Honestly, I’ve seen folks regret skimping on coverage just to save a few bucks. Had a claim last year where the cheaper policy left a guy footing half the repair bill. Paperwork’s annoying, sure, but it can save you a headache down the line.
Paperwork’s annoying, sure, but it can save you a headache down the line.
I get what you’re saying, but is it really that big of a difference between Shelter and State Farm? I’ve heard Shelter’s cheaper, but I’m not sure if it’s just because they cut corners or if State Farm just charges more for the brand. Anyone actually had to file a claim with either? I’m kinda skeptical about paying more unless there’s a real reason.
Had State Farm for a while (not in Missouri, but still Midwest), and yeah, they’re pricier. When my neighbor’s tree tried to make friends with my roof, State Farm handled the claim pretty quick, but I did have to pester them a bit. My cousin swears by Shelter—says they’re cheaper and didn’t give him any grief when his basement flooded. I don’t think Shelter’s “cheap” means bad, just maybe less bells and whistles? Honestly, both will make you fill out the same mountain of paperwork if something goes sideways...
I get what you’re saying about Shelter maybe just being “less bells and whistles,” but I always wonder what that actually means in practice. Like, are we talking about fewer coverage options, or is it more about customer service stuff? I’ve heard mixed things—some folks say Shelter’s super responsive, others mention they’re a bit slow when it comes to bigger claims. State Farm’s price tag is definitely higher, but I guess you’re paying for that brand recognition and maybe a smoother process (though, like you said, sometimes you still have to chase them down).
I’m also curious if anyone’s had issues with Shelter denying claims or being picky about what they’ll actually cover. Sometimes the cheaper companies have more exclusions buried in the fine print... Has anyone run into that? My neighbor switched to Shelter last year and saved a chunk, but then he found out his policy didn’t cover sump pump failure—which is kinda a big deal around here with all the basement flooding.
On the paperwork front, yeah, it seems like no matter who you go with, there’s always a stack of forms and back-and-forth emails. Maybe that’s just insurance in general. But if Shelter really is cheaper and just as reliable when things go sideways, I’d be tempted to switch. Still, I’m not totally convinced there isn’t a catch somewhere.
Anyone else notice differences in how fast they pay out or how much hassle it is to get repairs approved? Sometimes “you get what you pay for” rings true... but sometimes not.
I get what you’re saying about Shelter maybe just being “less bells and whistles,” but I always wonder what that actually means in practice. Like, are we talking about fewer coverage options,...
- “Sometimes the cheaper companies have more exclusions buried in the fine print...” — that’s definitely true in my experience.
- Seen Shelter deny claims for stuff like water backup, tree removal, or even some roof leaks if it’s ‘maintenance-related.’
- State Farm tends to be a bit more lenient, but you’re paying for it.
- Both can drag their feet on big claims, honestly. Smaller ones usually go faster with Shelter, but anything over $10k seems to get extra scrutiny.
- Curious if anyone’s actually had a smooth large claim with Shelter? That’s where I see most folks get frustrated.