Honestly, I feel like it’s just a game of “who’s gonna raise my rates less this year.” Shelter bumped me 14% last time, State Farm was a bit lower but their deductible’s higher. Not sure there’s a true “win” here... just fewer headaches.
Man, I hear you. Every year I brace myself for that renewal letter, just waiting to see how bad the hike is. Last year, Shelter hit me with a 12% bump and I almost switched, but State Farm’s quote had a way higher wind/hail deductible—felt like a lose-lose. At this point, it’s just picking which pain you want: higher rates or more out-of-pocket if something actually happens. I do miss the days when loyalty actually meant something to these companies...
I’m right there with you on the loyalty thing—feels like it barely matters anymore. I’ve been with Shelter for almost a decade, and every renewal I brace for that rate hike too. Last year, mine went up 9%, which wasn’t as bad as yours, but still stings. I actually did a spreadsheet comparing Shelter and State Farm, factoring in deductibles, coverage limits, and even customer service ratings. State Farm’s wind/hail deductible was a dealbreaker for me—living in Missouri, storms are just too common to risk a huge out-of-pocket hit.
Honestly, I’d rather pay a bit more each year than get blindsided by a massive bill if my roof gets wrecked. Maybe I’m just risk-averse, but I’d rather have predictable pain than a surprise disaster. Still, it’s frustrating that being a long-term customer doesn’t seem to get you any breaks. I keep hoping one of these companies will start rewarding loyalty again, but I’m not holding my breath...
Honestly, I’d rather pay a bit more each year than get blindsided by a massive bill if my roof gets wrecked.
That’s exactly how I look at it too—predictable pain is better than a nasty surprise. I’ve had friends get stuck with those huge wind/hail deductibles and it’s brutal, especially after a bad storm season. Have you ever actually filed a claim with Shelter? I’m curious if their customer service holds up when you really need them, since that’s one thing the reviews never seem to agree on.
I’ve handled a bunch of Shelter claims after storms, and honestly, they’re usually pretty fair about roof damage—at least in Missouri. The adjusters show up when they say they will, and I haven’t seen them nickel-and-dime folks on legitimate hail or wind claims. That said, I’ve seen some delays when there’s a big surge in claims after a major storm, but that’s kinda industry-wide. State Farm’s got a bigger operation, but sometimes that means you’re just a number. Shelter feels a bit more personal, at least from my end.