Seller Home Warranty in Miami: Worth $60 or a Waste?
Is a seller home warranty worth it when selling in Miami?
A seller home warranty in Florida costs about $60, runs up to 180 days, and ends at closing. It caps heating and central A/C repairs at $1,500 combined, excludes mold and ductless mini-splits, and requires items to be in good working order when coverage starts. It works as a cheap safety net during a listing. It will not cover a major system failure, and it will not raise your sale price.
By Lynley Ciorobea | October 16, 2026
Most sellers who ask about a home warranty are really asking a different question: what happens if the air conditioner dies while the house is on the market? The warranty is a partial answer at best.
Start with what you are actually buying. Under First American's Florida seller coverage (the contract and the 2-10 seller flyer I reviewed), coverage starts when the company receives your application. It runs up to 180 days and ends at closing or when the listing is canceled, whichever comes first. The price is about $60, billed to you directly if the house never closes. Every repair call also carries a $60 service fee, paid to the contractor at the appointment.
The caps matter more than the price. In that contract:
Heating, central A/C, and ductwork share $1,500 combined during the seller coverage period.
A kitchen refrigerator tops out at $2,500.
Saltwater pool and spa equipment is capped at $1,500.
Roof leak coverage is limited to $1,000.
Mold and ductless mini-split systems are excluded entirely.
That last line catches Coral Gables sellers. Many older houses there cool a rear addition or a guest wing with a ductless unit, and none of those units are covered. On a Pinecrest property with a saltwater pool and a multi-zone system, $1,500 combined is a rounding error.
Where it actually helps
The case for it is narrow but real. A dishwasher or water heater quits in week six, you are out of town, the house is empty, and a $60 call gets a technician through the door. That is a small, boring win, and it is the honest pitch.
The buyer side is more interesting. Buyer coverage under the same contract starts at closing and lasts one year, with payment due at closing. Offering to pay for it can take the edge off a repair-request negotiation without writing a cash credit, though only if the buyer actually cares about it. I wrote about how those negotiations go in what to do when a buyer sends a repair request.
Two details in the fine print change how you use it. Claims have to be reported before coverage ends, and the company will not reimburse a repair it did not approve, so calling your own A/C contractor first can void the claim. And the company may pay cash in lieu of repair or replacement at its negotiated rates, which can be less than what a Coral Gables contractor actually charges.
My rule of thumb: buy it if the house is vacant or you will be traveling, the major systems are under ten years old, and you simply want a documented record that someone is on call. Skip it if the A/C is old, the pool equipment is the expensive part, or you are hoping the paperwork signals quality to buyers. Buyers at this price point read the inspection report, not the sticker in the kitchen.
It does not help with anything already failing. The contract expects items to be in good, safe working order when coverage starts, and routine maintenance is excluded. A compressor that is limping at 18 years old is exactly where claim disputes begin. If you suspect a system is near the end, have a licensed technician look at it before you list, then decide whether to repair it or disclose it.
Nor does it touch the things that decide luxury deals in Miami right now. Roof age, windows, and wind mitigation drive insurability, and a warranty does none of that. If the roof is your worry, start with how roof age affects a Miami sale.
A Miami magazine ran a promotion in August for a concierge-level warranty with coverage up to $100,000 and a claimed 2 to 5 percent price lift. The piece cites no source for that number. I would not price a house around it. Realtor.com reported in October that Miami sellers delisted 45 homes for every 100 new listings, which points to a gap between what sellers want and what buyers will pay. A $60 warranty will not close that gap. Price will.
Before you list, get the actual contract and read the coverage limits page, not the brochure. If you send it to me with the address, I will tell you what it would and would not have covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a seller home warranty cost in Florida?
The First American seller coverage I reviewed is about $60, billed to the seller directly if the home does not close. Each service call carries a separate $60 fee paid to the contractor. Plans from other companies vary, so compare the coverage limits, not only the price.
Does a seller home warranty cover an air conditioner that is already failing?
Generally no. The contract expects covered items to be in good, safe working order when coverage starts, and routine maintenance is excluded. Even for a covered failure, heating, central A/C, and ductwork share a $1,500 combined cap during the seller period.
Who pays for a home warranty when selling a house in Florida?
No Florida law requires a seller to buy one. If a buyer wants a plan, who pays is a negotiated term in the contract. Buyer coverage in the contract I reviewed begins at closing and lasts one year.
Can you cancel a Florida home warranty after buying it?
Yes. According to the Florida CFO's overview of the state's home warranty rules, a holder who cancels within 10 days can receive a full premium refund less paid claims, and the company may keep an administrative fee of up to 5 percent. After 10 days, the refund is 90 percent of the unearned premium, less paid claims.
About Lynley Ciorobea
Lynley Ciorobea is a Miami-born real estate professional known for helping homeowners successfully prepare, position, and sell their homes across Coral Gables, South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, and the surrounding southern Miami neighborhoods. Since 2007, she has built her business around thoughtful strategy, strong negotiation, and a marketing-first approach designed to help listings stand out in an ever-evolving market. A true local, Lynley grew up in Pinecrest and graduated from Palmer Trinity School before attending Duke University, where she earned a BA in Psychology. As the founder of the Lynley Residential Group, Lynley remains personally involved in every listing she represents. With more than $250 million in career transactions and more than 70 5-star Google reviews, she brings a local perspective that goes far beyond surface-level market knowledge.
If you are thinking through a pre-sale exterior plan for your own house, I am happy to walk you through the order of operations. Reach out anytime at lynleyresidential.com.