Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty | 2022

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Looking for a comparison of Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty? In this article, our review team examines these home warranty providers head-to-head on customer reviews, cost, and coverage plans to help you decide which company offers the best home warranty for you and your home.

To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, call 929-400-6165 or complete this form. For a free quote from First American Home Warranty, call 800-891-9778 or fill out this form.

Comparison of Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty

Compare a general overview of Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty below.

Choice Home Warranty

  • Get a free quote: Visit site

  • Superlative: Best Basic Plan

  • Number of plans: 2

  • Premium cost: $41.69–$47 per month

  • Service fee: $85

  • State availability: 48 (all but CA and WA)

  • BBB rating: B

  • Years in business: 12

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First American Home Warranty

  • Get a free quote: Visit site

  • Superlative: Best Coverage Upgrade

  • Number of plans: 2

  • Premium cost: $37–$49.50 per month

  • Service fee: $85

  • State availability: 34 states (all but AL, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, VT, and WI)

  • BBB rating: B

  • Years in business: 37

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Pros & Cons

Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty both have benefits and drawbacks, and one may be a better fit for you and your home. Compare the pros and cons of each home warranty company below.

Choice Home Warranty

Pros:

✔ Covers appliances and systems, regardless of their age
✔ Available in 48 states
✔ Doesn't require a home inspection before coverage begins

Cons:

✘ Charges an $85 service call fee
✘ Has only 11 years of experience in the home warranty industry

First American Home Warranty

Pros:

✔ Provides 24/7 claims service
✔ Covers systems and appliances that were improperly installed or maintained

Cons:

✘ Doesn't offer central air conditioning coverage in either of its plans
✘ Doesn't provide optional coverage for roof leaks

Choice Home Warranty Coverage Plans

Choice Home Warranty offers two comprehensive coverage plans: a Basic Plan and a Total Plan. The Basic Plan covers 14 appliances and systems, and the Total Plan covers everything in the Basic Plan, plus an air conditioning system, refrigerator, washer, and dryer.

Here are the specific items covered under each Choice Home Warranty plan.

Basic Plan

  • Heating system

  • Electrical system

  • Plumbing system

  • Plumbing stoppages

  • Water heater

  • Whirlpool bathtub

  • Oven, range, and stove

  • Cooktop

  • Dishwasher

  • Built-in microwave

  • Garbage disposal

  • Ductwork

  • Garage door opener

  • Ceiling and exhaust fans

Total Plan

  • Clothes dryer

  • Clothes washer

  • Air conditioner

  • Refrigerator

  • Heating system

  • Electrical system

  • Plumbing system

  • Plumbing stoppages

  • Water heater

  • Whirlpool bathtub

  • Oven, range, and stove

  • Cooktop

  • Dishwasher

  • Built-in microwave

  • Garbage disposal

  • Ductwork

  • Garage door opener

  • Ceiling and exhaust fans

Choice Home Warranty also offers nine optional add-ons:

  • Second refrigerator

  • Central vacuum

  • Pool and spa

  • Septic tank pumping

  • Limited roof leaks

  • Well pump

  • Septic system

  • Sump pump

  • Stand-alone freezer

You can get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty by calling 929-400-6165 or by completing this simple form.

First American Home Warranty Coverage Plans

First American Home Warranty offers two coverage plans: a Premier Plan and a Basic Plan. The company's Premier Plan covers 16 systems and appliances, while the company's Basic Plan only covers eight home appliances.

First American notably protects item components that are excluded from some home warranty companies' coverage plans. For example, First American provides coverage for switches and a center rail assembly for a garage door, which other companies don't typically provide.

Here are the specific items covered under each First American plan.

Basic Plan

  • Clothes washer

  • Clothes dryer

  • Refrigerator

  • Dishwasher

  • Oven, range, and cooktop

  • Microwave

  • Garbage disposal

  • Trash compactor

Premier Plan

  • Clothes washer

  • Clothes dryer

  • Refrigerator

  • Dishwasher

  • Oven, range, and cooktop

  • Microwave

  • Garbage disposal

  • Trash compactor

  • Plumbing

  • Plumbing stoppages

  • Heating system

  • Water heater

  • Electrical system

  • Garage door opener

  • Ductwork

  • Central vacuum system

Additionally, First American offers the following optional add-ons:

  • Well pump

  • Pool and spa equipment

  • Secondary refrigeration

  • Central air conditioning system

  • First Class Upgrade*

*First American's First Class Upgrade covers expenses related to the removal of an appliance and the usage of cranes during installation. It also pays up to $250 when local building permits are required for replacing appliances.

To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, call 800-891-9778 or complete this easy form.

Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty Cost

Home warranty plans consist of two primary costs: a premium and a service fee. A premium is typically paid every month in exchange for home warranty coverage, while a service fee is paid every time a repair or replacement is needed.

First American Home Warranty and Choice Home Warranty's monthly premiums are similar in cost, but First American's premium cost range is slightly more affordable than Choice Home Warranty's cost range. The service fee for Choice Home Warranty is $85, while First American allows homeowners to select a service fee between $75–$100.

Note: The cost of optional add-ons for both of these providers will depend on the specific items you add to your plan. Optional coverage items usually add about $40 to $180 to a homeowner's annual home warranty cost.

Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty Cost Comparison

Choice Home Warranty

  • Monthly premium cost: $41.69–$50

  • Service fee deductible: $85

First American Home Warranty

  • Monthly premium cost: $37–$49.50

  • Service fee deductible: $75–$100

Customer Reviews

On the BBB, both Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty have B ratings. First American Home Warranty is accredited by the BBB, while Choice Home Warranty is not.

Regarding BBB customer reviews, First American Home Warranty has received more positive reviews, on average, than Choice Home Warranty. Here are a few BBB customer reviews for Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty:

Choice Home Warranty Reviews

"Although it sometimes takes a little work on my part to get a covered item repaired or replaced, my experience with Choice Home Warranty is great when compared to another home warranty company I had before Choice. Overall, I would recommend Choice Home Warranty." — Larry H. in October 2017

"I purchased a warranty and one month after purchasing, my A/C stopped working. When I filed a claim, [the company] sent out a technician that was more worried about being on the phone than looking over the issue. My claim was denied—[the company] stated [that] it was a pre-existing condition, which [it is] not able to prove." — Marcy W. on April 24, 2020

First American Home Warranty Reviews

"[First American] is great, and the company stands by [its] word. The company's contract is easy to read and understand. [First American's] technicians came out to fix what was insured. I paid $75 for my deductible, and the service provided was well worth it. Thank you." — Kentina R. on August 16, 2020

"I have had contractors not show up and I've had to go months without my dishwasher being serviced after numerous attempts at scheduling and rescheduling.." — Shelby S. on January 16, 2021

Our Conclusion

Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty were recognized by our review team as two of the best home warranty companies in the industry. We named Choice Home Warranty as the best home warranty company for older homes because it covers appliances and systems of all ages. We named First American as the home warranty company with the most comprehensive claims coverage because of its extensive coverage of individual components within each of its covered home items.

If you're looking for a more experienced provider with comprehensive claims coverage, consider First American Home Warranty. If you want protection for an older home or a comprehensive basic plan, consider signing up for a Choice Home Warranty plan. Before you buy a home warranty, we recommend getting quotes from both providers.

To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, call 800-891-9778 or complete this easy form. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, call 929-400-6165 or fill out this simple form.

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Home Warranty Rating Methodology

The Home Service Research Team at Better Homes & Gardens strives to provide unbiased and objective reviews to readers by compiling relevant information on home warranty companies and rating the providers on a variety of factors.

Here's what our review process looks like:

  • We examine each provider's website to determine plan details, coverage, customer service offerings, and other benefits. We also speak with company representatives to get more insight on plan details.

  • We read sample contracts from each home warranty company to analyze and compare coverage details, limits, and exclusions.

  • We read at least 100 third-party customer reviews for each home warranty company to determine the real-life benefits and drawbacks of each provider.

  • We gather cost information for a variety of home warranty plans in different states by completing online quote forms and speaking with sales representatives to simulate the quote process.

  • We revisit each company's offerings on a seasonal basis, ensuring that we include the most up-to-date information in our reviews.

We also created a 100-point rating system to score companies based on objective factors, such as plan options, coverage, and customer service:

Overall, the Home Service Research Team has reviewed over 70 home warranty companies to select the top-rated providers in the industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the waiting period for Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty?

The waiting period for both Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty is 30 days. This means that coverage doesn't kick in until 30 days after the home service contract has been signed.

How does a home warranty compare to homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance protects homeowners from structural damage caused by unexpected events, such as a flood or burglary, and liability claims. A home warranty plan protects homeowners from paying for expensive repairs and replacements when their systems and appliances break down due to normal wear and tear.

What is a comprehensive coverage plan?

A comprehensive coverage plan is a home warranty plan that covers home systems and appliances, instead of covering just systems (systems plan) or just appliances (appliances plan).

What are some other reputable home warranty companies?

Here are some other home warranty companies that made our review team's top home warranty list: