First American Home Warranty

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Payout Caps

Up to $3,500%

Service Fees

$75-$100

Contract Term

Monthly/12 mo.

Overview

First American Home Warranty has been providing coverage to homeowners for more than 35 years and it covers all major home appliances and systems with its plans. All of the service professionals are qualified and prescreened, with First American Home Warranty giving you the ability to request service on a 24/7 basis.

According to the company website, 63% of its customers filed claims last year, resulting in $177 million worth of savings. This First American Home Warranty review is looking at all of the key aspects of this home warranty offering.

Types of Home Warranty Services & Terms 

Plans and Pricing

There are two main First American Home Warranty plans that you can check out. The Basic Plan covers essential appliances, such as refrigerators, ovens, and washers. This package usually starts at about $25 per month.

The Premier Plan is the most popular option and covers all essential appliances, as well as the major home systems such as electrical, plumbing, and heating. This package will usually cost about $39.50 each month. These pricing plans are pretty good when compared with other providers.

The price of the plans can vary depending on what area of the country you are in, as well as what options you would like to be covered. You also have a list of add-ons that will cost extra. These include the likes of air conditioning coverage, with this add-on being $9 per month. You have up to 60 days to add extra coverage to your plan.

Service Fees

When you have an issue with an appliance or home system, a service professional will be sent to your home by First American Home Warranty. There will be a fee you will have to pay for this visit. This will depend on your plan, with the cost starting from $75 and going up to $100.

The specific sum you have to pay will be outlined in your contract. On average $75-$100 is about standard for the home warranty industry for a service fee. There is a 30-day workmanship guarantee on the repairs. If the appliance or system fails again within this period, you won’t have to pay another service fee for a visit.

Payout Caps

The payout caps will depend on the specific appliance or system in question. For example, the repair or replacement of a heating system will be capped at $1,500 per contract.

Coverage

After you have taken out a plan with First American Home Warranty, you will normally have to wait 30 days before you are able to request a service. This can vary from contract to contract.

Basic Coverage

• Attic & exhaust fans
• Ceiling fans
• Clothes washer & dryer
• Dishwasher
• Garbage disposal
• Instant hot water dispenser
• Kitchen refrigerator
• Built-in microwave oven
• Oven/range/cooktop
• Trash compactor

Premier Coverage

Includes what is covered under Basic Coverage, plus:

• Central vacuum system
• Ductwork
• Electrical
• Garage door opener
• Heating
• Plumbing/plumbing stoppages
• Water heater

Currently, there are 15 states where you cannot get coverage from First American Home Warranty. These states are Wisconsin, Vermont, Rhode Island, North Dakota, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Maryland, Maine, Louisiana, Illinois, Hawaii, Delaware, Connecticut, and Alabama.

Exclusions

The specific plan that you choose will have a list of exclusions clearly outlined. This allows you to be completely clear about what you can expect when dealing with a given offering. For example, there is no coverage for the likes of roof leaks.

There may also be certain scenarios where covered items and systems will not be eligible for repair or replacement due to certain types of damage or modifications.

You should read your contract to understand the specific exclusions that apply.

Claims & Repairs

If you run into an issue that should be covered by your First American Home Warranty plan, you are able to submit a claim on a 24/7 basis no matter what day of the year it might be. These claims can be filed either online or by phone. You will get paired with experienced service professionals in your local area who have been prescreened.

Your assigned service professional will contact you within 48 hours in order to arrange an appointment that is suitable for both parties. The technician will then diagnose what the problem may be, leading to its repair or total replacement depending on the damage. Simple repairs will normally take place on the spot, but sometimes parts will have to be ordered and another visit could be necessary to complete the repair.

If a replacement is needed, a suitable model with the same functionality will be provided. In rare circumstances, you may be offered cash instead of a replacement that allows you to buy your own appliance or system. There is currently no limit on how many times you request service during the course of your contract.

Customer Service

First American Home Warranty has been working with clients for more than 35 years, so it has a great track record in the home warranty space. It is an NHSCA member and also is accredited with the likes of Consumer Affairs. As you are able to get support on a 24/7 basis, you will even be stuck with an issue and not able to get some help.

First American Home Warranty cares about its customers. You are able to contact the support team by phone, mail, or email. The company has three major offices across the US, as well as having over 590,000 customers. First American Home Warranty currently has a B rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Final Thoughts

First American Home Warranty is one of the best providers of this type of coverage in the United States today. It has been operating for more than 35 years, so you know that it has a good track record of dealing with customers.

There are flexible plans that are priced competitively, you can file a claim 24/7, and it has a good reputation from the likes of the BBB. First American Home Warranty is certainly worth checking out.

Address

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7248, Santa Rosa, CA 95407

HQ Address: 1244 Apollo Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95407

Andrew Omalley

Andrew is a freelance writer who has been crafting valuable pieces of content relating to personal finance for more than five years. Previously, he studied Economics & Finance at university and he has professional qualifications relating to financial advice.