If you haven’t shopped for home insurance recently, you may be paying too much. The same coverage can cost more with one company versus another, and many homeowners never compare quotes. It’s not hard to see why: getting multiple quotes is time-consuming, confusing and often feels harder than it should be.
Jerry has helped over 54,000 homeowners in the last year compare home insurance quotes from over 12 insurers in minutes, saving up to 40%. You can find the best quote and buy your policy completely online, or speak to one of our real human agents if you need assistance. Here’s everything you need to know about comparing home insurance quotes.
Compare home + car bundles in one place, all online.
Why you should compare home insurance quotes
Insurance can seem like a bit of a black box, with every insurance company using its own method to set prices. The result is that prices vary widely, even for the same coverage. By comparing quotes, you could pay hundreds less for the exact same protection just by choosing a different company.
Here’s why comparing matters.
⚖️ Prices vary wildly.
One company might charge you more because of your roof’s age, while another cares more about your credit score. These differences add up.
📈 Prices keep changing.
Home insurance costs have been rising faster than inflation, especially in areas with severe weather. The cheapest option last year might not be your best deal today.
🎯 Know your options.
If you only get one quote, you have no way to know if it’s a good deal. Comparing at least three gives you a more complete picture.
Jerry recommends: Compare quotes from at least 3 companies every year, and shop 30-45 days before your policy renews. You can do this quickly and for free using the Jerry app.
How Jerry helps you get the best price
The old way of shopping for home insurance means calling company after company, repeating your info, and waiting on hold.
With Jerry, you can:
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Compare up to 12 companies at once. See prices from top insurers in one place. Instead of spending hours collecting quotes, Jerry gathers them in minutes.
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Mix and match. Unlike traditional agents, Jerry lets you pair home insurance from one company with car insurance from another to find the best combo.
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Buy entirely online. Get covered without unwanted phone calls or spam.
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Get help when you need it. Questions? Jerry’s licensed agents are just a chat or phone call away.
Bundle home + car and save up to 40%.
Coverage to look for when comparing quotes
When comparing prices, don’t just look at the bottom line. A cheaper policy might not be a good deal if it doesn’t pay out fully when you need it. You’ll want to look at quotes for policies with the same coverage types and limits so you get a true comparison.
Look out for these things when determining what your home insurance covers.
🏠 Your home’s structure
Coverage name: Dwelling coverage, or Coverage A.
What it pays for: Repairs or rebuilds your house if it’s damaged from covered events like fire, wind, hail, storms or other disasters.
What to look for: Buy limits high enough to cover the cost to rebuild your home from scratch at today’s prices.
🏗️ Other buildings on your property
Coverage name: Other structures coverage, or Coverage B.
What it pays for: Detached structures like garages, sheds, fences and pool houses.
What to look for: Most insurers automatically set this at 10% of your dwelling coverage, but you may want to bump it up if you have a big garage or workshop on your property.
🛋️ Your stuff
Coverage name: Personal property coverage, or Coverage C.
What it pays for: Replacing your belongings, like furniture, electronics and clothes, if they’re damaged or stolen.
What to look for: Usually set at 50-70% of your dwelling coverage.
🏨 Temporary living expenses
Coverage name: Loss of use coverage, or Coverage D.
What it pays for: Hotel, meals and other costs if you can’t live in your home after a disaster.
What to look for: Most policies cover 20% of your dwelling coverage, which is usually enough for most situations.
⚖️ If someone gets hurt on your property
Coverage name: Personal liability coverage, or Coverage E.
What it pays for: Legal fees and medical bills if a guest is injured at your home and it’s your fault.
What to look for: Get at least $300,000, but you may need more if you have significant savings or assets to protect.
🏥 Minor medical bills
Coverage name: Medical payments coverage, or Coverage F.
What it pays for: Small medical expenses for guests who get hurt at your home, even if it’s not your fault.
What to look for: $1,000 to $5,000 is standard. This helps you avoid lawsuits over minor injuries.
Key takeaway: Make sure your dwelling coverage equals the full cost to rebuild your home, not its sale price. And always compare policies with the same coverage types and limits.
Save money by bundling home and car insurance
One of the easiest ways to cut your insurance costs is to bundle your home and car insurance. Plus, if you bundle with Jerry, you could save up to 40%.
Plus, you don’t have to use the same company for both policies. Sometimes you’ll save more by getting home insurance from one company and car insurance from another.
Here’s how Jerry can help you bundle.
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See all your options. Jerry shows you home and car quotes from multiple companies at once, so you can see how bundling could save you money.
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Mix and match freely. You’re not stuck with one company. Jerry lets you combine the best home quote with the best car quote, even if they’re from different insurers.
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No math required. Jerry estimates your home’s replacement cost automatically so you can feel confident in the coverage you’re getting.
Jerry recommends: Don’t assume bundling with one company is always the cheapest. Compare bundling deals with Jerry to see if mixing and matching could get you the best possible bundle.
What affects your home insurance price
Insurance companies look at dozens of things when setting your price. Here are some of the most important ones to be aware of:
📍 Where you live.
Your state, city and ZIP code all matter. Areas with hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, or high crime cost more.
🏠 How much it costs to rebuild.
Bigger homes, custom features and high-end materials mean higher insurance prices.
📅 Your home’s age and condition.
Older homes with aging roofs, old wiring or outdated plumbing cost more to insure.
📋 Your claims history.
If you’ve filed claims before, you look riskier to the insurer. Even claims from previous owners can affect your price for 3-7 years.
💳 Your credit score.
In most states, good credit means lower premiums, sometimes by a lot.
💵 Your deductible.
This is what you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium typically is.
🔒 Safety features.
Smoke detectors, alarms, deadbolts and sprinklers can get you discounts.
Why it matters: Different companies weigh these factors differently. The same home insurance policy can have wildly different prices across insurers. That’s why comparing quotes is so important.
Mix and match with Jerry to build your perfect bundle.
faq
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📝 How do I get a home insurance quote?
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📏 How much coverage do I need?
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🔗 Should I bundle home and car insurance?
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🏠 Does home insurance cover roof damage?
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💧 Does home insurance cover water damage?
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⚖️ Do I legally need home insurance?
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🗓️ How often should I shop for home insurance?
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💰 What’s replacement cost vs. actual cash value?
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🏆 What’s the best home insurance company?
Ben Moore is a writer and editor at Jerry and an auto insurance expert. He previously worked as a writer, editor and content strategist on NerdWallet’s auto insurance team for five years. His work has been published in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, MarketWatch, Nasdaq and Yahoo News. He also served as a NerdWallet spokesperson, with appearances on local broadcast television and quotes in Martha Stewart and Real Simple magazine.
Ben has an extensive background in digital marketing, working on affiliate and programmatic advertising campaigns for brands like Cabela’s, H&R Block and Sears. He holds a bachelors degree in marketing from Olivet Nazarene University.
