It's insurance renewal time. I have had Progressive for home owners and autos for three years now without any claims. Auto increased some but I can deal with that. Homeowners went up more than I would like. I have gotten a comparable quote from an Allstate agent. I want everything covered by the same company. I would appreciate any good or bad opinions regarding Allstate.
Homeowners Insurance Opinions
- Thread starter Lubener
- Start date
My wife and I had State Farm for over 30 years and last month I switched to American Family and saved about $1,750 per month. I don't know much about Allstate.
Look for a local insurance broker that can price your coverage with multiple carriers.
My insurance premiums went up on both our homes significantly. We must be paying for the fire in California. I feel their pain.
I had Liberty Mutual for home and auto for 17 years. When my renewal came in Dec 2024 for year 2025, the rates jumped up high enough that I decided to look around. I went with NJM (New Jersey Manufacturers) which only covers 5 states but has a great reputation.
I saved $5000.00 per year plus I was able to get better coverage. The insurance companies don't value loyalty.
One thing to know though when switching homeowners insurance is that you will most likely be subject to an inspection. Depending on what they see, you may have to make repairs to obtain coverage. In my case, I was required to re-do my driveway which was in decent shape but had some waviness to it. The driveway cost me $3500.00 so for me it was a win/win. Still saved money and the driveway is new. I hear insurance companies love to have new roofs so if yours is older or not in tip top shape, you may want to reconsider making a switch.
I saved $5000.00 per year plus I was able to get better coverage. The insurance companies don't value loyalty.
One thing to know though when switching homeowners insurance is that you will most likely be subject to an inspection. Depending on what they see, you may have to make repairs to obtain coverage. In my case, I was required to re-do my driveway which was in decent shape but had some waviness to it. The driveway cost me $3500.00 so for me it was a win/win. Still saved money and the driveway is new. I hear insurance companies love to have new roofs so if yours is older or not in tip top shape, you may want to reconsider making a switch.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I hear you. In 3yrs, mine went from 1300 to 1650, now $2150/year. I have never filed a claim, nor have seen this degree of increase. I've only tried one other quote at this point (Allstate) and it was still over $2k/yr. One of the factors they claim is the ever increasing replacement value of our homes. I get that. They have that value at something insane like $720k for my home. I couldn't afford to live in a $720k "replacement".
I'd stay clear of All State! Try a broker, last year when The Hartford got greedy I went with a broker. I ended up with a better deal with the broker, and when the broker gets greedy I'll start the process over again. With insurance familiarity breeds contempt, I shop and keep them honest.
A MONTH!?!?!
Stupidly, I have Allsate for home and auto. The home insurance agent called yesterday to talk about July renewal and $240/mo premium increase. Then promised (up to) a $3000 discount for a new roof. NOTE: New roof is coming in a week or two.
HOWEVER, after reviewing the requirements for the full discount, it seems my new hurricane rated, heavy gauge, standing seam metal roof won't fully qualify. As I will need a double wrap underlayment. (I chose the very best ultra thick and reinforced underlayment) that is very wear resistant.
NOTE: last year, Allstate paid half the replacement value of my totaled truck. They delayed payment for a year, refused to answer emails, phone calls and so on, then tried to claim the claim window had passed and they had no liability what so ever.
When the new roof is on, I'm dropping Allstate.
The party responsible for the crash also had Allstate and settled just before trial, paying the remainder for the truck and medical expenses. But nothing else. Very difficult to deal with them.
HOWEVER, after reviewing the requirements for the full discount, it seems my new hurricane rated, heavy gauge, standing seam metal roof won't fully qualify. As I will need a double wrap underlayment. (I chose the very best ultra thick and reinforced underlayment) that is very wear resistant.
NOTE: last year, Allstate paid half the replacement value of my totaled truck. They delayed payment for a year, refused to answer emails, phone calls and so on, then tried to claim the claim window had passed and they had no liability what so ever.
When the new roof is on, I'm dropping Allstate.
The party responsible for the crash also had Allstate and settled just before trial, paying the remainder for the truck and medical expenses. But nothing else. Very difficult to deal with them.
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When comparing policies, don't underestimate your real-world replacement cost. If something like a fire makes a home a full tear-down and replace, the cost could easily exceed the market value of the home - assuming the land isn't incredibly valuable.
Depending upon how the relevant coverage lines are bundled, there could be an overall cap for things like the teardown/disposal/rebuild, contents, costs associated with you being displaced for months, etc. That number gets big in a hurry.
I shopped around before my most recent renewal, and found that the only quotes which offered lower premiums came with significantly lower overall replacement et al. cap.
Depending upon how the relevant coverage lines are bundled, there could be an overall cap for things like the teardown/disposal/rebuild, contents, costs associated with you being displaced for months, etc. That number gets big in a hurry.
I shopped around before my most recent renewal, and found that the only quotes which offered lower premiums came with significantly lower overall replacement et al. cap.
Does Erie sell insurance in your state?
Do you have a mortgage on the house?
Do you have a mortgage on the house?
Here is something that got me around 600$ each discount on home insurance and auto insurance for this year. It has been steadily going up over the years.
I got several online quotes, but they were all within $100-150 from what I was paying. So obviously I never proceeded with any of them.
Sure enough after few days I’m getting insurance calls but I’m ignoring them. Eventually a local number calls me, so I pick up. It’s a local Geico agent and I almost say I’m not interested, thinking they have the same offers as I got online, but I go ahead and talk to the guy. So he gets me a quote that roughly $600 less than what I’m paying or what the online quotes are.
I think these days they all can estimate based on your history, credit score etc. how much you’re “comfortable with” paying. It’s not about how much the coverage costs anymore, but more of how much people are comfortable with paying, that’s why the cost for same coverage can vary so wildly. They call it dynamic pricing and even regular stores and fast food places are trying it out.
Since I never went ahead with any of the online quotes, it’s a clear signal the price is too high, so the agents calling know they need to offer a better one.
I don’t expect this to work every year, but it may be a good strategy to play their game.
I got several online quotes, but they were all within $100-150 from what I was paying. So obviously I never proceeded with any of them.
Sure enough after few days I’m getting insurance calls but I’m ignoring them. Eventually a local number calls me, so I pick up. It’s a local Geico agent and I almost say I’m not interested, thinking they have the same offers as I got online, but I go ahead and talk to the guy. So he gets me a quote that roughly $600 less than what I’m paying or what the online quotes are.
I think these days they all can estimate based on your history, credit score etc. how much you’re “comfortable with” paying. It’s not about how much the coverage costs anymore, but more of how much people are comfortable with paying, that’s why the cost for same coverage can vary so wildly. They call it dynamic pricing and even regular stores and fast food places are trying it out.
Since I never went ahead with any of the online quotes, it’s a clear signal the price is too high, so the agents calling know they need to offer a better one.
I don’t expect this to work every year, but it may be a good strategy to play their game.
Sorry...per year!!!!!
Still substantial
FYI, homeowners is currently $12K per year. And that's after policy manipulation (me giving up coverages to save money) and it's going up by $2880 per year. The roof discount will likely be some fraction of the maximum $3000 allowed.
The concrete roof was rated at 145MPH. The metal roof is rated at 125MPH. Yes the ratings are different now, but we did have 128mph gusts and sustained no concrete tile or home damage what so ever. I'm 100% sure Allsate will 'nick' me on that rating too.
The concrete roof was rated at 145MPH. The metal roof is rated at 125MPH. Yes the ratings are different now, but we did have 128mph gusts and sustained no concrete tile or home damage what so ever. I'm 100% sure Allsate will 'nick' me on that rating too.
I've become good friends with mine and he has been invaluable when needed. He's gotten me great coverage and we review costs at every renewal to ensure we're paying what we need to pay and switch if necessary. Well worth the time IMO.
Lesson for others, if you have the same insurance company for more than 5 years you are paying too much. I think even 5 years is too much. I check every year. Right now we are at $1,450 I have a family member stuck at $3,200 a few miles over the border and he feels lucky as his other company dropped him and the new suggested company wanted $4,000, same size house.
Previous quotes for our house were coming in up to $2,800 and some places told me flat out (State Farm) who to go too because they can not give me a price that I would be happy with.
I check multi sources every year, low price wins. I could care less who the company is. However I pay so little now that unless they raise my rate I wont bother
I know for fact we are paying up to (serious) 50% less than some others in our near the coast home. That is a conservative number. It could be up to 75% less. Lots of hunting around in a place that insurance is a bit more difficult near the coast.
Yes, first time in my very long life I used a local broker in our new home and location. I was beating my head against the wall after Progressive pulled out of the area of our new home. Quotes coming in over $2,200 to flat out telling me they dont insure near the coast.
A State Farm employee when I went into their office suggested to me to try this broker near my home and they will be able to do much better than her (that doesnt happen often!)
Anyway, made an appt with the brokerage. Wow, loved how it worked. gave all my info and my wife, Social Security numbers, everything. She commented to me something like wow this is good, our credit and insurance scores were excellent.
She puts all that information into her computer, sits back and waits. Wow, it was so cool. Automatically over maybe 15 minutes? Quotes were coming in from multiple sources, (almost like bidding I think). Than she quotes me a number that I could not believe was true after searching the internet for a day on my own. Time will tell, now into my second year. Nothing can touch the price and we are well insured.
A company I never heard of nor did I care. Later learned they are actually known in Florida too. Heck, I cant even remember the name off the top of my head. I think Safe-Sure or something like that. ) Opps! Edit = SageSure insurance
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I have the cars and houses insured through Costco American Family. I haven't shopped for a long time; perhaps I should?
I still think Costco American Family is good which you recommended to me about 2 years ago. Then they raised my rates, still better than most though. So .... well ... anyway...
However if you know me *LOL* raise my rates and I will find something better and I did but not much better. I dont even know the name of the company, never heard of it and I paid a full year in advance. Around Nov I will find out what the renewal price will be
Anyway, Im sure you are ok but if you dont beat yourself up and check multiple places how will you know? Only if that is important to someone.
