Fast Facts About Cinch Home Services
- Founded: 1978
- State Availability: 48 (all but Alaska and Hawaii)
- Service Fee: $75–$150
- Number of Plans: Three
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Cinch site
Cinch Home Services provides warranties backed by more than four decades of industry experience. As the company has grown over the years, it has changed its name from Cross Country Home Services and acquired other home warranty companies, including Fixd.
After researching more than 35 providers, we found that Cinch Home Services is among the best home warranty companies. In this in-depth review, we’ll look closely at Cinch’s claims process, compare the pros and cons, and discuss other essential factors that can help you make an informed decision about your home warranty services.
Upsides and Downsides of Cinch Home Services
You can compare the pros and cons of Cinch Home Services in the table below.
| Upsides | Downsides |
|---|---|
| Cinch provides coverage for unknown preexisting conditions, plus rust and corrosion. | It does not offer roof-leak coverage. |
| The Complete Plan offers the rare benefit of a homeowners deductible reimbursement of up to $500. | Cinch offers fewer add-ons than its competitors. |
| If you haven't placed any previous claims, you are eligible for a free preventive maintenance visit for your HVAC system. | You can only find the optional add-ons during the quote process, whereas other providers list the options on a landing page. |
Cinch Home Services Coverage Options
Cinch Home Services offers three home warranty plan options: the Appliances Plan, the Built-in Systems Plan, and the Complete Home Plan. All three plans have a 180-day workmanship guarantee, which is significantly longer than many competitors.
All plans also include a complimentary water sensor (a device that detects water leaks) and a $25 credit toward your air conditioner or water filter. Cinch’s sample contract stipulates a $10,000 coverage cap for all covered items, which means all claims will be subtracted from this total amount.
Appliances Plan
The Appliances Plan covers 12 essential home appliances. These covered items are clothes washers, clothes dryers, cooktops, dishwashers, food centers (built-in), freestanding ice makers, microwaves (built-in), ranges, range exhaust hoods, refrigerators, trash compactors (built-in), and wall ovens.
Built-In Systems Plan
The Built-In Systems Plan covers 16 home systems. These covered items are air conditioning including ductwork, attic fans, ceiling fans, central vacuums, doorbells, electrical system, garage door openers, garbage disposals, heating system including ductwork, instant hot/cold water dispensers, plumbing system, smoke detectors, sump pumps, toilets, water heaters, and whirlpool tubs.
Complete Plan
The Complete Plan includes all the covered items of the two earlier plans, plus a homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement of up to $500.
Optional Add-Ons
Cinch Home Services offers six add-on options, including coverage for your septic tank/pumping, well pump, pool, pool with spa, and spa. Cinch also offers a Premier Upgrade Package, which provides up to $2,000 of additional coverage for permits, code violations, debris disposal, and crane costs.
Cinch Home Services Pricing
Cinch offers a flexible service call fee model with three options. During the quote process, you can select a $75, $100, or $150 service call fee. You’ll pay this fee to your technician when you place a service request. The higher service call fees will result in lower monthly fees.
According to our quote for a 5,000-square-foot, single-family home in San Jose, California, you can expect to pay between $28 and $58 per month for a base plan. However, because your pricing and plan options will vary depending on the size of your home, location, and add-on elections, we recommend requesting a personalized quote before making your final decision.
Cinch Home Services Reviews
Cinch Home Services is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and, as of March 2022, it held a B rating. While customer reviews are not factored into the company’s BBB rating, formal complaints are considered relative to the size of the business. BBB also follows up on whether or not the business responded appropriately to the complaints.
As part of our research process, we read more than 1,000 BBB reviews and nearly 2,000 Trustpilot reviews, which noted that the company’s customer service team was knowledgeable and personable. The company’s policies also seemed to cover more than other home warranty companies.
We pulled a few notable customer reviews below:
Updating my review on a new one since it wouldn’t let me update my old one[.] Mary contacted me and was patient, explained how it worked which gave me a better perspective on how to proceed going forward. I was going to update it to 3 stars but due to her help and providing me with her contact information for future help I upped it to 4 stars[.] I still feel like maybe a lesser deductible for uncovered maintenance issues would be fair, and they should REALLY improve their initial customer service [because] it’s all over the place, but once you get to the right people it’s a lot better —David K via BBB
As part of the services, air-conditioning maintenance is performed twice a year at no extra charge. I have been very pleased with that service. The air-conditioning company that came to do the check-up was very qualified, knowledgeable, professional, thorough, and friendly. —Marilyn W via BBB
I was pleased with the customer service. She was very patient with my questions and concerns. She was thorough and not pushy. The price was reasonable and the home plan was a better coverage plan than others. —Marsha via Trustpilot
Customer service was very helpful, knowledgeable, and considerate. The only critique would be that I called the customer service number several times and left my phone number, and my call was never returned; it was only after many attempts that [we] were able to speak with an agent. —R Porter via Trustpilot
When we reached out to the company about the complaints of slow customer service, we did not receive a response.
How Cinch Home Services Compares to the Competition
Here’s a review of how Cinch compares to other top home warranty companies.
Our Recommendation
Cinch Home Services is an excellent option for homeowners who want the reliability of a veteran service provider and a few benefits not offered by other home warranty companies. In addition to its coverage for unknown preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion, Cinch’s Premier Upgrade Package and comprehensive base plans offer more substantial coverage than its competitors. Additionally, compared to other home warranty companies, Cinch’s $10,000 coverage cap for the whole policy offers more flexibility than plans that limit coverage per item.
To request a personalized quote from Cinch Home Services, use this simple online tool or call 844-979-0899.
Cinch Home Services FAQ
How We Chose the Top Home Warranty Providers
Our team reviewed and researched dozens of home warranty providers, thoroughly analyzed sample agreements, and identified customer pain points based on analysis of customer reviews and interviews with industry experts.
During this process, we determined that the most critical aspects of a home warranty company include available service plans and add-ons, depth of coverage, plan cost, industry reputation, customer support infrastructure, and additional features. We also focused on the ability to choose your own contractor; upgrade your coverage package; transfer your plan to another owner; and cover roof leaks, high-end appliance brands, ceiling and exhaust fans, and faucets and fixtures.
Our research supported that plan coverage should carry the most weight, with customer support as the second-most important factor. Industry reputation, plan availability, and additional features were rated equally. We determined that price range, while worth considering, should not be the primary basis for choosing a home warranty provider for your home’s needs.