Home Warranties for Buyers and Sellers

You never know when a system or appliance might suddenly fail. Give yourself one less thing to worry about during this stressful time. Make sure those unexpected breakdowns are covered by a home warranty. Learn more about what a home warranty can cover.

Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance covers things that might happen (like natural disasters or theft), but a home warranty for sellers and buyers covers major appliances and home systems that will inevitably break over time.

You can protect appliances like your dishwasher, refrigerator, or stove and systems such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. When these items break, simply contact us. We’ll assign a prescreened technician to diagnose and fix the problem.

Learn more about the differences between Home Warranty vs Homeowners Insurance.

Home Warranty Benefits for Home Buyers

You’ve already spent so much to buy a new home. The last thing you need is an unexpected expense.

Major appliances and home systems break down often when you least expect it. That’s why so many home buyers invest in home warranty protection. As soon as you get the keys to your new home, you want to move in and relax. 

A home warranty can help by:

1. Protecting your budget from costly repairs and replacements
2. Saving you the hassle of finding a service technician you trust
3. Giving you an easy way to get covered items fixed

As a bonus, a buyer’s home warranty comes with special pricing and expanded coverage. And if you’re ready to make an offer on a new home, having a home warranty could help your offer stand out. (We’ll talk more about this later.)

How to Order a Home Buyers Warranty

There are several ways buyers can order a home warranty:

1. Get a buyers home warranty quote and order online.
2. Ask your real estate agent to order a First American home warranty. The warranty cost is usually included in the closing costs.
3. Call our Real Estate New Orders department at 800.444.9030 and select option 3. Our friendly agents will walk you through the process. 

Home Warranty Benefits for Home Sellers

No one wants to deal with broken home systems or appliances — especially when you’re selling a home. Adding home warranty coverage gives you 180 days of coverage during the listing period and a simple solution for breakdowns to keep the sale on track. Don’t let a setback like a broken appliance hold up your sale.

Seller home warranty coverage benefits include:

1. An easy, budget-saving way to get covered items fixed
2. Keeping the sale on track. Don’t worry about who pays for what when items suddenly break during the offer process or closing.
3. Reducing your risk after the sale is complete. When something breaks, the buyer calls us — not you!

When an item breaks while you’re selling your home, you contact us. We’ll assign a technician to diagnose and fix the problem. If something breaks after the sale, the buyer can contact us to take care of the problem.

Buyers vs. Sellers Home Warranty

So, what’s the difference between a buyers and sellers warranty? Are these separate warranty plans?

A sellers home warranty isn’t a standalone product. Instead, it’s a part of a buyers home warranty. In most areas of the country, basic coverage for sellers is included with buyers home warranty coverage. If you are in Florida or California, sellers coverage costs extra.

How to Purchase Sellers Home Warranty Coverage

As a seller, buying a home warranty gives you coverage while your home is for sale, and then the buyer gets at least a year of coverage after the sale closes.

Sellers can order a home warranty in one of two ways:

1. Ask your real estate agent to order a First American home warranty.
2. Call our Real Estate New Orders department at 800.444.9030 and select option 3.

You’ll typically pay for the home warranty in the closing costs.

FAQs About Home Warranty for Buyers and Sellers

What is a home buyers warranty?

A home warranty for buyers covers the repair or replacement of home systems and appliances when they break. It’s a great way to protect your budget and prevent buyer's remorse. When covered items like your heating, plumbing, or dishwasher stop working, contact First American. We’ll assign a prescreened technician to diagnose and fix the issue.

Is a home buyers warranty worth it?

Money can be tight after buying a home, and almost half of our homebuyer customers have at least one home system or appliance break in the first year. In fact, over 30% of our customers who’ve bought new homes use their home warranties in the first 90 days.*

You also get special pricing with better coverage and extra options when you buy a home warranty with your home purchase, making the plan even more valuable.

Is home warranty a seller expense?

We’re often asked, “Who pays for a home warranty, the buyer or seller?”

The seller or the buyer can buy the home warranty. Many sellers choose a home warranty to help their home stand out and attract more potential buyers. The seller gets up to 180 days of coverage during the listing and closing process. Then, the buyers get at least a year of protection after the sale is complete.

The buyer can also choose to buy the warranty as part of the closing process.

What does a sellers home warranty cover?

A sellers warranty is part of a homebuyers warranty. It covers many major home systems and appliances, including plumbing, electrical, water heaters, stoves, dishwashers, and more. In some areas, plans include heating, air conditioning, and ductwork. Where these are not automatically included in sellers coverage, you can add them as an option.

Sellers get coverage for up to 180 days during the listing period. When a covered item breaks, they simply contact us, and we assign a prescreened technician to fix the problem.

Available coverage, options, and upgrades vary depending on where the home is located. See what’s covered in your area.