Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
First Premier Home Warranty Review
By Shelby Bennett MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Founded in 1989, First Premier Home Warranty is one of the industry’s oldest and best home warranty companies. Over the years, they’ve built a reputation for quality coverage at a reasonable price. This review will look at their service plans, customer service team, home warranty plan costs, limits, and pros and cons to help you decide if First Premier is the right home warranty company for you.
Wondering what does a home warranty cover, and what’s the difference between a home warranty and homeowners insurance?
A home warranty is a service contract that covers the repair or replacement of major home appliances and systems, such as the HVAC system, electrical system, plumbing, and more. On the other hand, homeowners insurance covers damages caused by fires, storms, and theft.
First Premier Warranty overview
- Available in 48 states
- Responsive customer service
- Multiple optional coverage items
- Cheap annual premiums
- Has been in business for a long time
- Offers only two coverage plans
- Website doesn't have online chat
- Numerous customer complaints about the claims process
Pros explained
- Available in 48 states. First Premier Home Warranty offers coverage over a large coverage area. The only states where First Premier is unavailable are California and Iowa.
- Responsive customer service team. The First Premier Home Warranty website makes it easy to contact a qualified representative via email or phone. Customer service agents are available Monday to Friday, and customers can submit claims 24/7.
- Multiple optional coverage items. In addition to the standard coverage items included in most home warranty plans, First Premier offers optional add-ons that cover sump pumps, septic systems, and guest houses.
- Market veteran. With over 30 years of experience in the home warranty industry, First Premier has a long track record of providing quality coverage to its customers.
- Cheap annual premiums. First Premier has very reasonable annual premiums compared to other home warranty companies. For example, their Basic plan starts at just $379 per year.
Cons explained
- Offers only two coverage plans. First Premier Home Warranty offers the Premier Basic Plan and the Premier Platinum Plan. While both plans cover a wide range of items, some competitors offer more coverage plans with a wider range of rates. However, First Premier offers quite a few optional add-ons, which give you the power to tailor your plan to your needs.
- Website lacks an online chat feature. While the First Premier Home Warranty website is easy to navigate, it doesn’t have an online chat function. This can make it difficult to get answers to questions promptly.
- Customer complaints about the claims process. While most customers are happy with First Premier’s claims process, some have said that it can be difficult to get a repair or replacement completed on a deadline. This is a common complaint about home warranty companies and often stems from the fact that they don’t directly employ the service providers who are tasked with diagnosing and repairing covered systems and appliances.
First Premier Home Warranty coverage
Homeowners can choose between two coverage plans with First Premier: the Premier Plan and the Premier Platinum Plan.
What it offers
If you take the time to analyze the coverage offered by First Premier Home Warranty policies, you will notice that it includes many crucial items. These plans cover everything from your cooktop and ductwork to plumbing stoppages and roof leaks.
The Premier plan covers most basic house equipment, while the Platinum plan covers more complicated and expensive systems such as air conditioning and heating.
First Premier also offers a wide range of optional add-ons to their plans, which can provide additional coverage for your home. This enables you to customize a plan that works best for your house and your budget. You can add extra protection to your home by purchasing coverage for a central vacuum, additional garage door openers, second refrigerators, an extra spa, or another water heater.
What it doesn’t offer
First Premier’s home warranty coverage plans offer several important protections against common household failures.
However, a few things are not covered by the plan. These include cosmetic items like door handles and knobs, air conditioning maintenance, grills, sediment build-up, and reservoir tanks for water heaters.
The plan also doesn’t cover damage caused by storms and other natural disasters, thefts, or vandalism. Additionally, routine maintenance, cosmetic defects, and system or appliance upgrades are typically not included in the coverage.
First Premier Warranty plans
As mentioned before, First Premier Home Warranty offers two coverage plans for homeowners: the Premier Plan and the Platinum Plan. Here’s a breakdown of the major differences between the two:
Premier Plan
The Premier Plan offered by First Premier Home Warranty is a good, low-cost option for homeowners. While the cost of the basic plan varies from state to state, the lowest price for a First Premier Home Warranty plan is $379 per year. However, a Premier Plan in New York or Missouri, for example, will cost $419 annually.
This plan covers:
- Plumbing System
- Plumbing Stoppage
- Water Heater
- Whirlpool Bathtub
- Electrical System
- Oven/Range/Stove
- Cooktop
- Sump Pump
- Built-in Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Garbage Disposal
- Trash Compactor
- Ductwork
- Garage Door Opener
- Ceiling & Exhaust Fans
Premier Platinum Plan
The Premier Platinum Plan will cost you about $48.99 a month or $499 a year, but as mentioned earlier, your actual price will vary depending on what state you live in. This is the more comprehensive plan that includes all of the basics listed above as well as coverage for the following:
- A/C System (2 Units)
- Heating System (2 Units)
- Clothes Washer
- Refrigerator
- Clothes Dryer
First Premier Home Warranty coverage also offers a variety of optional add-ons to customize your home warranty policy further. These add-ons include:
- Pool / Spa
- Additional Spa
- Limited Roof Leak
- Central Vacuum
- Sump Pump
- Well Pump
- Septic System
- Septic Pumping
- Second Refrigerator
- Stand Alone Freezer
- Water Softener
- Refrigerator Ice Maker
- Free Standing Ice Maker
- A/C System
- Heating System
- Water Heater
- Garage Door Opener
- Oven/Range/Stove
- Clothes Washer
- Clothes Dryer
- Sprinkler System
Each add-on has its own monthly or yearly fee. For instance, the annual coverage for add-ons like central vacuum or sump pump coverage is only $25, while an item like a pool or spa is $150 per year.
What do the customer reviews say about First Premier?
Online reviews for First Premier Home Warranty are a mix of positive and negative, with many praising the company for its customer service and coverage and others criticizing it for denying their claims or not fully covering the cost of a repair or replacement.
On BBB, customers rated First Premier 3.28 out of 5 stars based on 93 customer reviews. The First Premier Home Warranty reviews are similarly mixed, with some speaking positively about the company’s customer service and others complaining that the home warranty company denied their claims. There were 90 complaints in the last three years, with 80 closed complaints in the last year alone.
- Cost. On price, customers say that First Premier is competitive with other home warranty companies offering affordable annual plans. The company offers a variety of annual coverage plans and add-ons to help you customize your home warranty policy.
- Response rate. Customers say that First Premier is responsive and has outstanding service. The company offers 24/7 customer service and has a certified technician team to help with home repairs.
- Claims process. The claims process is where customers say they have had most problems with First Premier. Some customers say that their claims were denied or not fully covered. Others noted that their claims process took a long time.
- Denied claims. There have been some reports from customers who said they had to pay for repairs that their home warranty should have covered. Others have had issues with the company not honoring their coverage.
- Incentivizing reviews. Some customers say they have been asked to leave a positive review in exchange for a discount on their home warranty policy.
First Premier Home Warranty FAQ
How we evaluated First Premier Home Buyers Home Warranty
When evaluating First Premier Home Warranty, we looked at the variety and comprehensiveness of the plans offered. We also considered the company’s customer service reputation, response time, and claims process.
Although customer reviews are sometimes unreliable and subject to manipulation, we looked at reviews from a variety of sources and attempted to spot patterns of praise and criticism. We paid close attention to what customers had to say about the claims process, as this is often the most important part of a home warranty from the customer’s perspective.
We also considered the price of First Premier’s plans and whether or not they were competitive with other home warranty companies. Finally, we looked at the company’s transparency and whether it set accurate expectations for its customers regarding policies, claims, and coverage limits.
First Premier Home Warranty summary
We think First Premier is a good home warranty company based on our research. When stacked against its competition, First Premier holds its own. We like some things about their plans and coverage and some things we think they could improve. Overall, we believe they are a good choice for a home warranty, and we have listed some of the reasons below.
What we like:
- Low home warranty plan costs
- Coverage plan covers a wide variety of items
- No home inspection requirements
- 90-day guarantee on all repairs
What we think they could improve:
- The website could be more user friendly
- They need to offer sample contracts on the website
- It isn’t available in all states
- They have bad online customer reviews
- Waiting period of 30 days for coverage to begin
In sum, we think First Premier offers a good product at a good price, but there are some things they could improve upon.
Remember to proceed with caution when signing up for any home warranty, as there is always the potential for problems to arise. We recommend reading the fine print of your contract carefully and researching the company thoroughly before making a decision.
Home warranties can be a great way to protect your home, but it’s important to be informed before making a final decision.
Shelby Bennett is a veteran freelance writer with eight years of experience. She has a name for herself in the publishing industry, and her byline appears under some of the most well-respected authorities in the space. Shelby is a Guest Contributor for Capterra, Software Advice, GetApp, EC-COUNCIL, and many more.