Summary:
To do a home owner insurance quote comparison, you have to ask yourself several questions.
Is this insurance company licensed to sell home owner's insurance in my state?
You should never purchase home owner's insurance from a company not licensed to sell home owner's insurance in your state. Aside from the fact that you wouldn't be able to solicit the help of your state's department of insurance should you have any problems with the insurance company, it could be a scam...
To do a home owner insurance quote comparison, you have to ask yourself several questions.
Is this insurance company licensed to sell home owner's insurance in my state?
You should never purchase home owner's insurance from a company not licensed to sell home owner's insurance in your state. Aside from the fact that you wouldn't be able to solicit the help of your state's department of insurance should you have any problems with the insurance company, it could be a scam.
Does this home owner insurance company have a good financial reputation?
Since the insurance industry is heavily regulated, it's unlikely an insurance company will go bankrupt while you have a policy; however, some insurance companies may be under a watchful eye. A home owner insurance company's rating will let you know how financially solid the company is, as well as whether or not it's being monitored. You can find the ratings of insurance companies by searching the Internet for independent research companies.
From which of these insurance companies do my neighbors purchase home owner's insurance?
If your neighbors purchase home owner's insurance policies from the companies you're comparing, ask them about their experiences with those companies. Are they satisfied? Do the insurance companies keep their coverage promises? Do rates change unexpectedly?
Have I included everything that needs to be covered?
A home owner insurance policy isn't accurate if you haven't included everything you want covered; this includes your valuables, too. Sure, you'll get the coverage you purchased at the price you were quoted, but should something happen to anything that's not included on the policy, money to repair or replace that item will come out of your pocket.
Do I have plenty of additional coverage options from which to choose?
Finally, you want a home owner insurance company to give you freedom to choose additional coverage. Make sure the quotes you're comparing are from companies that offer such freedom.