Jesus Sanchez Garcia is a senior writer for USA TODAY Homefront. His expertise focuses on home warranties, with over 50 hours spent reviewing provider sample contracts to understand their benefits. He also regularly performs consumer research, such as surveys and customer interviews with an eye on incorporating data into his writing. Jesus has a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, Stanislaus, and is still located within California’s vibrant Central Valley. When he is not researching or writing, he enjoys supporting his favorite sports teams, spending time with loved ones and chasing new adventures outdoors.
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Few home warranty providers offer home appliance coverage as comprehensive as First American Home Warranty. The company specializes in major appliance protection, paying up to $7,000 per claim. It also offers unlimited reimbursement for most covered major systems.
First American is one of the founding companies in the home warranty industry, having opened its doors in 1984. It pairs each of its three home protection plans with a customizable service call fee in the 35 states where it provides coverage.
We at Homefront evaluated First American’s coverage options, add-on variety, customer service and more. We also interviewed a team member who has a First American plan to learn about his claims process to get a feel for its ease and quality. After our research, First American Home Warranty scored in our review methodology as one of the best home warranty companies.
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.
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.
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.
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:
First American is available in 35 states. It excludes the following states from coverage:
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.”
First American has three coverage plans. Below is a quick summary of each:
A few other factors influence the cost and quality of First American’s protection plans. Here is a brief overview of each:
The table below shows a breakdown of First American Home Warranty’s coverage options by plan:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
We research and rate home warranty providers to help you choose the one that’s right for your budget and your home. The best home warranty companies offer many coverage choices, high coverage limits, competitive pricing, good reviews, solid service and extra features.
We rate companies based on our in-depth methodology. We score companies out of 100 on factors related to their coverage options, coverage limits, pricing, reputation, customer service and extra features. We then divide their final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
BBB ratings are accurate as of December 2023.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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