Home Owners Insurance...

[Youare]

I have had State Farm insurance on my car and truck for many years. A couple of years ago they told me if I purchased my house insurance from them I would qualify for a discount.

The insurance company that provided my house insurance policy decided to stop covering dwellings in the State of New Hampshire. So, I made an appointment with the State Farm rep. to do a house inspection which lasted 30 seconds. The minute he found out we did not have an oil, gas, or electric heating system, only wood heat, he told me to find another insurance company.

I approached an independant agent for coverage and had a policy written. When this company found out we had two goats, two horses, and 12 chickens they terminated our coverage because we were too high a risk with the animals.

I did get insurance from another company at twice the price I paid in the first place. We have never made a claim in 30 years so I know that is not the problem. At this point I am ready to talk to the lizard just to get away from State Farm. They seem eager to take your money for retirement accounts and loans but insurance on buildings is out.

I thought I was alone in my experiences with them, guess not.

Randy

 

[MicroPilot]

Are the animals the problem? Are they seen as some sort of liability issue?

Sounds like your state needs a law similiar to Kentucky's Farm Animal Activites - section .401 - .4029 which limits the liability of farm animal owners by recognizing that there are certain risks which someone who is around animals are exposed to and that those risks can't be removed.

 

[DAVELR]

I had home owners insurance for years with a local agent. When I bought a larger tractor(Kubota B 2910), I enlarged my shed. When I told my insurance co., they said I needed a farm policy, not a homeowners policy anymore. That cost me an extra $300.00 per year. I went to Farm Bureau and they insured me under a homeowners-no problem. I even had a separate policy on my tractor and the agent still said I needed a farm policy due to the size of shed I had. He said homeowner are only suppose to have a small shed (8 x 10).
Anyway, I went with Farm Bureau. Have had no problems.

 

[Bird]

Robert, I grew up in areas that had volunteer fire departments, and like you said, they usually get there in time to save the lot, but not much more. The department I was on did a little better than that. We actually saved some with only minor damage, but we lost a couple, too, while I was on the department. Of course most of our calls were hay and grass fires.

 

[mahlers]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( they usually get there in time to save the lot, but not much more. )</font>

That's why I've got fire extinguishers in every room and two 3" high-pressure water pumps ready to draw out of our creek at all times during the summer. At the very least, if something catches fire, the whole neighborhood jumps all over it. Where we're at, the fire department really can't be relied upon to do much more than drop a load of water from an aerial tanker...

 

[MicroPilot]

Re-reading this thread, it would seem like I'm bashing on my local VFD, but I'm not. It's just reality that there are 2 VFD in the whole county (203.22 sq miles) and it is impossible for them to respond to the remoter parts in time to save anything.

The volunteers do an outstanding job and I have great respect for them.

 

[DaveNay]

I think most everybody has a great deal of respect for firefighters. Remember, when we are all running screaming from a burning building, they are running and screaming into that same burning building. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Dave

P.S. My dad especially.....he was on a Navy carrier fire brigade in Viet Nam. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[rozett]

Just as an update, I contacted a local agent from Farm Family Insurance and explained the situation. He will be out for an inspection next week. The horses will not be a problem (maybe just a big cost /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif). He did ask about a woodstove, but ours is not installed. Thanks for the input. I'll let you know what happens.

 

[rozett]

Well, I received my quote from Farm Family.... and I was flabbergasted!!! $2500. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I guess the 50% increase that I got from State Farm up to $900 was a bargain. So I will continue to shop.

One question that I do have... what is the average cost of a new home per square foot. Yes, I know that there are many variables, like location, building style, etc... I am looking for a ball-park cost as a means of estimating replacement cost. Thanks.

 

[hitekcountry]

Mahlers

it hasn't been much of a problem since I also use them as my insurance agents

I'm not sure I understand, are you saying that they are insurance agents or that you are using the mortgage company to find insurance for you. The reason I ask is because it is my understanding that when a mortgage company arranges for Insurance, they MAY obtain the type of insurance that only covers the mortgage but does not cover the property. So if the house burns down, that’s your problem. The mortgage company will only collect on the insurance if you default on the loan and the property is sold for less then the mortgage amount. The insurance covers the difference. You lose everything you put into that property. And they usually don't try all that hard to make this clear that the insurance they obtained only protects their investment. Interestingly enough even though your not covered you still pay the insurance premiums.

Fred