Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Review 2024: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

June 2024 · 14 minute read
2024-07-25T16:43:44Z JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
  • Nationwide Homeowners Insurance
  • Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Cost
  • Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Plans
  • FAQs
  • Compare Nationwide
  • Why You Should Trust Us
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    For close to a century, Nationwide Insurance has focused on helping homeowners prepare for tomorrow by protecting what matters today. The company offers a wide array of personal insurance products.

    Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Get quotes Compare policies and rates Nationwide Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.75/5 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating

    816

    AM Best Financial Strength Rating

    A+

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    Nationwide Homeowners Insurance

    Nationwide Homeowners Insurance has deep, mid-western roots. In 1926, the former Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company acquired financing (to the tune of $10,000) and sold its first auto policy in Columbus, Ohio. Eight years later, the company wrote its inaugural property insurance policy before changing its name (and mission) in 1955: to sell its insurance products nationwide.

    In the ensuing decades, Nationwide has evolved to meet customers' needs from coast to coast. Today, the Fortune 100 company offers a full range of homeowners insurance and other complementary personal insurance products and is ranked among the world's largest entities providing insurance and financial services.

    Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Cost

    Homeowners insurance cost often matches the price of your home and neighborhood. For example, if you buy a $1 million house, you should expect the cost of homeowners insurance to be higher than someone buying a $300,000 condo. However, insurers look at a more comprehensive picture, sometimes leading to unexpectedly high premiums. Your location (concerning natural hazards), home type, claims history, and credit score are common factors used to set annual premiums.

    While things like beachfront access raise your premiums, the benefits you're eligible for drop substantially. In short, the risk of water damage increases when you're close to the water. However, the property's value is based on the land, and insurance only insures the structure, personal belongings, etc.

    Average annual Nationwide homeowners insurance rates range from a low of $895 in Ohio to $1,212 in Maryland. Unsurprisingly, Nationwide homeowners insurance rates rank among the cheapest in the country.

    Get Homeowners Insurance Quotes

    Compare the best homeowners insurance companies with a quote from Insurify Homeowners Insurance »

    How to File a Claim With Nationwide Homeowners Insurance

    Homeowners should file eligible claims as soon as possible. If you're unsure about a small claim, you can get a quote from a vendor first. However, preventative treatment should start immediately. Water damage repairs are costly. But early mold prevention goes a long way to reduce your out-of-pocket costs. More importantly, homeowners avoid potential denials associated with mold (as it's commonly considered a sign of neglect. Regardless of the damage or other events that may coincide, negligence is not covered by insurance.

    If you're ready to file a claim with Nationwide Homeowners Insurance, you can file online or by phone at 1-877-On-Your-Side (1-877-669-6877).

    A few critical things to keep in mind in the hours after you discover damage to your home include:

    Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Plans

    Basic Homeowners Insurance from Nationwide comes with comprehensive coverage, including:

    Dwelling

    Dwelling coverage pertains to the physical structure of your home plus built-ins (from cabinets and countertops to cabinets and tile) in the event of a covered loss.

    Personal property

    Personal property coverage protects your personal belongings (furniture, clothes, and electronics). $100,000 for a condo insurance policy. Many times, we forget how much clothing and computer equipment we have. More importantly, many people underestimate the cost of their furniture. Experienced homeowners insurance agents we've talked to recommend at least $300,000 in personal property coverage for houses. Even if you don't have a grill, patio furniture, or other outdoor belongings, $300,000 ensures you have enough to replace everything you lose.

    Personal liability

    Personal liability coverage can help pay for injuries or property damage someone else experiences on your property. If you run a business or work from home, you may want to consider increasing your coverage due to the increased foot traffic. You may also want to increase your liability coverage if you have an older home or a dog. Minor maintenance issues can lead to broken stairs and, in severe cases, falling ceilings or similar problems. Likewise, even a friendly dog can bite under the wrong circumstances. Personal liability accounts for all these things.

    Brand New Belongings®

    This coverage provides extra protection against the damage to or theft of your personal belongings in case of a covered loss. This coverage is twofold. First, it reimburses you for the depreciated value of your covered items. Then, it pays the difference for you to have your items repaired or replaced (so long as you save the receipts). Unfortunately, the actual value can leave homeowners unable to replace lost belongings with items available on the market.

    Better Roof Replacement®

    This coverage provides an extra layer of coverage for your roof. Similar to its Brand New Belongings® coverage, it pays for homeowners to replace roofs with more robust, safer materials in case of a covered loss. The roof is the first line of defense to prevent leaks and immediate and long-term damage. The Better Roof Replacement® ensures your roof isn't left vulnerable.

    Plus:

    Additional Coverage Options (Riders)

    Flood Insurance plans are available for homes in key flood zones. This is a separate insurance policy backed by the NFIP (a part of the federal government). Buyers can manage Nationwide quotes and policies on its portal. However, in a natural disaster, the NFIP would pay your claim.

    Earthquake Insurance policies are sold alongside homeowners policies to fill gaps left by earthquake coverage exclusions. It protects your home and its contents in the event of damages incurred by an earthquake; a separate deductible applies to this coverage.

    Water backup is a common and often cheap homeowners insurance rider. It provides coverage in the event of damages associated with water backing up from a sewer, drain, or sump pump overflow. Faulty appliances and pipes are common culprits, and flood insurance would not cover this type of flooding.

    Dwelling Replacement Cost provides an extra layer of protection, up to twice your dwelling coverage, in the event of a total loss. Especially with the fluctuating construction costs, this rider ensures insurance covers the rebuilding process.

    Valuables Plus® provides added protection for valuables and collectibles, including jewelry, artwork, and other rare items.

    Identity Theft protects your personal data (from credit cards and bank accounts to Social Security numbers and passports) from the myriad risks associated with cybercrime.

    Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Get quotes Compare policies and rates Nationwide Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.75/5 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating

    816

    AM Best Financial Strength Rating

    A+

    ProsConsNationwide review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Show Pros, Cons, and More chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.

    FAQs

    Does Nationwide provide the insurance I need for my mortgage? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    The short answer is yes. In addition to providing peace of mind and protection against covered losses to your home, Nationwide homeowners insurance meets mortgage standards at an affordable price for many homeowners. Mortgage lenders want assurance you have protection for the structure. Nationwide can help you decide how much coverage you want for your personal property, liability, and more.

    Does Nationwide offer flood insurance? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    All flood insurance policies in the US are underwritten by the NFIP, which also sets annual premiums. Nationwide can quote flood insurance and bind your policy. However, any claims will be processed by the NFIP.

    Does my Nationwide homeowners policy cover renters? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    Homeowners insurance does not cover damage incurred by tenants. If you have a rental, speak to your Nationwide agent about landlord insurance to protect your property against damage. Then encourage your tenant(s) to obtain renters insurance to protect their personal belongings. Despite common misconceptions, a landlord's homeowners policy does not cover renter belongings, even in the event of a destroyed home.

    Compare Nationwide

    See how Nationwide compares to three other options for home insurance coverage: AAA, Allstate, and Progressive.

    Nationwide vs. Automobile Club Group (AAA) Homeowners Insurance

    AAA Home Insurance comes with the peace of mind associated with a trusted name. So naturally, bundling homeowners and auto insurance is a prime perk. The company boasts competitive rates and deep discounts, which may balance the drawback of membership fees. A vast network of branch locations nationwide makes AAA perfect for customers who prefer in-person agents instead of doing business online or over the phone. It also has a dedicated line for Spanish-speaking customers, which earns AAA important bonus points for inclusivity.

    Depending on where you live, you may be covered under different AAA-brand companies. However, while Nationwide is available in all 50 states and Washington, DC, AAA home insurance is only available in select states. Buyers must also be AAA members to purchase homeowners insurance (purchases can be finalized after getting a free quote).

    Bottom line? If you're already a AAA member, it might be worth bundling your home and auto insurance policies for savings likely exceeding your annual membership fee. However, non-members will probably find more comprehensive coverage options from Nationwide at a lower price point, especially when bundling with Nationwide auto insurance.

    AAA Home Insurance Review

    Nationwide vs. Allstate Homeowners Insurance

    Allstate Homeowners Insurance offers affordable premiums with lower-than-average customer complaints. Pet owners, listen up: Allstate offers coverage for most dog-friendly homes without banned breed exclusions, which is a huge bonus. Underwriters look at any bite history of dogs in the home, and the company encourages homeowners to ensure they have an appropriate amount of liability insurance and act responsibly with their dogs.

    Allstate also offers specialty coverage for musical instruments, sports equipment, and extensive landscaping, among other things. Like Nationwide, Allstate is available in all 50 states, and both companies allow customers to bundle policies with auto, life, and other insurance products. That said, guaranteed or extended replacement cost coverage in case of a covered loss is not an option with Allstate. Allstate customers are encouraged to consider an umbrella policy to supplement homeowners and auto policies. Regardless, Allstate is often more expensive than Nationwide coverage with or without an umbrella policy.

    Allstate Homeowners Insurance Review

    Nationwide vs. Progressive Homeowners Insurance

    Progressive Homeowners Insurance offers affordable homeowners insurance on its easy-to-navigate platform. Many customers quote online. Both companies now sell homeowners insurance policies through broker insurance agents as well. Brokers can quote for any insurance company they partner with, which means you can more easily compare quotes for your house side-by-side.

    Progressive has various recreational insurance policies (i.e., boats, motorcycles, etc.) it's working on expanding. The two companies are similar in terms of pricing and coverage for homeowners. Depending on the specific buyer, one may be a little cheaper. However, if you're looking to bundle your home, auto, boat, motorcycle, and other recreational vehicle policies, Progressive offers more robust options.

    Progressive Homeowners Insurance Review

    Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Nationwide Homeowners Insurance

    Policies offered, customer reviews, average premiums, and the claims process are some things considered when reviewing (and comparing) companies providing homeowners insurance. In addition, we consult JD Power and AM Best ranking as detailed in our homeowners insurance rating methodology.

    The financial stability of each company, coupled with customer experiences following the claims process, receives careful attention as this information reveals how well each company can manage financial obligations. This ranking system allows us to assign objective ratings and get to the heart of what buyers want.

    Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Get quotes Compare policies and rates Nationwide Nationwide Homeowners Insurance Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.75/5 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating

    816

    AM Best Financial Strength Rating

    A+

    ProsConsNationwide review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Show Pros, Cons, and More chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. spanspanHannah Van Sickle is a freelance writer who lives and works in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. After a decade teaching English at public and private high schools, she made the switch to freelancing. /span/span spanspanHannah works with college-bound seniors on their application essays and contributes regularly to Berkshire magazine and The Berkshire Edge; essays about her journey parenting daughters can be found at Refinery29, Modern Loss, and SheKnows.  /span/span Hannah Van Sickle is a freelance writer who lives and works in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. After a decade teaching English at public and private high schools, she made the switch to freelancing. Hannah works with college-bound seniors on their application essays and contributes regularly to Berkshire magazine and The Berkshire Edge; essays about her journey parenting daughters can be found at Refinery29, Modern Loss, and SheKnows.   Read more Read less spanElias Shaya is a Compliance Associate on the Personal Finance Insider team based in New York City, which ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice./spanspanThe team also works to minimize risk for partners by ensuring language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Elias is the point person for the loans sub-vertical and works with the editorial team to ensure that all rates and information for personal and student loans are up-to-date and accurate./spanspanHe joined Insider in February 2022 as a fellow on the compliance team./span Compliance Associate Elias Shaya is a Compliance Associate on the Personal Finance Insider team based in New York City, which ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice.The team also works to minimize risk for partners by ensuring language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Elias is the point person for the loans sub-vertical and works with the editorial team to ensure that all rates and information for personal and student loans are up-to-date and accurate.He joined Insider in February 2022 as a fellow on the compliance team. Read more Read less Top Offers From Our Partners Chime® Checking Account Set up Direct Deposit and get your paycheck up to 2 days before your coworkers.** No overdraft fees. No monthly fees. A tooltip Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. **Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. Start Banking

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