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If you’re looking for a new home warranty policy, you have many options. First American Home Warranty is worthy of consideration due to its easy-to-understand coverage terms, high coverage limits for appliances, comprehensive First American Advantage upgrade included in two of its plans, and decades of experience in the industry.
After researching more than 35 providers, we selected the best home warranty companies and included First American Home Warranty in our top 10 recommendations. In this in-depth review, we’ll look closely at First American’s claims process, compare the pros and cons, clarify policy details, and review customer feedback to help you choose the right home warranty coverage.
First American Home Warranty Rating and Review
First American Home Warranty scored 4.3 out of 5 stars in our review standards. Our research involved speaking with First American representatives, analyzing its sample contract, reading consumer reviews, and purchasing a plan to test its claims process. First American’s standout qualities consist of its generous coverage caps for home systems and appliances alongside its competitively priced plans. In addition, First American offers an increased coverage cap per appliance in its Premium Plan. Potential downsides for First American coverage are its lack of nationwide availability or coverage for air conditioning systems in its Starter Plan.
Here’s how we rated First American Home Warranty in key categories:
- Available plans (4.7 out of 5): First American offers three coverage plans. Each plan contains a mix of appliances and systems.
- Plan coverage (4.9 out of 5): First American provides excellent coverage for home systems and appliances, with generous coverage caps for both. First American also includes a wide range of add-on coverage options.
- Price range (4.5 out of 5): First American prices its plans competitively, and it offers service call fee flexibility via three service call fees.
- Industry reputation (3.8 out of 5): First American provides an easily accessible service contract and maintains solid ratings on the Better Business Bureau and other third-party sites. First American’s score suffers slightly because it is available only in 35 states.
- Customer support (4.8 out of 5): First American offers a convenient 24/7 online claims portal. It processes claims and sends a technician within 48 hours of receiving a claim.
- Additional features (4.5 out of 5): First American bundles a coverage upgrade within two of its plans, plus it includes coverage for common add-ons such as roof-leak repairs.
Fast Facts About First American Home Warranty
- Founded: 1984
- State availability: 33 (all but Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin)
- Service fee: $75–$125
- Number of plans: Three
- Get a quick quote: Visit First American’s site
Benefits and Drawbacks of First American Home Warranty
Every home warranty company has its advantages and drawbacks. Before choosing your policy, it’s essential to carefully read the sample contract and understand the fine print on coverage limits, exclusions, and other aspects. We highlight below a few pros and cons for homeowners to consider.
Benefits
- Generous coverage caps: All home appliances are covered up to $3,500 in its Starter and Essential plans, and many home systems don’t have a pre-set coverage limit.
- First American Advantage upgrade: This upgrade package is included in its Essential and Premium plans. It expands the coverage of First American’s plans by covering debris disposal, code upgrades, and other costs.
- Flexible service fee model: First American’s service call fees range from $75 to $125 per claim. Selecting a higher service call fee lowers your monthly premium and vice versa.
Drawbacks
- Charges a handling fee: First American charges a monthly $2 handling fee when you select to pay monthly premiums rather than an annual premium.
- AC as an add-on: Air conditioning is only available as an add-on in its Starter Plan. Its Essential and Premium plans include it. Many providers also include air conditioning in their base plans.
First American Home Warranty Coverage Options
First American Home Warranty plans are the following: the Starter Plan, Essential Plan, and the Premium Plan. Each plan has a 30-day workmanship guarantee, which means that the service provider will return to reservice a covered item at no additional cost if it breaks again during the 30-day window. You also have several optional coverage items available if you need them.
Starter Plan
First American Home Warranty’s Starter Plan covers home appliance systems, including built-in microwaves, dishwashers, ductwork, electrical system, heating, plumbing systems, kitchen range hoods, oven/cooktop, plumbing stoppages, refrigerators, and toilet tanks.
Essential Plan
This plan includes all Starter Plan items plus air conditioning, ceiling, attic, and exhaust fans, clothes washers, clothes dryers, the First American Advantage upgrade, garage-door openers, trash compactors, and water heaters.
Premium Plan
The Premium Plan covers all the items in the Essential Plan plus central vacuum and full garage door systems, faucets, garbage disposals, instant hot water dispensers, luxury appliances, shower heads and arms, and window air conditioning units.
Optional Add-Ons
First American Home Warranty offers several additional coverage options:
- Additional refrigeration
- Central air conditioning (electric, Starter Plan only)
- HVAC tune-up
- Limited roof-leak repair
- Pool/spa equipment
- Septic tank pumping/system
- Water softeners
- Well pump
The First American Advantage upgrade covers building permits, code upgrades, improper installations and modifications, refrigerant recapture and removal, and disposal of appliances, systems, and components after service. Note that this upgrade is only available for Essential and Premium plans.
First American Home Warranty Pricing
According to the quote we obtained for a single-family home in Santa Rosa, California, First American’s plans cost between $47 and $87 per month. It allows you to choose between a $75, $100, or $125 service call fee. Our team member who purchased a plan reported that the company charges his credit card on a monthly recurring basis.
A service call fee is a cost outlined in your policy that you’re required to pay after filing a claim before the service request is fulfilled. Our team member paid his service call fee after submitting each claim. You can think of it as paying a deductible before coverage applies. The service call fee typically applies to one covered item at a time.
First American Home Warranty Coverage Caps
A coverage cap is the total dollar amount a home warranty provider will pay for a covered repair. If a repair or replacement exceeds the coverage cap, the homeowner will be responsible for the difference. We’ve read through First American’s warranty service contract to find out more about the specific terms of the company’s policies. You can review a few key coverage limits in the table below.
| Item | Coverage Cap |
|---|---|
|
Appliances |
$3,500 in Starter and Essential plans; $7,000 in Premium Plan |
|
Ductwork |
$500 in Starter and Essential plans; $1,000 in Premium Plan* |
|
Heating system |
$1,500** |
|
Plumbing system |
$500 in Starter and Essential plans; $1,000 in Premium Plan* |
|
Pool and spa equipment |
$2,500.00 |
|
Toilets |
$600 in Premium Plan |
|
Water heater |
$1,000 in Essential Plan; unlimited cap in Premium Plan** |
|
Well pump |
$1,500.00 |
*Coverage for diagnosis, access, repair, or replacement of ductwork or plumbing located in or below a concrete slab and items encased in or covered by concrete is limited to $500.
**This includes any geothermal or water source heat pump, glycol, heated water, steam or
water heater/heating combination unit.
First American Home Warranty Reviews
We read reviews from thousands of real-life consumers as part of our research process. First American Home Warranty currently maintains an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars from more than 3,000 customer reviews on Best Company. The positive reviews indicate that the company generally provides high-quality and quick service, comprehensive coverage limits, and decades of reliable experience. However, the company doesn’t service all states, and there’s an additional cost for air conditioning.
We’ve included a few reviews below that represent customer perspectives on the experience you can expect from First American.
“This warranty came with a house that we purchased. The customer service people were very helpful whenever I had questions. We used the service to check our HVAC system and paid a service fee each time. We also had our electrical system checked out in the house as we had an issue with fuses blowing, and they fixed it immediately.” —Lisa Hochstetler via Best Company
“When I opened my first claim, they were going to find me a plumber within an allotted amount of time. When that time came, I got an email saying I needed to find my own contractor. I had plumbing backing up, and it was an emergency. I am giving 4 stars because they refunded my deposit because I ended up canceling the order because it was cheaper than I had feared. They were very helpful in that resolution.” —Danyl via Best Company
Our team member tested the claims process by filing a service request for his washing machine. Once submitted, he received a confirmation from First American, plus the assigned service provider’s contact information. Within an hour, the service provider called our team member to schedule an appointment. He booked an appointment for the following day. The service provider arrived promptly and determined his washing machine needed replacement. Within a week, First American delivered a new washing machine to his door and installed it. Our team member only paid for his service call fee.
We also found customers who disliked First American’s unexpected claim denials and the limited number of in-network contractors in certain zip codes. Here are a few sample negative reviews:
“I have been somewhat disappointed with the communication from the company on repair claims. The first dispatch of repair technicians was prompt, but getting a tech back to complete the work took several calls and turns out that despite having essentially full coverage, a good chunk of the work [that was] required turned out not to be covered, but it took me calling and following up on numerous occasions to learn about this. I am now still waiting for them to schedule a tech to complete the work, and I anticipate having to follow up again instead of them reaching out to me with updates, which was just not how I anticipated this process would go. All in all, I think it’s worth having the coverage for the investment, but I do wish that the process was more user-friendly, communicative, and transparent.” —Jenna Satariano via Best Company
“Our in-wall plumbing leak was resolved, but then the drywall needs to be replaced. FAHW could not source a local contractor and therefore told me to find my own for reimbursement. I can’t find a local contractor, probably because FAHW couldn’t find a contractor, and now I am getting emails from FAHW saying that if I don’t find a contractor soon, then FAHW is going to close my claim. Unnecessary pressure on me to try to do something that FAHW couldn’t do itself.” —Patrick Perl via Best Company
Our Recommendation
As one of the oldest home warranty providers we have reviewed, First American has a long history of providing reputable service to its customers. First American Home Warranty can be an excellent option for homeowners with older homes. The provider offers high coverage caps for kitchen appliances and even includes coverage for items that have had improper installation or modifications by selecting the Essential or Premium plans. Additionally, First American includes coverage for roof-leak repair, water softeners, and more for those who need customizable protection.
More Home Warranty Reviews
- American Home Shield Review
- Select Home Warranty Review
- Liberty Home Guard Review
- Cinch Home Services Review
- AFC Home Club Review
- Choice Home Warranty Review
First American Home Warranty FAQs
Is First American Home Warranty a legitimate company?
Yes, First American Home Warranty is a legitimate company. It has been in business since 1984, making it one of the longest-running companies in the industry. The company maintains a B rating (as of December 2022) on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and it has held accreditation since 2000. In addition, First American Home Warranty has a positive reputation on third-party websites such as Best Company and Trustpilot.
Does First American Home Warranty cover ductwork?
Yes, First American Home Warranty covers ductwork with the Premier Plan. The company will pay up to $500 in the Starter and Essential plans, and $1,000 in the Premium Plan.
How do I cancel my First American Home Warranty policy?
You can cancel your First American Home Warranty policy by submitting the request in writing. Unless the law in your state has different guidelines, your home warranty policy can only be canceled by mutual agreement between the warranty contract holder and the company. You can email cancellationsupport@firstam.com for more information.
How do I file a claim with First American Home Warranty?
You can file a claim with First American Home Warranty by phone or on its online portal. You can request service 24 hours, seven days a week, and the company will respond within 24 to 48 hours.
What does First American Home Warranty not cover?
First American Home Warranty does not cover “repairs or replacements required as a result of missing parts, fire, flood, smoke, lightning, freeze, earthquake, theft, storms, accidents, mud, war, riots, vandalism, improper installation, damage from pests, lack of capacity or misuse,” according to its service contract. This list is typical for exclusions in the home warranty industry. It also does not cover any items protected by a manufacturer’s warranty or defects.
How We Chose the Top Home Warranty Providers
Our team reviewed and researched dozens of home warranty providers, thoroughly analyzed sample agreements, and identified customer pain points based on analysis of customer reviews and interviews with industry experts. Our in-depth methodology guides our review process to provide transparent information about the companies we review.
During this process, we determined that the most critical aspects of a home warranty company include available service plans and add-ons, depth of coverage, plan cost, industry reputation, customer support infrastructure, and additional features. We also focused on the ability to choose your own contractor, upgrade your coverage package, transfer your plan to another owner, and cover roof leaks, high-end appliance brands, ceiling and exhaust fans, and faucets and fixtures.
Our research supported that plan coverage should carry the most weight, with customer support as the second-most important factor. Industry reputation, plan availability, and additional features were rated equally. We determined that price range, while worth considering, should not be the primary basis for choosing a home warranty provider for your home’s needs.
