Great Home Guide To Switching Insurance Companies

The cost of homeowners insurance has risen over the last few years due to a wide variety of factors that include rising inflation, labor shortages, and supply chain delays. This means that shopping your coverage on a regular basis is even more important. 

If you find a better deal you will need to switch insurers and that can be intimidating so we thought, it would be a good idea to detail the steps necessary to move to a new insurer. 

Why switch home insurance companies?

There are a number of reasons you may want to switch insurers. Getting a better deal is probably the most common reason but homeowners may also want to bundle their coverage with the same insurer that carries their auto insurance, or maybe they had a negative customer service or claim experience with their current insurance company.

Anytime you move or make substantial upgrades to your home you need to shop your coverage to make sure you are carrying the appropriate amount of coverage and that you are getting the best deal possible. 

How to switch insurers

In most cases, switching your homeowners insurance is pretty straightforward. The major concern is making sure you have a new policy in place before you cancel your old one as you don’t want a lapse in coverage. 

While it is usually possible to cancel a policy over the phone or online, making sure you have all of your documentation in place will make the entire process go easier, here are a few steps to follow when canceling a policy:

Review the terms of your current policy

Check out your current coverage levels and look at the details in regard to your deductibles, exclusions and endorsements. In addition, review the steps necessary to cancel the policy.

It is possible that your insurance company will require you to submit a cancellation request in writing, make sure you follow all the requirements so there are no issues getting your policy cancelled.

Gather your information 

Before you start shopping for a new policy be sure to gather all of the documents and information you will need. Your current policy will help you determine what coverage levels may be appropriate for your home you will also need a photo ID as well as a few other personal details.

if you have recently updated your home, roof or mechanical systems be sure to mention this when getting quotes as your current coverage levels may not be appropriate. if you have receipts for the work done have them handy to show your insurance agent.

Find your new insurer

You can then start shopping for a new policy by reading reviews and asking friends and family for recommendations. Once you have a few insurance companies on your list start contacting insurance agents or shopping online. The insurance companies you are shopping should be able to advise you on your coverage level needs and help you find an appropriate insurer.

Always make sure you are comparing apples to apples when it comes to coverage levels and deductibles. Gather at least three to five premium quotes checking with both national insurance companies as well as more regional options.

Consider factors other than price, look for exceptional customer service and claims handling as an insurance policy is never a bargain if you have issues when you need to file a claim.

Purchase a new policy and cancel your old one

The biggest issue to be aware of when switching insurance policies is to avoid a lapse in coverage. Always have a new policy in place before you cancel your old coverage. Once you have found a new policy simply sign up with the new insurance company and when they have their coverage in place contact your old insurer to cancel your policy.

Make sure you meet all of the requirements to cancel your policy and ask for proof of cancellation in writing. if you are canceling your policy midterm you may be owed a refund for the coverage not used.

Contact your mortgage lender

In most cases if you have a mortgage on your home your homeowner’s insurance will be rolled into an escrow account with your lender. Escrow accounts typically pay the property taxes and insurance premiums, so your mortgage lender is assured your property is protected by homeowners insurance.

if you switch insurance companies you do need to let your mortgage lender know so they can make sure the correct insurance company is being paid out of the escrow account. While most mortgage lenders will let you change this information online it is also possible that you may have to notify them in writing.