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Old Republic Home Protection
Old Republic Home Protection offers customizable plans for a reasonable price. We like their plethora of optional coverages.
Based on our review of over a dozen home warranty companies, Old Republic Home Protection was not one of the best companies we found. To see other options that may be better, visit our list of the best home warranty companies.
- Pros and Cons
- Key Takeaways
- Company Overview
Up to $5,000 payout cap per appliance
Optional coverage available for outdoor kitchens
Only available in 28 states and the District of Columbia
Regular plans may not cover washers, dryers, and refrigerators
Air conditioner and cooler may fall under optional coverage
- Choose one of three plans plus optional coverage
- Have the option of two trade service fees ($75 or $100)
- Optional coverage includes limited roof leak protection
Old Republic Home Protection was established in 1974 with the company’s headquarters located in San Ramon, California. It is a division of the Old Republic Insurance Group and provides home warranty plans in and 28 states and the District of Columbia.
- Year founded 1974
- Coverage area 24 states and the District of Columbia
- Available plans Four to Five
- Amount of coverage $1,500 to $2,500 (major home systems); $3,500 to $5,000 (appliances)
- Length of contract 12 months
- Average yearly cost $305 to $630
- Network Extensive network of service providers
- Customer support 24-hours online or by phone call
- Customer support phone number 800-972-985
- Recall period after repairs 30 days
- Days before coverage starts 30 days after receipt of payment
- Website www.orhp.com
Old Republic Home Protection
Founded in 1974, Old Republic Home Protection is a home warranty company that provides plans to homeowners to help offset the cost for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances. The company offers a selection of four to six plans, depending on the state in which you live.
Old Republic Home Warranty has a slightly lower annual cost as compared to some of the other home warranty companies we've reviewed. This company also provides optional coverage for things like solar hot water systems and outdoor kitchens. Our Old Republic Home Protection review considers costs, coverage items, limits, and exclusions.
Available Plans
Although it is not uncommon for warranty companies to vary plan prices from state to state, Old Republic Home Protection takes things one step further and gives you four to five plan choices depending on where you live.
Prices differ per state; this includes standard plan coverage as well as the optional coverage. As an example, coverage for a washer, dryer, and refrigerator is part of the Standard, Ultimate, and Platinum plans in Georgia. In California, however, there are two different Ultimate packages with only one covering these items.
The trade service fees (TSF) also vary by state. While Georgia residents can choose between a $75 or a $100 trade service fee, many other states only have a $75 TSF.
We used the Georgia plan options to give you an idea of the type of coverage you might expect from an Old Republic Home Protection warranty plan.
| Essential | Standard | Ultimate | Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Gas, Oil or Electric Heater | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air Conditioner/Cooler | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drain Line Stoppages | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plumbing Pipe Leaks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Toilets | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water Heater | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in Jetted Bathtub Motor & Pump | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instant Hot/Cold Water Dispenser | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garbage Disposal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water Pressure Regulator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water Pressure Regulator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recirculating Pump | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electrical System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exhaust, Attic, Ceiling, Whole House Fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garage Door Opener | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Central Vacuum | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rekey Service | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trash Compactor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kitchen Exhaust Fan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oven/Range/Cooktop | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in Microwave Oven | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Washer/Dryer/Kitchen Refrigerator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ultimate Enhancements | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Refrigerant Recapture, Reclaim and Disposal | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Code Upgrades, Permits, Haul Away, Cranes | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Mismatched Systems, Improper Installation | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Increased Coverage for Plumbing items/Stoppages | ✓ | |||
| Increased Coverage for Manufacturer's Warranty | ✓ | |||
| Modifications (with additional code upgrades) | ✓ | |||
| Increased Coverage for zone controls and specific HVAC Systems | ✓ |
Old Republic Home Protection also provides optional coverage for items such as pool or spa equipment, well pumps, and limited roof leak repair. In addition, they cover some items that are not typically covered by home warranty companies such as outdoor kitchens and pool fountains.
| Optional Coverage | Annual Price |
|---|---|
| Pre-Season HVAC Tune-up | $25 |
| Pool/Spa Equipment(No additional charge if separate equipment) | $190 |
| Ornamental Fountain | $100 |
| Limited Roof Leak Repair | $100 |
| Outdoor Kitchen | $125 |
| Additional Refrigeration Units (Not available with essential coverage) | $50 |
| Water Softener/Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System | $75 |
| Well Pump | $75 |
| Booster Pump | $75 |
| Enhanced Slab Leak Limit/External Plumbing | $100 |
| Septic Tank Pumping/Septic System/Sewage Ejector Pump | $75 |
Plan Pricing
Old Republic Home Protection allows you to view pricing for your state by accessing a brochure (PDF) through their website. It not only provides you with plan pricing but also gives costs for optional coverage. You can choose a $75 or $100 trade service fee if available (some plans only offer the $75 TSF option).
Sample Monthly Plan Fees Based on Trade Service Fees
| Old Republic Home Warranty | Essential | Standard | Ultimate | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $34.58 | $42.92 | $45.83 | N/A |
| California | N/A | $25.42 | $36.25 | $45.83 |
| Texas | N/A | $33.75 | $42.50 | $55.42 |
Plan Exclusions
Old Republic Home Protection covers almost all types of breakdowns for major home systems and appliances. The number of exclusions are about the same as they are for other home warranty companies. For example, breakers and fuses are covered, but light fixtures and ballasts are not.
However, the major difference from industry competitors is that the company offers a combination of plans that either do or do not cover washers, dryers, and refrigerators. Additionally, some states offer coverage within the plans for air conditioners and coolers while others only offer this as an add-on coverage option.
Never buy a home warranty before reading a sample contract first. You need to have a good understanding of what is covered and what is excluded.
Payout Caps
Payout caps vary greatly by state. As an example, in Georgia, there is a $3,500 payout cap per appliance, but California has a $5,000 payout cap per appliance. The type of plan that you purchase can also affect the amount of coverage you receive. Payout caps start at $1,500 for major home systems, but if you choose Platinum Protection, your coverage will increase to $2,500. We suggest carefully reading through the policy options for your state to ensure that you understand the limitations and caps.
Repair Times
An appointment with a service provider is typically set within 48 hours of a service request. This is about average within the industry. Since the company uses a network of independent contractors, they will not reimburse you if you use a service provider that is not pre-approved or in the company’s network. At their discretion, they will expedite service to within 24 hours if your problem is deemed an emergency.
Customer Service and Claims
There is support service available 7/24/365 and filing a claim is a simple process that is done online or by calling 800-972-5985. An appointment with a service provider is generally set within 48 hours of a service request.
Complaints and Third-Party Assessments
Old Republic Home Protection has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The company has over 600 complaints against it in the last three years and there are some negative comments in the 279 reviews that the company has on the BBB website. Most of the negative reviews are due to issues with the independent contractors that Old Republic Home Protection hires. Complaints range from failure to fix the issue to failure to complete the work in a timely manner.
To the company’s credit, it does go above and beyond to address any issues that customers have and this may contribute to why they have an A+ rating. This type of rating is better-than-average based on the industry standards we have seen in other reviews.
Shop prices around since there are other companies that offer similar packages for less in some areas.
Competition: Cinch vs. Old Republic Home Protection
We compared Old Republic Home Protection ($525 to $630 annual cost) with Cinch Home Warranty ($456 to $912 annual cost). Both companies are similar in BBB ratings, are available in multiple states, have comparable plans, and their prices fluctuate depending on what state you live in.
| Cinch Home Warranty | Old Republic Home Protection | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Yearly Cost | $456 to $912 | $525 to $630 |
| Plans Available | Three | Five |
| Support | 24-hour call center, online, and app | 24-hour call center or online |
| Support | $100/$125/$150 | $75/$100 |
| Available Service Areas | 48 states | 28 states and District of Columbia |
As far as home warranty companies go, both get high marks from the Better Business Bureau with Cinch Home Warranty receiving an A- and Old Republic Home Protection receiving an A+. This is unusual for home warranty companies in general and both companies appear to take complaints from their customers seriously.
While exclusions for both companies are also similar and standard for the industry, we found that the payout caps for Old Republic Home Protection plans are what put the company ahead of Cinch Home Warranty in the end. This is because they provide a $3,500 to $5,000 payout cap for appliances and the ability for you to increase the major home system payout cap from $1,500 to $2,500. Cinch Home Warranty only provides an industry standard of $2,500 for covered appliances and only $1,500 for major home systems.
We found that Old Republic Home Protection has pricing that is better than average for the industry in most of the states that it covers, but not all. Although their plan exclusions are about average, the amount of payout caps for appliances is better than average, which is helpful if your appliances are older and may soon need repair or replacement.
Old Republic Home Protection is the right choice for someone looking for affordable coverage with higher payout caps on appliances.
Methodology
Our home warranty evaluation process uses our home warranty review methodology. We look at a number of factors, including monthly and yearly cost, exclusions, payout caps, and service fees. We also take a look at how each company compares with other warranty companies in terms of coverage options, the amount of complaints, and overall price.