Sears Home Warranty

From LoveToKnow Insurance

The Sears home warranty, otherwise known as Sears-4-My-Home, is a home protection plan much like home warranty insurance, that can provide peace of mind, knowing that all of the appliances and major systems in your home will be repaired whenever there's a problem.

Repair Man

What is the Sears Home Warranty?

The Sears warranty that covers the entire home now goes by the name Sears-4-My-Home, which is based on the phone number that you call whenever you have a problem, 1-800-4-MY-HOME. The agreements offered under this plan include protection for home appliances and electronics, your home's heating and air conditioning systems, and even exercise and home cleaning appliances. The major agreements you have to choose from include:

  • Master Protection Agreement
  • Repair Protection Agreement
  • Value Protection Agreement
  • ServiceSmart Protection Agreement

What the Sears Home Warranty Covers

On paper, the Sears Master Protection Agreement, a type of appliance insurance, sounds like a very good idea. Under this full-coverage agreement, Sears promises to replace any appliance that requires over four repairs, or if the service technician is unable to fix it. The cost of repairs is covered under the plan, including labor. Impressively, this plan also covers wear and tear and cosmetic repairs for the first three years of the life of the appliance. The agreement will also pay for:

  • Up to $250 of food you lose from a refrigerator malfunction
  • Reimbursement for rental car needs related to an appliance malfunction
  • Convenient in-home service, if it's available in your area
  • No limit on service calls
  • Annual preventive maintenance checks

The lower cost plans are similar, but they come with fewer benefits. For example, the Repair Protection Agreement only guarantees replacement up to $1,500, no rental reimbursement, no annual checkup, and no cosmetic coverage. The Value Protection Agreement charges a service fee for every service, only up to $250 for appliance replacement, no food loss coverage, and no rental reimbursement. So when you make the decision to sign up for the Sears-4-My-Home warranty, make sure you understand which service contract you're selecting, and what limitations and costs come along with it.

Limits, Costs and Fine Print

While the option to have a 1-800 number that you can call whenever an appliance or home system breaks down sounds like a dream come true, there are a number of important things to consider:

  • Non-Sears Products: While the language within the warranty implies that all systems and appliances in your home are covered, the fine print at the bottom of the "options & details" page notes that plans aren't available "in all states for items not purchased at Sears." In other words, if you hope to have the warranty cover all appliances and systems, make sure you ask if the warranty has that coverage in your particular state.
  • Service Fees: The last thing any homeowner wants to do is pay a significant yearly premium for a warranty, and when it's time to take advantage of the warranty, learn that the service fees incurred plus the cost of the plan are far more than what the typical cost of yearly repairs would be in the first place. Always compare your realistic estimated cost of yearly home repairs and maintenance vs. the actual cost of the agreement you are considering. Depending on how many expensive appliances and systems you have, sometimes the price isn't very cost effective.
  • Service Quality: Even if you do purchase the most expensive plan so that you don't have to pay service fees and have the luxury of unlimited service calls, that doesn't mean that the service you expect will be what you will get. When most customers order a piece of furniture or appliance, you expect delivery to take a few days, or sometimes even weeks. However, when your refrigerator no longer works and your food has thawed and gone bad, the last thing anyone expects is to have to wait for weeks for a repair. In most homes, a broken refrigerator or clothes washer is an absolute crisis. Make sure to ask for references, or locate other customers who have used the Sears warranty and ask about their service experiences.

What Consumers are Saying

Before signing up with a service agreement or insurance plan, it's always a good idea to have a look at what current and past customers are saying about it. The following websites are full of feedback from customers of Sears-4-My-Home:

Final Words

Keep in mind when reading online customer reviews, that the only people who are most likely to submit to these websites are those who feel disappointed or angry with the service. Additionally, little is known about the circumstances surrounding most of these complaints. While the majority of customers seem to complain about the lack of prompt service, as well as the quality and cost of service, it's not certain which consumers selected the lowest cost protection plan versus the full blown service plan. Also, check with friends and family who have used Sears repair service and you're likely to get a better picture of what to expect if you purchase the plan for yourself.

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