.88 per year), and an electronic extended warranty ($216 per year).
Build-Your-Own Coverage (Winner: American Home Shield)
Many homeowners want the option to create their own coverage plan rather than select from premade plans. Build-your-own packages give you the option to only include the select systems and appliances you want coverage for. American Home Shield offers a build-your-own plan that allows you to hand-select any of its offered items, and if you do this on AHS's website, it will show you your monthly total in real-time as you add on more items. This makes pricing transparent and gives you a better idea of whether or not building your own plan is the better option than picking a premade warranty plan.
TotalProtect does not offer a build-your-own package option and only provides its three premade plans.
Pre-Existing Condition Coverage (Winner: TotalProtect)
Unlike most home warranty companies, TotalProtect offers coverage for pre-existing conditions. This means that the company will repair or replace systems and appliances even if they malfunctioned or failed previous to you purchasing home warranty coverage.
American Home Shield does not offer coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Licensed Contractors (Winner: American Home Shield and TotalProtect)
Both American Home Shield and TotalProtect have licensed and qualified contractors to take care of your appliance repair and replacement claims. You don't have to worry about finding your own service technicians and doing added research. Both companies provide a trusted network of workers.
Customer Benefits (Winner: TotalProtect)
If you purchase DuPontTM or Arm & Hammer® air filters, AHS will give you up to a 50 percent discount. The company also offers a refer-a-friend discount that gives you a $25 Amazon gift card when your referred person signs up for an AHS home warranty.
TotalProtect offers a 180-day Workmanship Guarantee for all of its customers. This guarantees TotalProtect's work for six months. The company also does not charge customers for their first month of service, making the warranty completely free until the second month. All of TotalProtect's warranty plans are eligible for a free month of service.
Time in Business (Winner: American Home Shield)
American Home Shield has been a leader in the home warranty industry since 1971. It is one of the most well-known home warranty providers out there. TotalProtect is a part of the Cross Country Group and has only been in business since 1998. If you're looking for the company with the most experience, American Home Shield is your best option.
Customer Reviews (Winner: American Home Shield)
TotalProtect has a low star rating from consumers on BestCompany.com. Common complaints include poor customer service, expensive prices, hidden fees, and lengthy wait times. American Home Shield has a lower star rating from consumers as well, but customer satisfaction it is better with AHS than with TotalProtect.
TotalProtect vs American Home Shield: Which is the Better Option?
TotalProtect is on par with American Home Shield in that it has licensed contractors, additional customer benefits, extensive warranty coverage, and reasonable prices. However, American Home Shield is the better option overall when considering its other offerings. American Home Shield has a flexible service fee and a contract, a cheaper Systems Plan and Combo Plan, a customizable build-your-own plan, more add-on coverage items, more experience in the industry, and better customer reviews compared to TotalProtect.
