Congratulations, you've just closed on your new home! But can you buy a home warranty after closing on the new place? The answer is yes! In fact, you can buy a home warranty at closing or any time after your offer is accepted. It's also not too late to purchase a home warranty after closing. But make sure to do it quickly if you want the extra benefits of a buyer's home warranty.

In this guide, you'll learn why the best time to buy a warranty is during the home-buying process. We'll also cover the details you need to know about buying a home warranty after closing.

Just getting started? Read our blog What Is a Home Warranty?

When Can You Purchase a Warranty

When a seller accepts your offer on a home, you'll quickly discover there are quite a few steps to take as you move through the home-buying process. If you're working with a real estate agent, you'll have a resource who can help you prepare for and complete these steps. One such step your agent may discuss with you is ordering a home warranty at closing. You can also review and select your plan by visiting our specialized coverage page for home buyers.

Here are some of the reasons why many home buyers choose home warranty coverage.

Benefits of Buying Home Warranty at Closing

No Waiting Period: Many first-time home buyers ask, “What is the waiting period for a home warranty?” The good news is that when you buy a First American home warranty as part of a real estate transaction, there is no waiting period! Your warranty coverage begins as soon as you close on your new home.

Time to Select the Best Plan: It can take four weeks or more to complete a home purchase once the purchase agreement is signed. You can use this time to work with your agent and determine the best home warranty plan for your new home.

Expanded Coverage: Any home buyer warranty plan you choose will come with expanded benefits, as compared to our standard plans. Here are some of the highlights of expanded home buyer coverage:

Plans protect many more items in the real estate base plan in most areas. Be sure to review the “What Home Warranties Cover” table below to see a full list of appliances and systems covered in our basic real estate plan.
For plans that include air conditioning coverage, we cover the cost of refrigerant.
Helpful services, such as re-keying the locks in your new home. You may also have access to move-in assistance from services such as Porch.*
First American will cover the items you want to protect, regardless of age. As long as your system or appliance is in working condition when coverage starts, it's protected.

Generous Coverage Limits: Today's appliances and systems are often more efficient than older models and loaded up with high-tech features. While all this is great, it makes them more expensive to repair and replace. Luckily, First American has some of the most generous coverage limits in the industry to help protect your wallet.

Budget Protection: When you've just bought a new home, your savings may be largely depleted. An unexpected expense, especially during that first year of homeownership, can really wreck your budget. Home warranty coverage offers you and your wallet some peace of mind. Your plan helps protect your budget on covered items from the high cost of repairing or replacing them, often saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Buying a Home Warranty After Closing

While buying your plan when you close on a home is ideal, you can also purchase a home buyer's warranty after closing for up to 60 days This way, you'll enjoy enhanced coverage with special real estate pricing. More importantly, you'll be protected from unexpected expenses for the entirety of your warranty contract, which typically lasts one year.

(And remember: if you miss the 60-day window post-closing, the door to home warranty protection doesn't close. Simply review options here or get a quote.)

Why Should You Purchase a Warranty?

Buying a home is a thrilling, nerve-wracking, and expensive adventure. More expenses can and will show up when something unexpectedly breaks down. In fact, more than 49% of our customers have had at least one major appliance or system break in their first year. And 31% of them have requested and used their warranty within the first 90 days of coverage.**

That's why it's important to have a First American home warranty protecting you from unexpected costs. Our coverage can help pay for the things your homeowners insurance won't. And whether your new home is a single-family, condo, mobile home, or townhome, First American can protect the appliances and systems inside.

A man wearing a suit puts his hands over a small miniature of a house, protecting it from harm.

With home warranty coverage protecting your budget, you can feel free to spend those hard-earned savings on other things. You may want to make some home improvements in your new place or take care of repairs the home inspection turned up.

Along with not purchasing a home warranty, learn more about other costly mistakes made by first-time homeowners.

What Does a Warranty Cover?

The plan you buy can cover many of the major appliances in your new home, including any you negotiated for as part of the sale. A home warranty plan can also protect many systems in your home, from the air conditioning and heating to the plumbing and electrical systems.

What Home Warranties Cover:

Appliances	Systems	Plumbing
Kitchen Refrigerator	Central air conditioning	Plumbing Stoppages
Oven / Range / Cooktop	Heating	Water Heater
Dishwasher	Ductwork	Toilet Tanks and Bowls
Washer	Electrical System	Garbage Disposal
Dryer	Ceiling and Exhaust Fans	Circulating Pumps
Built-in Microwave	Garage Door Openers	Sump Pumps
Trash Compactor	Central Vacuum System	Pressure Regulators
	HVAC tune up option	Instant Hot Water Dispenser

Our real estate home warranty plans also include many options and upgrades, giving you more opportunities to customize your plan based on your home's unique features. Let's dive into those details next.

Coverage Upgrades

We also offer add-ons and other upgraded coverage to further protect your wallet. Here's a look at upgrades you can purchase with your plan:

Appliance Plus: Doubles the appliance coverage limit for your kitchen and laundry appliances.

Plumbing Plus: Repairing leaks or breaks to water, drain, or gas plumbing can be expensive when the pipes are encased in concrete, or outside the home's foundation. You can extend protection to cover these issues, as well as water heater expansion tanks, installation of ground-level cleanouts, and clearing of stoppages caused by roots.

First Class Upgrade: Adds coverage for building permits, upgrades required by building codes, recapture and removal of refrigerant, and disposal of appliances, systems, or components we replace.

Codes, Mods, and More: Provides an added allowance for correcting code violations and making modifications when repairing or replacing HVAC systems, water heaters, and more.

Choose Your Home Warranty

When you are choosing home warranty coverage, be sure to ask your real estate agent for advice (if you're working with one). They can help you decide what level of coverage works for you.

Keep in mind that First American is an industry-leading provider of home warranties for home buyers, with nearly 40 years of experience. You can count on us from the moment you close on your new home.

As a new home buyer, you qualify for our special pricing and expanded home warranty coverage. If you don't buy your plan at closing, make sure to order within 60 days of your closing date. To learn more, get a personalized home buyer's warranty quote.

If you're not involved in a real estate transaction, you can still have warranty protection for your home. Here's how to get a free quote.

*Porch Services may not be available in all areas.

**Based on actual invoices paid by First American Home Warranty in 2022 prior to service fees, deductions and/or rebates; costs may vary in your geographic region. Items listed may be optional or not available on some plans; please review the sample contract for specific coverage, terms and limitations.