It is worth looking into ways to reduce your homeowners insurance costs, even if rates are high. It pays to shop around for home insurance rates that are the most affordable. According to the United States Census Bureau in 2019, Seattle was home for more than 750,000 people . Yet, less than half of its homes were occupied by owners.
According to Quadrant Information Services research, Seattle homeowners pay an annual homeowners insurance premium of $823 per year for coverage with $250,000 worth of dwelling coverage. The price of your coverage will vary depending on what coverage you require. While cost is important when searching for home insurance it is not the only factor to consider. We analyzed the ability of providers to pay claims, customer satisfaction, and premiums in order to find the best Seattle homeowners insurers.
Seattle’s best home insurance company
We searched for the best Seattle home insurance companies by looking for those with strong financial stability, excellent customer service, and great rates.
Travelers
Travelers is one of our top five picks for homeowners insurance in Seattle. They offer the lowest annual rates. The carrier offers amazing discounts such as upto a potential 12% when you bundle home insurance with an automobile policy and three types of policies like personal umbrella, boat, and personal property. Travelers home insurance policies are also eligible for savings if purchased within twelve months of their effective date.
All over the country
Nationwide’s standard homeowners policies include credit card coverage as well as ordinance or law insurance. This is a coverage that not many other carriers offer at an extra cost. Credit card coverage covers you up to a certain limit if someone falsifies one of your checks or uses your debit card or credit card without permission, or if you accidentally receive counterfeit currency. After a covered loss, ordinance or law insurance pays the additional costs to bring an older house up to current building codes.
Nationwide also offers its Brand New Belongings option, which provides replacement cost coverage for your home. Nationwide will pay you the first amount for the item’s depreciated cost and then reimburse you for any additional repairs or replacement costs.
USAA
J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Home Insurance Study, USAA was rated the highest overall customer satisfaction index rating at 889 out of 1,000. USAA was rated 889 out 1000 in J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Home Insurance Study. USAA was not able to be included in the survey as it only provides insurance products to U.S. citizens. Military personnel, veterans, their children, and their spouses.
USAA offers great home insurance coverage for military families, provided they meet certain criteria. The homesharing coverage that is standard on all USAA homeowner policies protects your home if you rent out a room or your entire house. All standard policies from USAA include earthquake insurance and personal property loss coverage. This coverage is also available for active military personnel.
Allstate
Allstate provides all the standard home insurance coverages Seattle homeowners require, as well as a wide range of optional coverages like identity theft protection, coverage for valuable items, and protection to your garden and lawn.
Allstate’s discount programs are also a highlight. Customers who are new to Allstate can get a 20% discount on their first homeowners claim. They also have the option to receive an additional 10% discount every year that they renew their Allstate policies. Homeowners who bundle their coverage with an Allstate Auto policy can get a 25% discount.
MetLife
MetLife’s standard homeowners policies cover all rebuilding expenses. However, your policy may have restrictions and terms. Your dwelling coverage limit will be met if your home is damaged by fire or torn apart by a tornado. MetLife home insurance policies also provide personal property replacement cost coverage. However, this is subject to your policy’s terms and conditions.
MetLife has partnered with Crawford Contractor Connection to help you locate the right repair services for your home after it suffers from a covered loss. There are more than 2,200 certified contractors in the program, and their work is covered by a 2-year labor and material warranty.
Additional coverages for Seattle homeowners insurance
Washington law doesn’t require homeowners to purchase home insurance. If you finance your home, the lender may require that you purchase and keep home insurance until the loan is paid off. A standard homeowners insurance covers your home, any attached structures, and personal property like clothes, electronics, and furniture. You will also get loss of use coverage to pay for expenses if your home is damaged or destroyed by a covered loss. Seattle residents should look into purchasing optional coverages to increase their protection.
- Personal property replacement cost coverage: Standard home insurance policies cover items that are damaged in an insured loss. However, replacement cost coverage will replace the items at current market price.
- Flood insurance: Seattle homeowners face the risk of coastal flooding, river floods, and urban floods due to severe storms. According to Seattle’s Director of Emergency Management, there is a greater risk of flooding in the future due to climate change. Flood damage is not covered by standard home insurance policies. However, major insurers can offer flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- Earthquake insurance: According to Seattle Emergency Management, homeowners insurance rates if you are eligible for multiple discounts. These are some of the most common discounts that Seattle home insurance companies offer:
- Multi-policy discounts: You can save substantial amounts by bundling multiple policies. Allstate customers can get up to 25% off when they bundle their auto and home insurance.
- Discounts on Protective Devices: Many insurance companies offer homeowners discounts for devices like burglar, fire, and smoke alarm systems.
- Discounts for claims-free: Insurers may offer discounts if you don’t file a claim within a certain time frame.
