Let’s be real — picking a home warranty company is stressful. You’re trusting someone to show up when your AC dies on a 100-degree day. So when you see a company sporting a shiny Choice Home Warranty Awards badge, you’ve got to ask: Does that actually mean something, or is it just good marketing?
Good question. And the answer isn’t black and white. Awards do matter — but only when you know what’s behind them. This post breaks it all down so you can decide for yourself.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a landlord with five properties, or just tired of surprise repair bills, knowing how to read these industry badges can save you serious money and headaches. Let’s get into it.
What Are Home Warranty Awards, Really?
Home warranty awards are formal recognitions given to standout companies in the home protection space. They come from three main sources: independent review platforms, business publications, and consumer advocacy organizations.
Think of platforms like HomeWarrantyReviews.com — they collect thousands of real customer ratings. Companies that consistently hit top marks get recognized. That’s not a participation trophy; that’s earned.
Then you’ve got business-growth lists like Inc. 5000, which tracks revenue growth over three years. And editorial rankings like U.S. News & World Report, which score companies on price, coverage, and service quality.
Each award type tells you something different. HWR badges signal customer happiness. Inc. 5000 signals stability and growth. U.S. News signals a comprehensive, unbiased evaluation. Together, they give you a fuller picture than any single rating ever could.
The Choice Home Warranty Awards Breakdown
CHW has stacked up some serious recognition over the years. Here’s the roster of Choice Home Warranty Awards worth knowing about:
People’s Choice Award
In 2020, CHW won the People’s Choice Award from HomeWarrantyReviews.com. This one’s purely consumer-driven — it’s based on real homeowner votes and satisfaction scores. No judges. No panel. Just people who actually used the service and weighed in.
When a company wins based purely on customer votes, that’s a strong signal. It means real people — not marketing teams — are backing the product.
Top-Rated Company Award (3 Years Running)
In 2022, 2023, and 2024, CHW earned the Top-Rated Company Award from HomeWarrantyReviews.com — three consecutive years. That kind of consistency isn’t luck; it reflects a sustained commitment to customer experience and claims handling.
The evaluation covers claims processing speed, digital user experience, and overall satisfaction ratings. Hitting that benchmark year after year tells you the company isn’t coasting on old reputation.
U.S. News & World Report Recognition
CHW was named one of the Best Home Warranty Companies in 2022 by U.S. News & World Report 360 Reviews. Their team evaluated pricing transparency, coverage breadth, and unique warranty features.
Getting called out by an editorial team — not just a review platform — carries different weight. It means your product holds up under structured, journalistic scrutiny.
Inc. 5000 Honoree Roll
CHW landed on the Inc. 5000 Honoree Roll — reserved for companies that appear on the Inc. 5000 list for five straight years. They clocked a 433% revenue growth over three years, ranking 12th among insurance companies and 22nd in New Jersey.
For homeowners, this matters. A company growing that fast, that consistently, isn’t about to ghost you on a claim. Financial stability = service reliability.
The Old House Best Company Ranking
In 2025, The Old House ranked CHW as the second-best home warranty provider, specifically calling out its budget-friendly and mid-range plan options. Continuously landing in the top five across independent rankings is the kind of drip that compounds.
How CHW Stacks Up Against the Competition
Numbers don’t lie. Here’s a quick side-by-side of major awards across the top home warranty providers:
| Company | People’s Choice | Top-Rated HWR | Inc. 5000 |
| Choice Home Warranty | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| American Home Shield | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Select Home Warranty | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| First American | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
One company with all three major award types checked? That’s not a coincidence. It’s a consistent pattern of verified performance.
What Award Criteria Actually Measure
Here’s where it gets interesting. Awards aren’t just vibes — they’re scored on real metrics. The main ones reviewers and judges check include claims processing time, approval and denial rates, Net Promoter Score (NPS), and digital experience.
Coverage breadth and pricing transparency also play a big role. An award from a platform like ConsumerAffairs (where CHW was also named a finalist in their Buyer’s Choice program) means verified customer feedback drove the ranking — not just self-reported data.
Bottom line: when an award traces back to a methodology you can actually read and verify, it carries real weight. That’s the cheat code for filtering marketing noise from genuine recognition.
What These Awards Don’t Tell You
Let’s keep it balanced. Even the best award-winning companies have complaints. Real homeowners on BBB have reported claims denials and service delays with CHW. Awards don’t guarantee a flawless experience every single time.
Awards measure average performance, not worst-case outcomes. Your individual experience depends heavily on your location, contractor availability, and the specific item being claimed.
The smart move: use awards as a first filter, not the final word. Pair them with recent customer reviews and a close read of the contract’s exclusions section. That combo gives you the full picture.
CHW Plans — A Quick Snapshot
Since award credibility is tied to what the product actually delivers, here’s a fast look at the two Choice Home Warranty plans:
Basic Plan — ~$47/month ($500–$600/year): Covers HVAC, heating, plumbing, water heater, kitchen appliances (minus fridge), ceiling fans, and garage door opener. Service fee: $85/claim.
Total Plan — ~$55/month ($660–$780/year): Everything in Basic, plus dishwasher, washer, dryer, built-in microwave, refrigerator, and AC system.
Add-ons like pool/spa coverage, septic system, well pump, and roof leak protection are available for an extra cost. The maximum payout is $3,000 per item, with add-ons capping between $250–$500.
These plan details directly support why award panels — particularly those scoring value-for-price — tend to rank CHW favorably. The price-to-coverage ratio is genuinely competitive for budget-conscious homeowners.
Awards vs. Real Customer Feedback — The Real Talk
Here’s the thing: awards and customer reviews measure two different things. Awards score average performance at scale. Customer reviews capture individual moments — both highs and very low lows.
CHW’s Choice Home Warranty Awards signal that, on balance, more people are satisfied than not. But you’ll still find frustrated users online — and those voices matter too. Never dismiss a pattern of similar complaints, especially around claim denials.
Use both sources together. Read what the awards measure, then search for recent reviews from the past 12 months. If the award trend and the recent review trend align, you’ve found your answer.
Quick FAQs
What red flags should I watch for?
Vague contract language, pressure to sign fast, and hidden cancellation fees are classic warning signs. Always locate the Exclusions section before signing anything.
How fast does CHW respond to claims?
According to CHW, the response begins within 4 hours of a claim submission. Actual resolution time varies based on issue complexity, contractor availability, and season.
Final Verdict
The short version: Choice Home Warranty Awards aren’t just decorative. The People’s Choice nod, three-year Top-Rated streak, Inc. 5000 Honoree status, and editorial rankings from U.S. News and The Old House collectively point to a company that’s built something real.
But don’t let the badges do all your homework. Read the exclusions. Check recent reviews. Ask about your specific region. Awards tell you a company plays at a high level — your job is to verify it fits your playbook.
Got questions about comparing home warranty providers or decoding coverage terms? Drop them in the comments — let’s figure it out together.
