Washington Homeowners Insurance Quotes

Washington State is a great place to live and raise a family. Washington has it all, everything from high desert in Eastern Washington to a temperate rain forest out on the Olympic Peninsula. In addition, Washington is home to three national parks so you will always have new wilderness to explore.

Getting out on the ocean is just one reason people love living in Washington. Off the coast of the San Juan Islands it's possible to kayak near pods of orcas. The vineyards on the banks of Lake Chelan are a great place to sample some wines and relax with your family.

When it's time to head inside, Washington has plenty of world-class shopping, restaurants and other cultural activities. Visiting the fishmongers in the Pike Place market in Seattle is just one way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon in the great state of Washington.

If you are headed to Washington on vacation or are making plans to move to one of our beautiful cities or villages you can't go wrong. It doesn't matter if you are making the move to Spokane, Bellevue Olympia, Everett or one of our smaller, quaint towns like Port Angeles or Gig Harbor, you will love your new life in Washington.

Washington Facts

The latest census data shows that Washington State has a population of 6,724,540 residents. This translates into roughly 6,053 households per zip code and the average number of people living in a house is three.

Washington residents have an average household income of $36,668 which is slightly below the national average. Luckily, housing is very affordable in Washington with the average house value coming in at $140,080.

Homeowners Insurance in Washington

Residents of the Evergreen State are extremely lucky when it comes to the cost of insurance. According to NAIC data, the average cost of an HO-3 policy, which is the standard homeowners insurance policy for single-family home, is $676 a year, compared to the national average, which is $1,034.

This ranks Washington as 47th in the country when it comes to insurance rates.

Despite the fact that homeowners insurance is fairly cheap in Washington there are ways to drive your insurance costs even lower. Here are a few tips to make your homeowners insurance affordable:

• Shop Your Coverage: Most experts list this is the best way to lower your homeowners insurance cost. Shopping your insurance on a yearly basis is a great way to make sure you are paying the lowest amount possible for your insurance coverage. Insurance companies rate risk differently so quotes can vary dramatically. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples when it comes to deductibles and coverage levels when shopping.
• Discounts: Discounts can dramatically lower your insurance costs. While some discounts may seem small, the can add up to real savings when combined with other discounts. Ask your insurance agent to conduct a home insurance discount review on your policy to make sure you are receiving all discounts you are qualified to receive.
• Up Your Deductible: Upping your deductible is another great way to lower your insurance cost. Before changing your deductible make sure you can afford the deductible amount in the event you have to make a claim on your policy.

Insurance Rates by Homeowners Insurance Type

Homeowners insurance comes in a variety of different types each one is designed to protect a certain type of home. Here's a quick overview of the various types of insurance as well as the average premium for each type in Washington according to data from the NAIC.

Dwelling Fire: This is a very basic and specific type of homeowners insurance. It offers very limited coverage and while these policies tend to be very affordable, they only offer protection due to smoke and fire damage. Some policies will also cover damage due to explosions, vandalism and wind.

In Washington, only 0.8% of policies are Dwelling Fire and the average cost of these policies is $559.

HO-2: These policies also offer very basic coverage but are more robust than a dwelling fire policy. The HO-2 policy covers perils that are specifically listed in the policy. If the peril is not listed in the policy, damage would not be covered.

In Washington, only 1.6% of policies are HO-2s with the cost of the policy coming in at $754, which is more than an HO-3 policy.

HO-3: This policy type is the most common in Washington and is considered the standard policy type when it comes to single-family homes. These policies will cover damage from all perils except those that are specifically excluded in the policy.

It should be noted that all homeowner policies exclude damage from earthquakes and floods so if you live in an earthquake or flood prone area you will need to purchase a separate policy.

In Washington, 56.8% of homeowner policies are HO-3s. The average price of this policy type is $676 per year.

HO-4: The HO-4 is also called renters insurance because this policy is designed for people who live in apartments. This policy type not only covers your personal possessions but also offers liability coverage in the event someone is injured in your apartment.

Roughly 19.2% of policies in Washington are HO-4s.

HO-5: This policy is used to insure newer, more upscale homes. It offers protection for both your home as well as other structures on your property and it also protects your personal possessions against all perils except those are specifically excluded in the policy wording. In most cases an HO-5 is not available for older homes.

In Washington, 16.4 of homeowners policies are this type. The average premium is an extremely affordable $504.

HO-6: The HO-6 is specifically designed for co-op and condo owners. This policy covers your personal possessions as well as the structural components of the building that you actually own such as the walls in your particular unit. Unfortunately, coverage is limited to 16 specific perils that are listed in the policy.

In Washington, only 5.2 percent of policies are HO-6s.

Factors to Consider in Washington

Pacific Northwest is no stranger to severe weather. Everything from major thunderstorms to wintertime blizzards can cause problems with your home that will result in a claim on your homeowners insurance policy.

Severe thunderstorms or hailstorms can easily damage your roof and siding. Heavy snowfall and cold temperatures can lead to frozen pipes, ice dams as well as collapsed roofs to the weight of snow.

It is possible to help minimize this type of damage by making a few upgrades to your home. Replacing an aging roof with wind resistant materials can help prevent wind and hail damage. Installing a sprinkler system and storm shutters not only protects your home, but can also result in a significant discount on your homeowners insurance.

If you decided to move to the great state of Washington you will not regret your decision. Regardless of whether you are moving to one of our larger cities like Seattle and Tacoma or a smaller town such as Leavenworth, Lynnwood or Richland, you will need a new policy to protect your lovely new home.

We can easily help you shop and compare up to 12 different Washington home insurance premiums and apply all the available discounts and credits.

Get started today, contact us to get quotes on your homeowners insurance in Washington.