Long & Foster Home Warranty Review

TOH Rating: 8.1/10

Long & Foster Home Warranty, rebranded as Cinch Home Services, is part of the Long & Foster family of real estate and financial services companies. In 2017, HomeService of America—a residential real estate company owned by Berkshire Hathaway—bought Long & Foster for an undisclosed amount.

Long & Foster Home Warranty plans are designed to give homeowners comprehensive repair and replacement coverage when critical home systems and appliances break down from mechanical failure due to normal wear and tear. This home warranty provider supplements regular coverage with several unique features, such as the Homeowners Insurance Deductible Reimbursement and discounts on brand name appliances.

We have created a comprehensive Long & Foster Home Warranty review and analyzed the company’s plans, costs, coverage caps, claims filing process, and customer reviews to help you determine whether this is the best home warranty for you and your home.

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Pros and Cons of Long & Foster Home Warranty

Pros

• Offers a Homeowners Insurance Deductible Reimbursement of $1000, while most competitors do not
• Has an industry-leading 180-day repair guarantee
• Gives discounts on certain brand-name appliances for remodeling projects or upgrades
• Offers coverage for unknown pre-existing conditions and malfunctions resulting from rust and corrosion

Cons

• Some customer reviews mention delays in service and reimbursement denials

Long & Foster Home Warranty offers coverage across three tiers, with each tier building upon the offerings of the previous tier. Coverage through the Cinch Home Protection Plan is available in all states except Alaska and Hawaii.

Because plan coverage may vary depending on your location, we recommend downloading a coverage brochure that’s exclusive to your zip code and requesting a quote to get accurate plan specifics and pricing.

Here’s a general overview of what’s included under each plan.

Tier one is the Base Plan, which provides coverage to systems and appliances such as electrical, plumbing, ceiling fans, clothes washers and dryers, garage door openers, and sump pumps.

Tier two adds the Premium Upgrade Package option to the Base Plan. This upgrade unlocks extra benefits such as equipment disposal, refrigerant reclamation, code upgrades, and permits.

Tier three includes everything under the previous two levels but adds the Premium Appliance Option. With this feature, the Long & Foster Home Warranty plan will match the make and model of certain professional or premium appliances during replacement. This feature only applies when replacing appliances from the following brands: Asko, Bertazzoni, Bosch, Dacor, Delfield, GE Monogram Series, Fisher & Paykel, JENN-AIR, KitchenAid, Miele, Sub-Zero, Thermador, and Viking.

There are two more features that are exclusive available to Long & Foster Home Warranty plans: Appliance Buyline Program and Homeowners Insurance Deductible Reimbursement.

• Appliance Buyline Program—With this benefit, customers can receive a discount on several brand name appliances. This can be particularly advantageous if you plan on upgrading your current appliances.
• Homeowners Insurance Deductible Reimbursement—Customers can receive up to $1,000 per year in reimbursement when paying a deductible on a home insurance claim. To get your reimbursement, simply send Long & Foster Home Warranty the proof of payment within 45 days, and they will send you a claim form. Only one reimbursement claim is allowed per year.

If you haven’t filed a claim in nine months during your first year, you’ll be eligible to receive one free air conditioning or heating maintenance visit valued at $100.

You can add the following systems or appliances to your Long & Foster plan to make it more robust. Some of these items are duplicates of the ones already available in your standard plan, while others, like the pool and spa, outdoor gas line, and water line, are exclusively available as add-ons. Each add-on comes with an additional cost that will be added to your standard plan price.

Coverage Exclusions

Some systems and appliances covered by Long & Foster Home Warranty contain exclusionary terms that you should be aware of. Here are some coverage specifics that detail these exclusions.

• Plumbing/Plumbing Pipes: The mechanical parts of a garbage disposal; shower and tub valves; toilet tanks; bowls; leaks; and breaks of water, gas, drain, waste, and vent lines within the perimeter of your home’s foundation are covered. If any plumbing work causes damage to the wall or ceilings, the company will cover its repair cost up to $1,000. Plumbing encased underground or in the foundation is not covered.
• Garage Door Opener: The drive trains, motor, receiver board, relays, switches, and sensors in a single primary unit are covered. Batteries or damage caused by door malfunctions or door assemblies are not covered.
• Household Appliances: All components and parts responsible for the main mechanical function of the refrigerator, built-in dishwasher, built-in microwave, oven/range/cooktop, built-in trash compactor, clothes washer, and clothes dryer are covered, which can help enhance an appliance warranty plan. Racks, removable mini-tubs, rooftop exhaust units, rotisseries and probes, secondary units, shelves, and springs are not covered.

Always read through a sample contract before committing to a warranty plan to understand your coverage. You should also read our article about plumbing home warranty coverage for more information.

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Long & Foster Home Warranty Pricing

Pricing differs across the three plan levels and will vary based on the following factors: location, property type, and deductible.

Plans start at $449 or $549, based on the deductible you choose. There are two deductible options available: $100 and $200. By taking the higher deductible, you pay $100 less in annual fees. The Premier Upgrade Package is $99 and the Premium Appliances Option is $299—either can be added to the Base Plan cost of whichever plan you select.

Here’s a quick overview of Long & Foster Home Warranty pricing:

Pricing

Coverage Exclusions

Long & Foster Home Warranty will cover only the repair and replacement costs of systems and appliances that become inoperable due to normal wear and tear. The items must be in a workable state before the contract coverage begins.

Long & Foster Home Warranty will also cover repairs and replacements if your system or appliance fails due to rust or corrosion, as long as the damage occurs after the contract activates. Additionally, the company will protect covered parts and components that stop working due to an unknown pre-existing condition. These include issues on equipment that visually look fine and pass a basic mechanical test.

Damage resulting from improper installation, incompatible items, mold, mildew, and rot aren’t covered. Additional exclusions comprise ductwork damage caused by pests, animals, or moisture, or fees associated with getting access to a covered item.

Coverage caps are the maximum dollar amount a home warranty company will pay for the repair and replacement costs of specific systems or appliances. This cap is reset every time you renew your contract. Here’s a breakdown of Long & Foster coverage caps.

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How to Make a Claim with Long & Foster Home Warranty

When a home system or appliance protected under your plan malfunctions, call 877-710-5095. You can also submit a service request by filling out an online services form. Long & Foster representatives are available 24/7 to accept claims.

Long & Foster Home Warranty will connect you with a prescreened independent contractor within two hours if the claim is placed within normal business hours. If you submit your service request after business hours, on the weekends, or during holidays, you can expect to be contacted by a contractor within 24 hours.

Note: Long & Foster will not reimburse you for any repair work done by unauthorized contractors. You must require Long & Foster’s consent to work with contractors outside the company’s private network.

Repairs and Replacements

If your appliance requires more than one repair, you’ll have to pay a service fee every time a technician comes out to repair the same appliance. You’ll pay this amount directly to the independent contractor during the scheduled appointment.

Additionally, Long & Foster Home Warranty may choose to replace a covered item instead of repairing it. The company may also offer you the option to receive repair or replacement credit, or get reimbursed in cash instead of providing a repair or replacement service.

All work performed by authorized contractors comes with a 180-day guarantee. If the item fails for the same reason within that window of time, you will not be charged a repeat trade fee.

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Long & Foster Home Warranty Reviews

Long & Foster Home Warranty is a Better Business Bureau (BBB)-accredited company and holds a B+ Rating. As with any good home warranty company, there will be a mix of positive and negative reviews.

Here are a few Long & Foster Home Warranty reviews from the BBB:

“My refrigerator was leaking and I called to place a claim. The agent was extremely helpful and friendly. She scheduled an appointment with Sears. The technician came out the same day, replaced the ice maker and blew out the clogged lines and repaired the refrigerator. I’m extremely happy with the service and how quickly the repairs were. I would definitely recommend this home warranty to all my friends and family.” — Wendy D., 5 stars, 7/24/2018

“I am very disappointed with this company. We purchased our condo 1.5 years ago. We have had a HMS [Cinch Home Services] warranty since we purchased the unit. They have not covered any claim. We have only been successfully stripped of our deductibles. Absolutely nothing has been covered. We renewed our policy three weeks ago. Our HVAC unit stopped working two days ago. The problem was assessed this morning, once again the needed repairs were not covered. This company should not be trusted.” — Jonathan H., 1 star, 6/8/2017

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Our Final Long & Foster Review

We give Long & Foster a 8.1/10 rating. Long & Foster Home Warranty has features such as their Premium Upgrade Package, Appliance Buyline Program, Claim-no-Claim Preventative Maintenance Check, and Premium Appliances Option that enables homeowners to save on repair, replacement, and remodeling projects.

Additionally, with the Homeowners Insurance Deductible Reimbursement, you can get $1,000 reimbursed for a covered loss if you report your paid claim within 45 days, which isn’t typical of home warranty plans.

Long & Foster Home Warranty also offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee, which is rare in the home warranty industry. Most companies cap their guarantee period to 30 to 90 days. An extended repair guarantee is ideal for instances when your affected systems or appliances are old and prone to multiple malfunctions.

One drawback of the company is its service fee of $100 and its $200 deductible per service call. If the majority of your systems and appliances are old and vulnerable to frequent repairs, we recommend opting for a coverage plan with a lower service fee, such as Liberty Home Guard.

Read more: Expert Overview of Liberty Home Guard

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Long & Foster Home Warranty cover old systems and appliances?

As long as the system or appliance is in working condition at the time coverage begins and is included in the plan you purchase, it will be covered. Long & Foster Home Warranty Plans cover systems and appliances of all ages, makes, and models.

When does Long & Foster Home Warranty coverage begin?

Coverage begins after a 30-day waiting period.

Can Long & Foster Home Warranty Plans be cancelled?

Existing homeowners can cancel their home warranty contract within 30 days to receive a full refund of the contract fee, as long as no claim has been filed. You will be charged a $25 fee if you cancel after 30 days, and you will also be charged a 10% per month penalty on your refund.

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Our Rating Methodology

We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to score each provider objectively. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. 

We score each provider against our review standards, which include four comparison categories: coverage, value, trust and transparency, and availability and service. We rate each provider across 31 factors within these categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We then convert the final scores to a 5-star rating. 

Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:

• Coverage (40%): We scored coverage based on included home systems and appliances, add-on options, and unique benefits. We also compared coverage caps and policy exclusions.
  • Additional coverage items
  • Annual coverage cap
  • Home systems coverage
  • Major appliances coverage
  • Obstructed wall coverage cap

• Value (30%): We compared the coverage level received to monthly pricing to determine plan value. We considered premium pricing, service fees, and flexibility in customizing plan costs.
  • Average monthly cost
  • Cost flexibility
  • Lowest service fee

• Trust and Transparency (16%): We evaluated each company’s reputation using the Better Business Bureau ratings and customer reviews on third-party review sites. We read through plan change policies, workmanship protections, and sample contract availability.
  • Brand reputation
  • Policy change flexibility
  • Sample contract availability
  • Workmanship guarantee length

• Availability and Service (14%): We award higher scores for faster claim processing and response times. We also considered service technician policies, including options to choose your technician.
  • Claims process
  • Guaranteed response time
  • Service flexibility

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.