A service contract is a way to plan for a repair. It is not the only way, and it may not be the first place to look. Some losses are already addressed in documents the household holds. Before comparing contracts, find those documents and read them against the item you are worried about.
Questions to ask about the home policy
Ask whether the home policy covers damage from a sudden failure of an appliance or system, or only damage caused by a named event such as a fire or a storm. Ask whether wear, gradual breakdown, or lack of maintenance is excluded. Ask how the policy values a repair or a replacement. Ask whether a rider or endorsement adds appliance coverage, and what that rider leaves out.
Questions to ask about the card and the lender
Some payment cards extend a manufacturer warranty or add protection on purchases made with them. Ask the issuer, in writing, what the benefit is, how long it runs, and what the claim steps are. If a lender or landlord requires a particular item to be kept in working order, read that requirement too, since it may set who must repair the item and by when.
Compare the overlap, not the headline
Lay the sources side by side: the manufacturer warranty, the home policy, and any card or lender benefit. Note where each one starts and stops, and where two of them would cover the same failure. A contract bought on top of a benefit already in force may duplicate it, and a contract bought in place of a benefit may leave a gap. Ask the seller to explain the overlap in writing before you sign.
Record what you found
Keep a short note for each source with its document name, the item it touches, and its claim route. When a claim is needed, you will know which document to open first. The state pages on this site list the service contract rules and rosters by state. They do not show what your home policy or card says, so check those documents directly.