Allstate home insurance review

Overview

Allstate is the second-largest home insurance provider in the country, offering affordable, comprehensive and flexible home insurance coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Allstate also has some of the highest financial ratings in the industry, holding down an A+ rating with A.M. Best, the leading insurance company credit rating agency.

When it comes to discounts, Allstate doesn’t disappoint either, advertising as many as 11 rate-saving opportunities on their website. From bundling your home and auto insurance to taking advantage of their generous “claims free” discount, there’s no shortage of ways to save on premiums when you insure your home with Allstate.

Where this company really shines is customer experience, as you’re met with several tools and educational resources on Allstate’s website. From finding out the main factors behind your insurance rates to using AI tools that provide personalized coverage recommendations, your bases are covered with Allstate.

Like most major insurance providers, where Allstate struggles slightly is customer service ratings, ostensibly because of the lack of personalized customer service. The insurance giant received an “about average” rating in J.D. Power’s 2018 Home Insurance Study, and they ranked near the bottom of the pack in Consumer Reports latest customer satisfaction study, scoring an 82 out of 100.

Allstate by the numbers

Founded: 1931

Market share: 8.37%

A.M. Best rating: A+

Better Business Bureau rating: A+

Consumer Reports: 82/100

J.D. Power: 3/5

What states is Allstate available in?

Allstate homeowners insurance is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Policy details

How much does Allstate cost?

When it comes to cost, Allstate is one of the more affordable insurance options in the industry.

Below is a sample quote for a 2,000-square-foot, single-family home in suburban Chicago. For comparison’s sake, the average home insurance premium in the U.S. is around $1,100 a year.

Additional coverages

• Water backup coverage - Protects your stuff in the event your sewage goes in the reverse direction of where it’s supposed to go
• Identity theft restoration coverage - If your identity is stolen, this coverage reimburses you for expenses you incur while resolving the issue
• Scheduled personal property coverage - Increases itemized sublimits on rare and expensive types of personal property, like jewelry, fine furs, and art
• Business property coverage - Business property typically has low coverage limits in a standard home insurance policy — business property coverage increases those limits
• Sports equipment coverage - Increased coverage for expensive sports gear
• Yard and garden coverage - Higher coverage limits for trees, landscaping, and lawn maintenance tools
• Electronic data recovery coverage - Coverage for lost personal computer data
• Musical instruments coverage - Increased coverage limits for expensive musical instruments

Here’s how Allstate stacks up against the competition in terms of the most common coverage endorsement offerings:

Discounts

• Multi-policy discount - Discount of up to 25% when you bundle your home and auto insurance policies with Allstate
• Automatic payment discount - Allstate offers a 5% discount if you autopay your insurance premiums
• Claims-free discount - You can save up to 20% if you go an extended period of time without filing a home insurance claim
• Protective device discount - Reduce your homeowners insurance rates when you install a burglar alarm or fire protection device in your home
• Welcome and loyalty discount - New Allstate customers get a 10% discount on insurance premiums. If you remain an Allstate customer, they’ll give you 10% off every year after that
• Home buyer discount - Save on insurance premiums if you insure a newly constructed or recently bought home
• 55 and retired discount - If you’re 55 and older, Allstate will reward you with lower rates
• Additional discounts - According to the Allstate website, you can also save if you live in a smoke-free home or have storm resistant shutters or roofing on your home

Company details

Application process

Allstate’s application process is about as easy as it gets and can be done online in its entirety. You simply plug in your ZIP code, personal information, and home address and Allstate will then autofill the bulk of questions related to your home, such as its age, number of floors, and foundation type. You might have to make a few changes and input certain information yourself (like the distance from your home to a fire hydrant) but otherwise it’s a fairly quick process.

Allstate then keeps it simple by asking you if you’d like “less”, “balanced”, or “more” coverage for your home. If you’re looking to keep costs down and don’t need additional coverages, you can opt for the “less” option. The “balanced” policy is slightly more expensive but includes more liability coverage and endorsements like water backup coverage and identity theft restoration coverage. If you opt for “more”, you’re getting just about every endorsement Allstate has to offer, but for an extra couple hundred dollars a year.

Claims process

Allstate’s website provides a transparent and complete picture of how their claims process works. They list a few different options for filing claims: by contacting your agent directly, calling Allstate’s claims division, logging into the Allstate website and filing a claim, or by using the Allstate mobile app.

Other types of property insurance offered

Allstate offers several types of property insurance. If you’re looking to buy home insurance and you have other coverage needs, consider bundling insurances.

• HostAdvantage - HostAdvantage is Allstate’s short-term rental policy for property owners who rent their home out through Airbnb, VRBO, or similar services
• Car insurance - Protects your whip
• Landlord insurance - Coverage in case your tenants burn your building down
• Renters insurance - Protection for stuff in your rental unit (and outside your rental unit)
• Condo insurance - Protects your condo's structure, all your stuff inside, and any additional liability coverage you need to supplement your HOA's master policy
• Flood insurance - Allstate offers flood insurance through the NFIP to protect your home and personal property from flood damage
• Umbrella insurance - Increased liability coverage limits for your home and car
• Business insurance - Insurance for your mom n’ pop shop
• Motorcycle insurance - Insurance for your motorized bike
• Motorhome insurance - Protection for your house on wheels
• Boat insurance - Insures your watercrafts
• Snowmobile insurance - Coverage for your snow whip
• ATV insurance - Coverage for your quad wheeler
• Pet insurance - Health insurance for that good boy
• Event insurance - Financial protection from the unexpected wedding cancelation or if you’re held liable for a guest’s injury or venue property damage

Digital tools

• The Allstate mobile app - You can pay your bill, get information about your policy, and file claims
• Digital Locker - A tool within the Allstate app that allows you to create a detailed inventory of your personal belongings
• GoodHome - A tool that uses information about local home insurance claims, weather conditions, and public records in your area to give you personalized insurance tips
• Premium Gauge - A tool that helps you understand what impact your home insurance rates and why
• Web application
• Web claims

Contact info

Website: www.allstate.com
Phone: 1-877-810-8973
Headquarters: Allstate Corporation, 2775 Sanders Road, Northbrook, IL 60062