First Premier Home Warranty Review

First Premier Home Warranty Ratings at a Glance

Before discussing the specifics of what you can expect from a First Premier Home Warranty plan, it’s important to help you understand what is and isn’t included with a home warranty policy. Home warranties are policies that help provide you with a more affordable repair or replacement for your home’s systems or appliances if they break down because of normal use. In exchange, you’ll pay both a monthly fee and a per-incident service charge due every time you use your benefits.

Home warranty protection is different from the protection that you receive from your homeowner’s insurance policy because it covers breakdowns in a wider range of circumstances. For example, if your oven breaks down because of normal wear and tear, your homeowner’s insurance coverage will not provide you with funds for a replacement — this cost will fall on your shoulders alone as the homeowner. 

However, if you have an active home warranty policy, you’ll only pay your designated service fee for a fix, regardless of the actual value of the repair or replacement you receive. Though First Premier Home Warranty refers to this charge as a deductible, it is not a true deductible because you must pay it every time you use your benefits. 

First Premier has two home warranty plans it offers depending on your needs: Premier Plan and Platinum Plan. The Platinum Plan is the more comprehensive of the two and provides protection against common repair or replacement costs for major systems and appliances in your home. 

The Premier Plan is a more basic plan that covers fewer items but may be a better fit for those with a tight budget. Still, there’s a lot covered in the Premier Plan, so it’s definitely worth checking out. First Premier also offers optional coverage for things like pools, spas and other features listed below. While the company does not offer sample contracts online like most other home warranty providers, you can request a contract through First Premier’s customer service team before you buy a plan. 

Premier Plan

Unlike most home warranty providers that sell a separate appliance warranty and system warranty plan, First Premier Home Warranty’s basic Premier Plan includes coverage for both major systems and appliances. The Premier Plan includes coverage for the following home components. 

• Plumbing system
• Plumbing stoppage
• Whirlpool bathtub
• Water heater
• Oven, range and stove
• Electrical system
• Sump pump
• Cooktop
• Dishwasher
• Garbage disposal
• Ductwork
• Trash compactor
• Garage door opener
• Built-in microwave
• Ceiling and exhaust fans

Platinum Plan

The Platinum Plan includes everything in the Premier Plan, plus coverage for the following items. 

• A/C system (two units)
• Heating system (two units)
• Clothes washer
• Refrigerator
• Clothes dryer

Optional Coverage 

Under First Premier’s Optional category are several things that you might want to consider adding to your plan. You can purchase optional coverage for the following items: 

• Pool and spa
• Limited roof leak
• Additional pool or spa
• Sump pump
• Central vacuum
• Septic system
• Well pump
• Second refrigerator
• Septic pumping
• Water softener
• Stand-alone freezer
• Free-standing ice maker
• Refrigerator ice maker
• Additional A/C system
• Additional oven, range and stove
• Additional heating system
• Additional garage door opener
• Additional water heater
• Additional clothes washer
• Sprinkler system
• Additional clothes dryer

Overall, First Premier seems to offer a good variety of home warranty plans to choose from. There’s definitely something for everyone, whether you’re on a tight budget or you want the most comprehensive coverage possible. And if you need something that’s not included in one of the two plans, there’s a good chance that First Premier offers it as an optional add-on. While First Premier Home Warranty offers a range of included appliances and systems under its coverage, it can afford to make policy details and limitations more transparent. 

First Premier Home Warranty offers a few unique options you can use to get in touch with its customer service team.

• Via phone: To reach First Premier Home Warranty over the phone, call 800-388-1918. The customer representative who answered for this review was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about policy options.
• Over email: If you’d prefer to connect with a First Premier Representative over email, send your message to info@firstpremierhomewarranty.com.

As claims reporting and general customer service inquiries share the same phone line, you can reach First Premier over the phone 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This can provide you with a more convenient option for claims reporting and quick responses, which can be invaluable if you’re a landlord or other type of property owner buying a home warranty for a home you don’t actively live in. 

To help you get a better idea of what you might expect to pay for your First Premier Home Warranty plan, Benzinga Money requested quotes for a sample home fewer than 5,000 square feet in size. 

Pricing for optional add-ons is available both monthly and annually as well, with inclusions beginning at $2.08 per month for sump pumps and vacuums. The most expensive add-ons available from First Premier are its pool and spa options, which come at a price of $12.50 a month added to the cost of your plan. Policies from First Premier Home Warranty also include a $75 service fee, which is lower than most competing home warranty providers.

Where First Premier Home Warranty loses points when it comes to pricing is with its policy limitations. Standard policies from First Premier Home Warranty include an annual coverage limitation of $15,000. However, policies also include a clause that limits the total value of any “access, diagnosis and repair and/or replacement” you claim to $1,500 per item. This $1,500 limitation applies to most components included with standard policies, though optional items come with their own limitations. For example, the limited roof leak add-on protection will only provide you with up to $500 in roof leak repair coverage per contract.

While all home warranty companies institute policy limitations like the ones found on First Premier Home Warranty’s plans, it’s crucial that you know and review these limits before you purchase a policy. First Premier Home Warranty is one of the only home warranty companies that does not offer any type of sample contract for the customer to review before buying a policy. Users will not have access to this information without contacting a First Premier Home Warranty representative and specifically requesting it, and it’s possible to buy a policy without knowing that your plan includes a $1,500 limit on each item. In the future, First Premier can improve its policies by being more transparent about pricing and limitations. 

First Premier Home Warranty’s plans include a number of benefits over competing home warranty providers, including:

• Affordable service fees: The standard service fee on both of First Premier Home Warranty’s policies is $75. This is lower than most other home warranty service providers, which may charge up to $125 each time you use your plan.
• 24/7 customer service: First Premier Home Warranty offers 24/7 claims reporting over the phone and a helpful customer service team. This can be helpful if you’re buying a home warranty policy for the first time or if you’re shopping for a policy for a property that you don’t occupy.
• $15,000 coverage limits: First Premier’s home warranty policies include overall limits of $15,000 and a $1,500 individual limit on most appliances and major systems. This is higher than many other home warranty policies Benzinga has reviewed. 

When buying a policy with First Premier Home Warranty, you’ll enjoy a relatively straightforward, simple process. It’s easy to compare systems and appliances included on each plan, and you can purchase a policy without speaking with a representative. When buying online, most users will be able to get covered in as little as two minutes. First Premier also maintains an online customer portal system that makes it easy to submit claims and manage your policy online.

While buying a plan from First Premier Home Warranty is easy, the company makes it more difficult than necessary to access policy information before you buy. Unlike most home warranty companies, First Premier doesn’t offer an easily accessible service contract on its website. This makes it more difficult to compare policies across providers and doesn’t give you a full picture of the policy you are buying. This can easily lead to a situation where buyers believe that they have more coverage than they really do. In the future, First Premier Home Warranty can improve its user experience by making these crucial plan limitations easier to access.  

First Premier Home Warranty Versus Competitors

While First Premier Home Warranty offers coverages and plans similar to those you’ll find with competing home warranty providers, these policies may not be the right choice for everyone. For example, First Premier offers coverage in only 44 states and does not allow customers to choose their own service technicians. If you live outside of the company’s service area or you’re looking for coverage and inclusions not found with First Premier, competitors like Liberty Home Warranty, Choice Home Warranty or First American Home Warranty might have more suitable plan choices for your home.

Benzinga offers insights and reviews on the following home warranty plan providers. Consider continuing your search for the best possible home warranty coverage using a few of the links below. 

First Premier Home Warranty provides two policy options, each of which comes with coverage for a range of both systems and appliances. First Premier also offers an exceptional range of optional coverages, including add-ons for extra pools, septic systems and roof damage. While it’s easy to sign onto a policy from First Premier, finding crucial information like policy terms and limitations is not as straightforward. Overall, First Premier offers affordable plan choices, lower-than-average service fees and unique customization options for real estate professionals.  

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