No one disagrees with the idea that having homeowners insurance is a great idea. However, what constitutes good contents insurance is a completely different story. Because not all homeowners insurance policies are created equal and because not all homeowners need and/or want the same coverage.
This means that you will never get the first home insurance policy that passes by. Instead, you shop for them and compare them. The quick and easy way is to go online.
Going to individual captive insurance agent sites will take some time as you will receive one quote at a time. (Captive insurance agents are those agents who represent one insurance company.)
Much faster are sites that collect quotes. But they have one drawback: they only collect from major insurance companies. Some of the insurance companies you’ve never heard of or rarely hear about are better and in a better financial position than some of the big ones.
A third option is to go to sites owned by independent insurance companies. Those agencies work with many insurance companies and thus have access to many insurance plans, some from major insurance companies and lesser known, some only from lesser known, some only from major ones.
The fastest are therefore the sites that collect quotes, but they are not for everyone.
Whichever route you choose, the final point is to get some homeowners insurance quotes and what the policies cover, then do a side-by-side comparison and weed out the ones you don’t like. Then write down what you like and don’t like about the offers, about questions you want more answers to.
Once you have your finalists, review them further. Your state has a department that deals with insurance companies and a website where you can check them out. Because it’s not enough for an insurance company to have a policy you like at a price you like. You also want to make sure it actually delivers (you want the ones with the fewest complaints).
You also want one that isn’t about to succumb. You can go to your public library and find books on insurer ratings, for example the AM Best Insurance Rankings series, or you can find them online (AM Best Insurance Rankings can be found at http://www3.ambest.com/captive/ default.asp). Your state’s insurance department website will also have links to some of them. They will also have links to complaint rates for insurance companies.
To find your state’s insurance department, go to http://www.consumeraction.gov/insurance.shtml (they give you physical address, website address, phone number). If you go to your state’s website, look for the “Reports” tab and look at the latest complaint ratios report.
So speed is good, but you need an insurer to be close by if you need to file a claim and be able to pay. You need an insurer with good customer service. And you need an insurer that gives you the insurance you need. The quality of the insurance is always more important than the price.
Recommended
- Homeowners and Renters Insurance Basics Homeowners insurance covers your personal home, including the contents of your home, and any personal belongings you or members of your household use, own, carry, or carry — basically everything and the kitchen sink. Many Homeowners policies cover your personal belongings and/or household effects anywhere in the world. This insurance…
- Dear Homeowners Insurance Quotes: Don't Waste Your Time -… Are you house hunting? Or are you already a homeowner? Either way, you need insurance for that house and its contents. There are many factors that determine the cost of the payments and how much deductible you may have to pay if something ever happens to the house. You can…
- Why you want instant quotes for contractor liability… The business world moves quickly and there is no slowing down waiting for you to get a liability insurance quote. You can get a quote for a contractor's liability insurance right away or stumble upon your construction bid blindly. The choice is yours, but I'm sure which one I would…
- Cheap term life insurance - where to get them Cheap term life insurance is easy to find. In fact, term life insurance is the cheapest form of life insurance you can buy. Still, you want to make sure you're getting the best deal on your term life insurance policy, which means taking some time to decide how much insurance…
- Guidelines for getting a cheap car insurance online quote Everyone is interested in cheap insurance for their vehicle. If you methodically explore the web, you can find numerous sites that also offer cheap auto insurance policies for new and used cars online. If this is new to you, you can simply follow these guidelines to get cheap online insurance…
- How to deal with the aftermath of a major storm Experiencing the havoc a dangerous storm can wreak on a home or business is traumatic, exhausting and extremely frustrating. Sometimes a person can try to properly prepare for extreme weather conditions, but often their efforts are in vain.Anyone who encounters such a situation may not know very well how to…
- Flood insurance is often misunderstood by homeowners and… Water damage and flood damage are considered two different types of hazards. All homeowners insurance policies exclude coverage in the event that damage is caused by flooding. When two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water, a flood occurs. If a…
- Everything you need to know about affordable home insurance… Why you should get a home insurance quote in Edmonton· To avoid overpayment and save a significant amountInsuring your home, cottage or rental includes flood protection· To get all home insurance information from a live agent· To get a quote from 10 insurance companiesSample home insurance quotes in EdmontonExample 1:…
- 6 Types of Reserves Homeowners Should Create! Many people are drawn to join the so-called American Dream and own their own home! As a real estate licensed salesperson, New York State, for over 15 years, I have witnessed many underprepared homeowners, who end up, are, Home - Rich, but financially - poor! This often happens because they…
- Car Insurance Quotes - The best way to find the cheapest car… The Internet certainly helps us in many ways. Be it a personal need or a business need, the internet can provide you with almost any kind of information. Nowadays, quotes can be requested completely free of charge via the internet. Free insurance quotes are the best ways to check the…
- Water Damage Repair Service - Enough, Done The word water damage doesn't seem like much of a big deal to most homeowners who aren't familiar with the things that happen after your home actually suffers water damage. In other words, most homeowners don't realize what a contractor or water damage repair company knows about the effects of…
- Why is my home insurance replacement cost higher than market… Many homeowners are perplexed by the difference between their home's market value and the replacement cost on their homeowner's insurance policy. With falling market values, these numbers are getting further and further apart and many people wonder why the large discrepancy. Your homeowner's insurance policy is a contract to rebuild…
- Security and surveillance video cameras can save you 12-15%… Every homeowner or business owner who owns real estate needs a HOI, homeowners insurance policy or risk insurance policy. It just depends on where you are in the country or who you are dealing with in terms of the terminology used. But it's all the same.You can't buy a home,…
- Information On The Cheapest Homeowners Insurance: Factors To… Identifying an affordable home insurance policy that offers great value at a reasonable price is not an easy process. Still, you can lessen some of the difficulty by searching for quotes and knowing how to compare them properly. It's never a good idea to rush things. Don't just sign up…
- Ranking of homeowners insurance companies - the good, the… How does your homeowners insurance company rank? The only time you don't want to find out they're at the bottom of the list is when it's time to file a claim. Insurance companies are good at collecting your premium on a monthly basis, but when it comes to paying out…
- Home insurance costs: overview of home insurance policies,… Homeowners insurance is a type of insurance policy that protects owners against damage and losses caused by hazards such as burglary, fire, lawsuits against injured visitors, extreme weather, and so on. Your whole life can change in a minute. What if your house suddenly burns down? Or will a once-in-a-lifetime…
- Homeowners Insurance Exclusions - Workers Compensation If you're making an addition to your home, making repairs, or having any other work done on your home by outside, hired contractors, one thing that's missing from your standard homeowners policy is worker compensation. Most larger contractors have workers' compensation insurance for their employees, but if you hire a…
- Overview cheap home insurance: what important factors should… During your research on home and property insurance companies, you should always focus on several factors and not just price. Even if you're looking for "cheap home insurance," don't settle for the lowest rate, as you may end up paying more in the long run. Also take into account the…
- Tips to choose the best insurance broker for businesses The insurance industry is full of opportunities and risks. Therefore, it is advisable to take the help of an insurance broker before insuring your business. Insurance brokers are also known as professional intermediaries or intermediaries.It is always important to understand the rules of insurance to get the best out of…
- 8 tips to save money on car insurance Because car insurance is expensive, most consumers do not want to use it. Buying the right coverage is important, but it costs more to insure a new car. Below you will find a number of tips that can help you save money on your car insurance. Read more.Annual rateYou can…