You should look for an agent who will visit the property before doing an application. This is necessary so they can tell you if there is things the insurance company will require that could affect your rate or could cost you a lot of money to repair/replace. The agent should go through the included coverage in detail and give you an expection of how to contact them - even after hours - or the insurance company directly. They should also walk you through the claims process and what to expect if something bad happens.
A home is typically the largest purchase one makes. And as such caution needs to be exercised when choosing an insurer and agent/broker. You will want to first start with companies you know are prominent in the area and sound financially. There are resources online to verify finanacial stability (A.M.Best) and consumer satisfaction (J.D.Powers.) Then talk to a few insurance professionals. Ask family and friends who their professional is to start. The one or several that take the time to survey your home and sit down with you to learn your needs and wants and review all the available options with you will prove your best bet to having the appropriate coverage at the best possible price.
The first thing I recommend looking for is appropriate coverage. Your homeowners insurance should have enough dwelling coverage to cover not only the cost of rebuilding your home, but also cover the clearing and removal of debris is your home is destroyed. All too often, I see homeowners policies that ONLY cover the cost to rebuild. If you don't have enough to clear the debris, you could get stuck with that cost yourself (and that cost is in the neighborhood of $30,000!).
If the cost to rebuild your home becomes MORE than your coverage, is there anything in place to help pay for that? For example, Farmers Insurance will include an extra 25% of the dwelling coverage. So, if your home coverage is $100,000, and it ends up cost $125,000 to rebuild your home, Farmers Insurance would pay that amount (minus your home deductible).
The final thing I would point out would be the deductible. In many cases, if you have never had a claim, you can have a lower deductible. However, many insurance companies are moving to a higher deductible model (usually as a percentage of the dwelling coverage). So, if your dwelling coverage is $200,000, your deductible would be 1% of the dwelling, or $2,000. I recommend finding a company that offers a deductible you feel comfortable paying.
Business Development Officer, T.D. McNeil Insurance Services, Fresno, California
Look for the right agent. Ask your colleagues, neighbors, friends and family. Work with someone you can trust. Make sure they get accurate information from you and transmit that to their home office. Make sure that the policy you receive is exactly what you ordered. This agent should provide you with an estimate of the cost to rebuild your residence, review that carefully. The agent should also make a recommendation about optional coverages such as water damage and law and ordinance coverage. Finally, but probably most importantly the agent should advise you on an appropriate amount of liability insurance. A lawsuit could exceed the value of your home and that would be miserable.
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If the cost to rebuild your home becomes MORE than your coverage, is there anything in place to help pay for that? For example, Farmers Insurance will include an extra 25% of the dwelling coverage. So, if your home coverage is $100,000, and it ends up cost $125,000 to rebuild your home, Farmers Insurance would pay that amount (minus your home deductible).
The final thing I would point out would be the deductible. In many cases, if you have never had a claim, you can have a lower deductible. However, many insurance companies are moving to a higher deductible model (usually as a percentage of the dwelling coverage). So, if your dwelling coverage is $200,000, your deductible would be 1% of the dwelling, or $2,000. I recommend finding a company that offers a deductible you feel comfortable paying.