New homes come with a builder warranty most owners misunderstand. Here’s what’s actually already covered, what isn’t, and which providers fill the gap best.

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New construction homeowners are in a genuinely different position than everyone else in this comparison series: your systems and appliances are brand new, which means coverage caps rarely matter and claim frequency is naturally low. But that doesn’t mean a home warranty is irrelevant — it means the right question isn’t “which company has the highest HVAC cap,” it’s “what does my builder warranty already cover, and what’s the gap I actually need to fill.”

Understanding What’s Already Covered: The “10-2-1” Builder Warranty

Most new construction homes come with a structural warranty from the builder, typically structured in three overlapping windows:

• 1 year — workmanship and materials coverage on most components
• 2 years — coverage on major systems: plumbing, electrical, and HVAC distribution
• 10 years — coverage limited to major structural defects only (foundation, load-bearing elements)

This “10-2-1” structure is administered industry-wide by a small number of specialized companies — and it’s not a coincidence that 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty takes its name directly from this exact framework. If you bought new construction, there’s a real chance your builder’s structural warranty is already being administered by 2-10 or a similar company, separate from any standard home warranty service plan you might additionally consider.

The practical implication: a standard home warranty service plan and your builder’s structural warranty are two different products covering two different things. The builder warranty protects structural integrity and, for the first two years, core systems. A standard home warranty service plan protects the day-to-day mechanical function of appliances and systems — which is exactly the coverage gap most new homeowners actually need to think about.

Top Picks for New Construction

1. 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty — Best for Structural Warranty Administration

As the only major provider in this comparison series with a dedicated new-construction structural warranty program, 2-10 HBW is the natural fit if your builder already works with them, or if you want a single company managing both your structural coverage and a standard service plan as you transition past the builder warranty window. Its unlimited workmanship guarantee for the life of an active contract is also a genuine advantage for a home where you’re likely to be a long-term owner.

2. Select Home Warranty — Best Budget Option for Appliance-Only Gap Coverage

Since your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems are likely still covered by the builder warranty in year one or two, there’s little reason to pay for full systems coverage this early. Select’s roughly 14% below-average pricing makes it a reasonable, low-cost way to cover the appliances your builder warranty doesn’t touch — refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, and dryer — without paying for systems coverage you may not need yet.

3. Choice Home Warranty — Best If You Want Simplicity Without Overpaying

Choice’s straightforward two-plan structure (Basic and Total) and relatively low advertised starting price make it a reasonable alternative to Select for the same appliance-focused gap-filling strategy, particularly if you’re already comparing Choice against American Home Shield for a future home purchase and want to stick with a provider you’re already familiar with.

Comparison at a Glance

Provider	Best For	Why It Fits New Construction
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty	Structural warranty + long-term transition	Only provider with dedicated new-construction structural coverage
Select Home Warranty	Budget appliance-only gap coverage	~14% below average price, no need to overpay for systems already under builder warranty
Choice Home Warranty	Simple, low-cost alternative	Straightforward two-plan structure, low entry price

A Smarter Timing Strategy Than Most New Owners Use

The most common mistake new construction buyers make isn’t choosing the wrong provider — it’s buying full systems + appliances coverage in year one, when most of that coverage is redundant with what the builder warranty already provides. A more cost-effective sequence looks like this:

1. Year 1–2: Consider an appliances-only plan (or no plan at all, if your appliances are new enough to still carry manufacturer warranties), since your builder warranty already covers most systems during this window.
2. As the builder warranty’s 2-year systems coverage approaches expiration: This is the natural point to add a full systems-inclusive home warranty plan, timed to pick up exactly where the builder’s coverage leaves off.
3. Ongoing: Renew and maintain standard coverage as the home ages normally, following the same logic covered in Is a Home Warranty Worth It in 2026?

Real-World Scenario

Scenario: You close on a new construction home in month one. In month 8, the dishwasher — not covered by any builder warranty, since builder coverage focuses on structural systems, not kitchen appliances — develops a leak.

If you purchased appliance-only coverage from day one, this claim is well-positioned to be approved. If you assumed the builder warranty covered “everything new” and skipped a warranty entirely, this repair falls to you out of pocket — a common and avoidable gap, since builder warranties are far narrower than many new owners assume.

Scenario: In year 3, past the builder’s 2-year systems window, your HVAC system develops a refrigerant leak.

This is now squarely outside builder coverage and would need a standard home warranty systems plan, purchased and active before the failure, to be covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a home warranty if I just bought new construction? Not necessarily right away for systems coverage, since most new homes carry a builder warranty covering plumbing, electrical, and HVAC for the first two years. Appliance coverage is a more immediately useful gap to fill, since builder warranties rarely cover kitchen and laundry appliances.

What does a builder’s structural warranty actually cover? Typically a “10-2-1” structure: one year on workmanship and materials, two years on major systems, and ten years limited to major structural defects like the foundation — narrower than many new owners assume.

Is 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty the same as my builder’s warranty? Possibly — 2-10 is a leading administrator of exactly this kind of new-construction structural warranty, so your builder may already work with them. Confirm this directly, since it may affect whether you need a separate provider for standard appliance/systems coverage.

When should I add full systems coverage to a new construction home? A reasonable strategy is to add full coverage as your builder’s 2-year systems warranty approaches expiration, rather than paying for redundant coverage in the first year or two.

Do coverage caps matter for a new construction home? Less than for an older home, since new systems and appliances are statistically less likely to need a full replacement in the near term. Price and simplicity are reasonable priorities to weigh more heavily than maximum coverage caps at this stage.

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Related reading: 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty Review · Home Warranty for First-Time Home Buyers: Complete Guide · Is a Home Warranty Worth It in 2026?

Information in this article reflects publicly available pricing, coverage, and reputation data as of mid-2026, compiled across individual provider reviews on this site. All figures are subject to change — always verify current pricing, coverage terms, and availability directly with each provider before purchasing a plan.