Your home is an important aspect of family safety and comfort as well as your personal/family finances. If anything you own deserves protection with insurance, it is your home. With that being said, the search for the best Alabama homeowners insurance begins. To find the best coverage, you need to know what you are up against. That is, what risk factors are important, the average cost you can expect, where to get information, how to shop and what companies provide Alabama homeowners insurance. With this ammunition in hand, you will be ready to gather online rate quotes to compare rates and find the best deal out there for you.Statistics Concerning Alabama Homeowners Insurance There are some statistics concerning the geography of Alabama that affect severely the cost of insuring your home. To begin with, the average sea level for the entire state of Alabama is only 8 feet. This means that most of the state is very susceptible to flooding. Alabama also ranks 13thin tornado frequency. The northern area of the state experiences a higher than average amount of earthquakes, which means earthquake coverage for your home should be considered if you live in this region. Possibly the biggest issue, especially for those in the southern part of the state, are the hurricanes coming from the Gulf of Mexico. Areas that are, year in and year out, in the path of hurricanes are great risks for homeowners insurance companies, and that is certainly the case with Alabama.The Cost of Alabama Homeowners Insurance Alabama homeowners insurance is significantly more expensive than the national average. The yearly average cost of home insurance in Alabama in 2010 was $797.00. That is $127 more than the national average and makes Alabama the 9thmost costly state in the nation to insure a home. This is due mostly to the fact that Alabama homes and residents have to battle severe hurricane seasons and prevalent flooding. To offset this higher cost, you can take the initiative to lower your rates a bit. First, secure your home with storm shutters, deadbolt locks, a security system and motion sensing outside lights. Second, shop around to compare rates before making your purchase.Alabama Homeowners Insurance CompaniesWhen shopping for Alabama homeowners insurance you will notice there are numerous companies offering insurance for your home. In your local area, you will most likely find local insurance agents representing major insurance providers, but you will also find a few local or regional providers. Visiting the websites of these companies or making a phone call to learn more about each company is a good way to begin your search for quality coverage.Here are a few Alabama homeowners insurance companies to consider as you begin your search.AllState
Colonial Company
GEICO
Gene Jones Insurance
Jimmy Stewart CPCU
NationwideDon’t relegate yourself to just these companies, as there are quite a few more available to Alabama residents. As you shop, you will undoubtedly come across more insurers and it would be a smart move to use them in your comparisons as well. In many cases, when you get your rate quotes from an online affiliate site, one or more of the quotes may come from a company you have never heard of. When that happens, certainly take a little more time to find out about that provider.AlabamaHomeowners Insurance ResourcesOnline resources are great to help you when shopping for homeowners insurance and later on when specific issues/problems arise. If you have any issues with your insurance provider, you have recourse in a couple of areas. The local branch of the Alabama Better Business Bureau can be of help, as well as a resource when shopping for the right company. You can also report your complaint to the Alabama Department of Insurance if you want serious action taken. It can also be a great resource for advice, tips and information on changing insurance regulations regarding Alabama homeowners insurance.