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Who Is Cinch Home Services?
Cinch Home Services has been in the home warranty business since 1978, making it one of the longest-standing providers in the industry. Originally known as Cross Country Home Services (CCHS), the company rebranded to Cinch Home Services in 2019 to reflect a more modern, customer-first identity. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, Cinch serves homeowners across all 48 contiguous states.
The Sears Connection
Many shoppers searching for "Cinch Home Warranty" also know it as Sears Home Warranty. That's because Cinch (then CCHS) was the company that powered the Sears Home Warranty program behind the scenes, managing claims, technician dispatch, and customer portals on Sears' behalf through a subsidiary called HomeSure Services. As the Sears retail brand declined, the Cinch name took center stage.
Today, Cinch operates fully under its own brand, though some legacy Sears-branded contracts are still serviced through the same infrastructure. Cinch has paid out over $1 billion in claims in recent years and has established itself as a major player, independent of the Sears name. For a broader look at how it stacks up against other providers, see our guide to the best home warranty companies.
Plans, Pricing & Coverage in 2026
Cinch offers three plan tiers in most markets, each covering a specific category of your home. You can pick appliances only, built-in systems only, or a combined plan that covers both.
The Three Plans at a Glance
| Plan | What It Covers | Est. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Appliances | Kitchen and laundry appliances (fridge, dishwasher, washer/dryer, oven, etc.) | ~$27.99 to $30.99/mo |
| Built-in Systems | HVAC, plumbing, electrical, water heater, ductwork, and more | ~$32.99 to $35.99/mo |
| Complete Home | All appliances + all built-in systems (full coverage) | ~$39.99 to $44.99/mo |
Pricing varies by state, ZIP code, and chosen service call fee. Service call fees are $100, $125, or $150 per claim.
NerdWallet's 2026 review shows Cinch plans ranging from about $24.99 to $131.99 per month, depending on plan, service fee, and location. Other 2026 sources report typical monthly ranges of about $28 to $56, and Cinch's own site currently advertises the Complete Home plan starting as low as $44.99/month. Cinch also promotes a one-month-free or 10% first-year discount on new annual plans in many markets.
What's Covered (and What's Not)
Cinch covers normal wear and tear on most major home components, including items that many competitors exclude, such as damage from rust and corrosion and unknown pre-existing conditions.
Key coverage highlights (2026):
- Heating and air conditioning systems, subject to a roughly $1,500 per-term HVAC sub-limit on some plans
- Plumbing systems and water heaters typically capped around $1,000 per unit
- Kitchen and laundry appliances up to $2,000 per covered appliance on Repair + Replace tiers
- Sump pumps, doorbells, smoke detectors, garage door openers, and tankless water heaters included in Built-in Systems coverage
- Coverage for up to 2 units per appliance category
- All plans carry a $10,000 aggregate cap per agreement term
Common exclusions:
- Cosmetic damage (scratches and dents)
- Damage caused by misuse, neglect, or improper installation
- Items not listed in your contract
- Structural components like foundation, walls, and roof leaks
- Code violations or permits (unless covered under Complete Home add-ons)
Standout Perks
One of Cinch's most competitive features is its 180-day workmanship guarantee, which is roughly six times longer than the 30-day standard offered by most competitors. If the same covered repair fails within six months, Cinch sends a service provider back at no additional service fee. Note this guarantee applies only to the same covered repair, not a new unrelated issue.
Complete Home customers can also receive up to $500 in homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement per contract year, plus additional coverage of up to $2,000 for expenses tied to a covered claim (like permits and equipment disposal). Cinch is also one of the few providers to offer a free smart water sensor with select plans.
Customer Satisfaction, BBB Rating & Complaints
This is where Cinch's track record gets more complicated. While the company earns decent scores from professional review outlets, real-world customer feedback reveals recurring frustrations.
What Review Sites Say
| Review Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| MarketWatch Guides (Aug 2026) | 4.3 / 5 ⭐ |
| NerdWallet (2026) | Best for Value |
| Consumer Affairs (2026) | 4.1 / 5 (12,546 reviews) |
| Trustpilot | ~4.0 / 5 (mixed reviews) |
| BBB Letter Grade | A+ (accredited) |
| BBB Customer Reviews | 1.05 / 5 |
BBB Complaints: A Reality Check
Cinch's BBB profile currently shows an A+ letter grade, and the company has been BBB accredited since June 27, 2019. However, the letter grade tells only part of the story. On the BBB customer review page, Cinch currently averages 1.05 out of 5 stars from roughly 787 customer reviews, and its BBB complaints page now lists 2,360 total complaints in the last 3 years and 767 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
MarketWatch's 2026 survey of 1,000 home warranty policyholders found that only about 20% of Cinch customers described themselves as "very satisfied" with their coverage, a lower relative level than several competitors. That gap between review-site scores and real-world sentiment is one of the most important takeaways for shoppers.
The most common complaint themes in 2026 include:
- Delayed repairs, especially for HVAC in extreme temperatures, with some customers reporting appointments scheduled more than a month out
- Last-minute cancellations by dispatched technicians who then need to be rebooked
- Claim denials for issues tied to improper venting, pre-existing conditions, or "working as intended" disputes (for example, one BBB complaint described a dishwasher denial because it still powered on, even though it wasn't cleaning dishes)
- Contractor no-shows and repeated rescheduling problems
- Parts department bottlenecks, with reports of homeowners waiting a week or longer without heat or AC while parts are procured through Cinch's internal system
- Wrong parts ordered multiple times, requiring repeat contractor visits before repairs are completed
- Auto-renewal frustration and difficulty canceling coverage
- Reports that customer service quality has declined, with some long-tenured customers citing offshoring and long hold times
Filing a Claim, Contractor Network & Cancellation
How to File a Claim
Cinch makes the claims process relatively simple with 24/7 availability, online or by phone.
Step-by-step claim process:
- Submit your claim by logging into your account at my.cinchhomeservices.com or calling (844) 324-5688 anytime
- Pay your service fee ($100, $125, or $150) when the technician visits
- Cinch assigns a contractor, a vetted service provider in your area
- Schedule the appointment, and the contractor confirms a visit time
- Repair or replacement work is completed, or Cinch arranges a replacement up to your plan's limit
During business hours (Mon to Fri, 8AM to 6PM local time), Cinch targets a two-hour response time. Requests filed outside business hours are addressed the next business day.
Contractor Network Quality
Every technician Cinch dispatches goes through a vetting and selection process before joining the network. However, customers cannot choose their own contractor, which is a common complaint, especially in areas with limited service providers.
Satisfied customers note that repair wait times are acceptable and that technicians are professional and knowledgeable. Negative experiences, particularly in rural or less-served markets, often involve long wait times and inconsistent repair quality.
How to Cancel Your Cinch Home Warranty
Cinch allows cancellation at any time, but refund rules depend on whether you have a monthly or annual plan:
| Plan Type / Timing | Refund Policy | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan | Coverage ends at end of current month, no refund | No cancellation fee |
| Annual plan, within 30 days | Full refund of fees paid (if no claim filed) | No fees |
| Annual plan, after 30 days | Pro-rata refund for remaining term | $25 processing fee |
| Annual plan, after 30 days with claim filed | Refund reduced by claims paid or annual premium (whichever is less) | $25 processing fee |
To cancel, call customer service at (844) 324-5688 or submit a written cancellation request. Cinch may offer plan modifications before processing your request, but you're not obligated to accept them.
How Cinch Compares to Major Competitors
Before committing, it's worth seeing how Cinch stacks up against the other major providers in the home warranty market.
| Provider | Monthly Cost Range | Service Fee | Aggregate Cap | Workmanship Guarantee | BBB Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinch Home Services | $28 to $56 | $100 to $150 | $10,000 | 180 days | A+ |
| American Home Shield | $30 to $120 | $100 to $125 | $50,000 | 30 days | B |
| Choice Home Warranty | $49 to $58 | $100 | ~$3,000 HVAC | 60 days | B |
| Liberty Home Guard | $50 to $75 | $65 to $125 | Varies | 365 days | A+ |
| Select Home Warranty | $44 to $64 | $60 to $100 | $500 per appliance | 90 days | B- |
Cinch stands out on its 180-day workmanship guarantee, which is far above the 30-day industry norm, though Liberty Home Guard's 365-day guarantee is now the longest in the market. Its unique coverage for rust, corrosion, and unknown pre-existing conditions is a differentiator that matters for owners of older homes.
Where Cinch falls short is in aggregate coverage limits. Our American Home Shield review shows a total coverage cap of $50,000 per contract term with HVAC systems covered up to $5,000 per system, roughly five times Cinch's $10,000 total cap. For a deeper look, compare our Choice Home Warranty review. If you want a lower-priced alternative with strong ratings, our First American Home Warranty review and Select Home Warranty review are also worth reading. First-time buyers should also check our home warranty guide for millennials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cinch Home Warranty the same as Sears Home Warranty?
Cinch Home Services and Sears Home Warranty share the same operational roots. Cinch (formerly Cross Country Home Services) was the company that powered the Sears Home Warranty program behind the scenes. When Sears' retail business declined, the Cinch brand moved to the forefront. Today, Cinch operates independently, though some legacy Sears-branded customers may still be serviced under the same infrastructure.
What is Cinch Home Warranty's BBB rating in 2026?
Cinch Home Services currently holds an A+ letter grade from the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since June 2019. However, its BBB customer review score is much lower at just 1.05 out of 5 stars from roughly 787 reviews, and 2,360 complaints have been filed against Cinch over the past three years, with 767 closed in the last 12 months. The gap exists because BBB letter grades reflect complaint resolution, not review sentiment.
What does Cinch Home Warranty actually cover?
Cinch offers three plan tiers in 2026: Appliances, Built-in Systems, and Complete Home. Between them, they cover roughly 37 systems and appliances, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, kitchen, and laundry appliances. Unique to Cinch is coverage for rust, corrosion, and unknown pre-existing conditions, which many competitors exclude. Every plan carries a $10,000 aggregate limit per agreement term, plus per-item sub-limits such as $2,000 per appliance.
How do I cancel my Cinch Home Warranty?
You can cancel your Cinch Home Warranty at any time by calling customer service at (844) 324-5688 or by submitting a written cancellation request. On annual plans, canceling within the first 30 days gets a full refund if no claim was filed. After 30 days, you receive a pro-rata refund minus a $25 processing fee. On monthly plans, coverage simply ends at the end of your current month with no refund.
Is Cinch Home Warranty worth it in 2026?
Cinch can be worth it, especially for owners of older homes where unknown pre-existing conditions are a real risk, or for those who value the industry-leading 180-day workmanship guarantee. The $500 insurance deductible reimbursement on the Complete Home plan is genuine added value. However, the very low BBB customer review score, the $10,000 aggregate cap, and recurring reports of parts and scheduling delays are notable drawbacks. If you need higher coverage limits, compare providers in our full home warranty comparison guide before committing.