{"citations":{"source_mix":{"company_owned":171,"independent":167,"unclear":0},"sources_referenced_by_questions":0,"support_mix":{"direct":251,"partial":69},"total_sources":338,"unique_domain_count":72},"claims":[{"claim_id":"claim-001","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["anthropic","deepseek","google","grok","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"platforms_analyzed","qualifier":"valid included platform responses","subject":"Best Home Warranty Companies That Let You Choose Your Own Contractor","unit":"platforms","value":7},{"claim_id":"claim-002","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["google","grok","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"choose your own contractor option","subject":"AFC Home Club","unit":"rank","value":1},{"claim_id":"claim-003","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["google","grok","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 7","subject":"AFC Home Club","unit":"platforms","value":5},{"claim_id":"claim-004","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["google","grok","kimi","perplexity"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"choose your own contractor option","subject":"America's Preferred Home Warranty","unit":"rank","value":2},{"claim_id":"claim-005","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["google","grok","kimi","perplexity"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 7","subject":"America's Preferred Home Warranty","unit":"platforms","value":4},{"claim_id":"claim-006","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["anthropic","google","grok","perplexity"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"choose your own contractor option","subject":"HomeMembership","unit":"rank","value":3},{"claim_id":"claim-007","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["anthropic","google","grok","perplexity"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 7","subject":"HomeMembership","unit":"platforms","value":4},{"claim_id":"claim-008","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["anthropic","deepseek","kimi","openai"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"choose your own contractor option","subject":"American Home Shield","unit":"rank","value":4},{"claim_id":"claim-009","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["anthropic","deepseek","kimi","openai"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 7","subject":"American Home Shield","unit":"platforms","value":4},{"claim_id":"claim-010","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["deepseek","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"choose your own contractor option","subject":"Choice Home Warranty","unit":"rank","value":5},{"claim_id":"claim-011","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["deepseek","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 7","subject":"Choice Home Warranty","unit":"platforms","value":4},{"claim_id":"claim-012","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["deepseek","google","kimi","openai"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"choose your own contractor option","subject":"Liberty Home Guard","unit":"rank","value":6},{"claim_id":"claim-013","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["deepseek","google","kimi","openai"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 7","subject":"Liberty Home Guard","unit":"platforms","value":4},{"claim_id":"claim-014","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["anthropic","deepseek","google"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"choose your own contractor option","subject":"2-10 Home Buyers Warranty","unit":"rank","value":8},{"claim_id":"claim-015","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["anthropic","deepseek","google"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 7","subject":"2-10 Home Buyers Warranty","unit":"platforms","value":3},{"claim_id":"claim-016","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["deepseek","openai"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"choose your own contractor option","subject":"First American Home Warranty","unit":"rank","value":9},{"claim_id":"claim-017","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["deepseek","openai"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 7","subject":"First American Home Warranty","unit":"platforms","value":2},{"claim_id":"claim-018","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["deepseek","grok"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"choose your own contractor option","subject":"The Home Service Club","unit":"rank","value":10},{"claim_id":"claim-019","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-01","platform_support":["deepseek","grok"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 7","subject":"The Home Service Club","unit":"platforms","value":2}],"content_scope":"aggregated facts, computed metrics, and retrieval summaries","entities":[{"average_rank":1.8,"best_rank":1,"entity_id":"entity-001","entity_type":"company","final_rank":1,"name":"AFC Home Club","platform_mentions":5,"platform_share":0.7142857142857143},{"average_rank":2,"best_rank":1,"entity_id":"entity-002","entity_type":"company","final_rank":2,"name":"America's Preferred Home Warranty","platform_mentions":4,"platform_share":0.5714285714285714},{"average_rank":2.5,"best_rank":1,"entity_id":"entity-003","entity_type":"company","final_rank":3,"name":"HomeMembership","platform_mentions":4,"platform_share":0.5714285714285714},{"average_rank":3.75,"best_rank":1,"entity_id":"entity-004","entity_type":"company","final_rank":4,"name":"American Home Shield","platform_mentions":4,"platform_share":0.5714285714285714},{"average_rank":4.25,"best_rank":3,"entity_id":"entity-005","entity_type":"company","final_rank":5,"name":"Choice Home Warranty","platform_mentions":4,"platform_share":0.5714285714285714},{"average_rank":4.75,"best_rank":2,"entity_id":"entity-006","entity_type":"company","final_rank":6,"name":"Liberty Home Guard","platform_mentions":4,"platform_share":0.5714285714285714},{"average_rank":5.333333333333333,"best_rank":4,"entity_id":"entity-007","entity_type":"company","final_rank":8,"name":"2-10 Home Buyers Warranty","platform_mentions":3,"platform_share":0.42857142857142855},{"average_rank":3,"best_rank":2,"entity_id":"entity-008","entity_type":"company","final_rank":9,"name":"First American Home Warranty","platform_mentions":2,"platform_share":0.2857142857142857},{"average_rank":4.5,"best_rank":4,"entity_id":"entity-009","entity_type":"company","final_rank":10,"name":"The Home Service Club","platform_mentions":2,"platform_share":0.2857142857142857}],"identity":{"dataset_url":"https://homeservicesconsensusindex.com/datasets/home-warranty-and-protection-plans/choose-your-own-contractor.json","page_url":"https://homeservicesconsensusindex.com/home-warranty-and-protection-plans/choose-your-own-contractor","report_type":"best_of_index","study_id":"HSCI-STUDY-AD979DA78FC3","title":"Best Home Warranty Companies That Let You Choose Your Own Contractor (2026)"},"limitations":["Exactly 7 platforms were included in this run: openai, anthropic, deepseek, grok, perplexity, kimi, google. The configured source value 7 is provenance only and must never be described as the number of platforms studied.","The finalrankingtable is the sole authority for rank, platform mentions, platform share, average rank, and best rank. Ignore any conflicting value embedded in a entity evidence bundle.","The Consensus Ranking table must contain exactly one row per finalrankingtable entity, in that order, using that exact entityname. Never split one ranked entity into two product, model, SKU, or product-line rows, and never add another ranking row for a brand already listed. Put recommended products or plans inside that entity's ranked section.","Platform mentions count only ranking-discovery mentions. Do not substitute the number of platforms that later completed a fit assessment.","Citation IDs inside each entity bundle are local to that entity. Consolidate sources by URL using the supplied source catalog.","The URLs were collected from platform responses and were not independently validated by either writer stage.","Each fitreviewurlorplaceholder is the final site-relative CMS path for that entity's review. Link the entity name to that exact path exactly once in its ranked prose section, outside tables and headings. Never replace it with a run ID, report ID, UUID, or local output path.","Use the exact entity-namespaced citation IDs from the source catalog (e.g. e1:); never transfer a citation between entities."],"methodology":{"fit_rating_contract":["strong","good","mixed","weak","uncertain"],"included_valid_platform_count":7,"maximum_finalists":10,"minimum_mentions":2,"name":"Home Services Consensus Index cross-platform AI consensus analysis","platforms_included":["anthropic","deepseek","google","grok","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"platforms_queried":["openai","anthropic","deepseek","grok","perplexity","kimi","google"],"stages":["ranking_discovery","fit_assessment","normalization","editorial_synthesis"],"version":"alias-table-1"},"provenance":{"generated_at":"2026-10-01 04:13:50.783473+00","research_date":"2026-10-01","source_snapshot_sha256":"fb88391ad5d64875c46f677bf2491c2ee6cc6e5a2ee672f5dbf36c8a5db8ce1d","verification_scope":"public_verification"},"ranking":{"candidates_evaluated":19,"qualified_finalists":9,"ranking_unit":"Home warranty company or plan brand"},"schema_version":4,"summary":"AFC Home Club is the consensus leader for homeowners who want to keep using an established local technician, named by 5 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 1.8 and a best position of 1. America's Preferred Home Warranty and HomeMembership are the strongest alternatives for distinct buyer needs: APHW for buyers who want contractor choice built into the core business model, and HomeMembership for buyers who want a reimbursement-first model with a low $25 deductible. This study covered 7 AI platforms, identified 19 unique entities, and qualified 9 that were named by at least two…","target_buyer":"A homeowner with an established relationship with a local repair technician who wants flexibility beyond the assigned network.","topic":{"base_category":"Home Warranty and Protection Plans","category_criteria":["own-contractor reimbursement policy","approval process for non-network technicians","reimbursement caps","documentation requirements"],"geography":"United States","slug":"best-home-warranty-companies-that-let-you-choose-your-own-contractor","title":"Best Home Warranty Companies That Let You Choose Your Own Contractor","use_case":"choose your own contractor option"}}