State Farm Homeowners Insurance Review: Overview, Facts, Features, Plans, Pros and Cons

State Farm Homeowners Insurance Review: Overview, Facts, Features, Plans, Pros and Cons

This insurer provides extensive homeowner's coverage as well as individual service through its network of agents, but it does not provide very many discounts State Farm is currently the largest provider of homeowner's insurance in the United States. The company also offers a variety of additional coverage options, including renters, auto, life, and umbrella insurance, which can be purchased online or through one of their more than 19,000 local agents. People who wish to work directly with an agent and who feel most comfortable purchasing insurance from a well-established organization are the ones who will benefit the most from this option.

The good and the bad of State Farm's homeowner's insurance

State Farm's homeowner's insurance –– the advantages

  • User-friendly webpage.
  • The assistance provided by agents is individualized.
  • A low number of customer complaints overall.

State Farm's homeowner's insurance –– the disadvantages

  • Inadequate discounts in comparison to those offered by other insurers.

How much does home insurance cost at State Farm?

The homeowner's insurance offered by State Farm received four out of five stars for its overall performance. The grading system considers a variety of factors, including but not limited to complaint statistics from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, simplicity of making a claim, website openness, financial strength, and coverage and savings offered.

State availability

New policyholders can get homes insurance from State Farm in Washington D.C. and every state besides Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Coverage from State Farm for your house insurance

You have many options for adding extra coverage to your homeowner's insurance policy. Still, the following forms of protection are typically included as standard:

Dwelling

  • Repair or rebuilding your home's structure is in your best financial interest.

Other structures

  • This policy covers damage to detached buildings such as a shed or fence.

Personal property

  • It covers the cost of repairing or replacing personal belongings such as clothing and furniture.

Loss of use

  • Suppose you are forced to live elsewhere while covered repairs are being made to your house. In that case, this benefit will pay for hotel accommodations, restaurant meals, and other related expenses.

Personal liability

  • It covers the cost of legal representation and damages if you are found responsible for injuries sustained by other individuals or damage caused to their property.

Medical payments

  • Regardless of who was at fault, injuries sustained by guests in your house are covered by this policy.
State Farm's homeowner's insurance policies include various optional enhancements in addition to the basic coverage described above. Your replacement coverage will be automatically boosted by up to 20 percent thanks to an "increased dwelling limit" feature, provided that you have insured your house for at least the amount it would take to rebuild it completely. Including this in your policy won't cost you anything extra on your part. Say Because State Farm estimates that the cost to reconstruct your home will be $200,000, you have chosen to purchase a dwelling coverage equal to that on your insurance policy. State Farm will automatically pay up to 20 percent more, for a total of $240,000, to rebuild your house if your region is struck by a natural disaster that causes building prices to increase proportionately. Additional add-ons that come for an additional cost include the following:
  • Coverage of a clogged sewer or drain backup.
  • Coverage for identity fraud, cyberattacks, and cyber extortion.
  • Coverage of the earthquake.
  • Liability coverage for people who work as nurses or provide in-home care for children or adults and those who work in child care.
  • Protection for buildings that aren't on your property but someone else's.
  • Coverage for properties rented out for more than 30 nights per year is known as home rental coverage.
  • Coverage against liability for libel, slander, and other personal damage claims.
  • Protection for underground utility lines provided by service lines in the event of damage.
  • Coverage to upgrade to a more energy-efficient model if your water heater, air conditioner, or heating device breaks down and needs to be replaced.
  • Coverage if your home is vacant for more than thirty days, including protection against theft, vandalism, and broken glass.
  • Reimbursement for specific expenses incurred due to compliance with zoning regulations or building rules.
  • A wide range of coverage options for homes in the building process, including protection against the theft of building materials and liability in a temporary dwelling.
  • If household systems, such as heaters and air conditioners, become damaged and require repair, coverage.
  • Coverage for unplanned business occurrences for persons who conduct their work from home.
  • Coverage for your share of a loss that occurs within the context of a homeowners association and affects all of its members.
  • Insurance coverage if a waterbed causes damage to the property of a third party.
Be sure to read the fine print or ask your agent to walk you through any limitations and exclusions before selecting any of these coverage alternatives to purchase.

Home insurance rates offered by State Farm

We compared the average annual rates for homeowners insurance offered by State Farm to those offered by four major competitors in different ZIP codes located all over the United States. Our preliminary research found that State Farm provided the best value for the money, with an annual premium of $1,529, or $255 less than the national average premium of $1,784 yearly. Our sample rates were based on a homeowner who was 40 years old and had a $1,000 deductible, $300,000 in coverage for their house, and $300,000 in liability insurance. Your charges will be different.

Discounts

There is a limited selection of homeowner discounts available from State Farm, and the savings can differ from state to state. If you live in certain areas, you may be eligible to receive one or more of the following savings on your policy:
  • State Farm provides a discount for purchasing multiple lines of coverage.
  • A discount on the cost of protective devices when installed in a home as part of a monitoring system, such as smoke or burglar alarms.
  • Get a discount on your roof replacement costs if it is constructed from certain impact-resistant materials, such as Class 4 shingles.

Consumer complaints

According to data compiled over three years by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, State Farm received fewer complaints from state regulators concerning its size for house insurance than was predicted based on the size of the company.

The consumer experience with State Farm

Website:

The website for State Farm is easy to navigate, enabling users to obtain a quotation or submit a claim directly from the website's homepage. You can also monitor the status of your homeowner's claim online with State Farm. Suppose you need to talk through an issue with a natural person. In that case, you can utilize the "find an agent" function on the company's website, which is quite simple. You may rapidly accomplish specific tasks, such as registering in autopay and acquiring your ID cards, without having to log in with a password, which is a convenient option. These chores include paying your bill and obtaining your ID cards. Even though it may require some scrolling on occasion to locate, the State Farm website provides homeowners with a wealth of information that might help them. Be sure to keep an eye on the area of the site titled "Simple Insights" for further in-depth advice.

App:

You can use Apple Pay or Android Pay to make payments, check policy information, and file claims through the State Farm mobile app. The app also gives you a range of options for paying for things. Suppose you utilize the banking or investing services State Farm offers. In that case, you can also access those features through the mobile app.

Purchasing advice for homeowners' insurance

You can acquire estimates for the cost of home insurance by going online, calling a company, or working with an agent. But before you get started, make sure you've completed these steps:
  1. Determine the level of coverage that is necessary. Is basic coverage sufficient for your needs, or do you want to buy additional insurance to cover things like identity theft and backups in the sewer system? Check if any firm you're considering doing business with offers the required choices.
  2. Take stock of your belongings. Conduct a thorough inventory of your goods to check that you have adequate insurance coverage for them. Include every piece of furniture, electronic device, article of clothing, and piece of jewelry in addition to household stuff. I was wondering how much it would cost you to replace them. This figure is the minimum of personal property insurance coverage you should obtain.
  3. Create a comparison that is objective. Ensure that all insurers offer the same limits and deductibles before beginning your price comparison.
  4. Investigate any complaints from customers. Before deciding on a policy, it is essential to consider the number of customer grievances lodged against each insurer, even though it may be tempting to go with the choice that offers the lowest price. If you ever need to make a claim, poor customer service could significantly impact your overall experience.

Instructions for submitting a claim on a homeowner's insurance policy

File the claim as soon as it's not dangerous for you

Suppose you report a theft or damage to your house as soon as it occurs. In that case, your insurance company can appoint an adjuster and begin working on paying out your claim as quickly as possible. When filing a claim, you may be able to do so online or using a company's mobile app; however, in other instances, you may be required to phone your insurance agent or provider instead. Keep your insurance policy number close at hand.

Gather evidence of the damage incurred

Document the damage incurred by taking pictures or videos to bolster your insurance claim. Before contacting your insurance carrier about a stolen item, you should first report the theft to the authorities. Your insurer may request a copy of their report.

Stop any more damage from occurring

Take pictures of anything broken or destroyed, and then immediately begin taking measures to prevent any additional harm. A blown-out window or a leaking roof, for instance, can both benefit from having a tarp placed over them. Keep your purchase receipts, as your insurer may pay you for the items you've purchased later.

Other homeowners insurance providers to take into consideration

Consider switching to one of these comparable house insurance providers if you find that State Farm isn't exactly the right fit for you:
  • Allstate
  • Amica
  • Hippo
  • Nationwide

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What other kinds of insurance does State Farm provide?

State Farm offers a diverse selection of insurance policies, including automobile, umbrella, life, renter's, boat, and business insurance, amongst many more. The company also provides various financial services and products such as checking, savings, certificate of deposit accounts, standard and Roth individual retirement accounts, credit cards, home loans, and annuities.

Does State Farm insure homes that include pit bulls as a resident pet?

Get informed on the relationship between dog bites and homeowner's insurance. State Farm places no restrictions on the types of dog breeds it is willing to insure. Instead, it examines the history of bites from each dog to conclude coverage.

Does State Farm offer mobile home insurance?

Yes, manufactured home insurance is offered by State Farm, which covers not only the property's structure but also your goods and your liability.

Does the homeowner's insurance that State Farm provides cover mold?

Most State Farm homeowner insurance does not include coverage for damage or losses caused by mold, except for those states that mandate certain minimum levels of mold coverage.

Leave a Reply