First American Home Warranty Review

First American Home Warranty Review for 2023

Are unexpected home repair costs causing you stress? If so, you’re not alone. Welcome to our 2023 review of First American Home Warranty. Whether you’re a homeowner looking for peace of mind or a prospective buyer seeking protection for your new investment, this review has you covered.

In this comprehensive guide, industry expert Scott Dylan Westerlund, known for his contributions to Angi.com, HomeAdvisor, and Today’s Homeowner, will walk you through all you need to know about First American Home Warranty.

We’ll start by discussing the key features of their plans, followed by a breakdown of coverage options, monthly and service fees. Along the way, we’ll uncover customer reviews and complaints found online, and provide a detailed comparison of First American Home Warranty with a top-rated competitor, Choice Home Warranty.

Let’s dive into the world of home warranties and ensure you make an informed decision.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS–

• BBB Rating: “B” Rated and Accredited Since 5/30/2000
• Time in Business: 39 years
• BBB Complaints: First American Home Warranty has 4,747 complaints in the last 3 years
• Customer Reviews at TrustPilot: 11,648 reviews with an average rating of 3.8/5 stars
• Cost: First American home warranty plans cost between $47 to $72 per month

If you’re considering purchasing a home warranty, you’ve probably already discovered that there are many home warranty companies out there vying for your attention. You may be wondering which company will give you peace of mind for your money.

When comparing home warranty companies, it’s essential to look at things like monthly fees, service fees, breadth of coverage, coverage limits, and extras. First American Home Warranty is a leading home warranty provider offering service contracts that protect a home’s systems and appliances from unexpected repair or replacement costs.

What Is First American Home Warranty?

First American is a major company that’s been around since 1899. Providing home warranties is just one the many services this company handles. In addition to being a leader in home warranties, First American also provides title and insurance services, lending services, trust services, closing services, and more.

First American Home Warranty (FAHW) has been around since 1984. As a home warranty provider, First American offers homeowners protection against costly repairs and replacements on their essential systems and appliances using a network of prescreened contractors and technicians.

If you’re searching for the most reputable and best home warranty providers, First American and American Home Shield are two of the leading companies to consider.

First American Home Warranty Review

First American’s home warranty plans cover crucial home appliances and systems. Additional coverage for pools and spas, well pumps, extra refrigeration, and more can also be purchased with your plan. First American also offers a list of exclusive upgrades to cover hauling for old appliances, building permits, correction of installation failures, and correction of code violations.

Coverage is capped at $3,500 for home appliances in the Starter and Essential tiers. That gets bumped up to $7,000 with the Premium plan. However, there’s no cap on heating, air conditioning, or ductwork with First American Home Warranty HVAC coverage.

You do need to read the fine print because First American Home Warranty coverage limits for some systems are capped at anywhere between $500 and $1,500.

First American Home Warranty Plans and Pricing

While some home warranty companies offer a high-end tier and low-end tier, First American offers three plans to help you customize your coverage based on your needs.

First American Home Warranty Plan 1: The Starter Plan

Starting at $47 per month, the Starter plan is American Home Warranty’s basic plan for covering all major appliances and seven home systems. This tier covers your refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, built-in microwave, toilet, plumbing, electrical, ductwork, and heating.

First American Home Warranty Plan 2: The Essential Plan

Starting at $57 per month, the Essential plan offers everything in the Starter plan. It also includes your air conditioning, water heater, clothes washer and dryer, exhaust fans, and garage door opener.

First American Home Warranty Plan 3: The Premium Plan

For $72 per month, the Premium plan offers everything in the Essential plan with the addition of coverage for your–

• garbage disposal
• garage door system
• trash compactor
• window AC units
• mini-split units
• hot water dispenser
• and faucets.

First American even throws in coverage for improper installation and code violations, concrete encasement, and permits. This deluxe tier could be appealing for someone purchasing a home with high-end appliances that require specialty parts or service.

Comparing First American Home Warranty to Other Companies

Can you get a better deal with other home warranty companies? While other companies may offer cheaper monthly premiums, First American’s completeness is hard to touch!

Select Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty

With every plan below $50, Select Home Warranty is the budget pick of the two. In fact, plans start at just $41. Select Home Warranty is available in a total of 47 states compared to First American’s availability in just 35 states.

Unlike First American’s approach of combining appliances and systems in every single tier, Select Home Warranty offers an appliance-only plan, systems-only plan, and deluxe combination plan.

While Select Home Warranty’s Bronze Care and Gold Care plans offer low pricing in exchange for making the choice between appliances and systems, the Platinum Care plan offers robust coverage for plumbing stoppages, ceiling fans, and garage door openers to go with appliance and systems coverage that can make it a worthy competitor of First American.

Select Home Warranty also offers robust add-on coverage for pool pumps, central vacuums, sump pumps, well pumps, septic systems, and lawn sprinkler systems. Fees with Select Home Warranty range from $75 to $100. The First American Home Warranty service call fee can be $75, $100, or $125.

First American Home Warranty vs. Choice Home Warranty

Like First American, Choice Home Warranty offers 24/7 customer service. However, Choice offers the advantage of being available in 49 states. Another major difference is that Choice Home Warranty offers two plans instead of three.

With the Basic plan, you’re getting your heating, electrical, plumbing, water heater, whirlpool tub, oven, dishwasher, built-in microwave, garbage disposal, ductwork, garage door opener, and ceiling and exhaust fans covered for $46 per month.

Upgrading to the Total Plan for $55 adds on your refrigerator, air conditioning system, clothes washer, and clothes dryer.

You can also purchase add-on coverage for pools and spas, well pumps, sump pumps, central vacuums, roof leaks, septic systems, and more.

Choice Home Warranty service fees range from $75 to $125.

Is First American Home Warranty Worth It?

When you’re strictly shopping based on the lowest price, First American might scare you off with its higher-than-average monthly premiums.

However, robust coverage combined with high reviews can make it easier to justify paying more for a contract. In addition to covering a wide range of items, First American offers generous coverage limits of either $3,500 or $7,000 per covered appliance.

Another perk is that many add-on features cost just $2 to $5 more per month. In fact, you’re looking at just $7 extra per month for a big-ticket item like your septic tank system.

First American Home Warranty Reviews BBB

First American Home Warranty has a “B” rating with the Better Business Bureau. Based on the 2,122 customer reviews posted on the BBB website, First American has a rating of 2.07 out of 5 stars. The company has had 4,795 complaints closed in the last three years.

First American Home Warranty Complaints

While First American Home Warranty reviews and ratings are pretty evenly split between negative and positive, many of the negative reviews for First American are related to contractor work and communication. In addition, some customers have grown frustrated by long waits caused by the fact that First American cannot locate contractors available in their areas.

Another common theme is the disappointment of finding out that an item isn’t actually covered due to the issue being deemed a preexisting condition by First American. While there’s no shortage of complaints online, First American hasn’t been the subject of many lawsuits over the years.

There are also plenty of First American Home Warranty customer testimonials that share how customers have saved thousands after appliances stopped working.

First American Home Warranty Reviews on Google

What are real users on Google saying about First American Home Warranty? The company has 3.3 out of 5 stars based on 1,706 reviews on Google Reviews.

First American has a refreshing 3.8 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot. Based on more than 11,000 reviews, the company has a “Great” rating on Trustpilot. Reviewers who give the company praise had great experiences with fast service, good customer service, and hassle-free claims.

First American Home Warranty Coverage Details

As covered above, First American plans cover all major systems and appliances in your home. The full list of potential covered items includes:

• Air conditioning
• Built-in microwave
• Ceiling, attic, and exhaust fans
• Central vacuum system
• Clothes dryer
• Clothes washer
• Dishwasher
• Ductwork
• Electrical systems
• Faucets
• Garage-door opener
• Garbage disposal
• Heating system
• Instant hot water dispenser
• Kitchen range hood
• Luxury appliance
• Oven/range/cooktop
• Plumbing
• Plumbing stoppages
• Refrigerator
• Shower head
• Toilet tank and bowl
• Trash compactor
• Water heaters
• Window AC unit

While this list can make it seem like you’d never have to worry about something breaking down in your home again, it’s important to understand that First American policies do come with limitations and exclusions.

When it comes to your heating system, chimneys, filters, and grills are excluded. While most kitchen appliances are covered, your coverage won’t work for knobs, dials, glass doors, and lock assemblies.

With electrical systems, First Home Warranty coverage exclusions include doorbells, low-voltage systems, timed circuits, and issues caused by power surges. Water heater coverage doesn’t include flues, vents, and storage tanks.

Other exclusions include common defects, damage caused by acts of nature, damage caused by natural or unnatural toxic materials, items covered under homeowners insurance, work needed due to missing parts, solar systems, and routine maintenance.

First American also excludes preexisting conditions from coverage. However, First American does not take the age of a system or appliance into account.

First American Home Warranty Claim Process

Once you realize that you need to file a claim, you can choose to either call the customer service line or submit your claim online through First American’s customer portal. It’s possible to file a claim online 24 hours a day.

Once your claim is accepted, First American will schedule an appointment with a service provider on your behalf. The provider will then visit your home. When the person comes out to your home, you will be asked to pay the service fee that is attached to your contract.

The turnaround time for most service calls is 48 hours. However, the period may be longer if there’s a lack of in-network contractors in your area.

First American Home Warranty Customer Service and Support

First American is one of the better companies for customer service and support. The fact that you can submit claims online 24/7 ensures that you’re never stuck waiting until morning to get the process rolling. First American’s comprehensive customer portal allows you to easily contact representatives over the phone or online.

First American Home Warranty Contractor Network

While First American boasts an extensive network of high-quality contractors, the company isn’t all that forthcoming with details on what that means. What we do know is that First American has some specific criteria for approving contractors.

In order to be accepted, a contractor must carry the licenses required by their state for their trade, carry general liability insurance, and comply with state requirements for workers’ compensation.

While First American dispatches contractors for their customers, some customers reveal the secret that the company will actually let you select your own contractor as long as you get approval first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

First American Home Warranty Rating Breakdown: 

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Scott Dylan Westerlund