Can You Buy a Home Warranty After Closing? Yes, Here's How

Wondering whether it’s possible to buy a home warranty after closing? The simple answer is yes. While many home buyers purchase home warranties during the closing process, you can purchase coverage for up to 60 days after closing. Read on to learn how to order coverage, when it starts, and the benefits you’ll enjoy. 

Why Buy a Home Warranty After Closing?

While there is no requirement to purchase a home warranty at closing, home warranty protection can be a great financial help, particularly in the first year of homeownership, when budgets are often most strained.

What does a home warranty cover after closing? Home warranty coverage helps protect your budget from costly repairs and replacements when covered home appliances and systems break due to normal wear and tear. It offers security and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have a financial safety net if a covered household item suddenly stops working properly.

How Does a Home Warranty Work?

With a First American home warranty, you simply submit a service request online or via phone, and we’ll assign a prescreened contractor from our network to come to your home and diagnose the issue. Once we confirm coverage, your broken item will be repaired, and if we can’t repair it, we’ll replace it.*

Unlike homeowners insurance, which covers vandalism and natural disasters like fires, storms, floods, and other major events, home warranties cover everyday appliance and home system breakdowns, such as a refrigerator or HVAC system that breaks down. Because homeowners insurance and home warranties differ, many homeowners prefer having both as part of their overall home protection plan.

When You Buy a Home Warranty After Closing, When Does Coverage Start?

If you decide to get a home warranty after the purchase of a home, you will want to get a First American buyer’s home warranty plan (also known as a real estate home warranty plan) within 60 days after closing. These plans have no waiting period, meaning your coverage starts immediately, and you can submit claims on your first day in your new home.

First American home warranty plans also come with exclusive member benefits designed to make homeownership easier, and these benefits also begin on day 1 of coverage. Savings include:

• Generous discounts on brand-name appliances
• Discounts on air filters and refrigerator water filters
• Home improvement services and more

You can access these member benefits (and manage your claims) by setting up a First American Home Warranty Homeowners Account online.

Protect your new home today. Get a buyer's home warranty quote.

What If I Bought My House More Than 60 Days Ago?

If you’ve owned your home longer than 60 days, you can still enjoy the benefits that home warranties offer by purchasing a home warranty for homeowners. While similar to our real estate home warranties, these plans are designed for current homeowners. 

Explore plans for homeowners and learn more about the comprehensive coverage they offer.

How to Buy a Home Warranty After Closing

Start by talking to your real estate agent, or you can review our coverage options and upgrades to learn more about what is available to you. Home warranties generally include essential household appliances and systems such as refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, ranges, and cooktops, plus plumbing and electrical systems.

At First American Home Warranty, you can also purchase additional layers of protection, including pool/spa coverage, extra coverage for luxury appliances, and much more. It’s easy to find the coverage that fits your home and budget, but it pays to do your homework beforehand.

When you’re ready to purchase your home warranty, the process is simple:

To Buy a Home Warranty Within 60 Days of Your Home Purchase:

• Get a buyer's home warranty quote and explore plans, coverage options, and upgrades.
• Your real estate agent will contact First American Home Warranty to order a real estate home warranty plan for you.

After you’ve paid for your home warranty plan, your coverage starts immediately. First American home warranty plan payments can be made in monthly installments or in a single annual payment. And, because your coverage begins right away, you can access your member benefits immediately.

To Buy a Home Warranty for Homeowners:

• Get a home warranty quote and explore plans, coverage options, and upgrades.
• Contact First American Home Warranty to order your plan. Like our real estate home warranty plans, your home warranty plan payment can be made in either monthly installments or a single annual amount.

Benefits of Buying a Home Warranty After Closing

Owning a home is exciting — but it’s also unpredictable. Major home appliances and systems that you rely on can break unexpectedly, upsetting your daily household routine. A home warranty covers repairs and replacements that homeowners' insurance typically doesn’t, protecting your finances and providing valuable peace of mind when the inevitable happens.

Many benefits come with purchasing a buyer’s home warranty within 60 days after your closing date, including:

Home Warranty with No Waiting Period

When you buy a First American home warranty plan within 60 days of close, protection begins as soon as you pay for it, without any waiting period.

Enhanced Buyer Coverage

Buyer plans include these added benefits:

• Broader protection for more appliances and systems
• Lock rekeying service
• Coverage for appliances and systems regardless of their age**

Optional Coverage Upgrades

First American Home Warranty offers a range of coverage options and upgrades. Some of our most popular ones include:

• Appliance Plus: Doubles the coverage limit for your kitchen and laundry appliances
• Plumbing Plus: Covers expensive plumbing issues, including leaks or breaks in pipes encased in concrete or outside your home’s foundation
• First Class Upgrade: Adds coverage for permits, code upgrades, refrigerant disposal, and removal of replaced items
• Codes, Mods, and More: Provides an extra allowance for code compliance and modifications when repairing or replacing HVAC systems and water heaters

Generous Coverage Limits

Coverage limits are the maximum amount a home warranty plan will pay toward covered repairs, replacements, or claims during a contract term or for a specific item or service. Once that limit is reached, the homeowner is typically responsible for any remaining costs.

Modern appliances and systems can be costly to fix or replace. First American offers some of the most comprehensive and generous coverage limits in the industry, helping many homeowners save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Ready to protect your new home? Order a buyer's home warranty now.

FAQs About Buying Home Warranties

Can I buy a home warranty after closing?

Yes. You can purchase a buyer’s home warranty (also known as a real estate home warranty plan) up to 60 days after closing. You’ll get special pricing and enhanced coverage, especially for home buyers.

When does a buyer’s home warranty coverage start?

Coverage starts as soon as you pay for it. And, provided you’ve purchased coverage within 60 days of your close, a First American buyer’s home warranty has no waiting period, and you can begin enjoying the exclusive member benefits included in your plan. To get started, simply set up an online First American Home Warranty Homeowners Account.

How long does a home warranty last?

Most plans provide one year of coverage, with the option to renew annually. First American home warranties offer automatic annual renewals, helping homeowners avoid coverage gaps.

What’s the difference between a buyer's home warranty and a home warranty for homeowners?

If you’re in the process of buying a home or you’ve purchased one within the last 60 days, you’ll want a buyer's home warranty (also known as a real estate home warranty).

If it’s been more than 60 days since you closed on a property, a home warranty for homeowners is the right plan for you.

Note: If you’re selling a home, be sure to review our seller’s coverage and ask your agent to include it with your listing. Seller's coverage protects appliances and systems regardless of age and offers many other benefits to home sellers as well.

*In some instances, Homeowner and First American may agree to payment of cash in lieu of repair or replacement. Payment will be made based on First American’s negotiated rates with its suppliers, which may be less than retail. Please review the sample contract for specific coverage, terms and limitations.