Fidelity National Home Warranty began in 1995 under the name Alliance Home Warranty. After undergoing several mergers and transitions, it officially rebranded as Fidelity National Home Warranty in 2001. While its services are limited to 17 states, the company offers affordable plans with solid coverage.

Finding the right home warranty provider can be overwhelming, especially if you lack the time to evaluate service plans, pricing, and customer reviews. To simplify the process, we’ve conducted thorough research for this comprehensive review of Fidelity’s home warranty offerings, exploring its coverage, pricing, and ratings. For those seeking broader options and higher customer satisfaction, we recommend Liberty Home Guard as our top pick for its excellent ratings and extensive plan choices.

Fidelity National Home Warranty offers a single standard plan with optional add-ons for homeowners, as displayed on their website. However, their brochures for real estate professionals outline four or five distinct plans, which must be purchased at the time of closing. In contrast, the homeowner standard plan can be purchased at any time by contacting the company directly.

For California real estate professionals, Fidelity provides five plan options: Standard, Standard Plus, Comprehensive Plus, Enhanced, and Enhanced Plus. The Standard and Standard Plus plans exclude air conditioning unless an upgrade is purchased. Each subsequent plan builds upon the previous one, offering expanded coverage for additional items and systems.

Fidelity National Home Warranty targets realtors and landlords with plans that cover multi-family units, a feature that is uncommon in the home warranty industry. Most competing providers limit coverage to single-family homes under 5,000 square feet. These plans are tailored to help real estate agents enhance their offerings, providing an added incentive for buyers. State-specific pricing for these plans is outlined in brochures available on the real estate professionals’ page.

Fidelity National Home Warranty provides state-specific brochures on their real estate professional page, which include pricing details. For example, a Standard plan for a single-family home costs $342 in California and $386 in Texas. However, for precise pricing tailored to your state and home, it’s best to contact the company directly.

The Standard plan is competitively priced compared to other home warranty providers, and optional add-ons allow users to customize their coverage to suit their needs. However, it’s worth noting that the Standard plan excludes air conditioning and refrigerators, which must be added as optional coverage. This omission slightly impacts the plan’s value, as competitors often include these core items in their basic plans. Despite this, Fidelity’s overall pricing remains reasonable and competitive.

Add-Ons

A standout feature of Fidelity National Home Warranty is its range of optional add-ons, particularly the comprehensive option, which expands coverage on systems and appliances included in existing plans. Notably, the comprehensive plan provides coverage for items typically excluded by other providers, such as filters, registers, grills, window units, and condenser housing for air conditioners or evaporative coolers.

It’s important to note that all optional add-ons must be purchased within 30 days of a property’s closing. Additionally, all covered systems must be in good working order at the time of purchase. This flexibility allows homeowners to enhance their coverage significantly while adhering to these conditions.

Exclusions and Limitations

Like most home warranty providers, Fidelity National Home Warranty plans come with exclusions. Anything not explicitly mentioned in the plan contract is not covered, making it crucial for homeowners to carefully review the terms. Fortunately, Fidelity’s brochures clearly outline what is included and excluded, although the list of exclusions is extensive.

Each plan also includes individual caps and limits that vary by system or appliance. For instance, ductwork is covered for up to $1,000, while water heater is only covered up to $1,500. These limits, along with exclusions, are detailed in the plan documents and should be reviewed thoroughly. Customers are responsible for any repair or replacement costs that exceed these limits or involve excluded items. Overall, Fidelity’s caps and limits are comparable to those offered by other home warranty companies.

When a repair is needed, Fidelity National Home Warranty commits to contacting a licensed and insured contractor within three hours during business hours or within 48 hours outside of business hours. Once contacted, the contractor will arrange a visit at a mutually convenient time. However, the contract specifies that appointments scheduled outside of normal business hours may incur overtime charges, which are not covered unless deemed an emergency.

Plan holders are generally required to use Fidelity’s approved contractors. If using an independent contractor becomes necessary, prior approval from the company is required to ensure coverage of the charges. Fidelity ensures that all its service providers meet strict standards—they must be licensed for their trade, carry $1 million in general liability insurance, and provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance or a waiver. This ensures that repairs are handled by qualified professionals.

Fidelity National Home Warranty makes it easy to submit a service claim through a link on their website or by calling their customer service line at 1-800-862-6837. Claims can be submitted at any time, providing flexibility for users needing assistance.

However, customer feedback suggests that service may not always be prompt. Many online reviews mention delays in repairs and dissatisfaction with the overall service speed, indicating room for improvement in addressing claims efficiently.

Fidelity National Home Warranty offers an interesting blend of modern coverage options for emerging home features like smart homes and outdoor kitchens, alongside traditional coverage for basic home systems. While these options are appealing, customer service reviews tend to be less favorable, with many users expressing confusion about what is covered under their plans.

Though Fidelity’s prices are lower than many competing providers, their exclusion-heavy policies may only meet basic needs for some homeowners. As with any home warranty, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand the terms of the contract to ensure you get the most value from the plan.