First American Home Warranty review 2024

First American Home Warranty is our top choice for home appliance coverage because of its comprehensive appliance limits. However, First American has limited availability nationwide, and its prices are higher than other providers.

To help determine whether First American is the best home warranty for your needs, we scored the provider against our rating methodology. Based on our findings, First American is a solid choice if you live within its service areas.

Our thoughts on First American Home Warranty

We scored First American Home Warranty 4.3 out of 5 stars based on our comprehensive review standards. To obtain that rating, we researched, compared and scored First American’s coverage plans, add-on options and plan costs.

First American scored well in several sections, including coverage limits and service fee costs. It lost points for its lack of extra features and limited workmanship guarantee.

What we like

First American Home Warranty provides higher reimbursements for home systems and major appliances than many of the home warranty companies I’ve reviewed. I read First American’s sample contract and found it offers unlimited coverage for all systems besides water heaters. 

It covers up to $3,500 per appliance each time you file a claim in its basic and mid-tier plans. First American doubles its appliance limit to $7,000 in its comprehensive plan.

Another feature we like is the First American Advantage upgrade. This upgrade package increases First American’s coverage limits for miscellaneous repairs, such as concrete removal. The Advantage upgrade also covers improper appliance or system installations and cosmetic components, such as knobs, dials and door hinges.

First American is also notable for its solid reputation. It has accreditation with the National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA), a nonprofit organization that oversees member home warranty companies. I spoke with Pierce Haley, Esq., executive director of the NHSCA, who explained that the organization establishes a code of ethics to discourage member companies from engaging in bad business practices. “We do a due diligence check to ensure there’s no bad media press in the background,” he added.

What we don’t like

First American’s coverage plans are generous, but you’ll pay a hefty premium in return. Based on our national average calculation, you could pay up to $90 monthly for First American’s Premium plan. Other home warranty companies we’ve reviewed offer comprehensive coverage for around $60 per month or less.

A factor we can’t ignore is First American’s lack of coverage in 15 states. Most home warranty companies we’ve analyzed cover at least 45 states. 

We also found that First American doesn’t include central air conditioning coverage in its basic plan. The company adds air conditioning coverage in its pricier plans, however.

Compare top home warranty companies

First American Home Warranty features extensive home appliance and systems protection and an optional plan upgrade. Other top-ranking home warranty providers, such as American Home Shield and Liberty Home Guard, offer more robust standard coverage and longer workmanship guarantees.

See how the best home warranty companies compare based on key factors:

Company	BBB Rating	Our Rating	Monthly Cost	Appliance Coverage	System Coverage	See Plans
Our top pick Liberty Home Guard Visit Site	NR	4.6	$49–$60	$2,000	$500–$2,000	Visit Site
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty Visit Site	A	4.5	$22–$74	$2,000–$5,000	$2,000–$5,000	Visit Site
Elite Home Warranty Visit Site	A+	4.4	$55–$75	$500–$3,000	$750–$3,000	Visit Site
American Home Shield Visit Site	B	4.4	$64–$74	$2,000–$4,000	$5,000–unlimited	Visit Site
Cinch Home Services Read view	B+	4.3	$47–$64	$2,000	$10,000	Read view
First American Home Warranty Visit Site	B	4.2	$60–$76	$3,500–$7,000	$1,000–unlimited	Visit Site
ARW Home Visit Site	A	4.0	$45-$85	N/A	N/A	Visit Site
Select Home Warranty Visit Site	B	3.9	$44–$48	$500	$500–$3,000	Visit Site

Company	BBB Rating	Our Rating	Monthly Cost	Appliance Coverage	System Coverage	See Plans
Our top pick Liberty Home Guard Visit Site	NR	4.6	$49–$60	$2,000	$500–$2,000	Visit Site
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty Visit Site	A	4.5	$22–$74	$2,000–$5,000	$2,000–$5,000	Visit Site
Elite Home Warranty Visit Site	A+	4.4	$55–$75	$500–$3,000	$750–$3,000	Visit Site
American Home Shield Visit Site	B	4.4	$64–$74	$2,000–$4,000	$5,000–unlimited	Visit Site
Cinch Home Services Read view	B+	4.3	$47–$64	$2,000	$10,000	Read view
First American Home Warranty Visit Site	B	4.2	$60–$76	$3,500–$7,000	$1,000–unlimited	Visit Site
ARW Home Visit Site	A	4.0	$45-$85	N/A	N/A	Visit Site
Select Home Warranty Visit Site	B	3.9	$44–$48	$500	$500–$3,000	Visit Site

See all

First American Home Warranty availability

First American is available in 35 states. It excludes the following states from coverage:

• Alaska
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Wisconsin

In addition, First American excludes coverage in certain ZIP codes within several Midwestern states, including Indiana and Kansas. I called to ask about First American’s ZIP code exclusion, and the representative said that the company considers those ZIP codes “high-risk areas.” 

Coverage plans

First American has three coverage plans. Below is a quick summary of each:

• Starter Plan: The Starter Plan covers 12 major systems and kitchen appliances, including cooktops and HVAC systems.
• Essential Plan: The Essential Plan covers six additional systems and appliances on top of all Starter Plan items, including clothes washers, dryers and trash compactors.
• Premium Plan: The Premium Plan bundles all items in the Starter and Essential plans and covers 11 additional items, including hose bibs and luxury appliances.

A few other factors influence the cost and quality of First American’s protection plans. Here is a brief overview of each:

• Workmanship guarantee: 30 days
• Appliance coverage caps: $3,500–$7,000
• System coverage caps: $1,000 to unlimited

The table below shows a breakdown of First American Home Warranty’s coverage options by plan:

Coverage	Starter Plan	Essential Plan	Premium Plan
Air conditioning	✗	✓	✓
Built-in microwave	✓	✓	✓
Ceiling/attic/exhaust fans	✗	✓	✓
Central vacuum system	✗	✗	✓
Dryer	✗	✓	✓
Washing machine	✗	✓	✓
Dishwasher	✓	✓	✓
Ductwork	✓	✓	✓
Electric systems	✓	✓	✓
Faucets	✗	✗	✓
Garage door opener	✗	✓	✓
Garage door spring, hinges and transmitters	✗	✗	✓
Garbage disposal	✗	✗	✓
Heating system	✓	✓	✓
Hose bibs	✗	✗	✓
Install ground-level cleanout	✗	✗	✓
Kitchen range hood	✓	✓	✓
Luxury appliance	✗	✗	✓
Mini-split ductless systems	✗	✓	✓
Oven/range/cooktop	✓	✓	✓
Plumbing	✓	✓	✓
Plumbing stoppages	✓	✓	✓
Refrigerant	✓	✓	✓
Refrigerator	✓	✓	✓
Registers, grills and filters	✗	✗	✓
Shower head/shower arm	✗	✗	✓
Toilet tank/bowl mechanisms	✓	✓	✓
Trash compactor	✗	✓	✓
Water heaters	✗	✓	✓
Window A/C unit	✗	✗	✓

Additional coverage options

First American Home Warranty offers eight optional coverage items. In addition to the following items, it offers add-on coverage for additional refrigerators and pool systems.

• Additional refrigeration
• Central air conditioner (Starter Plan only)
• HVAC tune-up
• Limited roof-leak coverage
• Pool and spa equipment
• Septic tank pumping and system coverage
• Water softener
• Well pump

Coverage exclusions

First American Home Warranty provides an easy-to-read sample contract online that clearly outlines all its coverage terms and exclusions. While reading its sample contract, I found it helpful that First American bolded the components of each covered item that it will not pay to repair or replace.

First American’s “Limits of Liability” section lists its general exclusions. For example, First American doesn’t cover items with cosmetic defects, missing parts or preexisting conditions. Other notable exclusions are commercial-grade systems and appliances, improper installations, items with mold damage, solar panel systems and routine maintenance.

Quotes and pricing 

Due to its extensive list of standard coverage items and generous coverage limits, First American charges high prices for its protection plans. However, you can increase or decrease your monthly or annual premium by choosing a $75, $100 or $125 service call fee. Your choice should depend on how frequently you think you’ll need service.

When I requested a quote from First American online, I discovered it charges a $2 handling fee if you select monthly payments. You can bypass the handling fee if you choose annual payments. I used a 2,167-square-foot, single-family home in Nevada for my quote and compiled First American’s plan prices in the table below.

Plan Name	$75 Service Call Fee	$100 Service Call Fee	$125 Service Call Fee
Starter Plan	$62	$52	$47
Essential Plan	$72	$62	$57
Premium Plan	$87	$77	$72

Customer thoughts

First American Home Warranty holds a B rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This rating is common among the home warranty companies we’ve reviewed. The BBB notes on First American’s profile that complaints and reviews could apply to either the parent company itself or one of its corporate-owned locations.

I found First American holds generally positive ratings across third-party customer review sites such as Trustpilot. For example, I came across multiple reviews that praise First American’s professionalism, speedy service and quick communication. Shandell from Trustpilot mentions how pleasant First American is to request service from, noting that representatives are professional, thorough and quick to respond. 

However, I found negative customer reviews centering on claim denials, such as this review from Vishnu. Other customers echo this frustration with claim denials based on minor damages to covered items.

I interviewed a team member who had purchased a First American plan and filed multiple claims to understand his experience. He reported that First American resolved each claim to his satisfaction. He did note that First American sent him an unsatisfactory service provider during one of his service visits. After he notified First American about this issue, a new service provider was sent, no questions asked.

How do you use your First American Home Warranty coverage plan?

Once you sign up with First American Home Warranty, you have an initial waiting period of 30 days before you can file a service request. In the meantime, we recommend reading First American’s contract to understand how your coverage plan works. Below is a quick overview of how to use your First American plan.

Read your service contract

First American’s service contract contains all the information you need to use your coverage plan. After requesting a quote online, you’ll find a link to First American’s sample contract above the service call fee section. Here are the primary sections of First American’s fine print to review:

• Coverage time and renewal: This section indicates your contract’s effective date and automatic renewal information.
• Coverage details: This section lists all covered items and add-ons in your coverage plan. It also highlights component exclusions. Read this section carefully.
• Limits of liability: Another equally important one to understand, this section outlines exact terms for First American’s general coverage exclusions.
• Customer service: This section highlights the information you need to file a claim or contact customer service. It also lists provisions on service visits and its workmanship guarantee.
• Cancellation: This section provides an overview of First American��s cancellation policy and the fees it charges if you cancel after the first 30 days of purchase.
• Your duties: This final section lists all your responsibilities while your coverage plan is active.

File a claim

First American Home Warranty offers two options for requesting service: a dedicated claims phone number and an online portal. The “Customer Service” section of First American’s sample contract lists all the information you need to file a claim.

In this section, First American says it will typically respond to your claim within 48 hours of receiving it. Our team member reported that First American connected him with an in-network service provider within several hours of submitting his claim.

How long does your coverage plan last?

First American outlines your coverage plan length in the “Coverage time and renewal” section of your contract. Unless you purchase a multiyear policy, your plan lasts for 12 months from the coverage effective date. First American also has a 30-day waiting period before your coverage effective date begins.

You have 30 days from the purchase date to cancel your policy and receive a full refund. First American requires you to submit your cancellation request in writing to a dedicated cancellation email address. First American’s sample contract states you’ll need to pay a $50 cancellation fee if you terminate your coverage plan after the initial 30-day period.

How should you handle a dispute with First American Home Warranty?

In the event of a contract dispute with First American, you can take several steps to increase the likelihood of a resolution. They consist of the following:

1. Confirm your coverage details: Reread your coverage plan’s service contract. Ensure that First American lists your broken item or component under its warranty contract terms. 
2. Contact First American Home Warranty: Once you confirm that First American’s service contract covers your broken item or component, contact the company on three occasions. This gives First American ample opportunity to resolve your issue.
3. Document everything: Make a note of the person you spoke with and the date of contact each time you reach out to First American. These records show you did your due diligence if you need to escalate the matter.
4. Contact your state’s consumer protection agency: If First American continues to ignore your resolution attempts, you can escalate the issue to your state’s consumer protection office. You can also file a complaint with the NHSCA. The organization can expedite your complaint to First American’s upper management, which may lead to a quicker resolution.

First American Home Warranty vs. other home warranty providers

Liberty Home Guard is our top-rated home warranty company. LHG is one of the cheapest home warranty companies with a comprehensive plan under $70 per month, edging out First American. However, First American is one of the best home warranties for HVAC, partially for its unlimited coverage cap for HVAC systems.

First American Home Warranty vs. 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

First American is our No. 1 home warranty provider for coverage limits, with an appliance coverage limit of $3,500 to $7,000 compared to 2-10’s limit of $2,000 to $5,000. This higher limit also comes with a cost: 2-10’s average monthly premium is $45, compared to First American’s average monthly premium of $66. 

Category	First American Home Warranty	Liberty Home Guard	2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Our rating (out of 5)	4.2	4.6	4.5
Average monthly premium	$66	$55	$45
Average annual premium	$795	$662	$540
Average service call fee	$100	$95	$83
Number of add-ons	8	42	15
Reputation subscore	3.7	5.0	3.7

Final take: First American Home Warranty offers premium appliance protection in select states

First American Home Warranty offers excellent major appliance and system protection via its lofty coverage caps and holistic standard plans. You will pay a heftier premium for the extra protection First American provides. Unfortunately, First American lacks coverage in 15 states. This leads us to recommend a nationwide provider such as Liberty Home Guard if you live in an excluded state.

If you own a home in a state First American does cover, we highly recommend the company — especially if you need comprehensive appliance protection. Fill out the First American Home Warranty quote form to request your personalized quote.

Our rating methodology for home warranty companies

BBB ratings are accurate as of December 2023.