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When looking for the top homeowners insurance in Georgia, many homeowners tend to focus on price. Understandably, people want to find affordable homeowners insurance, but finding the best homeowners insurance for each policyholder involves more than just price. Consumers will want to look for companies that offer a variety of policy options, easy quote processes, and policy discounts. Homeowners will also want to research companies to check their record for paying homeowners insurance claims as agreed and to see if the company is financially strong. Additionally, homeowners may want to check with their existing insurance companies if they want to manage all of their own insurance needs through one company.
- BEST OVERALL: State Farm
- RUNNER-UP: Allstate
- BEST EXTENDED COVERAGE: Farmers Insurance
- BEST FOR SERVICE MEMBERS: USAA
- ALSO CONSIDER: Lemonade
What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Georgia
When researching the best homeowners insurance companies in Georgia, homeowners will want to review the company’s policy options and coverage amounts to make sure they offer adequate protection as well as check for discounts to maximize savings. Finding companies with high financial strength ratings is also important so homeowners can feel confident the company will pay its claims as agreed.
Coverage Amount
Before shopping for homeowners insurance, homeowners will want to determine how much it would cost to replace their home and personal belongings if they are damaged or destroyed. They can then use this value to find homeowners insurance with a coverage amount that equals or exceeds the value to avoid paying out-of-pocket costs in the event a claim is filed. Finding a policy that provides the right amount of coverage to cover the house and its contents, even if that means the homeowner needs to purchase endorsements for certain high-value items, is the best way to ensure a homeowner has the protection they need.
Policy Options
While standard homeowners insurance provides dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage, a homeowner may want their policy to include extra coverage, which can affect up-front costs as well as replacement benefits if a claim is filed. For example, homeowners insurance covers garages through “other structures” coverage, so a homeowner with an unattached garage or shed will want to make sure their policy includes this coverage. It’s important for customers to research homeowners insurance policy options to make sure they receive adequate coverage for a fair price. For example, many of the best homeowners insurance policies offer a choice between replacement cost coverage and actual cash value coverage. Actual cash value coverage is typically less expensive, but in the event of a claim, a policyholder would receive the depreciated amount to replace any covered items instead of the amount it would take to purchase them new at today’s prices. With this type of coverage, a homeowner would have to make up the difference out of pocket to replace personal items, and in the event of a major loss, a homeowner may end up receiving significantly less money to settle the claim than it would cost to repair or rebuild a home. Replacement cost coverage is more expensive, but it covers repairs and replacement at current market rates, regardless of age and wear and tear (less the deductible).
Insurance Premiums
How much is homeowners insurance in Georgia? When looking to answer this question, homeowners will want to keep in mind there are several factors that determine how much insurance premiums will be. These range from the age and location of the home, to the type of home construction (brick, stucco, wood, etc.), to the policyholder’s history of filing claims, among other considerations. The amount and type of coverage purchased also will affect the cost of homeowners insurance. Typically, the more coverage purchased, the higher the insurance premiums will be, and the deductible chosen for the policy also plays a role in how much the insurance premiums will be. In general, the higher the deductible, the lower the insurance premiums and vice versa.
Quote Process
When shopping for the best deal on homeowners insurance in Georgia, homeowners will want to compare quotes from several different insurance companies to see which one offers the best coverage and prices for their needs. That’s why it’s important that homeowners find insurance companies that have a streamlined quote process that doesn’t require a lot of time or personal information. Most often, quotes are available online, but many companies also will provide quotes by phone and in person.
In general, an online quote is an initial estimate. Once the policyholder provides more detailed information, the quote may change as it becomes more tailored to their specific needs. When customers speak with an agent to get a quote, either by phone or in person, they’ll typically get a more accurate quote than they would using an online quote tool because the agent can customize the quote using more specific details right from the start.
Claims Process
Filing an insurance claim is never a fun process, but it shouldn’t be difficult, either. Finding insurance companies that make it easy to file a claim certainly is desirable. This could include filing claims online, by phone, or using a mobile app. It’s also important for insurance companies to offer policyholders a quick and easy way to check the status of those claims so they can make sure the process is moving along in a timely manner.
When considering a homeowners insurance company, customers may want to talk with friends and family members to find out what different companies’ claims processes are like. Another good source of information is the Better Business Bureau, where customers can post reviews about their experiences with an insurance company. In addition to reading reviews, customers will want to look at whether companies respond to negative reviews in an attempt to smooth things over and provide those customers with a better experience. This can give homeowners a good indication of how the company will handle complaints and other issues that may arise.
Deductibles
A homeowners insurance deductible is the out-of-pocket amount policyholders will pay when they file a claim, or the amount deducted from the payout. Insurance companies often have a variety of deductibles to choose from, with some offering a set amount and others offering deductibles that amount to a percentage of a home’s value. These deductibles typically apply to each individual claim filed. Homeowners in Georgia may want to determine how to get hurricane insurance to help cover their home if a tropical storm or hurricane strikes, but this type of coverage often has a separate deductible.
The homeowner’s deductible can be adjusted to make the cost of insurance more affordable; in general, the higher the insurance premium, the lower the deductible. If a homeowner can afford to pay a little extra each month or year for their insurance policy, they can select a lower deductible. However, if a homeowner has enough savings to pay a larger deductible when making a claim, they can take advantage of a lower insurance premium.
Additional Policies
In addition to hazard insurance to cover the dwelling, and personal property coverage to cover the policyholder’s belongings (which together make up a typical homeowners insurance policy), many insurance companies offer additional policy types, such as car insurance, life insurance, RV insurance, umbrella insurance, and more. Georgia homeowners who rent out their home will also want to compare landlord insurance vs. homeowners insurance to determine which type of coverage they need. Choosing a company that offers all the types of insurance the policyholder needs could be a convenient way to manage all insurance needs with one agent or company. This also could lead to savings on policies, since many insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders who have more than one insurance policy with the company.
Of course, it may not be possible for policyholders to manage all of those policies online or using a mobile app, so if that’s important, they’ll want to find out exactly how the company offers policy management for each insurance policy.
Discounts
One of the best ways for customers to find affordable homeowners insurance in Georgia is to look for insurance companies that offer discounts on their policies. Many insurance companies offer discounts for bundling policies together, such as home and auto, or having more than one insurance policy, such as home and life, with the company.
Many companies list discounts on their website, but they may not list every discount available, so it’s always important for the customer to ask the agent or company about all available discounts. These could include discounts for paperless billing, automatic payments, home security systems, or even loyalty discounts if other family members are also customers.
AM Best Rating
All homeowners want to make sure they trust their homes to reliable insurance companies, and one way to do so is by working with an insurance company that has a great AM Best insurance rating. AM Best, a credit rating agency that focuses on insurance companies, reviews a company’s credit ratings and financial data to determine the creditworthiness of the company. Then, AM Best issues a rating for the company’s financial strength, ranging from A++ (“Superior”) to D (“Poor”).
Ideally, customers will want to look for companies with ratings between A (“Excellent”) and A++ (“Superior”); however, they may also want to consider companies with ratings of B+ and B++ (“Good”) if they offer policies that meet the customer’s needs.
Our Top Picks
When researching the best homeowners insurance companies in Georgia, we looked for companies that offer streamlined processes for getting quotes as well as processing claims, plus offer a variety of deductibles and different types of insurance.
Best Overall
State Farm
- Quote process: Online, phone, agent
- Claims process: App, online, phone, agent
- Deductibles: 0.5 percent, 1 percent to 5 percent; $1,000 to $5,000, $10,000
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective device, wind mitigation
- AM Best rating: A++
Pros
- Generous 35 percent on home and auto bundles
- Wind mitigation discount
- Smart-technology fire safety devices available for free
- A++ AM Best rating
Cons
- Online quotes unavailable in all ZIP codes
Why It Made the Cut: State Farm has a high AM Best rating and noteworthy discount opportunities, including a home and auto bundle that could save policyholders up to 35 percent on their premiums. Boasting an A++ rating from AM Best, State Farm is an all-around good option for Georgia residents. Although some customers may be unable to get an online quote in some cases, they can speak with an agent either in person or over the phone to get a more tailored quote instead. State Farm customers may qualify for a discount of up to 35 percent if they bundle their homeowners and auto insurance together; this discount is notably higher than what’s offered by other companies. Some policyholders may also qualify for a wind mitigation discount. To get this discount, policyholders need to show that their home has either been given a “fortified” designation by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) or has been built to the wind mitigation specifications included in the 2006 International Residential Code. With State Farm homeowners insurance, Georgia residents who purchase a homeowners insurance policy also could receive a free Ting fire safety protection sensor, a smart-technology device that monitors the home’s electrical system for faults that could lead to electrical fires.
Runner-Up
Allstate
- Quote process: Online, phone, agent
- Claims process: App, online, phone, agent
- Deductibles: 1 percent or 2 percent; $1,000 to $5,000, $10,000; Windstorm/hail: $2,500 or $5,000; 1 percent or 2 percent; Tropical cyclone: $2,500 or $5,000; 1 percent or 2 percent
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective device, responsible payment, claim-free, loyalty, new customer, home buyer, automatic payments, early signing
- AM Best rating: A+
Pros
- High $50,000 in water backup coverage available
- ‘Reimbursement’ on energy-efficient upgrades available
- Extensive and generous discount opportunities
- Optional online personal information protection
Cons
- Relatively high insurance premiums
- Online quotes unavailable in all ZIP codes
Why It Made the Cut: Allstate offers an endorsement to provide additional water backup coverage and one that helps cover the cost of energy-efficient replacements after a covered loss, not to mention a range of discounts for customers to maximize their savings. Allstate offers an endorsement that allows policyholders to purchase up to $50,000 in water backup coverage in case of an overflowing drain or sewer backup. Policyholders also can purchase a “green improvements” endorsement, which will help cover the costs of upgrading covered items with energy-efficient replacements after a covered event. Although our research suggested that Allstate’s insurance premiums are on the high side, the company offers a wide variety of discounts for policyholders to apply to their plan and reduce the cost of coverage. Not all customers will be able to get an online quote, so they may need to call an agent instead—but this can lead to a more accurate quote since agents can ask questions to determine homeowners’ unique needs and wants and tailor a policy to those needs. In addition, customers can opt into Allstate’s Digital Footprint service, which monitors how their personal information is collected online.
Best Extended Coverage
Farmers Insurance
- Quote process: Online, phone, agent
- Claims process: Online, phone, agent
- Deductibles: $1,000 to $10,000; 0.5 percent to 5 percent; Hurricane: 1 percent to 10 percent; Wind and hail: $1,500 or $2,500; 1 percent to 5 percent
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective device, non-smoker, preferred payment plan, claim-free
- AM Best rating: A
Pros
- Up to 200 percent personal property coverage available
- Up to 200 percent separate structures coverage available
- Standard declining deductible included
Cons
- Potential for high 10 percent hurricane deductible
Why It Made the Cut: Farmers Insurance offers endorsements to provide extra coverage for personal property and separate structures with limits up to 200 percent of the dwelling amount. With Farmers Insurance, policyholders can choose to purchase an extra endorsement that will increase their personal property coverage to as much as 200 percent of their dwelling coverage limit. This is an extremely high coverage amount for personal property and may appeal to homeowners who need more protection to cover their possessions. Farmers also allows policyholders to increase their separate structures coverage limit up to 200 percent of the dwelling coverage amount. Homeowners in Georgia who purchase an insurance policy through Farmers Insurance will see a separate hurricane deductible that could be as high as 10 percent, which is pretty high for this type of coverage. To help offset that cost, Farmers includes a declining deductible with every homeowners insurance policy, which gives the policyholder a $50 credit toward their deductible for every year that they keep their homeowners policy in force.
Best for Service Members
USAA
- Quote process: Online (for USAA members only), phone
- Claims process: App, online, phone
- Deductibles: Unknown
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective device, connected home, loyalty, claim-free
- AM Best rating: A++
Pros
- Standard replacement cost coverage
- Exclusive contractor network
- A++ AM Best rating
Cons
- USAA membership limited to service members and their families
- Unknown deductible options
Why It Made the Cut: USAA provides replacement cost coverage standard with every policy, has a high AM Best rating, and offers the ability to schedule contractors through USAA’s exclusive network. Limited to active and former members of the military and their families, USAA’s homeowners insurance policies all include replacement cost coverage, meaning policyholders receive the amount of money it costs to repair or replace covered items at today’s prices without deducting for depreciation. This means policyholders will need to pay less out of pocket to replace any items that are damaged or destroyed by a covered event. While it’s not clear what deductible options USAA offers, USAA members can take advantage of the company’s Contractor Connection service which matches homeowners with contractors specializing in different types of repairs and home improvement jobs. Every contractor is licensed and insured, and homeowners will receive a 5-year warranty on any work that is completed by a contractor from this network. And with the company’s A++ rating, policyholders can feel confident their claims will be paid as agreed.
Also Consider
Lemonade
- Quote process: Online
- Claims process: Online
- Deductibles: $500 to $10,000
- Discounts: Multi-policy, protective device
- AM Best rating: No rating
Pros
- Relatively low insurance premiums
- Instant claim approval possible
- Low $500 deductible option
Cons
- Limited discount opportunities
- Not currently rated by AM Best
Why It Made the Cut: Lemonade offers relatively low insurance rates, potential instant claim approval, and a low deductible option, plus it donates leftover premiums to the charities policyholders choose. Lemonade offers fairly low rates on homeowners insurance, which could help people save money on the cost of coverage without needing to qualify for discounts, as Lemonade doesn’t have many discounts on offer. The company offers deductible options as low as $500 on its homeowners insurance policies. By selecting a lower deductible, a policyholder will have a lower out-of-pocket cost in the event of a claim, which could lead to a larger payout. While the company has not yet been rated by AM Best, Lemonade uses an AI-based claims management system to review claims and check for fraud. For relatively straightforward claims that don’t require a closer review, Lemonade will approve and pay the claim in seconds (the company says this is true for 30 percent of claims). As such, policyholders may receive the funds from their claim payouts without delay.
Our Verdict
We chose State Farm as Best Overall because it is an all-around good option for Georgia residents, offering a high percentage discount for bundling home and auto policies. As our Runner-Up, Allstate offers options to expand standard homeowners insurance with endorsements for water backup and energy-efficient upgrades.
How We Chose the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Georgia
When determining the best homeowners insurance in Georgia, some of the most important factors included availability and factors that may impact or appeal to residents of this state in particular. For example, we weighed coverage options and limits that would best serve policyholders. In addition, we checked for companies that offered a variety of deductible options that could appeal to a wide array of customers. We also looked at insurance premiums and discounts to see how affordable these insurance companies could be for Georgia residents. Finally, we examined each insurance company’s AM Best rating to see what the company’s financial strength is and how likely it is to pay claims as agreed.
Before You Choose One of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Georgia
While this guide covers several of the best homeowners insurance companies in Georgia, that’s not to say the insurance companies featured are right for every homeowner. It’s important for all homeowners to conduct their own research to find the right insurance company for their homeowners insurance. A good start is checking with the company where the homeowner has other current insurance policies. Homeowners also can check with local companies that, although may not serve customers nationwide, could be quite experienced in serving customers in Georgia.
Cost of Opting for One of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Georgia
When researching to find out who has the best homeowners insurance rates in Georgia, homeowners will want to shop around and get insurance quotes from at least three different insurance companies. These rates will vary from company to company because each one uses different criteria to evaluate the various factors that affect rates. It’s important for homeowners to share the same information regarding the home and the chosen homeowners insurance coverage with each company so the rates are comparable. Ideally, homeowners will shop for quotes on the same day because rates could fluctuate. Getting a variety of rate quotes is the best way to find out the best homeowners insurance rates in Georgia.
The Advantages of Opting for One of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Georgia
Choosing to get a homeowners insurance policy from one of the best homeowners insurance companies in Georgia could be a good move for many homeowners. These companies tend to have strong AM Best ratings for financial strength, as well as streamlined processes for getting rate quotes as well as filing claims.
The best homeowners insurance companies in Georgia offer some of the following benefits:
- “Good” or higher ratings from AM Best.
- Various deductibles to fit homeowners’ budgets.
- Simple and user-friendly quote and claim process.
FAQs
Finding the best homeowners insurance companies in Georgia can be confusing for many shoppers. These are some of the top questions that come up when customers are looking for homeowners insurance.
Q. How do I get homeowners insurance in Georgia?
Homeowners can talk with various insurance companies to find out what policies and types of coverage they offer, and purchase the one that works best for them.
Q. What is the average homeowners insurance cost in Georgia?
According to The Zebra, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Georgia is $1,180 per year.
Q. Why is homeowners insurance so high in Georgia?
Rates for homeowners insurance in Georgia vary based on a number of factors, including the age and location of the home, and the risk of hurricanes and water damage.
Q. Who has the cheapest homeowners insurance in Georgia?
When looking for cheap homeowners insurance, Georgia residents will want to shop around with different companies since rates vary on numerous factors.
Q. Does Georgia require you to get homeowners insurance?
For those who are wondering “Is homeowners insurance required in Georgia?” there is no state law requiring homeowners to purchase home insurance. However, mortgage lenders typically require homeowners insurance.
Q. What is the most trusted insurance company?
Customers can research each insurance company’s AM Best ratings, industry assessments published by J.D. Power, and customer reviews to see which insurance companies are trustworthy.
Sources: The Zebra