First Premier Home Warranty Review (2024)
We don’t recommend First Premier Home Warranty for homeowners. Find out why and get recommendations for other companies in our review.
First Premier Home Warranty, established in 2020, is a relatively new provider in the home warranty industry. It offers comprehensive coverage plans to homeowners nationwide, but our assessment revealed several concerns. After evaluating its plans, pricing, and brand reputation, we can’t recommend First Premier. The company has received numerous negative customer reviews, indicating dissatisfaction with its services. Additionally, First Premier has faced legal issues in certain regions where it operated without proper licensing, raising questions about its compliance with local regulations.
Our review below details First Premier’s coverage options and reputation and offers recommendations for reputable home warranty providers.
Our Take on First Premier Home Warranty
First Premier has two comprehensive plans for essential home items, including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. The company also offers 16 add-on options for more customized coverage and charges a standard $75 service fee for repairs.
However, its response times and the length of its workmanship guarantee fall short compared to other major home warranty companies. First Premier has received numerous negative reviews on various third-party review sites. The company also was previously involved in a lawsuit with the California Department of Insurance due to licensure issues.
We don’t recommend First Premier to homeowners because of these severe reputation issues.
Pros and Cons of First Premier Home Warranty
Pros
- Affordable plans
- Discounts when you pay for your plan upfront
- Optional roof leak coverage
Cons
- Only four years in business
- Significant reputation and licensing issues
- Slower response times
What Plans and Coverage Does First Premier Home Warranty Offer?
First Premier offers customers two home warranty plans—a premier plan and a premier platinum plan, each available in a monthly or yearly contract option. The premier platinum plan is the most comprehensive, encapsulating all major systems and all major appliances. Homeowners interested in protection for systems and appliances not included in the core plans also have several options for add-on coverage.
Coverage | Premier Plan | Premier Platinum Plan |
---|---|---|
Plumbing System | ✔ | ✔ |
Plumbing Stoppage | ✔ | ✔ |
Water Heater | ✔ | ✔ |
Whirlpool Bathtub | ✔ | ✔ |
Electrical System | ✔ | ✔ |
Oven/Range/Stove | ✔ | ✔ |
Cooktop | ✔ | ✔ |
Built-in Microwave | ✔ | ✔ |
Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ |
Garbage Disposal | ✔ | ✔ |
Trash Compactor | ✔ | ✔ |
Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ |
Garage Door Opener | ✔ | ✔ |
Ceiling and Exhaust Fans | ✔ | ✔ |
Sump Pump (Permanently Installed) | ✔ | ✔ |
Air Conditioning System (2 Units) | ✔ | |
Heating System (2 Units) | ✔ | |
Refrigerator | ✔ | |
Clothes Washer | ✔ | |
Clothes Dryer | ✔ |
Optional Add-Ons
To further customize your plan, First Premier Home Warranty allows you to purchase the following add-ons at an additional charge:
Water Systems
- Well Pump ($75)
- Septic System ($100)
- Septic Pumping ($60)
- Water Softener ($35)
- Sump Pump ($25)
HVAC
- Additional A/C System ($75)
- Additional Heating System ($75)
- Additional Water Heater ($75)
Appliances
- Second Refrigerator ($35)
- Stand Alone Freezer ($35)
- Refrigerator Ice Maker ($35)
- Free Standing Ice Maker ($35)
- Additional Garage Door Opener ($50)
- Central Vacuum ($25)
Outdoor Features
- Pool/Spa ($150)
- Additional Spa ($150)
- Limited Roof Leak ($50)
How Much Does First Premier Home Warranty Cost?
Plan Option | Cost |
---|---|
Annual Premier Plan | $379+ per year |
Monthly Premier Plan | $43+ per month |
Annual Premier Platinum Plan | $419+ per year |
Monthly Premier Platinum Plan | $50+ per month |
Customers can either sign up for a shorter-term, monthly plan, or they can pay for the full year upfront. While homeowners who purchase an annual plan are locked in for 12 months, they can save over $100 for the year.
First Premier Home Warranty charges the standard $75 service fee when a technician visits your home to resolve an issue. This cost falls on the lower end of typical service fees in the home warranty industry.
State Availability
First Premier offers home warranty coverage in the following 44 states:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
First Premier Home Warranty Reviews: What Are Customers Saying?
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) doesn’t accredit First Premier, but it currently holds a B rating with the organization. At the time of this review, the company holds just over a 3-star average rating from approximately 400 customer reviews.
Here are a few customer reviews from the BBB:
“First Premier made my life so much easier, the technicians came out and fixed my water heater hassle-free, I will recommend them to my neighbors.” —Aaron H. on 1/24/24
“Don’t go with this company! They make it impossible for you to cancel with them. They take forever to even look at your claims and then deny them. They are a waste of money and time. I’m very disappointed in the customer service as well. Terrible company.” —Ses R. on 9/19/2023
Licensing Issues
First Premier has faced significant legal challenges, particularly in California. The company was involved in a lawsuit with the California Department of Insurance due to disputes over proper licensing. On October 29, 2021, First Premier entered into an agreement with the California Department of Insurance that stipulated the company must cease selling home warranty policies in the state until future licensure is approved. As a result of this agreement, California homeowners can’t purchase a home warranty plan from First Premier.
Our Final Take on First Premier Home Warranty
Due to First Premier’s tarnished reputation and concerns over proper licensing in certain states, we don’t recommend its services to homeowners. The legal issues and customer dissatisfaction surrounding this provider raise doubts about the reliability and consistency of its coverage.
Instead, we encourage homeowners to consider one of our recommended home warranty providers. These companies offer robust protection plans and reliable service and have established solid brand reputations within the industry. By choosing a reputable provider from our recommendations, you can have greater confidence in the coverage and support you receive for your valuable home investment.
We recommend getting quotes from at least three providers so that you can compare prices and choose a plan that fits your budget while providing the essential coverage you need.
Company Information
- Company name: First Premier Home Warranty
- Company type: Private
- Year founded: 2020
- Headquarters: 2918 Avenue R, Brooklyn, NY 11229
- State availability: 44
- BBB rating: B
Frequently Asked Questions
What is First Premier Home Warranty’s cancellation policy?
You can cancel within the first 30 days of purchasing a plan. If you cancel after 30 days, you’ll receive a prorated refund minus a $75 administrative fee. It’s important to keep in mind that coverage under your First Premier Home Warranty plan doesn’t begin until 30 days after you purchase your plan.
Does First Premier Home Warranty cover preexisting conditions?
First Premier Home Warranty doesn’t cover undetectable preexisting conditions.
Do I need a First Premier Home Warranty if I have homeowners insurance?
Even if you have homeowners insurance, it’s recommended to purchase a home warranty plan to protect yourself from out-of-pocket expenses associated with repairing or replacing an appliance or system. Homeowners insurance only covers structural damage to your home that’s caused by theft or natural disasters like a fire or hailstorm.
Our Rating Methodology
We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to score each provider objectively. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys.
We score each provider against our review standards, which include four comparison categories: coverage, value, trust and transparency, and availability and service. We rate each provider across 31 factors within these categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We then convert the final scores to a 5-star rating.
Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:
- Coverage (40%): We scored coverage based on included home systems and appliances, add-on options, and unique benefits. We also compared coverage caps and policy exclusions.
- Additional coverage items
- Annual coverage cap
- Home systems coverage
- Major appliances coverage
- Obstructed wall coverage cap
- Value (30%): We compared the coverage level received to monthly pricing to determine plan value. We considered premium pricing, service fees, and flexibility in customizing plan costs.
- Average monthly cost
- Cost flexibility
- Lowest service fee
- Trust and Transparency (16%): We evaluated each company’s reputation using the Better Business Bureau ratings and customer reviews on third-party review sites. We read through plan change policies, workmanship protections, and sample contract availability.
- Brand reputation
- Policy change flexibility
- Sample contract availability
- Workmanship guarantee length
- Availability and Service (14%): We award higher scores for faster claim processing and response times. We also considered service technician policies, including options to choose your technician.
- Claims process
- Guaranteed response time
- Service flexibility
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.