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Homesite Homeowners Insurance Review 2024
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.
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.
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Homesite
4.0
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
- Easy online quotes.
- Variety of ways to customize your policy.
- Wildfire prevention services available to policyholders in select Western states.
Cons
- Liability coverage for dog bites or swimming pool incidents may cost extra.
Homesite
4.0
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
- Easy online quotes.
- Variety of ways to customize your policy.
- Wildfire prevention services available to policyholders in select Western states.
Cons
- Liability coverage for dog bites or swimming pool incidents may cost extra.
Choose Homesite home insurance if...
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating homeowners insurance.
More than 270 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 50 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C. (See our top picks.)
About Homesite home insurance
4.0
NerdWallet ratingHomesite homeowners insurance earned 4 stars out of 5 for overall performance.
Founded in 1997, Homesite is part of the American Family insurance group. Unlike some other companies that sell policies primarily through agents, Homesite offers a quick quote process that makes it easy to buy a policy online in many states. The company has a variety of optional coverage types that you can add to your policy.
How Homesite home insurance stacks up
Easy online quotes.
Variety of ways to customize your policy.
Wildfire prevention services available to policyholders in select Western states.
Liability coverage for dog bites or swimming pool incidents may cost extra.
Where Homesite home insurance stands out
Free protection from wildfires in some states. The Wildfire Defense Systems included with your policy could potentially save your home.
Online quotes. If you’re not up for calling an agent to buy a policy, you’ll appreciate Homesite’s easy online quote process, which lets you customize your coverage in a variety of ways.
Where Homesite home insurance falls short
Customer satisfaction. Homesite finished last for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2023 Home Insurance Study.
No mobile app. Homesite doesn’t have an app to help you manage your policy, though its website offers some useful functions.
Standard Homesite home insurance coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
Dwelling. Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home.
Other structures. Covers damage to unattached structures such as sheds or fences.
Personal property. Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing.
Loss of use. Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs.
Personal liability. Covers legal expenses and damages if you're responsible for injuries to other people or their property.
Medical payments. Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault.
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
Homesite’s policies generally cover your personal belongings on a replacement cost basis. That means if your stuff is stolen or damaged, the company will pay enough for you to buy brand-new replacement items. Some homeowners policies reimburse you on an actual cash value basis instead, which means your payout is based on what the items were worth at the time of the incident. For older items, you might not get much of a payout since they’ve lost value over time.
Depending on where you live, Homesite’s personal liability coverage may not automatically apply to incidents involving pets or swimming pools. Instead, you may have to add animal or pool liability to your policy separately if you need either type of coverage.
For homeowners policyholders in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, Homesite offers free access to Wildfire Defense Systems. If a fire is threatening your area, WDS may take protective actions such as setting up sprinkler systems, removing anything combustible from around the house and applying fire-retardant gel.
Being in a wildfire risk zone can make it harder to find insurance for your home. Learn how to assess your risk and protect your home against fires with our wildfire insurance guide.
Optional Homesite home insurance coverage
You may also be able to add the following to your Homesite policy:
Extended dwelling coverage. In case your home costs more to rebuild than expected due to inflation or high demand, this option adds a 25% or 50% cushion to your dwelling coverage limit. So if you have $200,000 of coverage for the structure of your home, Homesite would pay an extra $50,000 to $100,000 if necessary to rebuild it after a covered claim.
Water backup coverage. This coverage pays for damage from a sewer line or drain that backs up, or a sump pump that overflows.
Increased roof coverage. Having this coverage ensures you’ll get enough to fully replace a damaged roof after a hail- or windstorm (minus your deductible), rather than a partial payout based on the age of the roof.
Extra coverage for valuables. A standard homeowners insurance offers limited coverage for jewelry, musical instruments and other pricey items. Adding this coverage ensures you’ll be reimbursed for their full value if they’re damaged or stolen.
Equipment breakdown coverage. If a major appliance or household system has a mechanical or electrical failure, this coverage can pay for repairs or replacement.
Service line coverage. This endorsement pays for damage to underground pipes, wires or other lines that serve your home.
Identity theft coverage. If someone steals your identity, this coverage can pay for legal fees and other expenses associated with recovery.
Personal injury coverage. This coverage expands your liability insurance to cover libel, slander and invasion of privacy claims.
Earthquake protection. Standard homeowners policies won’t pay for earthquake damage, so this coverage may be useful to add if you live in an area at risk.
Additional belongings coverage. This endorsement expands what the personal property section of your policy will cover to include scenarios like spills and drops.
What Homesite home insurance doesn't cover
A standard Homesite policy won’t cover:
Flooding.
Earthquakes.
War.
Nuclear hazards.
Neglect or intentional damage.
Fungus or mold.
Pollutants.
Government actions.
Discounts
Depending on where you live, the following might earn you a discount on Homesite homeowners insurance:
Being a new homebuyer.
Having a centrally monitored burglar or fire alarm.
Having indoor sprinklers in your home.
Getting a new roof.
Bundling your homeowners policy with an auto policy from one of Homesite’s sister companies.
Another way to lower your premium is to raise your homeowners insurance deductible, the amount that will be subtracted from your payout if you ever file a claim. Just be sure to choose an amount you’d feel comfortable covering out of your own pocket.
» MORE: The cheapest home insurance
Consumer complaints
Homesite had 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.
Digital and consumer experience
It’s easy to get a homeowners insurance quote on Homesite’s website. You can also use the site to pay bills, set up autopay and view policy details.
When we called Homesite’s customer service number, we were connected with a live person within two minutes. The rep said she was a licensed insurance agent with Homesite and was able to answer our coverage questions. She said the company covers personal property on a replacement cost basis, which matched what we saw in our online quote. She also correctly told us that water backup coverage was available and explained what it could pay for.
Homesite doesn’t have a live chat or a mobile app.
How to file a claim with Homesite
You can file a claim through your online account or by calling 866-621-4823. You can also use your online account to track the status of an existing claim. Learn more about how to file a home insurance claim.
How to contact Homesite customer service
Homesite offers customer support by phone (800-466-3748) and email ([email protected]).
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
How we rate homeowners insurance
NerdWallet’s star ratings reward companies for consumer-first features and practices. We evaluate factors such as financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and customer experience.
In our research, we analyzed:
More than 270 million homeowners insurance rates.
More than 50 insurance companies.
Nearly 200 homeowner profiles.
View our complete homeowners insurance rating methodology.
Homesite has been part of American Family Insurance since 2014.
Homesite is a solid home insurance company with customizable policies and a variety of discounts. It earned 4 stars out of 5 for overall performance from NerdWallet.
In addition to homeowners insurance, Homesite sells renters, condo and small business insurance. It partners with another American Family company, Connect, to sell auto insurance.
Homesite home insurance isn’t available just on the company’s website. Both Geico and Progressive sell some Homesite homeowners insurance policies.
Homesite has been part of American Family Insurance since 2014.
Homesite is a solid home insurance company with customizable policies and a variety of discounts. It earned
4
stars out of 5 for overall performance from NerdWallet.
In addition to homeowners insurance, Homesite sells renters, condo and small business insurance. It partners with another American Family company,
Connect
, to sell auto insurance.
Homesite home insurance isn’t available just on the company’s website. Both
Geico
and
Progressive
sell some Homesite homeowners insurance policies.
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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