Best homeowners insurance for older homes

American Family Insurance is a reputable home insurance provider that has been in business for over 90 years. Its standard policies include dwelling coverage, detached structures, personal property and loss of use. Loss of use coverage helps pay for expenses such as hotel stays and food should your home become unlivable.

You can buy additional coverages like home renovation, service lines and hidden water damage. These are especially useful for older homes, which can be more likely to need renovations or repairs.

The insurer offers many discounts, like multipolicy discounts, security device discounts and even discounts for families with multiple generations of customers. If your older home has had renovations in the past 15 years, that may also qualify you for a discount.

American Family is known for good customer service, with local agents available to provide personalized guidance. If you like the service you receive and stay with American Family for a year or longer, that could be an additional discount.

Our reviewers like that American Family is quick and efficient when filing claims. They like the service they receive and say the rates are reasonable. In addition, they say agents are knowledgeable about the company’s products and are very helpful in walking them through any policy changes.

One reviewer, Mary from Washington, says the company provides great service and rates. “Their personnel are very knowledgeable about all their services and are always there to help with any problems you might have. It's a company I would recommend to anyone,” Mary said. She added that the company is sincere and cares about its customers.

If you have access to it, USAA is a great choice for homeowners insurance, thanks to its extensive coverage for dwellings, personal property and liability. USAA home insurance also covers your belongings and some building materials at their current value with no depreciation.

So, if your older home contains valuable antiques, USAA will pay for the cost of repairing or replacing them with similar items. You can add additional coverages, including a 25% increase in coverage. For example, if a covered loss is more than your limit due to an increase in building costs, this coverage may kick in. You can also add coverages for water backup damage, earthquakes and personal injury.

USAA offers several discounts, including up to a 10% discount for auto/home insurance bundling, a discount for installing smart devices, up to a 5% discount for protective devices like a home security system and a discount of up to 15% for not having any claims for five years. USAA’s customer service is generally excellent, according to our reviewers, with good marks for claims handling.

Our reviewers like that USAA is quick and efficient in handling claims. They say working with the company is easy and customer service is excellent. In addition, they say adjusters are very patient when working with them during the claims process.

“USAA has been first rate,” said Fred from Maryland. Fred says his water heater blew up and made a mess of his basement. “Once we called USAA, they got right on the case. They had (the) clean started within 24 hours; assessed the damages and provided a first rate recovery company.”

Liberty Mutual offers coverage for personal property, liability and other risks. Available coverages include hurricanes, water backup and inflation protection. Many discounts are available, including a discount of up to 10% for online purchase, claims-free discounts and new roof discounts.

The discounts mentioned are just a few of the discounts Liberty Mutual offers. This insurer offers more discounts than most, giving you more opportunities to save on your homeowners insurance.

Our reviewers say Liberty Mutual has great customer service and that the company went to great lengths to help them find the best coverage. They say the company is always available to help with any issues. In addition, they say the claims process is quick and efficient.

Jane from Texas uses Liberty Mutual for home and auto insurance and hasn’t had any issues in over 16 years. “They always provide excellent response no matter what my need is and they have always handled my claims in a professional way,” Jane said.

Progressive has a home quote explorer that lets you easily compare quotes from multiple providers.  The company offers several home insurance coverages, including dwelling, loss of use, liability and personal property. The insurer makes it easy to get a quote, asking a few basic questions about your home and who lives with you.

Progressive offers a few discounts on home insurance, including bundling with auto insurance, a discount for getting a quote in advance, a new purchase discount and discounts for protective devices. You can get a quote online or by calling for advice.

Our reviewers like Progressive’s prompt response to calls, giving them peace of mind. They say agents are helpful and provide multiple quotes over the phone, including competitor rates that are lower than Progressive’s. In addition, they say the company is quick and efficient when filing claims.

Brenda from Alabama appreciates the company’s service. “My family has used Progressive Homeowners Insurance for years because they have always taking care of my family and kids and I will always respect them for the great service that they provide,” Brenda said.

Farmers works with local agents who can discuss coverage options and find available discounts. Standard coverage includes dwelling, personal property, liability and additional living expenses. You can add several optional coverages, such as extended replacement cost, sewer and water drain damage and flood insurance.

Farmers offers a wide range of discounts to help you save. These include bundling, paperless billing, approved roofing materials, new homes and protective devices. There is also a discount for members and retirees of certain businesses, professional groups and professional organizations.

Our reviewers praise Farmers for its promptness and thoroughness in processing claims. They say the company has excellent coverage options and rates. Plus, they say claims adjusters are professional and courteous.

One reviewer, Kristina from Minnesota, said it was easy to get coverage for her older home. “Our agent has been extremely helpful ... making sure that we understand our coverage and informing us of other options out there so that we could make the best decision for our home,” Kristina said. They also said rates seem reasonable.