American Home Protect Review

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Quick Facts

Pros & Cons

My Verdict

Depending on your location and plan, they offer a cheap service fee of only $35 to $65. 

Older appliances and home systems aren’t disqualified from coverage as long as you keep up with routine maintenance and the breakdown is due to natural wear and tear. 

American Home Protect (AHP) lacks transparency. Their website doesn’t include a complete sample contract that breaks down exclusions and coverage limits, and customer service wasn’t forthcoming with all the details of what AHP does and doesn’t cover. 

American Home Protect receives scathing customer reviews on Trustpilot and Google reviews, with many customers calling them out for failure to follow through with payments, deceptive marketing habits, and overall shady or “scammy” behavior. 

Depending on your location and plan, this provider charges an enrollment fee ranging from around $170 to $400 or more. I was offered a discounted fee of $177 as a first-time homebuyer, but charging this fee is uncommon in the industry and in addition to AHP’s expensive monthly premiums. 

I would never recommend or use this company. Not only are the customer reviews scathing, but I couldn’t get a clear sample policy on their website with a breakdown of their exclusions. Everything was in general terms. The FAQ about claim approval and denial says the company operates on a general rule of thumb, which isn’t specific enough to protect you, the consumer, should a home warranty company deny your claim unfairly. 

Since 2016, American Home Protect has offered home warranties to homeowners looking to buffer themselves financially from expensive repair and replacement costs for appliances and home systems. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, this provider serves 45 states and Washington, D.C., and offers home warranty coverage to give you peace of mind when your refrigerator or AC unit breaks down on a hot summer day. But is American Home Protect worth it? 

Home warranty companies get away with a lot when exclusions and sample contracts aren’t clearly shared. I completely understand why many shy away from home warranties, but I’m here to give you the blunt facts about this provider. During my countless hours of research, I found that American Home Protect doesn’t publicly share a sample contract online, and many customers have complained about not receiving written documentation of their policy or the provider not upholding their side of the bargain. These are serious concerns that make investing in a home warranty worrisome. I’ll dive into this provider’s pros and cons so you can decide whether AHP is an acceptable option for you based on my research and secret shopping. I scored this provider using Today’s Homeowner’s unique review criteria, which evaluate plans and coverage, affordability, customer experience, company reputation, claims process, transparency and ease of use, and flexibility in service providers. 

For more information, check out our Home Warranty Methodology page.

American Home Protect: Bottom Line

The bottom line is that I absolutely wouldn’t recommend American Home Protect. I’ve spent countless hours researching and secret shopping dozens of home warranty companies, and I’ve never had such a challenging experience trying to find basic information from a home warranty provider. This company doesn’t make a sample policy available online and is unclear about possible exclusions, leaving them with room to deny your claims. This is especially troubling because multiple customer reviews point out issues with either not receiving written documentation of their policy, the policy not matching up with what the salesperson promised them, or American Home Protect not paying up for things that should have been covered. I want a home warranty for financial protection and peace of mind, and none of these things set my mind at ease. Plus, their customer reviews are low, with hundreds of reviewers only giving them a 1.3-star rating on Google. 

What I like about this provider is their affordable service charges. I wish more home warranty companies charged as little as $35 to $65 per visit, which is significantly less than the average $100 service charge may have in place. The other benefit of AHP’s plans is that they don’t exclude older appliances or home systems, so you can receive coverage for old appliances as long as they’re well-maintained. 

That said, I still wouldn’t recommend this provider because of its horrible company reputation, low customer ratings, deceptive marketing practices, and overall lack of transparency. 

What I Like About American Home Protect

What I Don’t Like About American Home Protect

American Home Protect has an inexpensive service fee of $35 to $65, depending on your plan and location. During my secret shopping for coverage for a two-bedroom home in Phoenix, a representative quoted me the $65 service fee, which is much cheaper than that of most providers. In my experience, most home warranty companies charge at least $100 per visit, with some charging up to $150, which quickly adds up when you need several service visits in a year. 

Another pro is AHP’s policy regarding older appliances and systems. Unlike some home warranty companies, AHP doesn’t discriminate against older appliances and home systems. If your old, well-maintained appliance stops working due to natural wear and tear, this provider claims it’ll replace it with a new model that meets all federally mandated manufacturer’s standards and is comparable to the function of your current unit. 

Learn more about American Home Protect in this quick video on why a home warranty is important for financial protection:

American Home Protect is one of the least transparent home warranty companies I’ve encountered during countless hours of research into this industry. For starters, you can’t find a basic sample contract anywhere on their website, which is a huge red flag. Home warranty companies “get” you by denying claims based on your home warranty contract. If you don’t have easy access to a sample contract to review, it’s far more challenging to determine what exclusions will disqualify certain appliances or home systems from coverage. 

During my secret shopping, the sales representative was very vague about specific exclusions and couldn’t provide me with a sample contract. I also found that the provider has a maximum coverage limit of $10,000 over the course of three years, which isn’t enough for several large appliance replacements or a single HVAC replacement in many cases. Considering you’re charged an initial fee of several hundred dollars plus a pricey premium of around $92 per month based on my secret shopping, this is low coverage in my book. I’d be better off saving the money in an emergency fund or going with a more affordable and comprehensive provider. 

Another downside is AHP’’s poor company reputation. Trustpilot reviewers give this company a poor 2.6-star rating, which isn’t encouraging. Plus, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) seemingly has two profiles for this provider. While American Home Protect lists that they have an A+ rating and BBB accreditation, another BBB profile for them (with the same headquarters address) gives them a C+.  While this could be an administrative issue, this confusion and the poor customer ratings don’t reassure me that this provider is worth the investment. 

American Home Protect Plans and Coverage 

5.8/10

American Home Protect doesn’t list a sample contract anywhere on its website, making it difficult to learn more about its plans and coverage in-depth. Their FAQs share that the total payout maximum for their policy is $10,000 in covered repairs and replacements, so it doesn’t appear that there is a specific coverage limit per item. However, this $10,000 maximum is over three years of coverage, which isn’t much if you have several appliances or an extensive system like your HVAC go out. An HVAC system replacement can cost up to $11,000 on its own.  AHP’s contract term is three years, which is unusual for home warranty providers — most contracts have a term of one year.

Despite the limit of $10,000 over three years, the number of items AHP covers is reasonably good, although they only offer one plan choice, which is limited compared to most providers. The website lists that they cover your fridge, built-in dishwasher and microwave, oven, garbage disposal, gutter cleaning, clothes washer, and dryer, and ceiling fans. Gutter cleaning is a unique coverage item that many of us could benefit from, as I definitely don’t like taking the time to clean my gutters come fall. 

In terms of home systems, you receive coverage for your water heater, central air conditioning, cooling and heating system, and electrical system. Plumbing, which many home warranty plans cover, isn’t included in basic plan coverage. 

While covered items are listed on their website, an American Home Protect sales representative told me about different coverage options over the phone. During my secret shopping, I called for a quote for coverage for a two-bedroom home in Phoenix, and the sales representative didn’t include all of these types of coverage in the pitch, making me wonder if my specific policy would include them. I find the inconsistencies in statements about coverage and the lack of documentation on their website off-putting. Exact coverage details, exclusions, and limitations aren’t clearly defined, leaving more room for claim denial. You also need to have your appliances and home systems inspected to prove they are in good working order at the time of inspection, which occurs before AHP activates your home warranty plan, which can lead to more claim denials. 

Some customer reviews also noted that they couldn’t get written documentation of their policy — a serious red flag demonstrating that this company lacks transparency regarding their monthly premiums,  policies, and coverage. You’re also stuck with a $50 contract cancellation fee, which isn’t abnormal, but it’s another costly component of AHP’s plan.  

Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Phoenix, AZ. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.

Available Add-Ons

The add-ons listed below can be found on AHP’s website, but there are no prices listed and when I called, I couldn’t get prices from the sales representative.

• Freestanding Freezer
• Freestanding Ice Maker
• Spa Equipment
• Swimming Pool
• Plumbing
• Central Vacuum System
• Garage Door Operation

Exclusions

AHP doesn’t list a sample contract on its website, making determining their exclusions challenging. When speaking with a representative, I learned that preexisting conditions aren’t covered, but this didn’t include other exclusions listed within AHP’s FAQ page — which is a big red flag in my book. 

• Preexisting conditions 
• Items covered by homeowner’s insurance
• A lack of routine maintenance
• Non-mechanical physical damage
• Systems or appliances that were damaged on purpose
• Upgrades or modifications to equipment (not including repairs)
• Repair or replacement of commercial-grade systems 
• Appliances that have been altered or modified by an unlicensed party

Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.

American Home Protect Cost & Affordability 

7.3/10

American Home Protect has an inexpensive service fee of just $35 to $65, depending on your location. Most home warranty companies charge between $100 and $150 for a service call, making the $65 fee a significant savings, especially if you have multiple claims in one year. However, their FAQs state that if your repair or replacement exceeds the limit of liability in your policy contract (which isn’t stated anywhere), you’ll be responsible for any amount that exceeds your coverage limits. Since this provider fails to provide available coverage limits, a potential customer can’t determine if the provided coverage limits are worth the monthly premium. 

As for discounts, American Home Protect shares that they offer flexible payment arrangements to customers with multiple homes, so you may get a multi-home discount, which is a nice benefit. They also gave me a first-time homebuyer discount on the enrollment fee for the policy. Typically, it’s close to $400 just to enroll in the policy (not including your monthly premium), but as a first-time homebuyer, it would only be $177. I’ve yet to come across another home warranty provider that charges you a sizable fee just to enroll in the policy, so this — to me — is an outrageous added cost and certainly no small fee at that. Plus, the quote I received was nearly $92 per month for a single-family home, which is $42 more than the national average of $50 per month for home warranty coverage. 

American Home Protect Customer Experience

6.3/10

American Home Protect has deceptive marketing practices. Customer reviews repeatedly complain about AHP’s excessive mail solicitations, even after they’ve called to have their name removed from the mailing list. Other customers shared negative experiences regarding deceptive mail notifications with urgent language that their home warranty is about to expire, even when they don’t have a home warranty with AHP. Many customers call them out for “scammy” behavior, and I tend to agree from my research.  Below, their FAQ page even has a section addressing these letters and openly admits that you are “likely not under warranty” if you receive one, which is very shady considering the alleged urgent wording customers report the letters having. 

Another drawback is that you must sign up for a three-year home warranty plan with American Home Protect. Unlike most providers, you can’t enroll for one year, so you’re tied up for longer, which isn’t ideal. 

I didn’t enjoy my customer experience with American Home Protect. When I called, I was immediately transferred to another line, where I waited behind five other callers for around ten minutes. The representative I spoke with was friendly but vague about home warranty details. For example, I asked about policy exclusions, and they told me American Home Protect covered all mentioned items unless they had preexisting conditions. In this case, you’d need to repair or replace the appliance and then keep the receipt to show that it’s in complete working condition for coverage. I’ve never come across a home warranty company that has next to no exclusions, and without seeing the sample contract, I don’t personally believe it and would be wary of enrolling in the policy. Especially because I later found more exclusions listed within AHP’s FAQ page, such as modified units or appliances that weren’t maintained. Also, I thought it was odd that the sales representative seemed so surprised that I didn’t have a referral from one of their mailers — to me, this suggests that the provider doesn’t receive a lot of outside business from word of mouth, which isn’t encouraging. 

American Home Protect Company Reputation

5.3/10

American Home Protect has a lousy company reputation in my book. They have low ratings on Trustpilot and Google, with Google giving them a scathing 1.4-star rating. Many reviewers warn about this company’s shady marketing practices and lack of follow-through. For example, one reviewer states that they canceled their policy within the 30-day money-back window but weren’t refunded the initial $300 they paid to start the policy. Words like “money suck, “scam,” and “trap” were common when reading reviews describing this provider. Many reviewers, who aren’t even customers of AHP, left negative reviews due to the vast number of emails to the point of harassment that tried to get them to enroll in a policy. Their deplorable company reputation is one of many reasons why I wouldn’t use this provider personally. 

*As mentioned above, American Home Protect appears to have two BBB web pages: one that gives them a C+ rating and another that gives them an A+ rating. On the page with the A+ rating, they have 328 reviews and a customer review rating of 1.09 out of 5 stars. On the page with the C+ rating, they have no reviews.

Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.

American Home Protect Claims Process

4/10

American Home Protect has a 30-day waiting period after enrolling in your home warranty policy before you can file a claim. Unlike most providers, you can only submit a claim over the phone. There isn’t an online portal or a handy mobile app such as the one Liberty Home Guard, a Today’s Homeowner top-rated home warranty provider, offers. 

Another drawback to AHP’s claims process is that only some service technicians are licensed. Most home warranty companies make it a point to vet all the technicians they work with. So, I find it strange that the company openly admits that some of their service technicians aren’t licensed, as I wouldn’t be comfortable with an unlicensed technician working on my heater or refrigerator. 

On the positive side, covered services are typically launched within 48 hours, which is industry standard and sufficient for most repairs. I feel comfortable going without a dishwasher for two days. If the repair is insufficient, AHP’s claims department will work with any ordered technician to honor the repair work. 

American Home Protect Transparency & Ease of Use

1.0/10

American Home Protect receives a poor 1 out of 10 rating for its lack of transparency. This provider doesn’t offer a sample contract on their website (which is a red flag and should be a base requirement for any home warranty company as the contract shows how much a company will pay out and what is and isn’t covered). When I asked about getting a home warranty sample policy, customer service told me it should be on the website. However, I searched everywhere and found nothing breaking down specific coverage caps or exclusions, but AHP’s FAQs about contracts state that if you’d like a sample contract, you can call the enrollment department.

The website referring you to customer service and customer service referring you to the website is a shady practice for the home warranty industry and not something I love, especially because AHP’s FAQ page shares that your claims are approved based on the details of your contract. 

Exclusions

Without a sample contract, it’s hard to define AHP’s exclusions. The salesperson did inform me that preexisting conditions would disqualify you from coverage, but our team found the following exclusions within AHP’s FAQ page. 

• Preexisting conditions 
• Items covered by homeowner’s insurance
• A lack of routine maintenance
• Non-mechanical physical damage
• Systems or appliances that were damaged on purpose
• Upgrades or modifications to equipment (not including repairs)
• Repair or replacement of commercial-grade systems
• Appliances that have been altered or modified by an unlicensed party

Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it is imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.

American Home Protect Flexibility in Service Providers

10/10

One of American Home Protect’s redeemable features is that you can choose your service provider. This is a blessing if you’ve worked with a maintenance person in your area before and were pleased with their service.

American Home Protect vs. The Competition

American Home Protect vs. Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard offers three comprehensive plan options: an appliance-only plan, a home systems plan, and a combination plan covering both. In contrast, American Home Protect only offers one combination plan, and it’s not one I would recommend because it lacks coverage for your plumbing system and doesn’t have a clear sample policy online. 

Regarding reputation, Liberty fares much better than AHP, with a 4.45 out of 5-star customer review rating from BBB reviewers and a 4-star rating on Trustpilot. American Home Protect receives poor 2- and 1-star ratings from third-party review websites, with many customers calling them out for deceptive marketing practices and being “scammy.” Overall, I’d be far more comfortable enrolling in a plan with Liberty as they have an impressive range of plans and add-on options, allowing me to mix and match a plan to my exact needs at a more affordable rate than AHP. 

American Home Protect vs. American Home Shield

American Home Shield has a solid B rating and accreditation from the BBB, which speaks to how they treat customers and handle complaints. Unfortunately, American Home Protect has a poor reputation with low 2- and 1-star ratings from third-party review websites. While American Home Shield doesn’t have a spotless company reputation, they’re well established with 53 years of industry experience. They’re considered an industry leader, which contrasts starkly with their customer reviews. Reviewers often call them out for deceptive marketing practices, unprofessional customer service, and lack of payouts. 

In addition, American Home Shield offers multiple plan options, while American Home Protect has only one. American Home Shield even offers affordable roof leak coverage at only $10 per month, which can protect homeowners against expensive roof repairs and water damage — something American Home Protect can’t match. However, American Home Protect provides gutter cleaning coverage, which I’ve only seen offered by one other home warranty company. 

American Home Protect vs. Elite Home Warranty

Elite Home Warranty is a top-of-the-line home warranty company with an outstanding A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB, as well as some of the best customer ratings in the industry, which American Home Protect can’t begin to compete with. I much prefer Elite Home Warranty plans and coverage. You can select from several different plans to suit your needs (for example, an appliance-only plan if you live in a condo and don’t need home systems coverage). 

Elite has a massive number of add-ons, including helpful coverage for premium appliances or systems that can boost your coverage levels to up to $10,000 for home systems. American Home Protect maxes out at $10,000 over three years for all covered items, leaving you with far less wiggle room and coverage should a major appliance or home system crash. I’m personally more at ease with Elite’s high-coverage caps and robust company reputation.

Who is American Home Protect Best For?

American Home Protect may be okay for homeowners on a tight budget due to their inexpensive service fees of $35 to $65, depending on your location. However, I wouldn’t recommend them over other, more affordable home warranty companies such as Select Home Warranty because of AHP’s lack of transparency, low coverage limits, and lackluster customer service. I gave AHP a one out of 10 rating for their severe lack of transparency and exclusions, which aren’t clearly defined and listed in a documented contract on their website. Without a contract, you can’t reliably determine what is and isn’t covered. I’m uncomfortable recommending a provider that follows a “general rule of thumb” for exclusions per their FAQs. This leaves too much room for unfair claim denials and, ultimately, no payout, which defeats the purpose of a home warranty policy altogether. 

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