First American Home Warranty Review | 2022

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First American Home Warranty has a solid reputation and numerous years of experience in the home warranty industry. In this review, we will go over the provider's basic plan, comprehensive packages, coverage limits, and pricing tiers. Our team will also disclose what is and isn't included in its packages.

Keep reading to understand the advantages of a home warranty and how a typical policy works. We aim to provide you with the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision when finding the best home warranty for you.

To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, call 800-891-9778 or fill out this simple form online. Get $100 off when signing up online.

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Pros and Cons of First American Home Warranty

Background & State Availability

Established in 1984, First American Home Warranty has a long-standing reputation within the home warranty industry. Policyholders receive benefits like 24-hour accessibility to file a service request, unlimited service calls, and flexible payment options.

• Years in Business: 37 years

• BBB Rating: B

• Number of BBB Reviews: 2,336

• State Availability: 35 states*

*FAHW is unavailable in AK, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NY, ND, RI, VT, and WI

First American Home Warranty Plans & Coverage

The home warranty company only offers two packages to choose between — a basic plan and a premier bundle. Check out how the plans differ and if more comprehensive coverage makes sense to your budget and the current condition of your home systems and appliances.

Coverages Caps and Exclusions

Under a First American Home Warranty, the components required for equipment to function correctly are included. For a heating system, repairs or replacements are covered, including up to $1,500 for geothermal and water source heat pumps. Coverage for a garage door includes switches, motors, the center rail assembly, and adjustments.

Excluded parts from common systems and appliances include:

• Water heater exclusions: Holding or storage tanks, flues, vents, and fuel storage tanks.

• Heating systems: Space heaters, chimneys, filters, and grills.

• Kitchen appliances: Rotisseries, knobs, dials, lock assemblies, and door glass.

• Electrical systems: Low voltage systems, power surges, timed circuits, and doorbells.

While pre-existing conditions are excluded from coverage, First American Home Warranty does not limit the age of a system or appliance it protects. Before acquiring a contract, it's a good practice to document maintenance and service records to ensure they are in safe and efficient working order.

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Optional Add-Ons

To further customize your warranty, First American Home Warranty offers optional coverage options for an additional fee. After agreeing to a contract, a First American Home Warranty sample contract reveals policyholders have 60 days to add optional coverage.

First American offers the following items as optional add-ons, which cost an extra $7-$15 per month:

• Central air conditioning, electric

• Additional refrigeration

• Pool/spa

• Well pump

• Septic tank pumping/system

• HVAC tune-up

• First Class Upgrade*

*When adding the First Class Upgrade, policyholders gain protection for factors like cosmetic damage to a home system or appliance. It is also a valuable coverage to offer financial assistance for circumstances that are common during replacing irreparable equipment, like:

• Covers the expenses from using cranes during installation

• Pays up to $250 where local building permits are required for replacing appliances

• It pays for the expenses related to the removal or hauling away of an appliance

First American Home Warranty Pricing

When compared to the average cost of a contract, First American Home Warranty is competitive. Typically, the monthly expenses begin at around $35 per month for basic coverage and around $50 for more comprehensive protection.

Along with an $85 service fee, here is what you can expect for First American's pricing:

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First American Home Warranty Quote Process

Our team received a mock quote in Santa Rosa, CA, to find out how easy or difficult the process is. We discovered that after entering an eligible address into the quote form, we were directed to learn more by choosing between the basic plan and premier package. Within minutes, an agent reached out to the phone number and email address we supplied. Another way to get a free quote is by calling 800-891-9778.

First American Home Warranty Claim Process

When claiming a problematic system or appliance, policyholders of a First American Home Warranty service contract have a few options. The most convenient way to make a claim is to log into an Account Center, and explain the issues you are experiencing. Or, you can call 800-891-9778 to speak with an agent and request service.

Typically, a technician will contact a homeowner within 48 hours to set up a mutually convenient appointment. Once on the property, the expert will diagnose the problem and determine if a repair or replacement is necessary.

First American Home Warranty Reviews

When researching the company's BBB page, we found that First American Home Warranty has a B rating with more than 2,000 customer reviews. Here's a sample of what they're saying:

—James B., 7/17/2021

—Keith V., 6/22/2021

—Tawny T., 6/21/2021

—Patricia W., 6/13/2021

Verdict & Recommendation

After reviewing the available plans, prices, and sample contracts from First American Home Warranty, we found both advantages and disadvantages regarding the company. While it doesn't offer as many coverage options as some home warranty companies, it's an affordable option for many homeowners.

To get a free quote from First American, call 800-891-9778 or fill out this form online.

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Compare Home Warranty Companies

Many homeowners see value in owning a home warranty but aren't sure which company to work with. To help our readers find the home warranty company that best fits their needs, our review team examined the top home warranty providers on factors related to their value, such as breadth of coverage, cost, reputation, and state availability.

Our analysis found that American Home Shield, Choice Home Warranty, and Select Home Warranty are the three best home warranty providers in the industry. See below how each home warranty company compares with one another and how to get free quotes.

Best coverage Upgrade

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Best Overall

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Best Basic Plan

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Best Plan Variety

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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

Why do home warranty companies have exclusions?

While home warranty companies offer financial peace of mind and a way to protect your budget from unforeseen expenses, their terms and conditions are limited. For instance, exclusions and coverage caps are in place to prevent unapproved issues with home systems and appliances under the warranty.

How can I learn more about First American Home Warranty?

If you're interested in learning more about First American Home Warranty, the company can be contacted by calling 833-777-0049. Or, you can begin the process of purchasing a contract by filling out this online form and selecting the type of coverage you require.

How does a home warranty work?

Home warranty plans provide peace of mind coverage for home systems and appliances. Generally, a policy is purchased in 12-month intervals. It ensures that once your equipment begins showing signs of wear and tear, a contractor will address the issue. The financial responsibility to repair or replace a system or appliance is limited to a service call fee if the problem is covered under warranty.

What is a service fee?

A service call fee is standard upon most home warranty companies. The expense is paid for by a policyholder and is due when a technician arrives to address an issue. We found that the average cost for a service request is between $75–$125.

What is another good home warranty company?

American Home Shield is an industry leader that has been in operation for over 45 years. Its commitment to customer service and comprehensive packages help make it our recommended provider for those seeking home warranty coverage. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, call 844-529-9298 or fill out this online form.