Home warranty checklists
Four checklists cover this product completely: a pre-purchase checklist (full contract, exclusions, caps, arbitration clause, regulator), a claim checklist (report symptoms, records ready, service fee expected at $75 to $125), a records checklist (dated maintenance invoices for every covered system), and a renewal checklist (new price, changed terms, cancellation window).
Pre-purchase. Full sample contract received in writing before payment. Exclusions section read. Per-item and aggregate caps noted. Definitions of pre-existing condition and normal wear and tear read. Dispute resolution clause read - arbitration provisions are enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act. Renewal price confirmed. State regulating agency identified. Self-insurance comparison done against $400 to $900 premium plus $75 to $125 per call.
Claim filing. Report as soon as the symptom appears. Describe what's happening, not what you think is wrong. Have model and serial numbers and maintenance invoices at hand. Note the claim number, the representative's name, and the date. Expect the $75 to $125 service fee whether or not the claim is approved.
Maintenance records. Keep dated invoices for HVAC service, water heater maintenance, and anything else the contract conditions coverage on. Photograph equipment nameplates. Note the condition of each covered item at the start of coverage - a company may inspect before issuing a contract but is not required to, so your own documentation is the counterweight.
Renewal. Diary the date. Compare the renewal price against the original - plan prices range $300 to $1,000 a year and renewal is where increases land. Re-read any changed terms. Confirm the cancellation procedure in writing before the renewal processes.
Choosing home warranty checklists
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- No contract, no payment The full document before money changes hands. This is the whole checklist in one line.
- Photograph every covered item at the start Nameplates, condition, date stamps. It's your evidence in a pre-existing condition dispute.
- Log every phone call Date, name, claim number, what was said. Disputes are won on records.
- Keep maintenance invoices in one folder Improper maintenance is a standard exclusion. Invoices are the cheapest defense there is.
- Set a calendar reminder 45 days before renewal That's the window to review the new price and cancel if it no longer makes sense.
All home warranty checklists
Home Warranty Pre-Project Checklist
Home Warranty Hiring Checklist
Home Warranty Maintenance Checklist
Home Warranty Safety Checklist
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- Fixr - Home Warranty Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
- California Insurance Code § 12761 - pre-issuance inspections · retrieved 2026-07-26
- 9 U.S.C. § 2 - Federal Arbitration Act · retrieved 2026-07-26
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