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5 Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of 2023

Updated Jan 12, 2023

Updated Jan 12, 2023

Home > Home Insurance > 5 Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of 2023

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Purchasing homeowners insurance is an overwhelming task for most people. Whether you just closed on your first house and are looking for homeowners insurance for the first time or you’re a longtime homeowner who wants to supplement coverage on an aging home, this guide can help make your job easier.

Looking to invest in homeowners insurance? Contact any of the providers below to start your process for coverage.

The Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of 2023

Below is a quick list of our top-rated providers for homeowners insurance. We’ll follow that with a brief chart that provides key information for each company.

Compare the Best Home Insurance Companies

The chart below provides a quick look at the five best homeowners insurance providers.

LemonadeState FarmNationwideLiberty MutualGeicoAllstate
Compare QuotesClick for QuoteClick for QuoteClick for QuoteClick for QuoteClick for QuoteClick for Quote
Average Monthly Premium$116$113$89$92$77$112
Average Annual Premium$1,400$1,360$1,067$1,104$921$1,349
Savings vs. Average$150$-88$205$168$351$-77
J.D. Power Score870829816805N/A815
House Method Star Rating4.84.64.54.64.64.5
A.M Best RatingNRA++A+AA++A+

Lemonade – Best Overall

Quickest Claims Process
Lemonade
  • Easy-to-use mobile app and interface
  • Bundling options with multiple Lemonade policies
  • Fairly painless claims process

Why We Chose Lemonade

We primarily chose Lemonade as one of the best home insurance providers because of how fast the claims process is. All claims filing is online, so you can submit a claim through the Lemonade mobile app and get a response and resolution quickly. Artificial intelligence (AI) takes the first notice of loss for 96% of claims, enabling Lemonade to pay out claims fast—sometimes within mere seconds. This is much faster than the industry average of between 15 and 30 days.

However, since it’s focused on its mobile presence, it doesn’t have the same personal feel you’d get from other companies. This could be a benefit or drawback, depending on what kind of service you’re looking for from your insurance provider.

Lemonade is one of the youngest of the larger national companies for homeowners insurance. It was founded in 2015 but quickly gained traction in large part because of the entirely-online quoting process, the affordability, and the ease with which customers can file claims and make changes to their policies. Lemonade is available in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. It has a robust online platform that’s easy to access no matter where you live.

Pros & Cons of Lemonade

Pros

  • Record-fast claims processing
  • More affordable than many competitors
  • High degree of plan customization
  • Discounts offered for bundling and home improvements
  • Makes charitable donations

Cons

  • Less of a personalized experience with online-based service
  • Speaking with a human representative isn’t always possible

Annual Cost

The average policy from Lemonade costs around $1,122 per year, which comes out to $94 per month. This is just over $325 cheaper than the industry average. The company also offers discounts for bundling and for safety upgrades to your home.

State Farm – Most Affordable Coverage

Allstate Home Insurance

Why We Chose State Farm

State Farm is one of the largest and most well-respected insurance companies in the U.S., offering extensive coverage to homeowners in all 50 states. The company offers more comprehensive coverage than its competitors for no additional cost, making it an outstanding value proposition for people looking for increased protection.

State Farm’s large network of agents makes it easy to get a quote from the company virtually anywhere in the country, reducing the hassle and lengthy quoting process you’ll find from smaller companies. Unfortunately, the company’s convenient online quote system is not available in all 50 states, so you’ll have to get a quote the old-fashioned way by making a phone call if online quotes are unavailable in your region.

Below are some upsides and downsides of getting your homeowners insurance from State Farm.

Pros & Cons of State Farm

Pros

  • Widespread availability
  • More comprehensive coverage than the competition
  • Easy quote process
  • A++ rating from AM Best
  • Above-average J.D. Power rating
  • Discounts for claim-free periods

Cons

  • Opportunity for discounts is lacking
  • Online quotes are not available everywhere

Annual Cost

State Farm’s average annual premium is approximately $1,360, above the national average of $1,272. However, we believe the extra coverage you get and dependable service make it worth the slightly elevated cost. Bear in mind that your annual premium will vary depending on where you live. In general, State Farm’s home insurance rates are slightly above-average, independent of region.

Nationwide – Best Standard Coverage

Best Optional Coverages
Nationwide
  • Choice between replacement and actual cash value
  • Coverage options for rebuilds and home renovations
  • Offers identity theft protection with policies

Why We Chose Nationwide

Nationwide is a giant in the insurance industry with an impressive selection of homeowners insurance, auto insurance, and life insurance policies aimed at the average person. The company offers an impressive range of discounts, including multi-policy discounts, a new homeowner discount for recent home buyers, discounts for extended periods without making claims, and a host of others.

The company strikes a rare balance between offering affordable policies without sacrificing coverage by leaving some options out of their standard plans. While this can be a disadvantage for customers looking for specialty coverage, it makes its policies more affordable for basic plans.

Unfortunately, as of this writing, Nationwide is unavailable in Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Louisiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

Nationwide consistently gets outstanding customer reviews, as indicated by its high J.D. Power ratings. The company also has a solid A+ rating from AM Best, so its financial strength is not an issue. Nationwide’s excellent track record, combined with its solid standard policies and a wide variety of add-ons, make it a great choice for most homeowners — especially those on a tight budget.

Pros & Cons of Nationwide

Pros

  • Law insurance coverage included in standard policies
  • Good selection of add-ons
  • Plenty of discounts available
  • 816 out of 1,000 J.D Power rating
  • Solid A+ financial strength rating from AM Best

Cons

  • Availability is somewhat limited
  • Doesn’t offer online quotes for individual policies

Annual Cost

Nationwide’s annual cost is around $1,065, $205 below the national average cost of homeowners insurance.

Liberty Mutual – Best Endorsements

Liberty Mutual Home Insurance

Why We Chose Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual has been providing outstanding insurance to Americans since 1912. With over 100 years in business, Liberty Mutual’s consistently high rankings in J.D. Power studies make it one of the most dependable insurance providers in the country for people looking for standard HO-3 policies.

The company is not quite as affordable as Nationwide overall, but its rates are competitive with most of its competition in most places throughout the country. It also gives its customers plenty of opportunities for discounts, including savings for shopping online, multi-policy discounts, and discounts for new homeowners.

Liberty Mutual offers an impressive level of coverage in its standard plans, but the company really shines when it comes to endorsements. You can supplement Liberty Mutual’s standard coverage options with a host of endorsements that make it easy to protect yourself from anything that might keep you up at night.

Liberty Mutual is not the best option for you if you own a high-risk dog since the company has a lengthy list of banned breeds. It also has fewer deductible options compared to other companies, making it slightly more difficult to find a suitable plan for some people. Despite these shortcomings, Liberty Mutual’s outstanding 100-year track record, responsive customer service, and lineup of affordable coverage options make it one of the best overall home insurance providers.

Pros & Cons of Liberty Mutual

Pros

  • Excellent options for add-on coverage
  • Competitive premiums
  • Solid 805 score from J.D. Power
  • A rating from AM Best
  • Discounts for purchasing a policy online

Cons

  • Fewer deductible choices than the competition
  • Not a great option for people who own high-risk dogs

Geico – Best Value

Geico Home Insurance

Why We Chose Geico

Most people know that Geico is a major car insurance company — thanks to its wildly successful advertising campaigns — but comparatively, few realize that Geico is also a key player in home insurance. Geico homeowners insurance is different from the other companies on our list because they broker their home insurance to other companies. While this might give some potential customers pause, it’s a great way to save some money, especially if you already have Geico’s auto insurance.

Geico’s home insurance model features affordable base policies that customers can customize with an extensive array of optional add-ons. While this approach might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is designed to help keep home insurance affordable, making it easier for some people to afford quality homeowners insurance.

Unfortunately, Geico’s homeowner’s insurance customer service is spotty at best, with customer reviews ranging anywhere from just ok to a huge pain to deal with. If you’re looking for high-end customer support, you’ll have to look elsewhere, but Geico’s unbeatable prices are a good enough reason to deal with occasionally subpar service for many people.

Pros & Cons of Geico

Pros

  • Available anywhere in the U.S.
  • Outstanding bundling discounts
  • Affordable base plan insurance products
  • Convenient mobile app

Cons

  • Contracts home insurance out to other companies
  • Poor customer service according to customer reviews

Annual Cost

Geico hangs its hat on being an affordable option for homeowners insurance, with its customers saving approximately $350 per year compared to the average homeowner.

Allstate – Best Customer Experience

Allstate Home Insurance

Why We Chose Allstate

Allstate is another industry giant, and we’re willing to bet it’s one of the first names that comes to mind when you think about homeowners insurance. The company has been in business since 1931, giving it nearly a century of experience protecting people’s homes, and its outstanding J.D. Power score and AM Best ranking are a testament to its continued dedication to quality and health as a business.

One of the best aspects of Allstate’s coverage is its Claim RateGuard, which guarantees that your premium won’t increase when you file a claim. Many insurance companies raise your premiums when you file claims to offset their costs, making coverage less affordable than your initial quote would suggest.

Allstate’s policies are solid, offering standard coverage at reasonable — albeit slightly higher-than-average — prices. It also offers a nice selection of discounts, including bundling discounts and incentives for maintaining an environmentally friendly home.

Pros & Cons of Allstate

Pros

  • Available in all 50 states
  • Claim RateGuard prevents premium increases due to filing claims
  • Online quotes and claim filing in most places
  • Plenty of discounts available

Cons

  • Online quotes aren’t available everywhere
  • On the expensive side

Annual Cost

Allstate’s standard policies cost an average of $1,349 per year. This comes out to approximately $112 per month.

How to Find the Best Homeowners Insurance Policy

Finding the best homeowners insurance policy to protect your home is a daunting task. It can seem overwhelming to sift through the nearly endless combinations, but the following tips will help you break the problem down into easily digestible chunks.

Decide on the Coverage You Want

You’ll never find the best homeowners insurance policy if you don’t know what you want, so take the time to think carefully about what coverage you need. The right level of coverage for you depends on where you live, your risk tolerance, the value of the assets you want to be covered, and your income.

If you’re risk averse, you might want to consider a policy from a company that includes more coverage in their standard plans. Having more coverage without needing to add lots of endorsements to your plan is easier to manage and provides greater peace of mind than rolling the dice with a less comprehensive policy or adding extra options a la carte.

We recommend erring on the side of caution since home insurance coverage is cheap compared to the exorbitant costs of repairing your home or replacing your belongings if the worst comes to pass. A few extra dollars per month goes a long way towards helping you rebuild your life after disaster strikes without going bankrupt due to rebuilding costs.

Compare Quotes

Once you know what you’re looking for in terms of coverage, it’s time to shop around and compare quotes. You might be surprised to learn that different insurance companies offer significantly different quotes, so don’t assume that a quote from one company will be indicative of the rest.

Luckily, comparing home insurance quotes is easier these days through the power of the internet. Most companies offer online quotes, although there are generally restrictions. At the very least, it’s possible to schedule an in-person quote on virtually every insurance company’s website, even if you can’t receive an online quote directly.

Consider Additional Coverages

Even though it’s best to purchase a policy that includes all the coverage you want, sometimes that’s not possible. Extra coverage for things like earthquakes and hurricanes is often only available as an endorsement.

Depending on what kind of additional coverage you’re thinking about, it’s usually not a difficult decision; skimping on earthquake coverage if you live in California or not purchasing hurricane coverage if you live on one of Florida’s coasts is just asking for trouble.

Discounts and Bundles

Discounts and bundles are the bread and butter of home insurance companies’ sales tactics, and competition between providers drives many of them to offer excellent deals for customers. Many homeowners insurance companies offer other forms of insurance — mostly auto insurance and life insurance — and offer multi-policy discounts for any customers who purchase more than one plan.

As bundling home and auto insurance becomes less popular, some companies are doubling down in an attempt to retain their customers and attract new ones, giving people shopping for coverage an excellent opportunity to save some money. Make sure to take your time reading a company’s website before contacting them so that you’re prepared to take full advantage of the deals they offer and get the best quote possible.

Customer Satisfaction and Reviews

J.D. Power ranks the best insurance companies based on customer satisfaction, making it easy to tell at a glance which companies are viewed the most favorably by their customers. The methodology is proprietary, but the J.D Power score encompasses a blend of factors, including customer interaction rate, the policies a company offers, the average cost of coverage, the billing process, and how many claims are filed.

You can view the J.D. Power list to see how the most popular homeowners insurance companies stack up against each other.

Independent reviews of home insurance companies are also available in various places across the internet. While you shouldn’t base your entire decision on anonymous reviews written by strangers on the internet, you can use online reviews to get a sense of how current customers feel about their insurance provider. Reading customer reviews is especially helpful for getting the inside scoop on your local branch since the customer experience varies substantially depending on the quality of the local agents.

Keep in mind that online reviews often skew towards the negative since people who run into problems are more likely to post a review than people who don’t. Still, reviews are a helpful tool you can leverage to get an inside look at how an insurance provider treats its customers.

National vs. Small Insurance Company

One of the biggest decisions you can make when choosing a homeowners insurance provider is whether you prefer a national company or a small, local one. National companies usually offer better rates, 24/7 support, and have tons of offices, making them more convenient to deal with when you need to file a claim. However, they’re also less likely to provide personalized recommendations, instead opting to cover you with a cookie-cutter policy designed for the average person.

On the other hand, choosing a smaller insurance company will often cost you more, but the coverage and customer service you receive will be more tailored to your needs. Small companies usually assign their customers a personal agent who knows the area, and they’re more likely to offer flexible policies designed to address local risks.

Remember that small insurance companies don’t have the same resources available, so you might not be able to file a claim online or contact an agent outside of regular business hours. Whether you prefer doing business with a small, local provider or a national behemoth is up to you; there’s no right answer.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

If you’re a new homeowner looking to purchase homeowners insurance for the first time, you might not know what home insurance usually covers. Here’s a brief overview of the most common types of coverage you get from most companies’ standard HO-3 policies.

  • Dwelling: Dwelling coverage is for your physical house itself, including things like interior and exterior walls, your foundation, and permanently attached appliances. It’s for anything that makes up the structure of your home but doesn’t cover its contents.
  • Personal Property: This part of your home insurance policy covers your belongings. When a covered event occurs, personal property coverage either provides cash equal to the depreciated value of your property or cash to cover purchasing new items to replace those that were damaged. Replacement cost coverage is calculated using the current value of a new item in most cases.
  • Liability: Some homeowners insurance policies offer liability coverage for medical payments resulting from injuries sustained on your property. A common example is a homeowners policy covering treatment if your dog bites someone on your property — more on how pets factor into homeowners insurance later.
  • Other Structures: Dwelling coverage only applies to your home; it doesn’t offer coverage for other structures like gazebos, sheds, fences, etc. Those are covered under a separate dedicated section for additional structures on your property that are not your main living space.
  • Loss of Use: Some insurance policies will compensate you when a covered event causes a temporary increase in your living expenses or additional living expenses. For example, if a fire renders your home uninhabitable, your homeowners’ insurance may provide assistance to help cover the cost of living in a hotel and purchasing food out instead of cooking at home.
  • Endorsements: Endorsements are optional add-ons that allow you to add specialty coverage to an existing policy. The most common endorsements offer earthquake insurance and flood insurance, as well as coverage for sewer backups, sinkholes, and identity theft.

Types of Home Insurance Policies

There are eight types of homeowners insurance policies, imaginatively named HO-1 through HO-8. The policies cover different types of properties and different circumstances, like renting or condo living. Here’s a quick look at each type of policy.

HO-1

This is the most basic form of homeowners insurance, covering the fewest forms of damage to only your home’s primary structure. The coverage provided by HO-1 policies is typically limited to damage resulting from the below issues:

  • Fire
  • Lightning
  • Smoke
  • Riots/vandalism
  • Explosions
  • Theft
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Aircraft
  • Hail
  • Windstorms

Due to the limited nature of coverage provided by HO-1 policies, they’re extremely uncommon these days. The list of covered items — usually called perils in insurance parlance — is very restrictive, and the insurance company will only pay the policyholder the actual cash value of the damaged items — minus depreciation — if the damage was caused by one of the named items.

HO-2

This level of coverage is sometimes called broad-form coverage. It includes property damage coverage from HO-1 policies but also covers personal items and sometimes liability. It also adds several situations, including:

  • Water damage, steam damage, and damage from sewer and water backups
  • Damage from household systems like plumbing and electric
  • Frozen pipes
  • Falling objects
  • Damage from heating and cooling systems

HO-3

HO-3 policies are the most common type of homeowners insurance. They typically cover your home, personal belongings, personal liability, and loss of use costs. HO-3 policies are what most people refer to as standard homeowners insurance, so it’s a safe bet to assume that’s what someone means if they say homeowners insurance without specifying a particular type.

As the most common type of homeowners insurance for single-family homes, there can be a lot of variation between policies from different insurance companies, so it’s difficult to make sweeping generalizations that apply in all circumstances. The begging of this section already discussed the coverage you get from HO-3 policies, and you should consult your insurance provider for more specific information about your coverage.

HO-4

Most people know HO-4 homeowners insurance as renters insurance. HO-4 policies cover personal belongings, liability, and living expenses from qualifying circumstances but don’t offer any coverage for the building’s structure. This makes them perfect for renters who don’t own the building they live in and who are not responsible for making building repairs.

HO-5

HO-5 policies are the most comprehensive policies, offering the most coverage with the fewest exclusions of any type of homeowners insurance. They cover everything from the previous levels and provide higher coverage limits designed to protect expensive items like jewelry. As such, HO-5 policies are much more expensive than HO-3 policies, making them suitable for people with high-value items but too expensive for most homeowners.

Even though HO-5 coverage is extensive, there are a few exclusions, including the below:

  • Earth movement
  • Damage from nuclear hazards
  • War
  • Damage from government actions
  • Mold damage
  • Damage from infestations of birds, rodents, or insects

HO-6

HO-6 policies are meant for condo owners. Most HO-6 policies cover personal items, liability, loss of use, and damage to interior walls, which is usually the responsibility of the unit owner.

HO-7

HO-7 insurance is for RVs, trailer homes, mobile homes, and modular homes. Most HO-7 policies cover your home’s structure, your personal belongings, personal liability, and loss of use.

HO-8

The final type of homeowners insurance is for “architecturally significant” homes, such as landmarks and historic sites. These properties tend to have much higher values than ordinary homes with irreplaceable items inside, requiring more expensive coverage than an HO-3 or HO-5 plan can provide.

Tips for Finding Homeowners Insurance for Specific Situations

Certain circumstances make it slightly more challenging to navigate the confusing homeowners’ insurance landscape. The following sections are designed to help you deal with some of the more challenging situations that make it more difficult than normal to find the right homeowners insurance policy.

First-Time Homeowners

If you’re a first-time homeowner, you should be aware that you need to have homeowners insurance before you close. Your lender will require proof of insurance before they risk their capital on purchasing your home and providing you with a mortgage. You will also have to maintain homeowners insurance until you pay off your mortgage.

In general, the earlier in the home buying process you start shopping for homeowners insurance, the better. Most people start seriously looking for home insurance once they have an accepted offer, but you can start even earlier while you’re still making offers. This makes it easier to find the best combination of coverage and cost for your needs since you have more time to compare homeowners insurance quotes from different companies. It also gives you a chance to learn firsthand how premiums change from one home to another since you can ask for quotes for multiple properties.

Luckily, many insurance companies offer first-time home buyer discounts, making it slightly more affordable for new homeowners to purchase insurance. Make sure to take advantage of these offers if they’re available in your area since they can make a significant difference to your monthly cost.

Home in a High-Risk Location

Insurance is all about balancing risk and reward, and, unfortunately, if your home is in a high-risk location, you’re going to have to pay more for homeowners insurance. Homes in areas prone to natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes are more likely to experience catastrophic damage than regions without such environmental risks.

Even if your quotes are higher than the national average, you should still get quotes from as many different providers as possible since you might be able to find a better deal from a different company.

You Have Animals

Certain kinds of pets can increase your homeowners insurance premiums since insurance companies view them as an additional risk. High-risk dog breeds like Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and Pitbulls are often banned by insurance companies, making it difficult for people who own these dogs to find coverage. The average dog bite insurance claim is around $45,000, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

If you’re having trouble finding an insurance company to cover you due to a banned dog breed, State Farm is well-known for covering families with high-risk animals. State Farm chooses to use an individual dog’s history to determine whether or not to provide coverage instead of making sweeping generalizations based on its breed alone.

Other insurance companies might not deny you coverage for owning a high-risk dog but will evaluate dog-related claims on a case-by-case basis. While this type of coverage might seem attractive if you’re having trouble finding coverage, bear in mind that it puts you at risk of incurring hefty costs if your dog bites someone or causes an injury on your property.

You Have a Low Credit Score

Having a low credit score can be a blocker when you’re looking for homeowners insurance, but there are ways to make yourself a more attractive candidate. Customers with low credit scores tend to file more claims, according to a study from the Insurance Information Institute.

The best way to find an affordable home insurance policy when you have low credit is to compare quotes, take advantage of discounts, and improve your credit score — if you have time.

Comparing quotes and using insurance discounts is generally good practice when purchasing any kind of insurance, but improving your credit score will make the biggest difference to your yearly premium if you have the time to make some changes. You can improve your credit score by lowering your credit utilization ratio, paying off old debts first, and making payments on time.

If you’re having trouble finding affordable homeowners insurance due to poor credit, consider whether you’re ready to buy a home.

Residents of California, Maryland, and Massachusetts with low credit scores are in luck because it is illegal to use credit scores as criteria for homeowners insurance in those states.

Older Homes

Having an older home can also make it difficult to find affordable homeowners insurance. Older homes are more prone to having problems, making them riskier for companies to insure.

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to lower your monthly premiums besides proving that you keep your home well-maintained. If you’re looking for coverage for a home that’s more than 40 years old, be prepared to pay higher premiums.

Some people who own older homes may be able to get coverage through an HO-8 policy, which is usually less expensive but covers fewer perils and have lower coverage limits. You should speak with your representative during your quote to determine whether an HO-8 policy is an option for you.

You Own Expensive or Valuable Items

You might not be able to get the level of coverage you desire from an HO-3 if you own high-value items like jewelry, antiques, or artwork. HO-5 policies are designed to cover expensive items and are the best plans for protecting your valuables. Make sure you understand a plan’s coverage limits and covered perils before you make a decision since HO-5 policies can vary a lot from one provider to another.

Quickest Claims Process
Lemonade
  • Easy-to-use mobile app and interface
  • Bundling options with multiple Lemonade policies
  • Fairly painless claims process

Find the Best Homeowners Insurance in Your State

Finding the best homeowners insurance providers in your state is mostly a matter of comparing rates and shopping around. We recommend giving yourself a head start by asking friends and family which companies provide their homeowners insurance and using their answers as a starting point for your own research.

Once you have a few quotes in hand, you can use the tables in this study by the Insurance Information Institute to see how your quotes compare to the averages in your state. Keep in mind that there might be local factors that skew your quotes away from the statewide average, especially if you live in a larger state.

How We Reviewed and Ranked the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies

Ranking homeowners insurance companies is a difficult task that requires weighing many different factors, synthesizing that information, and ultimately distilling it down to a single number. There are many ways to approach such a complicated problem, but we choose to be as quantitative as possible when creating our ranking.

We ranked the country’s major homeowners insurance providers based on the number of policies they offer, the average cost of standard coverage, what discounts they offer, and their customer review ratings from several independent review sites. We then considered external ratings from J.D. Power’s recent studies as another data point measuring customer satisfaction and ratings from AM Best to assess each company’s financial health.

The final results are reflected in our scores and reviews above. While we try our best to be as thorough and unbiased as possible when crafting insurance reviews, we also realize that there is no objective best homeowners insurance company. Every homeowner’s situation is different, and a policy that checks all the boxes for one person may be woefully inadequate for another.

How to Purchase Homeowners Insurance

Purchasing a homeowners insurance policy is a relatively straightforward process, even though deciding on what policy is best for you can be paralyzing. In general, purchasing a home insurance policy typically goes like this:

  1. Decide what coverage you want. Most people wind up with HO-3 coverage, but even under the HO-3 umbrella, you have the opportunity for add-on coverage.
  2. Get a quote. Every insurance provider needs to evaluate your home, belongings, and personal data to determine how risky you are to cover. Traditionally, this happens via an in-home visit from an insurance agent. Nowadays, more homeowners insurance companies offer online quotes, making it easier than ever to obtain homeowners insurance rate estimates. You should get as many quotes as you can from as many different providers as possible to ensure you get the best deal possible.
  3. Choose a provider. Once you’ve obtained quotes from a reasonable number of insurance companies, it’s likely that one company stood out to you. Even if you’re not 100% committed to a certain policy yet, you can make your life easier by deciding what company you feel gives you the best combination of coverage, customer service, and cost.
  4. Choose a policy. Picking a policy is much easier when you’re only comparing plans from one company. Once you know what company you prefer, choosing a plan is the easy part. Most insurance companies have one main plan that works well for the average homeowner in your area, and supplementing that plan with endorsements is handled on a case-by-case basis.

How to File a Home Insurance Claim

So now that you have homeowners insurance, what do you do when you need to file a claim? While the process of filing a claim will differ slightly depending on your insurance provider, the steps are generally as follows:

  1. File a police report. Not all homeowners insurance claims will require a police report, but claims of theft and vandalism require one. Make sure to take note of who you speak with at your local police department and the names of any department personnel who come to inspect your property so you can reference them later if needed.
  2. Contact your insurance company. For all other claims, the first step is to contact your insurance company. Your insurance agent is a great place to start since they’ll be familiar with your policy and can help get the ball rolling. Some insurance providers also allow you to file a claim online, which may be more convenient for you. No matter which contact method you choose, you should start the process as soon as possible.
  3. Make the necessary repairs. This is where it’s important to make sure you understand your policy’s requirements. Some insurance companies require you to make emergency repairs immediately as long as you can do so safely. If you need to perform any repairs, don’t forget to keep your receipts so that you can be reimbursed by your insurance later.
  4. Document your claim. This step is extremely important and can cause you headaches if you don’t do it properly. Take as many pictures as you can of any damage and make a detailed list of the affected items. You should also make a detailed list of any items that were stolen if your claim involves theft. It’s incredibly easy to forget or miss things when documenting your claim, so take your time and have someone you trust help you; a second set of eyes goes a long way.

Final Verdict: Who is the Best Rated Home Insurance Company?

After much analysis, we believe that State Farm provides the best homeowners insurance for most people. The company provides excellent standard coverage at a reasonable price and boasts outstanding ratings from J.D. Power and AM Best, making it an extremely solid and reliable option.

If you are willing to sacrifice a little in the way of customer satisfaction for a slightly fatter wallet, Nationwide also provides outstanding coverage at a more affordable price. While Nationwide’s recent ratings from J.D. Power and AM Best aren’t quite on par with state farm, the company is one of the most well-respected and dependable insurers in the country.

You can’t go wrong with any of the companies on this list, and some companies that did not make the cut offer competitive homeowners insurance. If you’re shopping for homeowners insurance and aren’t in a hurry, it’s worth your time to consider each company on this list, along with honorable mentions Erie, Chubb, and Amica. Contact any of the providers below to get coverage for your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which homeowners insurance company has the highest customer satisfaction?

According to the most recent J.D. Power study, USAA has the highest customer satisfaction, followed closely by Amica Mutual and American Family. While these ratings aren’t the final word on customer satisfaction, they’re generally regarded as a reliable barometer of a company’s reputation.

USAA is only available for military members and their families, so it’s not an option for most people. If it is an option for you, it’s worth a look because it also offers tons of discounts for bundling and unique discounts like lower premiums for customers with ADT home security systems.

Customer reviews from independent sources online suggest that Nationwide, Liberty Mutual, and State Farm also have above-average levels of customer satisfaction.

What are home insurance deductibles?

A home insurance deductible is the amount your insurance company requires you to pay out of pocket before your coverage kicks in. Policies with higher deductibles usually have lower monthly premiums, while plans with low deductibles cost more since the insurance company has to pay more when you experience a covered event.

What does HO-3 insurance mean?

HO-3 insurance is the most common homeowners insurance, covering your home’s structure, personal items, liability, and loss of use. It’s what most people mean when they say “homeowners insurance” without qualifying what type they mean.

Other common types of home insurance are HO-5 for high-value items, HO-8 for older homes, and HO-4 for renters.

Who needs home insurance?

While homeowners insurance is not required by law, everyone who is purchasing a home via a mortgage loan is required to have homeowners insurance by their lender. Mortgage lenders are putting capital at risk when they lend home buyers money, so they protect their investments by requiring homeowners have insurance policies to help pay for repairs in the event of damage to their homes.

What coverage amount is required varies slightly between lenders and regions, so you’ll have to check with lenders in your area for more specific details.

Other Home Insurance Resources