A homeowners insurance policy protects you from having to pay unexpected repair or replacement costs out of pocket when an event damages your home or personal belongings, or when you’re responsible for bodily injury or property damage to someone else.

To help you compare home insurance providers, the This Old House Reviews Team created a guide that walks you through the best homeowners insurance companies available nationwide.

To find the best homeowners insurance rates in your area, call 855-948-5219 or get an online quote using our free comparison tool.


 

10 Best Homeowners Insurance Companies

After in-depth research, our review team has found that these are some of the best homeowners insurance companies available today:


 

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

Homeowners insurance policies typically include six areas of coverage—dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, liability, and medical payments to others. The best homeowners insurance companies also offer additional endorsements to help you customize your policy.

Here’s a quick overview of the difference areas of insurance coverage:

  • Dwelling Coverage: This coverage protects the structure of your home and covers parts like your interior walls, exterior walls, foundation, and cabinetry. Consider buying enough dwelling coverage to cover the cost of rebuilding your home as new. Additionally, if you’ve had features added to your house, such as having a solar company install panels on your roof, your home may require extra replacement cost coverage.
  • Coverage for Other Structures: This covers detached structures on your property like a garage, fence, or shed. It’s usually 10% of the dwelling coverage.
  • Personal Property Coverage: This part of the policy protects the personal belongings in your home. If a covered event were to damage them, your provider pays to cover their depreciated value though an actual cash value policy or pays to cover new items with a replacement cash value policy. You usually get at least 50% of dwelling coverage for this type of protection.
  • Loss of Use Coverage: If an event like a fire forces you out of your home for repairs, your policy will pay for any living expenses during that time. For example, if you usually spend $300 on food every month, but you spent $400 this month because you had to eat out for every meal, your provider will reimburse you for the $100 difference. This type of coverage is usually 20% of dwelling coverage.
  • Liability Coverage: If you’re responsible for an accident that causes bodily injury or property damage to someone else, your policy will cover the cost. For example, if your dog bites a neighbor and they get stitches, your insurance provider will cover the costs. Insurance providers usually recommend purchasing at least $300,000 worth of this coverage.
  • Coverage for Medical Payments to Others: If a guest is injured in your home, your policy will cover their medical bills. A standard amount of this coverage is $1,000 per person.
  • Endorsements: Most companies offer at least one endorsement to make your policy more comprehensive. Common endorsements include coverage for identity theft expenses, earthquakes, valuable personal property, and water backup.

Covered Perils

For your claim to be approved, the damage must be caused by a covered event. In an HO-3 policy, which is the type of home insurance policy most companies use, you’ll be protected from the following events:

  1. Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning, or bulging
  2. Volcanic eruption
  3. Sudden and accidental damage from an artificially generated electrical current
  4. Frozen plumbing
  5. Theft
  6. Smoke
  7. Damage from vehicles
  8. Damage from aircrafts
  9. Vandalism
  10. Windstorm and hail
  11. Fire and lightning
  12. Civil commotion
  13. Falling objects
  14. Weight of snow, sleet, or ice
  15. Explosion
  16. Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam

 

How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, a home insurance policy cost $1,249 per year, or about $104 per month, in 2018.

The overall cost of your insurance premium will depend on the following factors:

  • Claims history
  • Credit score
  • Cost to rebuild your home
  • Square footage of your home
  • Number and type of pets
  • Proximity to a fire station and fire hydrant
  • Level of susceptibility to natural disasters in your area
  • Safety features in your home

What Is the Most Expensive State for Homeowners Insurance?

In the same report from III, Louisiana had the highest home insurance premiums, coming in at an average of $2,037 per year. This figure is more than $800 higher than the national average and can be attributed to the state’s location and risk of weather-related perils.

What Is the Cheapest State for Homeowners Insurance?

Iowa had the lowest national average home insurance premiums at $913 per month. Iowa faces a significantly lower risk of storm damage than a state such as Louisiana, which translated to lower premiums.

Compare The Cost of Homeowners Insurance in Your State

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming


 

Comparing the Top Homeowners Insurance Providers

We highly recommend that you obtain at least three quotes from the best homeowners insurance companies before choosing which provider and policy is best for your home.

Provider

Sample Annual Premium

Our Rating

JD Power

AM Best

Lemonade

$1,073

4.2

N/A

N/A

Liberty Mutual

$1,445

4.7

805/1000

A

State Farm

$1,057

4.8

829/1000

A++

Nationwide

$850

4.6

816/1000

A+

Allstate

$1,902

4.9

815/1000

A+

Travelers

$917

4.6

794/1000

A++

Farmers

$1,291

4.7

792/1000

A

Amica

$2,264

4.8

849/1000

A+

USAA

$1,033

4.7

884/1000

A++

Erie

N/A

4.6

827/1000

A+

Quotes gathered using public data provided by the Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel for standard coverage on a 2,350 square foot single-family home in Pflugerville, TX with fire and burglar alarms.


 

Finding the Best Homeowners Insurance Company for You

To find the best home insurance company for you, use the tool below and compare homeowners insurance rates offered from several providers or call 855-948-5219 to get quotes by phone.

While all of the providers in this review offer quality homeowners insurance, we recommend them each for different reasons. For example, Allstate is one of the best home and auto insurance choices for its comprehensive standard policies and excellent overall performance, Liberty Mutual offers a variety of attainable discounts and options to protect your policy against inflation, and Lemonade offers unique features such as an easy signup tool and user-friendly mobile app.

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Lemonade: Easiest Sign-Up

  • J.D. Power Rating: N/A
  • A.M. Best Rating: N/A

Though Lemonade is relatively new to the home insurance industry, the company has strived to create a unique insurance experience for customers. Some ways the company does this is by offering individual endorsements for jewelry, fine art, bikes, cameras, and musical instruments, and allowing you to determine how much coverage you want for each valuable item.

The company also strives to create a great experience for policyholders through its easy-to-use mobile app. Signing up for a policy takes just a minute and a half, and claims submitted through the app are often paid out within three minutes.

Sample Quote: $1,073

Lemonade Easiest Sign-Up
4.2
Pros & Cons
Pros Offers endorsements for valuable items Has a Giveback program that donates unused policy money to charities Signing up takes 90 seconds through the mobile app and most claims are paid instantly Features discounts for alarm systems, building frame type, gated communities, and fire protection Cons No physical locations
Additional Coverage Options
  • Bikes
  • Cameras
  • Earthquake
  • Fine art
  • Jewelry
  • Musical instruments
  • Significant other
  • Swimming pool liability
  • Water backup
Available Discounts
  • Bundling
  • Fire protection
  • Gated community
  • Material
  • Protection equipment

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quote: Lemonade Home Insurance Quotes

Learn More: Lemonade Homeowners Insurance Review

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*A.M. Best ratings accurate as of February 2023


 

Liberty Mutual: Best Discounts

  • J.D. Power Rating: 805/1000
  • A.M. Best Rating: A

Liberty Mutual has been providing affordable home insurance to customers for over 100 years.

The company is able to keep its policies affordable because of its variety of discount opportunities for things like bundling, new homebuyer, paperless billing, early shopping, and even up to 10% just for purchasing online. This provider is ideal for anyone looking to maximize savings through available discounts.

Sample Quote: $1,445

Liberty Mutual Best Discounts
4.8
Pros & Cons
Pros Offers a variety of discounts to lower the price of your premium Has over 100 years of experience in the insurance industry Offers worthwhile unique endorsements such as mold coverage and sinkhole collapse Cons Doesn’t include liability coverage for claims involving certain dog breeds
Additional Coverage Options
  • Earthquake
  • Flood insurance
  • Identity fraud
  • Inflation protection
  • Personal property
  • Scheduled items
  • Umbrella
  • Water backup and sump pump
Available Discounts
  • Claims-free
  • Early shopper
  • Insured to value
  • Multi-policy
  • New roof
  • Newly purchased home
  • Paperless policy
  • Preferred payment
  • Safe homeowner

 

State Farm: Best Endorsements

State Farm is one of the best home and auto insurance companies that offers just over 10 endorsements to help you customize your policy to fit your home protection needs. The company offers common endorsements such as water backup, full replacement cost, and earthquake insurance, along with unique ones like service line coverage, home systems protection, and personal injury coverage.

State Farm might be your pick if you’re looking to fine-tune your policy with additional coverage.

Sample Quote: $1,057

State Farm Best Endorsements
4.8
Pros & Cons
Pros Offers 11 endorsements to customize your policy Provides affordable coverage for homes that cost $400,000 or more to rebuild Connects customers to local agents from signup to policy management Features discounts for car insurance bundling, impact-resistant roofing, and home alert systems including smoke detectors Cons Fewer discounts available than competitors
Additional Coverage Options
  • Cyber event, identity restoration, and fraud prevention
  • Depreciated loss
  • Energy efficient upgrade
  • Full replacement cost
  • HOA loss assessment
  • Home systems
  • Off-premise structures
  • Personal liability
  • Service line
  • Umbrella
  • Water backup and sump pump
Available Discounts
  • Home security
  • Impact-resistant roofing material
  • Multi-policy

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quote: call 1-360-262-2561

Learn More: State Farm Homeowners Insurance Review

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Nationwide: Best Standard Policy

Nationwide is a well-known provider with a solid financial strength rating from AM Best. The company offers a full suite of financial products, including home and renters coverage. Nationwide is best for individuals who want comprehensive coverage without having to purchase a long list of add-ons.

Its standard policy includes coverage that most providers charge extra for. This includes ordinance of law coverage, which pays to get your home up to code during a rebuild or repair. It also provides some coverage for fraudulent credit and debit card transactions.

Sample Quote: $850

Nationwide Most Inclusive Coverage
4.6
Pros & Cons
Pros Offers an extensive lineup of discounts Has competitive prices, on average Provides “dwelling replacement cost plus” option for extended coverage Cons Isn’t available in Louisiana, Hawaii, or Alaska
Additional Coverage Options
  • 20% plus replacement cost
  • Earthquake insurance
  • Flood insurance
  • Identity theft
  • Valuables
  • Water backup
Available Discounts
  • Claim-free
  • Gated community
  • Home purchase
  • Home renovation
  • Multi-policy
  • Prior insurance
  • Protective device
  • Roof rating
  • Smart home

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quote: call 1-360-262-2561

Learn More: Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Review

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Allstate: Best Coverage Options

  • J.D. Power Rating: 815/1000
  • A.M. Best Rating: A+

Allstate has the best homeowners insurance in the industry because of its customer service, customizability, and affordability. While most insurance companies have a claims center open 24/7, but limited hours for policy, sales, and billing questions, Allstate has 24/7 customer service for all house insurance questions.

If you prefer self-service over talking to a customer service representative, you can use the online portal or mobile app to manage your policy and file a claim.

While dwelling, other structures, personal property, and loss of use coverage are determined by the rebuilding cost of your home, you get to choose your liability, medical payments to others, and deductible amounts.

You can also further customize your policy with more than 10 endorsement options, and, to keep premiums down, Allstate offers nine homeowner discounts.

Sample Quote: $1,902

Allstate Best Coverage Options
4.9
Pros & Cons
Pros Provides 24/7 customer service for all claims, policy, billing, and sales questions Has a claim rate guard endorsement that won’t increase your premium if you file a claim Features discounts for multi-policy bundling, loyalty, green home improvements, and early sign-up Cons Can be difficult to receive a hassle-free quote in some states, requiring contact with an agent
Additional Coverage Options
  • Business property
  • Claim rate guard
  • Electronic data recovery
  • Extended coverage on jewelry, watches, and furs
  • Green improvement reimbursement
  • Identity theft restoration
  • Musical instruments
  • Roof surfaces extended coverage
  • Scheduled personal property
  • Water backup
  • Yard and garden
Available Discounts
  • Claim-free
  • Early signing
  • Easy pay plan
  • Home buyer
  • Multi-policy
  • Protective device
  • Responsible payment
  • Welcome and loyalty

 

USAA: Best Membership Perks

USAA is available only to current or past military members and their immediate family members. If you’re eligible for USAA home insurance, you’ll receive perks like discounts on car rentals and ADT home security systems.

Another unique USAA feature is that base policies include three additional types of insurance coverage, while other home insurance companies require you to purchase add-ons for that type of protection. This company is a great place to start for anyone that qualifies for a membership.

Sample Quote: $1,033

USAA Best Membership Perks
4.7
Pros & Cons
Pros Offers a variety of membership perks, like USAA banking and shopping discounts Credit card and forgery, supplemental loss assessment, and business property coverage are included in base policies Features discounts for payment history, bundling, fire alarms, and home security services or features Cons Only available for military service members and their families
Additional Coverage Options
  • Cellphone with ProtectCELL
  • Computer
  • Home Protector
  • Increased liability
  • Valuable personal property
Available Discounts
  • ADT security system
  • Claim-free
  • Multi-policy bundle

 

Travelers: Most Experience

Travelers is the oldest company in the home insurance industry, with more than 160 years of experience providing auto, home, and renters insurance products and services.

While its home insurance coverage options aren’t as extensive as Farmers home insurance, it still allows you to customize other structures, personal property, and loss of use protection. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for a reliable company that knows the ins-and-outs of the industry.

Sample Quote: $917

Travelers Most Experience
4.7
Pros & Cons
Pros Has over 160 years of experience providing insurance Offers a deductible of up to $50,000 Provides up to $10,000 per person of medical payments to others coverage Features unique discounts for green homes and new homebuyers Cons Does not have the option to insure mobile home
Additional Coverage Options
  • Added replacement cost
  • Green home
  • Identity fraud protection
  • Jewelry and valuables
  • Personal articles
  • Special personal property
  • Sump pump discharge or overflow
  • Water backup
Available Discounts
  • Claim-free
  • Green home certification via the LEED organization
  • Multi-policy
  • New home buyer
  • Protective devices

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quote: Travelers Home Insurance Quote

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Farmers: Most Customizable Coverage

  • J.D. Power Rating: 792/1000
  • A.M. Best Rating: A

Farmers offers the most customizable homeowners insurance out of the providers in this review.

Most home insurance companies offer a set amount of other structures, personal property, and loss of use coverage based on your dwelling coverage amount, but Farmers allows you to decide how much protection you want for each area of coverage. This includes up to $2 million of liability coverage and more than 20 deductible options.

Sample Quote: $1,291

Farmers Most Customizable Coverage
4.7
Pros & Cons
Pros Provides more dwelling, other structures, and personal property options than the other providers in this review Offers up to $2 million worth of liability coverage Features discounts for non-smoking policyholders, new homes, and roofing materials Cons Policies can be on the expensive side compared with competitors
Additional Coverage Options
  • Eco-rebuild
  • Identity theft protection
  • Personal article floaters
  • Replacement cost
Available Discounts
  • Affinity
  • Connected home
  • ePolicy
  • Good payer
  • Green certification
  • Home safety
  • Multi-line
  • New home
  • Nonsmoker
  • Preferred payment
  • Protective device
  • Rent-to-own
  • UL-approved roofing materials

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quote: Farmers Home Insurance Quote

Learn More: Farmers Homeowners Insurance Review

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Amica: Best Customer Service

  • J.D. Power Rating: 849/1000
  • A.M. Best Rating: A+

Amica® offers the most liability options out of the providers in this review. While most companies offer between $100,000–$1 million worth of liability coverage, Amica’s minimum coverage option is at $25,000, giving policyholders a chance to lower their premium if they’re less worried about liability. It can also open up the opportunity for homeowners to affordably increase coverage in other categories.

Sample Quote: $2,624

Amica Best Customer Service
4
Pros & Cons
Pros Offers liability coverage between $25,000–$1 million Has an endorsement for natural disasters called catastrophic coverages Provides a mobile app, online chat, and customer portal for self-service Features discounts for auto-pay, claim-free history, home renovations, and alarm systems Cons Average premiums are typically higher than the national average
Additional Coverage Options
  • Catastrophic
  • Dwelling replacement
  • Home business
  • Identity fraud expense
  • Personal property replacement
  • Valuable items
  • Water backup and sump overflow
Available Discounts
  • Alarm system
  • Automatic detection devices
  • Autopay
  • Claim-free
  • E-discount
  • Loyalty
  • Multi-policy
  • New and remodeled homes

 

Erie: Best Value

Erie is another popular home insurance company with high ratings for its financial strength and customer service. It’s worth considering if you live in one of the 12 states it serves or Washington, D.C.

Erie did well across our review standards and stood out most for its affordability. The company consistently offers lower rates than most competitors in the industry.

Erie Insurance Best Value
4.6
Pros & Cons
Pros Offers guaranteed replacement cost in some states, which protects your home against depreciation Has a lower volume of complaints than most competitors Provides 24/7 phone support Cons Is only available in 12 states
Additional Coverage Options
  • Extended coverage for valuables
  • Identity theft protection
  • Underground utility line
  • Water backup and sump pump overflow
Available Discounts
  • Early quote
  • Multi-policy
  • Safety device

How To File a Homeowners Insurance Claim

Filing a home insurance claim is a simple process. Here are the steps you should take in the event of a claim:

  1. File a police report: If your claim is related to theft or vandalism, it’s crucial to start with a well-documented police report.
  2. Contact your insurer: It’s important to notify your insurance company of the claim right away. Some companies allow you to file claims completely online. Your policy documents should specify how to file your claim.
  3. Make emergency repairs: To keep the damage from getting worse, make temporary repairs, keep your receipts, and document everything with photos.
  4. Keep good records: Along those lines, make sure to document as much as possible if it’s related to the claim. Take photos and videos and evaluate the cost of stolen, damaged, or destroyed items.

 

What Risks Do Homeowners Face?

Here are some of the biggest risks homeowners face, which often result in home insurance claims:

  • Water damage: Home insurance typically covers sudden, accidental water damage from a source inside your home, such as a busted pipe. It generally excludes flooding, preventable damage from unattended maintenance problems, and water backup.
  • Wind damage: Between hurricanes, thunderstorms, and tornadoes, wind damage is a common cause of home insurance claims nationwide.
  • Fire and lightning: Fire and lightning also account for a significant number of claims each year.
  • Liability: While liability claims are less common, they do occur. If someone slips and breaks an ankle at your house, your home insurance policy could pay for medical fees or replace damaged personal property.
  • Theft and vandalism: Homeowners are also at risk of theft and vandalism. You can protect your home with a home security system to reduce this risk.

 

Finding the Best Homeowners Insurance Company for You

If You Are a First-Time Home Buyer

Knowing where to begin when you insure your first home can be challenging. You should purchase home insurance once your offer has been accepted and the home is officially yours.

However, you can shop for a policy sooner, using the home’s details to see what home insurance risks it poses and to get an idea of coverage cost. Compare multiple quotes to ensure you chose the right provider. Some companies, such as Liberty Mutual, offer special discounts for new home buyers.

If You Live in an Older Home

Depending on your home’s age, you may have a hard time getting a traditional HO-3 policy. Instead, insurers may offer you a specialized policy with more limitations and exclusions.

We recommend working with an independent insurance agent if you live in an old or historic home. A professional can work closely with you and point you towards the right provider for your specific situation.

If You Live in a High-Risk Area

If you live in a high-risk area that is more prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes, finding the right insurer poses its own unique challenges. Work with an insurance agent to choose the right provider, policy, and additional coverage for your needs. You can also consult with other people who live in the area to determine which insurers could be a good fit.

If You Have a Banned Dog Breed

Insurers consider some dog breeds to pose a higher risk of acting aggressively and injuring other dogs or people. Many home insurance companies have a list of banned breeds that they exclude from liability coverage.

If your dog is on this list or has a documented history of violence, your insurance company could restrict your coverage. As you shop for coverage, be honest about your pet and communicate with an insurance agent to ensure you get the best coverage possible.

If You Own Valuable Items

Personal property coverage has its limits. If you have high-value items such as jewelry or artwork, choose a provider that will adequately cover them. Look for a plan that lets you increase your overall coverage amount or add a scheduled personal property rider to extend coverage on individual items.


 

Frequently Asked Questions About Homeowners Insurance


 

Our Homeowners Insurance Rating Methodology

The This Old House Reviews Team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. This means earning your trust through transparency and having the data to back up our ratings and recommendations.

With this data, we created a rating methodology to score each home insurance company. Our rating system is a weighted, 100-point scale based on the following factors:

  • Coverage (30)
  • State availability (7.5)
  • Customer service (15)
  • Technology (12.5)
  • Reputation (20)
  • Additional benefits (15)

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.

Ratings listed in this article are accurate as of December 2023.

A.M. Best Disclaimer