Honestly, I’ve had mixed luck with both. State Farm did the same thing to me—one small roof claim and suddenly my premium shot up. Shelter seemed a bit more chill when I had some hail damage, but their rates weren’t always lower to start with. Kinda feels like it depends on which rep or adjuster you end up with, like you said. Insurance roulette, basically... I guess the only real advice is shop around every couple years and see who’s feeling generous at the moment.
Kinda feels like it depends on which rep or adjuster you end up with, like you said. Insurance roulette, basically...
That’s honestly been my experience too. My parents had State Farm for years and never had an issue—until a tree branch took out part of our fence. The adjuster was super nitpicky and the payout barely covered half the repairs. Switched to Shelter after that, and while the rates were a bit higher, they actually seemed to care when we had a minor water leak last spring. I guess it really is a gamble... sometimes you win, sometimes you just get stuck paying more for less.
Had State Farm for a while and honestly, it was hit or miss. One hailstorm, they were quick and fair. Next time, different adjuster, suddenly everything was “pre-existing damage” and barely got anything covered. Switched to Shelter last year—yeah, it’s a bit pricier, but at least I don’t have to argue every time something happens. Guess you just pay for less hassle sometimes...
I hear you on the hassle factor. I stuck with State Farm for years mostly because my dad did, but after a roof claim turned into a three-month back-and-forth (felt like I was negotiating a used car), I started shopping around. Shelter quoted me higher too, but honestly, after that circus, paying a bit more for peace of mind seemed worth it. Still stings the wallet, though... guess it’s like paying extra for the “no drama” package.
I get what you mean about the “no drama” package, but man, my budget just doesn’t stretch that far these days. I’ve had a couple tickets and a fender bender, so my rates are already up there... Shelter quoted me almost $400 more a year than State Farm, and I just couldn’t justify it. Yeah, State Farm’s claims process is slow (felt like they wanted me to give up), but at least I know what to expect now. I guess I’d rather deal with some hassle than fork over extra cash every month.
Has anyone had Shelter actually come through quick on a claim? Like, is it really that much smoother or is it just a slightly less painful headache for more money?