State Farm is the big boy of the best homeowners insurance market, insuring just short of a fifth of all the nation’s homes. Size isn’t everything, of course, but it does have relevance in the insurance market. State Farm’s financial strength is rated at A++, which means it is never going to have trouble fulfilling its obligations to customers. Make a legitimate claim and State Farm will pay up.
Size is also good when it comes to geographical coverage. Quite simply, there are more State Farm agents out there than for any other home insurer, so you’re more likely to be able to find an agent in your locality.
And of course, size denotes popularity. State Farm is doing something right. The company’s overall customer satisfaction rating in the latest annual JD Power Home Insurance survey is four out of five, which is a good - although not industry-leading - score. The survey also reveals that State Farm scores well on price, but gets only an average rating for customer interaction.
State Farm Homeowners Insurance review: Features
- Huge network of agents
- Good standard cover - but less comprehensive than others in niche areas
- Good discounts but not all available in every state
Information support: Excellent online information hub, tackling subjects beyond basic insurance.
Customer support: Telephone, online and postal support available, but no live chat. The company is also on social media.
Interface: Browser and mobile app.
As befits the country’s biggest homeowners insurance company, State Farm does the simple things well. Its online quote tool is among the best in the sector, and the basic coverage options are well explained and comprehensive. It operates a network of nearly 20,000 agents, meaning you can easily set up a meeting and talk through your requirements with an insurance professional.
Customers tend to like State Farm’s policy offerings, giving the company four out of five stars in this area in the JD Power rankings. Its add-ons are less comprehensive than those offered by Allstate and one or two other competitors, so people who run a business from their home - among others - may find better options elsewhere. But if your requirements are fairly standard, State Farm offers everything you need.
This really is the company’s strength. State Farm is a solid, reliable choice for the majority of the nation’s homeowners. It operates in the mainstream rather than at the edges, and it is obvious that it serves its market well.
The company offers a range of potential savings, such as discounts for bundling home and auto insurance, discounts for home alert systems like smoke and fire alarms, and discounts for using certain impact-resistant roofing products. This is a solid list but it should be noted that not all discounts are available in all states. The same is true for other policy options, so talk with an agent to make sure you can get the cover you need at a price that is right for you.
State Farm Homeowners Insurance review: Interface and usability
- Excellent quote tool
- Well considered information resources
One of State Farm’s strengths is its resources and online tools. The quote tool is extremely comprehensive, digging down into the detail of your circumstances to make sure you get the most reliable estimate. The website’s Simple Insights section is a treasure trove of information on home insurance and so much more, from home maintenance to buying and selling property.
All of this is well laid out and easy to find. State Farm’s homeowners insurance homepage asks and answers a series of fundamental questions (like what exactly your insurance covers), with links to Simple Insights and more information. You can get a quote and find an agent from the page too.
State Farm also offers a solid mobile app - available for both Apple and Android - which lets you manage your policy and file claims on the go. Both versions are well reviewed.
State Farm Homeowners Insurance review: Quality of product
- Strong financials make it a reliable choice
- Claims handling is reasonable
State Farm offers very good basic homeowners insurance package, backed by great online resources and the largest network of agents in the country. The company’s long experience and strong financial position make it a trustworthy option, especially if your home insurance needs are relatively straightforward.
With homeowners insurance, quality of product is often really about quality of service. After all, most companies offer standard HO-3 cover with a range of add-ons. Many providers now do most of their business online, but if you want to actually sit down and talk to an agent State Farm is most likely to be able to offer that service.
Another point of difference is how providers deal with your claim. State Farm scored three out of five in the JD Power survey in this regard, making it decent but by no means the best.
Should you use State Farm Homeowners Insurance?
The biggest? Certainly. The best? It depends on your requirements. We found State Farm to be excellent at basic cover supported by good customer service. Its huge network of agents helps in this regard, though even this doesn’t drive the company’s customer satisfaction score beyond ‘good’. Others, Amica being the obvious example, do better.
But State Farm probably has an agent near you who can help you get the best policy for your needs, and its sector-leading financial strength means that you should always see your claims paid out, even if a lot of other people are making claims at the same time. If you’re in an area prone to natural disasters, this is worth considering, though make sure State Farm can cover your particular circumstances.
Otherwise, we were impressed with State Farm’s tools and resources. Its Simple Insights section is among the best information hubs we’ve seen, and its mobile app for Android and Apple does a decent job.
In conclusion, State Farm is a very good mainstream homeowners insurance option. But if you have more niche requirements, there may be better alternatives elsewhere.
