Name: First American Home Warranty
Brand: First American Home Warranty

First American Home Warranty Review

As discussed in our Home Warranties Buyer’s Guide, home warranties are intended to provide peace of mind to homeowners who want protection for home-related costs that go beyond homeowner’s insurance. First American Home Warranty offers warranty plans to cover household items such as major appliances and electrical and plumbing systems.

Appliances and systems fail as they age. If the appliance or system is out of manufacturer’s warranty, the homeowner may be looking at hefty repair bills. Homeowner’s insurance covers the structure of the home itself but does not cover the repair or replacement of big-ticket items in your home unless destroyed in an insurable event like a fire or high-wind storm. This lack of coverage can create a large hole in a homeowner’s budget when a home system fails unexpectedly. Home warranties are designed to try to fill these financial holes.

First American Home Warranty serves over 550,000 customers and has 24/7 claims assistance available online and via telephone. They offer plans for homeowners as well as real estate professionals wanting to cover homes they have listed on the market. For homeowners, they provide a Basic and a Premier plan. Plans for real estate professionals have basic and optional coverage but vary based on whether they cover the seller or the buyer of the listing.

Pros

Coverage options give flexibility in choosing the coverage that best suits the consumer’s needs
Replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair
Monthly and yearly payment plans
Warranty allows the consumer to budget for repairs based on service call fees

Cons

Coverage exclusions can be confusing to average consumers due to technical jargon
Customers must use the contractor selected by First American Home Warranty

First American Home Warranty Costs

First American Home Warranty plans range in price from $288 to $468 per year. Instead of a deductible per claim as is standard with homeowners insurance, home warranties require a service fee before a contractor investigates a claim. You pay the required fee when the service repair person comes to the property to inspect the situation and make a diagnosis of the problem with the system or appliance. The service fee is charged to cover this home visit. First American Home Warranty has a $75 service call fee although there may be some variation in this amount based on the location of the home, the home size, or the warranty chosen.

First American Home Warranty Products

First American Home Warranty offers two main types of home warranties to consumers. They also have a real estate professional option. For consumer options, First American Home Warranty offers a Basic and a Premier plan. While prices vary based on home size and location, sample quotes we received were $41 per month for the Premier plan and $25 per month for the Basic program. The Basic program covers common appliances while the Premier plan adds in coverage for some home systems such as plumbing, electrical, and heating.

First American Home Warranty also offers add-on coverage for specific items that include pool or spa equipment, well pumps, and central air conditioning at additional costs. They also offer a First Class Upgrade with coverage for accompanying accessories and parts like knobs and interior lighting on microwaves, or faucets attached to plumbing. They also extend add-on coverage for additional types of refrigeration units such as freestanding ice makers or wine refrigerators.

A sample policy is available for review before your purchase a plan. Consumers are encouraged to ask questions about coverage before purchasing.

First American Home Warranty Fast Facts
Coverage Length	Cancellation Policy	Required Maintenance	Pricing
– 12 months – Coverage begins on the contract effective date	Non-cancelable by consumer except in agreement with the company after first 30 days or once a claim has been made. The company may cancel under certain conditions.	A clause in coverage requires proper maintenance of covered systems and appliances.	– Premium $288-$468 per year – Deductible $75-95

First American Home Warranty Coverage Limitations

While exclusions vary based on the exact plan purchased, some common exclusions are worth noting here. In general, there is no coverage on parts of an appliance or system that do not affect the actual function of the appliance or system. For example, knobs on a stove or shelves in a refrigerator. Also, if a covered system fails, items that are secondary to the system or that are easily movable may not be covered.

Computers, doorbells, televisions, and alarm systems are examples of this type of exclusion should the electrical system fail. Specific causes of failures can result in exclusions as well. For example, there is no coverage for damage due to pests, caused by lack of maintenance, or inappropriate usage of the appliance or system. Also, events such as power surges, smoke, theft, accidents, riot, vandalism, and acts of God are examples of non-covered events. In some cases, these exclusions exist because homeowner’s insurance provides coverage.

first american screenshot

First American Home Warranty Screenshot. Source: First American Home Warranty Homepage

First American Home Warranty Claims

The first step in filing a claim with First American Home Warranty is to review your warranty to determine if you have a covered issue. Once you have done this, call the toll free service number on your warranty or fill out the online service request form on the company’s website. The online form is the better option because you will have documentation of your claim from the start.

From that point, First American Home Warranty will select an appropriate service contractor in your area and assign them to the claim. The service contractor will then contact you directly to schedule an appointment based on their schedule and your availability. The service fee is payable when the contractor arrives at your home. The service contractor will inspect the system or item in question and make a diagnosis as to the cause of the problem.

Once coverage is confirmed, the service contractor will begin repairs, which may require more than one visit. If the system or item in question cannot be repaired, it may replaced. The replacement procedure will vary depending on item or system involved, and details will be discussed with the homeowner by a First American Home Warranty representative.

First American Home Warranty Complaints

First American Home Warranty currently has a 3 ½ star rating on ConsumerAffairs and a “B” rating with the Better Business Bureau. The majority of consumers who report concerns report confusion or issues with understanding what is covered or excluded by the policy. Some were confused about coverage limits as well.

First American Home Warranty Q&A

How long do I have to wait before requesting service?
If you’re a new First American customer, you must wait 30 days before requesting service.
Can I choose my own contractor?
No, First American Home Warranty maintains a list of service contractors that they dispatch based on the type of problem and location.
What happens if local or state codes have changed since the home system installation?
First American Home Warranty states they are not liable for upgrades, repairs, inspections, or other costs due to any laws or building codes.
What if my covered item breaks beyond repair?
First American Home Warranty may replace the item. Replacement coverage varies by system, appliance, and plan selected.
What if I disagree with a First American Home Warranty decision?
Try to reach an agreement with the company, as you would with any other product or service. Contact the company, explain why you disagree and have information to support your opinion. Get any promises of resolving the problem in writing. If an agreement is not possible, First American Home Warranty’s policies include an individual arbitration agreement waving class action rights, but you can still have the matter settled in small claims court.
Does First American Home Warranty do business in all states?
No. First American Home Warranty offers coverage in 38 states and the District of Columbia.

Conclusion

First American Home Warranty has been providing home warranties for over 30 years. Their plans include many exclusions, but they do offer add-on coverage that adjusts or eliminates some of these exclusions, which allows the consumer to tailor the warranty to fit their needs. As with any warranty or insurance product, is it vital to understand the terms and conditions of the coverage you are purchasing.

To check a quote from First American, call 877-755-6974 or start a quote online.

256 First American Home Warranty Reviews

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Featured Review

December 06 2021 1:15AM

My experience with First American has been really efficient and responsive. It's amazing. The response time is really fast. I'll submit online and then we'll hear back from someone within a couple of hours. Then we'll have someone likely scheduled within 48 hours, if not sooner.

Yvette M.

Manteca, CA

First American Home Warranty

Yvette, We appreciate your review. It is always great to hear when our customers have a fantastic experience with us!

March 01 2023 11:17AM

The water heater wasn't working and I filed the claim to First American on the phone. They sent a repairman and he had to order some parts, and now, it's fixed. So, everything went well.

It's nice to be able to have things covered for repairs so that I don't have to try and figure out contractors myself. There's been a few contractors that have not been good, but most of them are pretty good. First American is a good program.

Christine W.

Monterey, CA

February 24 2023 9:23AM

We had First American for about 17 years, but we sold the house in Arizona and I switched the policy over to the new owner. We thought we needed it on the house, and First American was always responsive to everything and they fixed everything that they said they would.

We were 70 miles from Tucson and getting contractors down in our area was hard sometimes. They'd have to come from Tucson. That was the only worst thing, but they would give me so much money and I could get my own contractor, and then I'd get them out to the house and they would come up with what was wrong.

We'd call First American and they would go ahead and authorize things to be fixed. Most of the contractors were pretty good. They all came through. There was one guy out of Tucson repairing a hot tub. He was the only person we ever had problems with, and eventually, they stopped using them.

Charles S.

Sierra Vista, AZ

February 22 2023 7:59AM

I've had a dishwasher that broke down and it was fixed the first time very promptly. The same thing happened to it within 60 days, and then I had to get it fixed again and it was a little bit more of a nightmare the second time because it took almost three weeks to get it fixed.

If I didn't call the company back, I'm sure they wouldn't call me, and tell me the parts have come in. I think the parts were sitting there for probably a few days and they didn't even call me to tell me that they were in, but they did a good job on the repair. So, that was the good news. They got it done and they didn't charge me, which is good.

Overall, First American's process is working. I will continue to support the service and I'll continue to renew the service because Lord knows I'm having to use it. The only thing they could do is if you're in the middle of a claim, they could check in with you to see if everything is going all right with your claim.

Susan G.

Atascadero, CA

February 12 2023 8:15AM

We're very happy with the work First American has always done. They always come through. To submit a claim, buyers call their Realtor, which is me. I call First American and I file the claim for the buyer.

They give me a claim number, and they give me the name of a technician and the phone number of the technician. Then that appointment is made through me. I let the homeowner know the time of the appointment. I try to be there also for the appointment.

I've had excellent interactions. They got very helpful, reliable and professional people. We had one particular plumber that did such an excellent job. Because of their professionalism, we don't have any problems. It's nothing but good rapport.

Angie C.

Albuquerque, NM

February 11 2023 8:17AM

I have different houses that are covered by First American Home Warranty. We have a representative that comes to our meetings, and he has been our representative now for the last three years. Submitting a claim is so far, so good. I've referred a lot of my owners to First American.

The only problem I had with them is it takes a while to get online to do a claim. Sometimes, I wait as much as 20 minutes to get through. They should have a direct line for claims other than getting on the computer and doing it.

When you call their main number and you're on hold for 20 minutes, that is kind of frustrating. Other than that, everything else seems to be okay and if I have a problem, I call the representative at First American, and then he gets things going a little bit faster.

Fred P.

Chula Vista, CA

January 31 2023 6:56AM

First American's customer support is good. I had them for a couple of years and then I went with some other company, and then I came back to First American because I wasn't satisfied with the other company.

Luigi R.

Scottsdale, AZ

January 30 2023 8:12AM

The First American representatives were great. I had a very good experience. When I first signed up, they were very willing to discount things but when it came time to renew, the renewal price was pretty non-negotiable.

I've submitted many claims to them. The process is good. There is some sort of clauses that limit their liability, and it can be a little bit frustrating at times but they're not in the business of giving out $10,000 checks when you're giving them $500 a year.

The people on the phone are pretty knowledgeable and very empathetic to whatever you're going through. As far as the technicians that come out, the levels of competency have definitely varied.

My most recent claim experience was not fantastic, but they resolved the problem. It was the Sears repair company, and the person arrived, and he was like, "Oh, I need a person to help me remove this item so I can work on it. They should have scheduled a person with me."

I said, "All right. I'm happy to help you." He said, "No. For liability, you can't help me." I said, "Whatever you say. Do what you need to do." He said, "I want to try to repair this thing without removing it. And I'll see what I can do."

He did repair it. However, he didn't reassemble it properly. So, he created a new problem. It's kind of frustrating because when I called First American, they were like, "Oh, if we come back and see it's a different problem, we're gonna charge you another fee." It was a different problem, but the guy created it.

Fortunately, I was able to see what the issue was and adjusted it myself. We didn't have to have someone else come out. What was frustrating is there was no way to contact the repair company and say, "Hey, your guy just left and the appliance is worse than when he arrived."

I can't call them. I can't email them. There's nothing I can do. I can just sit and wait. So, I had to go back to First American Home Warranty when the issue I was having was with the technician and the repair company.

First American Home Warranty said, "We're going to set up another follow-up ticket for the same repair order. If they come out and see it's a different issue and not the same issue, then we're going to charge you another fee." That was not a really good solution because it was a different issue.

Aziz A.

Rockville, MD

January 17 2023 9:06AM

We're happy with First American. I've already given out referrals or told friends to go with them.

Heidi V.

Bakersfield, CA

January 14 2023 11:53AM

With First American, I don't have to worry about the service person I contact because they're guaranteed by the home warranty. I've had claims for two water heaters, an air conditioner, and a dishwasher.

They fixed my refrigerator many times, they bought me a new washer, and they fixed my dryer. It's been a godsend. When I have a problem, I just send them an email or register it online, and usually later that day, I get a call and they come and fix it.

I've probably had 20 claims with them, and they've only denied one claim of mine. They don't cover secondary damage. I had to buy a new dishwasher. I probably should have reported it before because it was messing up and I just waited until it quit. A glass got broken and went down in the thing.

Overall, I'm happy with the service. Sometimes, you have to do some modifications to the house that they don't cover and it costs you a little extra money but my air conditioner cost me 500 bucks rather than 2,000. I really appreciate them.

Bradley R.

Fresno, CA

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