Thank you both. These are the first-hand stories I was hoping to gain from my post. The hot water tank is my biggest concern and likely the most costly appliance I'll need to replace. It is past its lifespan. My current plan does include haul away fees and the cost of the tank. I'll have to check on flue modifications, expansion tanks, etc. Very helpful!

My two experiences with local contractors assigned to past service calls were really positive but I realize those may have been outliers. Each contractor averaged 4/5 stars but as you mentioned, I wasn't able to choose them. It was also a plus to get a service call to my door within 24-48 hrs after repairs were needed. Over the summer, I scheduled some home repairs (not covered by warranties) that took weeks to months to get someone on-site. Most users are right to assume these companies are fraudsters, but in some cases they do benefit the home owners.