homeowners insurance

Looking for advice for a new homeowners insurance company. Who do you use? Are you happy with them?

I've had Donegal for the past few years, and they're getting too ridiculous to continue. Earlier this winter, they came out and inspected the house. The rep from the company wanted to come inside and see the furnace installation, and I flat out told him NO. I asked him if he knew anything about pellet stoves, and his answer was no. How can you inspect something you don't know anything about?

Anyway, per their requirements I had to get 8 shingle tabs on my roof replaced, or they were going to drop my coverage. Shelled out the cash to get that done ( I don't do heights), and sent them a picture to satisfy their requirements. Oopsie. The picture I sent also included my unfinished deck connecting the back of the house to the pool. Now they want pictures of the gates guarding the pool. Those aren't required here, my children know how to swim. There won't be any gates. The pool was there when the inspection took place a few months ago, but it wasn't a problem then.

So...who do you use? I've looked around before, and all the companies I looked at wanted to classify the pellet furnace as a wood furnace, and then fail the installation because of clearance issues. Wish I hadn't gotten that email right at bedtime. I'm good and ticked off now.

 

If you're not happy with your insurance company, there are plenty out there that will gladly accept your business.

Also, good on you for questioning the insurance rep on his knowledge (or lack thereof) of your stove.

 

Farmers.

 

Desjardins but not applicable to you, sorry for the no help. Stay calm and answer the questions
It will be a successful end to the search of a better insurer

 

WE have Country Financial
Been good
No issues to date, no squabbles about the pellet stoves or anything else.

 

My daughter and two of my nephews work for Farmers! No idea how their polices stack up, but they are a good company to work for.

Gary

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I have my current agent working on it, as well as two other independent agents, and have called the Farmers agent.

Apparently the combination of: Unfenced above ground pool with deck, pellet furnace, and 8 miles from nearest fire department are just plain death for insurance. I'm out in the middle of nowhere enough that my house will burn to the ground because of my pellet furnace, and the distance to the fire department....but I'm close enough to civilization that some random person might walk through my backyard and fall in the pool and drown. I told my agent that if a random person that isn't a friend or family member is walking in my backyard, they have bigger issues than potentially drowning.

I described the pool set-up to the farmers agent..."wow, that sounds really nice". Apparently un-insurable too

 

I have Travelers both home and auto been good to me . Came out after the chimney fire , gave them the estimate for having chimney lined , they said fine minus the deductible sent me a check .

 

well I just got my renewal!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2015 was a major loss year here in the Boston area. Ice dam city. So a rate increase was expected. How about 23.97%. up $356.00 yr over year. can't really justify in this guys mind. The insurance companies not only get the rate increase, but also extra premium from loss of claim free reductions. I did not file my damage, so I missed the double whammy!. of course the rates will come down when loss reserve is satisfied(sarc). My $1852.00 bill was some $600.00 lower 4 years ago. Suffering sticker shock here in Massachusetts. Have a day

 

Sorry for the very short reply before, I didn't have time to write more. Farmers so far is treating us right on the cost side. No claims yet, so I can't speak to that. My previous insurer was a lesser-known, and about 3 times the cost of Farmers, for less coverage.

Farmers wanted me to paint the eaves of my garage before they would insure, which was silly, but I gladly complied for the money savings.

 

An old insurance agent told us years ago that you should shop for your insurance every five years...

I've had State Farm for 32 years for cars, bikes, quads, a trailer and snowmobiles. And 22 years for life and homeowners. They treat us good. And they should.

 

State Farm here also, 22 years - always good service.

When we installed the wood stove here, there was no town-designated (Building Compliance) officer: we had the chimney & stove setup inspected by the local volunteer Fire Dept. folks, gave them a donation, and provided their contact info. to the Agent when we updated our policy - that was enough to satisfy them.

(Dunno if that still works, but it may not hurt to ask, worse they can say is "No". )

 

State Farm told me they wanted to look at the install. and give them $40 extra per year.
That was three years ago. I guess the cute girl at the counter is versed in wood stove installs

 

I have travelers also, home and auto and no problems

 

USAA for military families. Rated # 1. Also good for car loans, auto insurance, investments etc.

 

We are 5 miles from the FD, have 4 pellet stoves in the house, we have a horse arena , boarding facility and people coming and going at all hours.

45 acres, the house, 1 large outbuilding, the arena/stable combo and 12 horses here at any one time.

$550 per quarter and this amount includes a huge umbrella liability.

Pools are a beotch and scare the heck out of Ins companies.

WE had an above ground pool in town back in the 80's and the yard had to be fenced.

My advice is put up a 6 foot good neighbor type fence around the pool area.

You could live in Antarctica and have an unfenced pool and the Ins folks are gonna scream.

All they see is a kid floating face down and a pack of "Sharks" nearby waiting to pounce.

No common sense with these guys.

Just a numbers game is all.

If they have been burned a few times everyone takes it in the shorts.

Like living in a place that quakes are likely, noooo way you can afford ins. there.