Home warranties provide insurance to protect many of the appliances and systems not covered by a home insurance policy. If a covered system or appliance breaks, the homeowner calls Fidelity National Home Warranty, which will send a repair person to fix the problem. The homeowner pays a service fee rather than the total cost of the repair.
Much like home insurance, a home warranty covers damage to appliances and systems for stated perils and certain types of water damage. It also covers breakdowns. The warranty acts as a system warranty and appliance warranty to cover home and appliance repairs.
Homeowners may choose from the standard plan, which covers dozens of household systems and appliances. Customers can also add optional coverage to cover the air conditioning system, refrigerator and pool equipment. The home warranty goes into effect after a homeowner signs a contract with the warranty company and pays the premium.
- Busy homeowners who are not do-it-yourselfers
- Homeowners who are not particular about the brand of parts used or those who want certain brand-name appliances
- Homeowners who do not have a preferred vendor
- Homeowners who do not have an emergency fund for home repairs
- Most major systems and appliances included in the basic plan
- No age limits on appliances or systems it covers
- Affordable for most homeowners
- Offers customizable plans
- Exclusions for certain perils
- Exclusions for improper maintenance of certain items
- Homeowners may have no say in brands or brands of replacement parts
- Work performed may not meet the homeowner’s standards
Fidelity National Home Warranty Ratings at a Glance
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Incorporated in 1974, Concord, California-based Fidelity National Home Warranty offers affordable home warranty plans in 17 states. Fidelity National Financial purchased the company in 1996.
The Fidelity National Home Warranty platform is straightforward, informative and simple to use.
Here’s how the home warranty service works:
- A home system or appliance breaks, and the homeowner calls to Fidelity National Home Warranty or files a claim online.
- One of the company’s preferred service providers will call the homeowner to schedule a service appointment.
- The service person contacts the company to get approval to fix the problem, usually within three hours during normal business hours.
- Once the repair is approved, the service person will repair the issue or replace the appliance.
When a homeowner notices a toilet backing up, they call for a repair, and it will be fixed as soon as possible. If the problem cannot be fixed, the company will send a new toilet and a licensed plumber to install it.
Homeowners can click on multiple places on the website to file a claim. They can also renew their policies by clicking on a button.
Homeowners who purchased the home warranty can also access a number of helpful videos online to learn how to make their own repairs. The videos cover everything from checking smoke detectors to fixing garbage disposals and flushing out hot water heaters.
The Standard Plan covers:
- Plumbing systems
- Plumbing blockages
- Doorbells
- Toilets
- Permanently installed sump pumps
- Recirculating hot water pump
- Water heater
- Heating and ductwork
- Electrical system
- Central vacuum system
- Bathroom whirlpool motor pump
- Attic and exhaust fans
- Smoke detectors
- Range
- Cooktops
- Telephone system
- Instant hot water dispenser
Fidelity National Home Warranty offers several tiers of plans starting with the Standard Plan. Extra coverage is available on the Comprehensive Plus Plan, Enhanced Plan or Enhanced Plus Plan.
The Comprehensive Plus Plan includes all systems and appliances on the Standard Plan, as well as coverage for the garage door opener, ceiling fans, dishwasher, oven, built-in microwave and trash compactor.
The Enhanced Plan adds coverage for smart home devices, a washer and dryer set and kitchen refrigerator in addition to all items on the Standard and Comprehensive Plan. This coverage does not extend to a refrigerator that sits somewhere else in the house, such as in a basement or garage. The warranty also covers dual compressor units.
The Enhanced Plus Plan includes all systems and items on the Standard, Comprehensive and Enhanced Plan as well as a water softener and reverse osmosis water filtration system. It also covers external pipe leaks and leaks that are encased in concrete or that are not easily accessible. The warranty also covers plumbing stoppages, radiant hot water or steam heat plumbing issues and water heater expansion tanks. It also offers an increase in the coverage limit for code violations.
Real estate agents who are insured for errors and omissions with CRES Advantage can offer their clients 13 months of coverage for the price of 12 months. By placing the CRES Advantage plan on homeowner transactions, the real estate agent could reduce their errors and omissions deductible by $5,000 if they get sued for a covered error or omission.
Real estate agents who represent sellers on the CRES Advantage plan could qualify their sellers for $50,000 of errors and omissions coverage through the seller's protection plan. Houses with home warranties may sell faster and get offers closer to their asking price. A home warranty is attractive to homebuyers who may have funds to purchase a home but don’t have the money to tackle repairs as they come up. Sellers appreciate home warranties because they protect the home while it is on the market. Listings that promote a home warranty are more attractive to buyers.
Service providers have access to an online dashboard that automatically notifies them of service requests. They can use the dashboard to update claims, manage invoices and review data related to their performance.
The warranty company supplies service providers with repeat business without the cost of marketing. The approval process is timely and efficient, so service providers can get to work quickly on repairs. Satisfied customers are likely to call on service providers again, allowing the service companies to expand their customer base. Service providers can also count on payment within 14 days of the warranty company receiving their invoice.
Benzinga gives Fidelity National Home Warranty 5 of 5 stars for its product offering because it caters to homeowners, real estate agents and service providers. The website is attractive, clear and user-friendly. The action buttons for filing a claim and renewing a warranty are visible and clear.
While the product offering rates are high, the customer service department at Fidelity National Home Warranty is lacking.
According to Consumer Affairs, customers give the company a 1.1 out of 5 stars. Customers complained of slow and poor service and disagreements about responsibility between the warranty and third-party vendors.
The company has 1,729 complaints on the Better Business Bureau, and 609 complaints have been closed within the last year.
Yelp reviewers give Fidelity Home Warranty 1.5 stars, and Benzinga gives the company 1 out of 5 for lackluster customer service.
Fidelity National Warranty has average pricing for the basic plan and the monthly service fee.
The cost of plans varies depending on which state the buyer is in. Prices for the basic plan range between $690 and $1,035. The optional coverages for air conditioning services, roof repairs, refrigerator repairs and other services are additional charges. The company also charges an average service fee of $85 when a customer files a claim for service.
The Fidelity National Home Warranty covers many things a home insurance policy does not.
For example, the warranty will cover fixing a short in an electrical system to keep the home safe and prevent a claim on the home insurance resulting from fire. The warranty will also cover repairing systems like a built-in whirlpool or central vacuum system. Homeowners can also get smaller repair problems fixed, such as issues with a garage door opener, ceiling fan or doorbell.
Not all things are covered, and some repairs have a cap of around $1,000. For these reasons, Benzinga gives Fidelity National Home Warranty 4 of 5 stars for user benefits.
The website is user-friendly for homeowners, real estate agents and service providers. Each tab takes the user to more information for that particular track.
The videos for homeowners are highly informative and may reduce the number of claims, as homeowners may be able to fix minor things themselves without needing a service call.
Real estate agents can download an informative brochure that highlights the pricing and coverages for a particular state so they can share it with their clients. The website clearly lists the benefits of a home warranty for the homeowner, homebuyer, seller and real estate agent.
Service providers have access to a handy dashboard where they can keep track of their service calls and billing.
Not all users for a home warranty purchase will be able to get an online quote without having to call customer service.
Overall, Benzinga gives Fidelity National Home Warranty 4 of 5 stars for its user experience.
Fidelity National Home Warranty Versus Competitors
Fidelity National Home Warranty’s platform has a few competitors such as American Home Shield and Liberty Home Guard. There are a few notable similarities and differences between home warranty companies.
Home warranty companies are similar in they typically have a basic plan and an optional plan that covers more appliances and systems. The optional plan carries an additional fee.
Home warranty plans are also similar in that they carry exclusions for not only the types of appliances and services they cover but also the types of hazards they cover. Fidelity Home Warranty excludes mold, mildew and fungus damage. The warranty also excludes repairs and replacements of appliances that are damaged by flood. In certain contracts, the warranty will not cover damage resulting from termites or insects.
Certain services have coverage limits that range between $500 and $5,000, depending on the nature of the service call.
All companies generally cover home systems and appliances. However, each plan covers different systems and appliances under the basic and optional plans. Something else that separates home warranty companies is they do not all operate in every state.
Benzinga gives Fidelity National Home Warranty an overall rating of 3 of 5 stars.
The actual warranty covers most appliances and systems customers would reasonably expect from a home warranty company. Homeowners can purchase additional converge for special items such as a swimming pool, septic tank, or roofing leak.
The Fidelity National Home Warranty offers average pricing compared with similar home warranty companies and is less expensive than some. The service fee is affordable considering what you would pay for an entire repair.
Warranty owners will appreciate being able to get large or small repairs completed by qualified service personnel without the cost or hassle of contracting with a service company themselves.
If the company could do anything better, it would be to improve its customer service and try to resolve some of the complaints mentioned in public reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Fidelity National Home Warranty?
Fidelity National Home Warranty was incorporated under this name in 1974, and the company was purchased by Fidelity National Financial in 1996. The company is located in the San Francisco area and serves customers in 17 states.
Are home warranties worth it?
Homeowners and real estate agents alike may wonder whether a home warranty is worth the cost. Home insurance policies are designed to protect homes against unexpected losses. A home warranty complements a homeowners insurance policy by offering coverage for system breakdowns and unexpected repair costs. Depending on the age of the home and other criteria, a home warranty can be worth the cost for some people.
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About Maurice Draine
Maurice Draine is a former insurance agent, broker, underwriter tech, and agent sales support rep with over 15 years of professional writing experience. Maurice helps insurance, financial, and various online and ad agencies, create the words that drive customers to their websites and keeps them there.