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When shopping for the best homeowners insurance in North Dakota, homeowners will want to examine several key factors that can help determine if the insurance company is the right fit. This ranges from providing the right coverage for the property to having easy-to-use quote and claims processes to maintaining strong financial strength to honor claims. Researching insurance companies may be time-consuming, but it’s necessary to find a homeowners insurance company that will best serve the consumer. After all, if something happens to their home, no one wants to be unpleasantly surprised to learn their homeowners insurance coverage is insufficient, leaving them unprotected.
- BEST OVERALL: State Farm
- RUNNER-UP: Allstate
- BEST FOR FARMHOUSES: COUNTRY Financial
- BEST FOR SERVICE MEMBERS: USAA
- ALSO CONSIDER: Auto-Owners Insurance
Photo: istockphoto.com
What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in North Dakota
There are many considerations and factors homeowners will want to examine for each insurance company when shopping for the best homeowners insurance. Not only will the company need to provide adequate coverage for the home and personal belongings, but it also should make it easy to file a claim and offer a variety of discounts to reduce costs.
Coverage Amount
One of the first pieces of information a homeowner will want to obtain is how much coverage the insurance company is willing to provide for a property as well as personal belongings. Not all insurance companies offer the same amounts of homeowners insurance coverage, so it’s important for homeowners to get coverage limits up front to make sure the company can offer a policy that covers the value of the home and its contents. For instance, if the home is valued at $600,000, but the insurance company has a maximum coverage amount of $500,000, the homeowner would need additional coverage in the event the home is damaged or destroyed. It’s important for homeowners to find a company that can offer the full amount of coverage needed to protect their home.
Policy Options
Basic homeowners insurance coverage in North Dakota typically includes coverage on the home’s structure and the personal property in the home. It also includes coverage for liability in the event the homeowner is found liable for damage or injuries, medical payments if someone is injured in the home, and coverage for additional living expenses in the event the homeowner must relocate during repairs. Many insurance companies also usually offer additional coverage for jewelry, collectibles, the business use of the home, and other high-value items or circumstances. Homeowners will want to talk with their insurance agent to see what coverage is necessary to fully protect their home and its contents.
Insurance Premiums
Insurance premiums will vary by homeowner and the coverage purchased. Insurance companies evaluate a number of factors when calculating the monthly insurance premium that homeowners will pay in order to carry coverage. With regard to the homeowner, this includes their credit score, credit history, and previous claims history. With regard to the home, this includes the size of the home, the location, the home’s construction (brick, stucco, wood, etc.), and the home’s condition.
In addition, the type and amount of coverage purchased will affect the premium as will the deductible on the policy. Choosing between replacement cost versus actual cash value coverage also affects homeowners insurance costs.
Quote Process
Many insurance companies offer an online quote process, wherein homeowners provide basic information in order for the company to generate a quote on a home insurance policy. Some companies don’t have an online quote tool available, so homeowners must call or go to a local office to speak with an agent to get a quote.
Getting an online quote can be helpful to get an idea of how much homeowners insurance could cost with a specific company; however, those quotes are not exact and are likely to change once the homeowner actually applies for a policy. Speaking with an agent on the phone or in person could possibly result in a more accurate quote for an insurance policy.
Claims Process
No one wants to find themselves in a position to file a homeowners insurance claim, but if and when they do, they want it to be as easy and painless as possible. Many insurance companies now have mobile apps that homeowners can use to file a claim right away, including submitting photos. Some companies also offer this capability on their website using a claims portal. Homeowners typically also have the option to file a claim by phone or by speaking with an agent at a local office.
It’s important for homeowners to find out whether the insurance company processes claims in a timely manner as well, so they’ll want to talk with other customers and read customer reviews such as those on the Better Business Bureau website to see how the company handles claims.
Deductibles
The deductible is the amount of money a policyholder pays when they file a claim. The deductible amount varies based on the amount of coverage purchased in the policy as well as how much the premiums are. In most cases, the more coverage purchased, the higher the deductible will be. In relation to the premium, if the homeowner chooses lower premiums, they can usually expect to pay a higher deductible. Likewise, if the premiums are higher, the deductible is typically lower. Deciding on a deductible comes down to a simple choice: paying more up front in higher premiums or paying more out of pocket in the event of filing a claim.
Additional Policies
Insurance companies often offer additional coverage for items not covered by basic homeowners insurance. This includes jewelry, artwork, collectibles, musical instruments, and sports equipment. Many companies also offer coverage if the home is used for business.
In addition, basic homeowners insurance policies tend to include coverage for specific perils such as fire or lightning, but homeowners will need additional policies for flood or earthquake damage. Water damage is another tricky peril: Certain damage such as from a burst pipe may be covered, but damage due to a sewer backup is usually not. Therefore, additional coverage would be required to cover this peril. It’s important that homeowners discuss all available policies and coverage to ensure their home and personal property are adequately covered.
Discounts
When shopping for homeowners insurance, homeowners are often looking for the lowest rates. One of the best ways to save is to take advantage of the available discounts from the insurance company. Insurance companies usually advertise discounts when policyholders bundle multiple policies together such as home and car insurance. However, they often have more discounts, which may or may not be listed on the company website, such as discounts for signing up for paperless billing, setting up automatic payments, and renewing the policy before it expires. Therefore, when speaking with insurance companies, homeowners will want to ask for a complete list of all available discounts to maximize the savings on the insurance premiums.
AM Best Rating
When homeowners are shopping for the best homeowners insurance in North Dakota, finding a trustworthy insurance company is crucial. One way to gauge the quality of an insurance company is by checking the company’s AM Best insurance rating. AM Best is a credit rating agency that examines an insurance company’s financial strength to determine the company’s ability to meet its obligations and pay claims for policyholders. AM Best ratings range from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor). Ideally, homeowners will want to look for insurance companies with a B+ (Good) to A++ (Superior) AM Best rating. If the AM Best rating is not available on the company website, homeowners can go to the AM Best website and do a search for the insurance company (though some newer insurance companies may be unrated by AM Best).
Our Top Picks
When searching for the best homeowners insurance in North Dakota, we looked for insurance companies with a wide variety of additional policies, strong AM Best ratings, simple quote and claims processes, available discounts, and other benefits and perks.
Photo: statefarm.com
Why It Made the Cut: State Farm offers a quick and easy online quote process, convenient policy and claim management through the company’s mobile app, and various policy deductible options.
While State Farm’s online quote tool is relatively fast and easy to use, it does ask for the homeowner’s Social Security number; however, this is not required to proceed with a quote, so customers won’t need to be concerned about sharing their sensitive information for a quote. Once the quote is provided, customers can purchase a policy directly through the site. Using State Farm’s mobile app, homeowners can file a claim, upload documents and photos, adjust policy terms, and contact an agent directly through their smartphone or other mobile device. Policyholders also can file a claim online, by phone, or through an agent.
For deductibles, State Farm offers homeowners the choice between a set amount and a percentage of the total coverage, which gives policyholders the ability to adjust it to make it more affordable (1 percent to 5 percent of the total coverage amount or $1,000 to $5,000). As State Farm’s discount opportunities are somewhat limited, the ability to control the deductible can help make homeowners policies more affordable. State Farm homeowners insurance customers are eligible to receive a free Ting smart device—a smart sensor that plugs into an electrical outlet and monitors the home’s electrical system for electrical faults to help prevent electrical fires.
Specs
- Quote process: Online, phone, agent
- Claims process: App, online, phone, agent
- Additional policies: Auto, motorcycle, watercraft, ATV, farm and ranch, umbrella, life
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective device
- AM Best rating: A++
Pros
- Fast and specifics-driven online quote process
- User-friendly policy and claims management via award-winning mobile app
- Various convenient claims options
- Wide range of policy deductibles
- Smart-technology fire safety device available for free
Cons
- Limited discount opportunities
Photo: allstate.com
Why It Made the Cut: Allstate offers numerous discounts for policyholders to apply for, plus it has the extra Reimbursement Provision to help cover the full cost to replace any covered possessions.
Allstate offers numerous discounts for homeowners to potentially take advantage of to help lower their cost of coverage. For instance, customers can bundle home and auto, receive a loyalty discount, or get a discount for automatic payments. Allstate policies offer actual cash value coverage as a default, though policyholders can add a Reimbursement Provision to their policy that will cover the full cost (less the deductible) to replace any items that are damaged, destroyed, or stolen.
Although Allstate does have an online quote tool, North Dakota residents will be directed to call a representative or speak with a local agent after entering their ZIP code. There are more options when it comes to filing a claim—Allstate policyholders can file a claim online, through the app, by calling the Allstate phone number, or with a local agent. The company also offers optional online personal information protection through its Allstate Digital Footprint service, which monitors customers’ information on different online sites and merchants.
Specs
- Quote process: Phone, agent
- Claims process: App, online, phone, agent
- Additional policies: Auto, motorcycle, watercraft, ATV, RV, landlord, flood, life
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective device, responsible payment, claim-free, loyalty, new customer, home buyer, automatic payments, early signing
- AM Best rating: A+
Pros
- Additional Reimbursement Provision coverage available
- Extensive and generous discount opportunities
- Various convenient claims options
- Optional online personal information protection
Cons
- Online quote unavailable for North Dakota ZIP codes
Photo: countryfinancial.com
Why It Made the Cut: COUNTRY Financial has specialized coverage for country estates, options to purchase coverage for crops and livestock, and a policy tier system, which can help homeowners decide on their policy options.
COUNTRY simplifies shopping for homeowners insurance by offering three standard policy tiers to select: Basic, Combination, and Premier. Coverage terms for each one are clearly laid out so it’s easy to compare the offerings of each tier. However, homeowners looking to get an insurance quote online will be directed to speak to an agent.
While the company offers a dwelling age discount for newer constructions, it explicitly excludes North Dakota properties from this offer. COUNTRY Financial does offer discounts for homes with certain structure upgrades. In particular, policyholders can get a reduced insurance rate if they have installed a hail-resistant roof or have replaced or upgraded the electrical wiring in their home.
Policyholders can add Country Estate coverage to their homeowners insurance if they live on farmland but don’t actually make a living through farming. For homeowners who are farming, COUNTRY Insurance offers separate policies for both crop and livestock coverage.
Specs
- Quote process: Phone, agent
- Claims process: Online, phone, agent
- Additional policies: Auto, motorcycle, boat, RV, medical supplement, farm, crop, livestock, life
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective devices, hail-resistant roof, new roof, safe heat, wiring age
- AM Best rating: A+
Pros
- 3 straightforward homeowners insurance policy tiers
- Specialized Country Estate coverage available
- Crop and livestock coverage available
- Discounts for homes with hail-resistant roofs and new or upgraded electrical wiring
Cons
- Dwelling age discount unavailable in North Dakota
- No online quote option
Photo: usaa.com
Why It Made the Cut: USAA offers standard replacement cost coverage with every policy plus the option to add extra dwelling coverage exceeding the appraised value of the home.
Available only to active and former members of the military and their families, USAA homeowners insurance policies all come with replacement cost coverage as a standard term. This means policyholders will receive the full amount to replace any damaged or stolen items, less the deductible, even if they have depreciated in value. USAA customers can also purchase the Home Protector endorsement, which could provide additional funds to rebuild after a covered event causes damage that exceeds their dwelling coverage limits. While there is no option to meet with a local agent, policyholders can handle their policies online or by phone.
The company also offers numerous types of insurance policies beyond homeowners insurance, such as coverage for boats and classic cars as well as flood insurance and umbrella coverage. In addition, USAA will waive the deductible in circumstances where an active-duty member’s uniform or military equipment is damaged or lost, even when deployed.
Specs
- Quote process: Online (for USAA members), phone
- Claims process: App, online, phone
- Additional policies: Auto, motorcycle, watercraft, ATV, RV, classic car, landlord, flood, farm and ranch, umbrella, life, aviation
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective device, connected home, loyalty, claims-free
- AM Best rating: A++
Pros
- Standard replacement cost coverage
- Extra dwelling coverage available
- Wide selection of additional policies available
- No deductible on lost or damaged military equipment for active-duty members
Cons
- USAA membership limited to service members and their families
- No option to speak with an agent in person
Photo: auto-owners.com
Why It Made the Cut: Auto-Owners Insurance offers many different discounts, the option to buy inland flood coverage and other additional policies, and personal support offered by independent insurance agents.
When homeowners are shopping for home insurance, Auto-Owners Insurance offers a wide variety of potential discounts homeowners can use to save money on their insurance. Some of the more noteworthy examples include discounts for installing an automatic water shut-off system or back-up generator, paying their annual premium in full up front, and making on-time payments for at least 36 months.
Shoppers won’t be able to get a quote online or by phone; they will need to speak with a local independent agent for a quote. Likewise, policyholders will need to file a claim with their local agent instead of online or using an app. While this may not seem as convenient, these professionals may be able to provide more personalized support and services to customers, which can be a benefit for homeowners looking for a tailored quote or a personalized claim experience.
Also, Auto-Owners offers an “inland flood” endorsement that can be added to a homeowners insurance policy. Purchasing this coverage could be less expensive than buying a separate flood insurance policy.
Specs
- Quote process: Agent
- Claims process: Agent
- Additional policies: Auto, motorcycle, ATV, RV, boat, trailer, flood, farm, umbrella, life
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective devices, payment history, paid-in-full, paperless billing, advance quote, mortgage-free, water shut-off system, automatic backup generator
- AM Best rating: A++
Pros
- Many discount opportunities
- Inland flood coverage available
- Hands-on local agent support
Cons
- No convenient online or over-the-phone quote options
- Claims must be filed with local agent
Our Verdict
We chose State Farm as Best Overall because of the level of service it offers policyholders through its quote process, deductible options, and mobile app. We picked Allstate as Runner-Up because policyholders can save through the company’s many discounts.
How We Chose the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in North Dakota
When determining the best homeowners insurance companies in North Dakota, we looked at several different factors. For instance, we considered the variety of coverage available to homeowners in North Dakota to make sure there was a wide variety of choices to provide customers the specific coverage they need. We also looked for companies with easy-to-use quote and claims processes to take the headache out of buying and maintaining homeowners insurance policies. In addition, we reviewed the available discounts and other benefits and perks offered to customers to find the ones that would result in increased savings and value for homeowners.
Before You Choose One of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in North Dakota
When shopping for the best homeowners insurance in North Dakota, it’s important that homeowners do independent research beyond what is listed in this roundup. It’s possible these companies may not be the right option for every homeowner. Shopping around with several insurance companies, including those local to the state, can provide a more comprehensive picture of the types of coverage available as well as the costs for that coverage. The better informed the homeowner, the better choice they will make when it comes to protecting their home and belongings. It definitely requires time to do the research, but that time will be well spent by finding the best available coverage at the most affordable price.
Cost of Opting for One of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in North Dakota
Paying for homeowners insurance is a necessary expense when it comes to protecting a homeowner’s residence and belongings. Unfortunately, there is no flat rate or specific cost chart available when it comes to buying homeowners insurance. Every insurance company maintains its own formula for pricing homeowners insurance that includes a number of factors. Therefore, it’s important for homeowners to shop around and get rate quotes from at least three different insurance companies. Those quotes must be based on the same amount and type of coverage using the same information in order to get a fair comparison. Getting quotes on the same day also allows for a more accurate comparison.
The Advantages of Opting for One of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in North Dakota
We’ve put in a lot of time and research to determine what we think are the best homeowners insurance companies in North Dakota. As such, we’ve found there are many advantages to using one of these companies because they all have high AM Best ratings, a variety of additional policies to get the right coverage, and they offer discounts to help homeowners save on rates.
- All featured companies have a Superior rating from AM Best for financial strength.
- All have several discounts to help reduce the cost of homeowners insurance.
- All offer additional policies in addition to homeowners insurance so homeowners can get the insurance they need from one provider.
FAQs
Shopping for the best homeowners insurance in North Dakota can be confusing at times, which can be difficult for customers. When researching homeowners insurance and insurance companies, these are some of the questions most frequently asked by consumers.
Q. Which homeowners insurance company has the highest customer satisfaction?
According to The Zebra customer satisfaction survey, USAA ranks highest for customer satisfaction.
Q. What are the four major categories of coverage in homeowners insurance?
The four major categories are dwelling/structure coverage, personal property coverage, liability, and additional living expenses coverage. Homeowners insurance is sometimes called hazard insurance since it’s designed to protect the home from unexpected hazards and events. Additionally, homeowners insurance covers theft in many cases.
Q. Does homeowners insurance cover leaking roofs?
Typically, if the leak is caused by a covered peril, such as a tree falling on the roof during a storm, then homeowners insurance covers roof leaks. However, if the roof leaks due to normal wear and tear or a lack of routine maintenance, it will likely not be covered by home insurance. Homeowners can determine whether their homeowners insurance covers roof repairs by speaking with an agent.
Q. What insurance company has the most complaints?
Every insurance company receives complaints, but it’s important to read customer reviews, ask current or former customers about their experience, and check sites such as the Better Business Bureau for information.
Q. How do I choose the best homeowners insurance?
Homeowners can find the best insurance for them by shopping around and comparing policies to find the one that offers the best coverage at the best rates.
Q. What is the most important part of homeowners insurance?
The most important part of homeowners insurance is for policyholders to purchase enough insurance coverage to repair or replace their home if it is damaged or destroyed.
Q. Is Lemonade homeowners insurance available in North Dakota?
No, Lemonade insurance for homeowners is not currently available in North Dakota.
Q. Does Geico have homeowners insurance in North Dakota?
Geico home insurance partners with third-party insurers to provide homeowners insurance in North Dakota.
Q. Is Hippo homeowners insurance available in North Dakota?
Hippo insurance for homeowners is not currently available in North Dakota.
Q. How do I retrieve a Progressive quote on homeowners insurance?
Homeowners can get a Progressive home insurance quote by entering their information in the Progressive quote tool on the company’s website.
Q. Who owns Homesite Insurance?
Homesite Group Incorporated is an affiliate of American Family Insurance.
Q. What is Goosehead Insurance, and how does it work?
Goosehead Insurance is an independent agency that shops the insurance market to find policies for customers.
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