Before you protect your home, you need to compare California homeowners insurance quotes. Never take the first quote offered to you. Never accept the renewal rates from your present company before checking around.
If you compare quotes for homeowners insurance in CA, you will find that each company does things a little differently, offering slightly different rates, slightly different discounts, and even slightly different coverage.
The top thing to keep in mind when you compare California homeowners insurance quotes is that you must be sure that you are looking at comparable policies.
Red Flags When You Compare California Homeowners Insurance Quotes
When you are comparing any homeowners insurance quotes, you need to be on the lookout for a variety of things. Anytime you get a quote that is significantly lower than all the others, you need to be extra vigilant about that one. If it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for these red flags!
Exclusions: In order to keep a policy price lower than competitors, some companies will fill up the fine print with exclusions. This will list all the perils that are not included. Likely included on there will be common causes of claims in California. Be aware of what you are buying.
Length of Policy: Sometimes insurers can offer shorter policies, like a 6-month one. Don’t be fooled into going for the one with the lowest rate, only to find out 5 months down the road that the policy is not for the length of time you expected.
Higher Deductibles: One way to save money on policies is to raise the deductibles. You may decide to do so in order to lower the premiums you pay. However, occasionally insurance companies will quote you based on higher than average deductibles, knowing that it will make their policy premiums much more attractive. When comparing quotes, make sure all the quotes have the same deductible.
Unknown Companies: If you receive a quote from a company, you have never heard of, it should not mean that you should automatically not even consider it. However, you should take extra care and do your research on the company.
Check on its complaints records to see how they treat their customers. Check with the independent insurance ratings companies, such as A.M. Best and Moody’s, to see how they rate financially in comparison to other companies. If their ratings are not favorable, I’d steer clear of them.
General Tips To Effectively Compare CA Homeowners Insurance Quotes
Make sure that you are thorough in comparing CA homeowners insurance quotes.
- Comparing quotes obtained from an online quote tool is probably the best choice possible. The quotes are all based on exactly the same information. Everything is in front of you and clearly spelled out and it is easy to make a side-by-side comparison of the available options.
- Make sure that all quotes have the same perils covered. They should be fire, storm damage, theft, explosion, vandalism, civil commotion and riots and aircraft impact. Typical exclusions are flood and earthquake.
- While you are getting quotes and putting coverage in place, be sure to at least consider earthquake and flood damage. Both are incredibly important policies to carry in the Golden State. There is a government program to ensure that everyone has flood insurance as an option, but it must be in place 30 days before you need it. You homeowners insurer must offer you earthquake coverage and you have up to 30 days to accept it.
- Consider the optional and extra things offered when making your decision. While wanting to get a basic quote to make sure you are protected is a good idea, many companies will throw in additional coverage for free or very low cost.
Extra loss of use coverage may be very beneficial if you are waiting for your home to be inhabitable again, especially if there is high demand for construction at the time. Replacement cost coverage on contents and your home would also be worth the additional cost, if you ever need to use it. You don’t want to be in the situation of needing to use your insurance and regretting that you didn’t take the extra coverage for only a few dollars extra each month.
Compare California Home Insurance Quotes From These Companies And Others
- Allstate
- Amco
- Federal
- Prudential State Farm
- National General
- Pacific Specialty
- Liberty Mutual
- Hartford
- Balboa
- First American
- Metropolitan
- Standard Fire
- Wawanesa
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Get those quotes by using out online quote tool at the top of this page to compare multiple insurance companies.
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