Frequently asked questions

No. We are an independent comparison and education website. We are not an insurance company, agency or broker; not a home warranty company or administrator; and not a contractor or home service provider. We do not underwrite policies, sell service contracts, quote prices, perform work or handle claims. When you use a button on this site, you are taken to a partner's comparison site, and the companies there do all of that.

Yes. Reading this site costs nothing, we never charge you a fee, and we never ask you for payment information. We are paid by the partners we refer visitors to, which is disclosed on every page.

No. There are no forms anywhere on this website. We do not ask for, receive or store your name, address, phone number or email address as a condition of using it. Our buttons are ordinary links to a partner's website, and anything you choose to enter there is collected by that partner under their own privacy policy.

Not from us. We do not operate a call center, we do not have your phone number, and we never sell or pass on contact details — we have none to pass on. If you give a phone number to a partner on their own quote or estimate form, whether they call you is governed by the consent language on that form, so read it before you submit. Home service marketplaces in particular often share your request with several local contractors, and each may call.

No. We work with a limited number of partners and do not survey every insurer, warranty company or contractor serving your area. Other companies may offer coverage or work that suits you better or costs less. Treat this site as a starting point, not a complete market comparison.

No. Insurance rates are filed with state regulators and set by the insurer. Warranty plan prices and contractor estimates are set by those companies. Our compensation is paid by the partner out of their own marketing budget and is not added to what you pay.

We have no personal information to sell. This website has no forms and collects nothing from you, so there is nothing for us to sell, share or pass on. We do not sell personal information, and we never have.

No. This website sets no analytics cookies, no advertising cookies and no tracking pixels. Your visit is not profiled and nothing about it is stored on your device. Our web host keeps standard server logs for security, as every website does.

It is intended for U.S. residents only. Insurance, service contracts and contractor licensing are all regulated state by state within the United States, our partners operate there, and everything on this site describes U.S. products and law. If you are outside the United States, nothing here will apply to you.

No, and we would be careful with any website that claims it can. We are not licensed insurance producers, we are not party to any warranty contract, and we have not seen your house. This site explains the trade-offs so you can have a well-informed conversation with a licensed agent, a warranty company or a contractor.

We write from primary sources: standard homeowners policy forms and state insurance department publications for insurance; published sample contracts and state service-contract rules for home warranties; state contractor licensing boards, Federal Trade Commission guidance and manufacturer specifications for home services. We date every update, avoid statistics we cannot attribute, and correct errors promptly when they are reported.

Email is the way to reach us: hello@simplechoicehub.com. We do not run a phone line, and a real person answers every message, usually within two business days. We cannot help with a specific policy, contract, claim or job — only the company you bought from can.

An insurer underwrites and issues the policy and pays claims. An agent or broker is licensed to advise you and place coverage with insurers. A comparison site like ours publishes information and links you to licensed parties — we cannot advise you on a specific policy or bind coverage.

Requesting a home insurance quote does not affect your credit score. Most insurers use a credit-based insurance score, which is a soft inquiry and is invisible to lenders. A handful of states restrict or prohibit the use of credit in home insurance pricing entirely.

A yearly review at renewal is reasonable, and it is worth re-shopping after major changes: a renovation, a new roof, paying off your mortgage, a big jump in your renewal premium, or a move. Loyalty discounts exist, but they do not always beat a fresh quote.

Not by state law anywhere in the United States, but mortgage lenders effectively require it, and homeowners associations sometimes do too. If coverage lapses, a lender may buy force-placed insurance and bill you, usually at a higher price with narrower protection.

No. Home insurance pays for sudden, accidental damage — fire, wind, theft, a burst pipe — and is required by lenders. A home warranty is a service contract that repairs or replaces appliances and home systems when they break down from normal wear and tear, which insurance excludes. Most homeowners with a warranty also carry insurance; one does not replace the other.

Plans are usually sold as systems (heating, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, water heater), appliances (refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, washer, dryer), or a combination. Each item has a coverage cap, pre-existing conditions and improper installation are commonly excluded, and add-ons such as pools, septic systems or a second refrigerator cost extra. The sample contract, not the sales page, is what tells you what is covered.

The amount you pay each time a technician is sent out, typically somewhere between about $75 and $150, chosen when you buy the plan. A lower monthly price usually means a higher service fee. If a repair is denied, you often still owe the fee for the visit.

It depends on the age and condition of your systems and appliances, the plan's caps and exclusions, and whether you could absorb a large repair bill yourself. For a home with older equipment and no savings set aside for a failed furnace, it can make sense; for a new build under manufacturer and builder warranties, it usually does not. Read the contract's exclusions and caps before deciding.

Three written estimates for the same scope of work is the usual advice for anything significant — a roof, windows, a bathroom or kitchen remodel, an HVAC replacement. Make sure each one lists the same materials and scope so you are comparing like with like, and be cautious of a bid far below the others.

That they hold the license your state or city requires for the trade, that they carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation (ask for the certificate and confirm it with the insurer), that they will pull any required permits, and that the contract states the scope, materials, price, payment schedule, start and completion dates, and warranty on the work. Check complaints with your state licensing board and attorney general.

A deposit is normal; paying most of the job up front is not. Many states cap deposits on home improvement contracts, often around 10% or a fixed dollar amount, whichever is less. Tie later payments to completed milestones and hold back the final payment until the work passes inspection and you have lien releases from any subcontractors and suppliers.

Only if the damage is from a covered, sudden event such as a storm, and then only for the damaged portion, subject to your deductible and roof-age rules. Insurance does not pay for a roof that is simply old, or for any improvement or remodel you choose to make. If a contractor tells you insurance will cover a replacement before an adjuster has looked at it, treat that as a red flag.