Home Warranty vs Home Maintenance Membership: What Is the Difference?
A home warranty and a home maintenance membership sound similar, but they do very different jobs. One pays for certain repairs after something breaks. The other works to keep things from breaking in the first place. Here is how they compare and why many Alberta homeowners have both.
What a home warranty covers
There are two kinds of home warranty in Alberta:
- New home warranty. Required by law for every new home built in Alberta. It covers defects in workmanship and materials for set periods, from 1 year for labour and materials up to 10 years for the structure.
- Home warranty plans. Optional plans you buy for an existing home. They typically help pay to repair or replace covered systems and appliances when they fail, usually with a service fee per claim and a list of exclusions.
Neither one covers routine maintenance, and both usually exclude damage caused by a lack of it.
What a maintenance membership covers
A Squad Life membership is preventative. We visit on a seasonal schedule to inspect, service and document your home, change filters, fix the small things on the spot and bring in vetted trade partners for anything bigger. Everything we find and do is tracked in your member portal, along with your Home Health Score and a forecast of when major systems will need replacing.
Side by side
- When it helps: a warranty helps after something breaks. A membership helps before it does.
- Maintenance: not included in a warranty. Included in a membership.
- Small fixes: rarely covered by a warranty. Handled on the spot by our team.
- Records: a warranty does not track your home. A membership keeps a record of every visit, issue and repair.
- Cost: warranty plans often add a service fee per claim. A membership is one predictable monthly payment.
Why they work best together
Warranties protect you from defects and breakdowns, but they expect you to take care of your home. Regular maintenance catches problems early, helps your systems last longer and gives you a clear record of the care your home has received if you ever need to make a claim.
Common questions
Every new home built in Alberta must have warranty coverage under the New Home Buyer Protection Act. It covers 1 year for labour and materials, 2 years for delivery and distribution systems like plumbing, heating and electrical, 5 years for the building envelope and 10 years for the structure.
No. Warranties cover defects and breakdowns, not routine upkeep. Damage caused by skipped maintenance is usually excluded, so keeping up with maintenance protects both your home and your coverage.
Yes, and they work well together. The warranty covers defects and breakdowns, and the membership helps prevent them while keeping a record of the care your home has received.
New homes still need regular care. Filters, humidifier pads, sump pumps, caulking and settling all need attention in the first few years, and staying on top of them helps protect your new home warranty.
We serve Okotoks, Calgary, High River, Diamond Valley and surrounding Foothills communities.
Some services may be completed by our vetted trade partners.
Ready to see where your home stands? Book your free Home Health Check.
