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The Andover Companies Homeowners Insurance Review 2024
![Sarah Schlichter](https://www.nerdwallet.com/assets/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Sarah-Schlichter-headshot-square-160x160.jpg)
Lead Writer | Home insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance
Sarah Schlichter is a NerdWallet authority on homeowners, renters and pet insurance. Prior to joining NerdWallet, she spent more than 15 years in digital media as a writer, editor and spokesperson. Sarah enjoys delving into complicated topics and helping readers understand the ins and outs of their insurance coverage. She lives in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
![Caitlin Constantine](https://www.nerdwallet.com/assets/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caitlin-Constantine-160x160.jpeg)
Assistant Assigning Editor | Home insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance
Caitlin Constantine is an assigning editor at NerdWallet, focusing on homeowners, renters and pet insurance. She has more than 15 years of experience in digital media, including as the deputy managing editor at The Penny Hoarder and as a digital producer for a 24/7 news station based in the Tampa Bay area. Caitlin enjoys exploring the ways technology can help people become better informed about the world. She currently lives outside Asheville, North Carolina.
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Andover Companies
5.0
Coverage optionsRatings are based on the number of coverage options a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
DiscountsRatings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Pros
- Far fewer consumer complaints than expected.
- Includes more generous dwelling and personal property coverage than most insurers.
- Many additional coverage options to choose from.
Cons
- Not available in most states.
- No online quotes.
Andover Companies
5.0
Coverage optionsRatings are based on the number of coverage options a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
DiscountsRatings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Pros
- Far fewer consumer complaints than expected.
- Includes more generous dwelling and personal property coverage than most insurers.
- Many additional coverage options to choose from.
Cons
- Not available in most states.
- No online quotes.
About The Andover Companies home insurance
5.0
NerdWallet ratingThe Andover Companies is a Massachusetts-based insurer that sells home insurance through independent agents. The Andover Companies earned a NerdWallet rating of 5 stars out of 5 for overall performance, ranking highly for its strong coverage and low number of consumer complaints. However, its policies are available only in Illinois and select Northeastern states. If you live in one of these areas, Andover home insurance is well worth considering.
The Andover Companies is among NerdWallet’s Best Home Insurance Companies for 2024.
Our star ratings are based on consumer complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; financial strength grades from AM Best; coverage and discounts available; and the overall consumer experience. See our criteria for evaluating home insurance companies.
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy in order to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. Here is a list of our partners and here’s how we make money.
Where The Andover Companies stands out
Coverage. Andover policies generally come with broader coverage for your belongings and more coverage for the structure of your home than a standard homeowners policy provides. (Note that most but not all homes qualify for this coverage.)
Consumer satisfaction. Andover draws very few consumer complaints to state regulators, suggesting that most of its policyholders are satisfied with their insurance.
Where The Andover Companies falls short
Availability. Policyholders outside of the eight states Andover serves will need to look elsewhere for coverage.
Online experience. Andover’s website offers the basics, including claims filing and bill payments. However, it lacks certain features you might find on larger insurers’ websites such as online quotes or live chat.
State availability
The Andover Companies homeowners insurance is available in seven Northeastern states and Illinois.
The Andover Companies home insurance coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
Type of coverage | What it does |
---|---|
Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home. | |
Covers damage to unattached structures such as sheds or fences. | |
Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing. | |
Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs. | |
Covers legal expenses and damages if you're responsible for injuries to other people or their property. | |
Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault. |
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
In addition to the standard coverage listed above, Andover also includes the following with most of its policies:
Guaranteed replacement cost coverage, which can pay whatever is necessary to rebuild your home after a covered claim, even if your dwelling coverage limit falls short.
Ordinance or law coverage, which pays to upgrade your home to the latest building codes during repairs after a covered claim. Most Andover policies include an amount of ordinance or law coverage equivalent to your dwelling coverage limit.
Replacement cost coverage for personal belongings, ensuring that you can replace stolen or damaged items with brand-new replacements after a claim.
Open perils contents coverage, a more generous type of coverage for your belongings than most homeowners policies include. Normally, home insurance covers your stuff only for events named in the policy (such as fire or theft). With “open perils” coverage, your policy covers your belongings for anything except events specifically excluded.
You may also be able to add the following extra options to your policy:
Home system and service line coverage. This endorsement can pay to repair or replace things like water heaters, HVAC systems or underground service lines if they break down. Learn more about equipment breakdown coverage.
Identity theft insurance. If someone steals your identity, this coverage can pay legal bills, lost wages and other expenses associated with recovery.
Personal cyber coverage. This add-on can help you restore lost data and deal with other consequences of cyberattacks.
Extra coverage for valuables such as jewelry, fine art, musical instruments and collectibles.
Water backup coverage in case a sump pump overflows or a drain backs up into your home.
Home day care coverage for policyholders who provide care services for up to three kids in their home.
Additional coverage endorsement, which adds coverage for things like lock replacement, refrigerated items lost in a power outage and legal defense against personal injury claims.
Discounts
Depending on where you live, you may be able to save by:
Bundling home and auto insurance.
Having certain protective devices in your home.
Being a loyal customer.
Having a new home.
Being a nonsmoker.
Having a hardwired generator.
» MORE: The cheapest home insurance
Consumer complaints
The Andover Companies had far fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size for home insurance, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Consumer experience
Website: With Andover’s online portal, you can see policy information, pay bills, and file and track claims. However, you can’t get a homeowners insurance quote on the Andover website.
Claims: You can file a claim through your online portal or by phone with your local agent. You can also call Andover at 800-225-0770. Once you’ve filed, your online account will show the status of your claim. Learn how to file a home insurance claim.
Customer service: Andover encourages policyholders to work with their independent agents for help, but you can also call the company directly at 800-225-0770 or email [email protected] with billing questions.
The Andover Companies home insurance: The bottom line
If having the strongest possible coverage for your home is important to you, homeowners insurance from The Andover Companies is worth considering. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to work with an independent agent to get a policy rather than shopping online.
Current Product
NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. 5.0 /5 | NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. 5.0 /5 | NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. 4.5 /5 |
Complaints to NAIC Ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company's size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Far fewer than expected | Complaints to NAIC Ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company's size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Far fewer than expected | Complaints to NAIC Ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company's size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Far fewer than expected |
Coverage Ratings are based on the types of coverage a company offers in comparison to other insurers. More than average | Coverage Ratings are based on the types of coverage a company offers in comparison to other insurers. About average | Coverage Ratings are based on the types of coverage a company offers in comparison to other insurers. About average |
Discounts Ratings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers. Average set of discounts | Discounts Ratings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers. Great set of discounts | Discounts Ratings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers. Average set of discounts |
Bottom line Superior coverage sold through independent agents in select states. | Bottom line Well-established insurer known for great customer service. | Bottom line Best for homeowners looking for many ways to customize their policy. |
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
In addition to homeowners insurance, The Andover Companies sells condo, renters, umbrella, dwelling fire, watercraft and business insurance.
NerdWallet awarded The Andover Companies 5 stars out of 5 due to its strong coverage and low number of consumer complaints.
Merrimack Mutual, the oldest of the three companies that make up The Andover Companies, was founded in 1828. The company expanded with acquisitions of two other companies in 1913 and 1955.
In addition to homeowners insurance, The Andover Companies sells condo, renters, umbrella, dwelling fire, watercraft and business insurance.
NerdWallet awarded The Andover Companies 5 stars out of 5 due to its strong coverage and low number of consumer complaints.
Merrimack Mutual, the oldest of the three companies that make up The Andover Companies, was founded in 1828. The company expanded with acquisitions of two other companies in 1913 and 1955.
Methodology
Homeowners insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full ratings methodology for home insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
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