Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:23:12 -0500
From: Kira Dirlik
Subject: Re: Homeowners insurance
Thanks to Donna Kelly for posting the home insurance information to the Chatlist. I did receive 11 personal responses, too, plus some from my neighborhood. In addition I received a call from my insurance agent who said she had not read my post here, (but she probably was told about it). She concurred with what Donna wrote.
Some who responded probably do live within 6 miles of their fire stations and can stay at class 6, but a LOT in Chatham do not. It is still suspicious to me that ALL the insurance companies and the gov’t. simultaneously decided to find this marvelous way of doubling a whole lot of families’ insurance bills, yet understandable given the hits they (and FEMA) were given via many natural disasters in the last few years.
A warning given by my agent: there was someone who changed companies to one who kept their $2 million dollar home’s rate at Class 6 (instead of the 10), but it burned down and then the company would not pay. She did not name the company that had taken the risk just to get the customer, and then reneged.
But in case you are interested in results: 5 recommended NC Farm Bureau, 2 for Erie, 1 The Hartford, 1 USAA, 1 Nationwide, 1 McB (said 50% less than Allstate), another said to avoid Allstate, another to not use local companies, and one said she was dropped by State Farm and that the company was trying to get out of NC. I doubt that, because they just opened another office locally.
Given all this, I guess I will stick with State Farm and work with them to see where other cuts can be made, ie probably will drop the annual $96. umbrella thing. Good luck to all who are facing their insurance costing as much as their property tax now.
Kira