We have our three autos and our home owners insurance through Allstate. The agent is in Mesquite that my wife and her ex-husband used when they were married and lived in Mesquite. When we got married and bought our home in Dallas my long time agent's quote was much higher than the Allstate agent. We went with the Allstate agent but we have no particular loyalty to them. Nice folks and all but I have discovered some things with the coverage I'm crazy about. No need to get into details but it's not as if they have screwed us. That's not it.

Sooooo, I'm in the mood to shop the market here locally in Dallas. I think we could get better coverage and a better premium on the house and vehicles. I could also be dreaming in colors. But it never hurts to look and talk. It's actually free to do so!

Any comments, advice or suggestions amongst the local DMFers? Any references? Any nightmare stories and who to avoid? Just asking.  

Tim Banks with State Farm.  Very fair rates with tons of coverage.
Also try Safeco and Travelers.

I'm a restoration contractor that only works with insurance claims and before that was an insurance agent. As a contractor who deals with insurance claims reps on a daily basis Nationwide is hands down the best. They have lots of great coverage to protect your home as well. They had much better rates on my home, auto, umbrella, & IM than the other major carriers I checked out earlier this year BUT the the rate I got on my bike was not very competitive. As far as a claims standpoint state farm is one of the worst.

all claims are "worst case scenario" IMO.  their job is to get you to send money and pay as little as possible.  I've never had any problems with State Farm but I've been with them for 23 years.

Quote from: muskrat on December 08, 2011, 08:17:30 PM
all claims are "worst case scenario" IMO.  their job is to get you to send money and pay as little as possible.  I've never had any problems with State Farm but I've been with them for 23 years.

but who is paying for all the advertising?

granted i'm paying for the gekko adds

home/auto/life all through liberty mutual
health is aetna (wife's employer....very great and very cheap)
moto is daiyland. good rates and they actually understand diff between a "standard" or "naked" and a sportbike. had two accidents and they have been great to deal with.

Quote from: fastwin on December 08, 2011, 02:21:00 PM
We have our three autos and our home owners insurance through Allstate. The agent is in Mesquite that my wife and her ex-husband used when they were married and lived in Mesquite. When we got married and bought our home in Dallas my long time agent's quote was much higher than the Allstate agent. We went with the Allstate agent but we have no particular loyalty to them. Nice folks and all but I have discovered some things with the coverage I'm crazy about. No need to get into details but it's not as if they have screwed us. That's not it.

Sooooo, I'm in the mood to shop the market here locally in Dallas. I think we could get better coverage and a better premium on the house and vehicles. I could also be dreaming in colors. But it never hurts to look and talk. It's actually free to do so!

Any comments, advice or suggestions amongst the local DMFers? Any references? Any nightmare stories and who to avoid? Just asking.  

I deal with John Kraft - State Farm - Custer & 121 - had a few home claims and car claims and never had a problem over the past 15 years - Gieco for the bikes

Thanks for all the info. Keep it coming. We have a friend who is now working with a Farmers agent. I've been tempted to ask him but don't know about mixing business (potentially troublesome business in case of a tough claim) with a friend.

I've got some bikes with Geico and some with Progressive. Thought I would spread the misery around. And I wouldn't mind splitting the car and home if it meant better rates and coverage. But everyone seems to want to cut you a package deal. Makes sense.

Any nightmare stories out there? Bad experience stories could be helpful to everyone.