Policies can be a minefield of legalese—“sudden and accidental” vs. “ongoing” damage makes a world of difference.
That right there is the kicker. I remember when we bought our first house, I thought “water damage” was just water damage—didn’t realize there were about a dozen ways they could slice and dice it. We had a sump pump fail during a crazy thunderstorm, and I figured, hey, insurance will sort it out. Turns out, nope... needed a special rider for sump pump backup. Learned that one the hard way.
I’ve heard similar things about Shelter being a bit more straightforward, at least compared to State Farm. My cousin in Springfield swears by Shelter, but I’ve always stuck with State Farm just because my folks used them. Honestly, I’ve never had to file a big claim (knock on wood), so I can’t say from experience how they handle the tricky stuff. But I do get nervous about all the “what’s not being said” parts you mentioned. Sometimes I feel like I need a law degree just to read through the exclusions.
Curious if anyone’s actually had to file a water-related claim with either company in Missouri? Did they make you jump through hoops, or was it pretty painless? I’m always wondering if it’s worth switching, but then again, the devil you know...
Also, has anyone tried adding those extra endorsements for water backup or seepage? I keep getting mailers about them but haven’t pulled the trigger. Just wondering if they’re actually worth it or just another way to squeeze a few more bucks out of us.
I’ve wondered the same about those water backup add-ons. They seem pricey for something that might never happen, but then again, one bad flood and you’re out way more. Has anyone actually had to use one of those endorsements and felt it was worth the extra cost?
They seem pricey for something that might never happen, but then again, one bad flood and you’re out way more.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve always felt like those water backup add-ons are a bit of a scare tactic. I mean, unless your basement’s already had issues or you’re in a super flood-prone spot, it just feels like tossing money at a “what if.” I’d rather put that extra cash into a sump pump or just keep an emergency fund. Insurance companies love to upsell stuff you’ll probably never use. Maybe I’m just too frugal, but I’d rather risk it than pay for every possible disaster.
Has anyone here actually had to file a claim for water backup with either Shelter or State Farm? I keep hearing mixed things about how easy (or not) they are to deal with when it comes to those add-ons. Just curious if the extra cost ever really paid off for someone.