Increase in Homeowners' Insurance

[ltt]

We filed a small claim last year.  Our son's musical instrument was damaged due to a burst pipe on the lower level in our home.  The increase on the policy was larger than the amount of the claim.  I know insurance companies don't like claims to be filed, but quite frankly, it's our money to begin with, and I never hear of insurance companies going bankrupt.  Who do you use for homeowners insurance?

[NoStacheOhio]

We filed a small claim last year.  Our son's musical instrument was damaged due to a burst pipe on the lower level in our home.  The increase on the policy was larger than the amount of the claim.  I know insurance companies don't like claims to be filed, but quite frankly, it's our money to begin with, and I never hear of insurance companies going bankrupt.  Who do you use for homeowners insurance?

We're with Travelers (home & auto), and they've been good to deal with, though we haven't filed any home claims. I have a local independent broker who sells policies from a variety of companies, and can do all my cross-shopping in one place. I've been using him since I was 16 (and my family earlier than that), and he's never tried to sell me something I don't need or want. I call him up every year or so just to check in and make sure I'm paying the lowest price for the coverage I need. The handful of times I've shopped policies myself, they've always been more expensive.

[ketchup]

I just switched to esurance from Travelers, cutting the price by more than half (was really stupidly overpaying with Travelers and put off switching).  I do have one rental property insured with State Farm.  My auto insurance for two cars and two drivers is also via State Farm.

I've only "used" my insurance of any kind for a tow via roadside assistance once when something on the road blew a three-inch hole in my gas tank.  That went smoothly, apart from needing a new fuel tank.