Allstate Home Insurance Review

Allstate was founded in 1931, and by the end of that year, they had over 4,000 active policies despite the widespread financial instability U.S. families were experiencing due to the Great Depression.

At the start of the 2000s, they provided coverage to over 110,000 people—making them one of the biggest insurance companies in the U.S.

Today, the insurance company has an annual revenue of over $44.5 billion and offers a range of insurance plans and financial services, including:

• Personal liability insurance.

• Auto insurance.

• Homeowners insurance.

• Flood protection insurance.

• Life insurance.

• Estate planning services.

• Retirement planning services.

As one of the oldest insurance companies in the U.S., Allstate is committed to providing affordable, simple, and connected protection for its customers.

If you’re looking for homeowners insurance, read our Allstate homeowners insurance review to find out whether they are the right option for you and how they compare to other home insurance companies in the market.

The Pros And Cons of Allstate Homeowners Insurance

State Availability

Allstate home insurance is available in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. 

However, Allstate insurance is not directly available in Florida. Instead, they offer insurance in Florida through other companies they own: Castle Key Indemnity Company and Castle Key Insurance Company.

While these two companies represent Allstate in Florida, they have received more negative reviews than Allstate:

• Castle Key Indemnity Company and Castle Key Insurance Company have received a B+ rating from A.M. Best, compared to the A+ received by Allstate.

• Both companies have a higher than average amount of consumer complaints on their Complaint Index scores.

If you live in Florida and want to purchase home insurance, you may want to get quotes from other home insurance companies before deciding to sign up with Castle Key Indemnity Company or Castle Key Insurance Company.

What Third-party Ratings Does Allstate Have?

To get a better idea of how insurance companies perform, it’s important to look at the third-party ratings they have received from independent rating companies. 

These companies take into account Allstate’s performance based on the reviews and experiences of customers who have used their insurance services.

The third-party ratings we have investigated for Allstate are those from ConsumerAffairs and TrustPilot.

ConsumerAffairs

ConsumerAffairs has given Allstate a 3.9 out of 5 star rating in their satisfaction rating. 

It notes that Allstate provides reliable home insurance, but their premiums are more expensive than those of competitors.

Most customers have given Allstate 4 stars, based on 1,634 reviews at the time of publishing.

Source: CustomerAffairs

TrustPilot

Allstate has a much lower rating on TrustPilot, at 1.4 out of 5 stars. The majority of customers have given the company 1 star, and very few have given them 4 or 5 stars.

Source: TrustPilot It’s important to note that these reviews include all of Allstate’s offerings—not just their home insurance policies—and the majority of their negative reviews are related to their auto insurance policies.

Cancellation Policy

If you want to cancel your Allstate insurance policy, you can do so by contacting your Allstate insurance agent or by contacting Allstate directly at 800-255-7828. 

Their website notes that policyholders may need to submit a written request to cancel their insurance policy.

If you want to cancel your Allstate insurance policy due to financial challenges, Allstate may be able to offer various discounts and insurance plans to meet your changing needs throughout different life phases.

Remember, if you experience damage or loss to your home while you are uninsured, you will have to pay for repairs out of your own pocket. 

This can be costly, and leave you in an even worse financial situation.

If you’re struggling to meet your premiums with Allstate or are unhappy with their service, read our reviews on other homeowners insurance companies to find an insurance company that meets your unique needs.

Home Insurance Coverage Available Through Allstate Insurance

Allstate home insurance offers insurance policies to homeowners with traditional, mobile, and manufactured homes. 

Their standard coverage inclusions are comprehensive enough to meet the needs of most homeowners, and they include:

Dwelling Coverage

This is the most important aspect of home insurance for any homeowner. It covers your home if it is damaged or destroyed in a covered incident.

Other Structures

Your Allstate homeowners insurance policy will also cover additional structures on your property that are separate from your home. This can include:

• Sheds.

• Fences.

• Pools.

• Garages.

• Guest houses.

• Detached patios or decks.

Personal Property

A portion of your Allstate homeowners insurance policy will be dedicated to providing coverage for your belongings, such as jewelry, clothes, art, or furniture. 

If you have high-value items at home, you may want to increase the personal property coverage amount for these items to ensure they are covered to their full value.

Loss of Use

If your house is damaged or destroyed in a covered incident, you may need to move out while your home is being repaired or rebuilt. 

Allstate’s loss of use coverage will pay for your housing, dining, and additional living expenses while repairs are being carried out.

Liability Insurance

If you are responsible for damage to someone else’s home, Allstate’s liability insurance can help cover the cost of legal fees or repairs that you may be held responsible for.

Guest Medical Protection

If a guest is injured on your property, you may be held financially liable for their medical expenses arising from the injury. 

Allstate’s guest medical protection coverage will offset the costs of the medical expenses, so you don’t have to pay them from your own pocket.

Home Insurance Add-Ons Offered by Allstate 

Allstate’s standard home insurance coverages should provide enough coverage for the average homeowner. 

But, if you want additional protection, you may want to consider taking out some of their optional insurance add-ons.

You might want to consider these add-ons if:

• You rent out your home.

• You own expensive items like jewelry, musical instruments, or sports equipment.

• You store business-related items in your home.

• You want to expand your coverage to include more aspects of your home.

• You have spent a lot of money on landscaping your yard or garden.

These are some of the add-ons Allstate offers their homeowners insurance policyholders:

Water Backup

If a pipe breaks or your sump pump overflows, this optional add-on will cover the water damage to your home.

Scheduled Personal Property

As we’ve mentioned earlier, your personal property is covered as a standard part of your Allstate homeowners insurance. 

However, you will likely want additional protection if you have high-value items in your home. 

For example, you may want to add items such as fine art, antiques, jewelry, or watches to your scheduled personal property add-on.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments can cost hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars to repair or replace. These will not be fully covered under your standard homeowners insurance policy. 

You may want to consider purchasing additional coverage to provide protection for your musical instruments.

Identity Theft Protection 

In the digital age, identity theft has become a more widespread problem in the U.S. 

Allstate offers identity theft protection that will provide coverage for legal fees, lost wages, and other related expenses if your identity is stolen. 

In addition, they will monitor your digital footprint to alert you to unusual activity or data breaches that may compromise your security or privacy.

Electronic Data Recovery

If your home is damaged or destroyed, one of the most difficult things to deal with is potentially losing years of videos and photos you have saved to your phone, computer, or hard drives. 

Allstate’s electronic data recovery add-on will help cover the cost of having professionals recover your lost data from your devices.

Business Property

Often, business owners will store business-related items at their homes for convenience or because they do not have enough space at their business premises. 

If you keep business-related items, like equipment or inventory, at home, this optional add-on will cover them.

Green Improvement Reimbursement

If your home is damaged or destroyed, this optional add-on will repair or replace the damage with energy-efficient versions.

Sports Equipment

Sports equipment is often costly, and may not be fully covered under your standard homeowners insurance. 

Selecting this optional add-on lets you increase your personal property limits for costly sports equipment.

Yard and Garden

If you have invested time and money into creating a beautiful garden, having it damaged or destroyed can be devastating—and expensive. 

If you select this optional add-on, you can set higher coverage limits for trees, landscaping, lawnmowers, and other gardening equipment.

HostAdvantage

If you rent out your home fully furnished on a short-term basis, this optional add-on covers both the structure of your home and your personal items while another person is living there as a tenant.

Available Discounts

Allstate offers a range of discounts, which could have a significant impact on the overall cost of your homeowners insurance policy. 

When signing up for a new insurance policy, you should always ask your insurance agent about what discounts you may be eligible for in order to maximize your savings.

These are some of the discounts Allstate offers:

Multipolicy

Bundling is a popular practice among insurance companies, where they offer discounts to customers who take out multiple insurance policies with them. 

Allstate gives their customers a discount of up to 25% if they bundle their home and auto insurance.

Responsible Payment

Customers who make their payments on time and in full can save on their insurance premium.

Claim-free

If you haven’t had a recent claim and then switch to Allstate, you can save up to 20% on your insurance premium.

Welcome & Loyalty

You can save up to 10% on your insurance premium if you switch your homeowners insurance policy to Allstate.

If you stay with Allstate and do not claim, you can save up to another 10% for each year you remain an Allstate customer.

Home Buyer

Allstate offers new homeowners a home buyer discount if they’ve recently bought a home. 

Easy Pay Plan

If you automate your payments, you can save up to 5% on Allstate’s Easy Pay Plan.

Protective Device

If you protect your home with anti-theft and fire-protection devices, you may be eligible for a discount from Allstate.

Early Signing

If you sign up for an Allstate homeowners insurance policy within a minimum of seven days before your current policy expires, you may be able to save up to 10% with Allstate’s Early Signing discount.

Consumer Experience 

Signing up

Allstate offers potential customers an online tool called GoodHome to give them detailed information about their home. 

Drawing on data from Google Maps, Berkeley Lab Home Energy Saver, and Allstate’s past claims from customers’ ZIP codes, this platform gives customers all the information they need to make an informed decision about their home insurance. 

Customers can request a quote directly from the GoodHome platform or get a quote from Allstate’s website.

Claims process

Allstate has received a wide variety of reviews of their claims process, with some customers leaving them negative reviews. 

Here are some of the recent reviews they have received on ConsumerAffairs:

“I as consumer have not had a very good experience with Allstate. I was with Statefarm for about 5 years I switched due to my rates going up every year. So far Allstate has shown very bad Customer service. My whole policy was done wrong they had denied my claim for repairs due to them wanting me to keep spending thousands of dollars for me to repair over and over my roof. I don't know what I need to do so I can get some help.” - Gabriela of Seguin, TX.

“I have had a very negative experience dealing with Allstate from their customer service, communication, and the fact that they denied a claim based off a standard that was impossible for me to satisfy. They literally had me send them a weather report to prove that there was a natural disaster.” - M of Brooklyn, NY.

“My home burned down the last day in July. Leaving my family of 7 displaced. My insurance is trying to withhold the money in my policy to replace possessions. They offered an insulting amount and if I want what’s in my policy I basically have to earn it. So on top of the stress of losing my home and most of our things. I now have to find time to sit at a computer and itemize everything we owned.” - Shelley of Siloam Springs, AR

Online experience

Allstate offers the innovative GoodHome platform that allows potential customers to gather information about their neighborhood. 

Allstate also allows customers to generate a quote online, but these quotes aren’t as customizable as the ones offered by many of their competitors. 

You will need to contact an Allstate insurance agent to get a comprehensive idea of your coverage and how much it will cost.

Once you have signed up with Allstate, they offer a robust digital experience that lets you manage your account, see your policy documents, submit a claim, and make payments online or on their mobile app. 

How to File an Allstate Homeowners Insurance Claim 

If you signed up for Allstate homeowners insurance through an Allstate insurance agent, you can call your insurance agent in order to file a claim. 

If you signed up for Allstate insurance through an independent broker, you can phone Allstate on one of the following phone numbers:

• 1-800-ALLSTATE (1-800-25578283)

• 1-800-255-7828 

Alternatively, you can file a claim on their app or log in to your Allstate account on their website and file a claim digitally.

Customer Complaints

Although Allstate is a large and reputable insurance company with consistently positive reviews, they have received some negative feedback from customers.

Reviewers have noted the following complaints on ConsumerAffairs:

• Poor customer service.

• Poor communication.

• Slow response.

• Denied claims.

• Lost documents.

• Expensive premiums.

Despite these complaints, the majority of their reviews are positive, with customers highlighting their multipolicy discounts, flexible coverage options, and quick claims payout.

Other Homeowners Insurance to Consider 

Allstate vs. USSA Home Insurance

Allstate vs. Amica Home Insurance 

Allstate vs. Nationwide

Tips When Buying Homeowners Insurance 

Buying your home is probably going to be one of the most costly purchases you’ll make in your lifetime, so it’s vital to get homeowners insurance to protect your investment.

When you’re selecting a homeowners insurance policy, keep these expert tips in mind:

• Compare multiple quotes: While it can be time-consuming to compare quotes from various insurance companies, it’s the only way to be sure you’re getting the best value for money on your insurance policy.

• Read reviews: Read reviews from other customers on websites such as ConsumerAffairs, and remember to read the expert home insurance reviews on PolicyScout.

• Customize your coverage: While optional add-ons will make your insurance premium slightly more expensive, you’ll want to ensure you’re fully protected. This is particularly important for those who live in areas with natural disasters, or who have unique home insurance needs.

• Get to know your insurance policy: Understanding the wording in your insurance policy can be challenging, but don’t be afraid to call your insurance agent or company to explain anything you don’t understand.

• Save with discounts: Ask your insurance agent or company what discounts you are eligible for. If you make any upgrades to your home—for example, installing fire-detection devices—inform your insurer and ask whether you can receive any discounts.

• Update your policy regularly: It’s easy to take out an insurance policy and then forget about it until it’s time to claim. If you make any changes to your home, it may affect your policy. Always inform your insurer if you do any renovations, major repairs, or upgrades.

Our PolicyScout Verdict on Allstate Home Insurance 

After reading our Allstate home insurance review, you may be asking yourself, “Are they the right insurance company for me?”

While Allstate is slightly more expensive than other homeowners insurance companies, they offer a range of discounts and add-ons that make them appealing to customers. 

As one of the oldest and largest insurance companies in the U.S., you can rest assured that they are reliable and financially sound.

Remember, Allstate doesn’t operate directly in Florida. Instead, they offer insurance through their subsidiary companies Castle Key Indemnity Company and Castle Key Insurance Company. 

These insurance companies have a higher number of consumer complaints than Allstate. So, if you live in Florida, read reviews specific to Castle Key Indemnity Company and Castle Key Insurance Company before taking out a policy.

Want To Protect Your Home?

At PolicyScout, we’re proud to have long-standing relationships with the largest insurance companies in the country. 

Our years of experience enable us to match customers with the right insurance policy for their needs, at the best available rate.

If you’d like help getting a homeowners insurance policy, call us at 1-888-912-2132 or send us an email at Help@PolicyScout.com for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Allstate Home Insurance

Does Allstate cover all U.S. states?

Allstate does operate in all 50 U.S. states, including Washington D.C. However, they do not operate directly in Florida. 

Instead, they offer insurance through their subsidiary companies Castle Key Indemnity Company and Castle Key Insurance Company.

Is Allstate good at paying out claims?

As one of the oldest and largest insurance companies in the U.S., you can rest assured that Allstate is financially sound and able to pay out claims. 

Is Allstate a good insurance company?

Yes. Allstate is one of the oldest and largest insurers in the country, and they offer a wide variety of insurance options and customizable add-ons.

How do I file a homeowners insurance claim with Allstate?

If you signed up for Allstate homeowners insurance through an Allstate insurance agent, you can call your insurance agent in order to file a claim. 

If you signed up for Allstate insurance through an independent broker, you can phone Allstate on one of the following phone numbers:

• 1-800-ALLSTATE (1-800-25578283)

• 1-800-255-7828 

Alternatively, you can file a claim on their app or log in to your Allstate account on their website and file a claim digitally.