Seattle Home Insurance
If you’ve ever enjoyed a latte from the coffee chain Starbucks, you’ve got Seattle to thank for that.
And while we’re at it, you can also thank Seattle for the convenience of ordering a package from Amazon, the ability to type up a document on Microsoft Word and cheap, bulk buys from Costco. All of these companies are headquartered in the technology hub.
Is nature more your thing? Just look past the iconic Seattle skyline to see beautiful Mount Rainier in the distance, or enjoy some of the many outdoor parks and beaches located in the Emerald City.
Seattle has something for everyone, so it should also have access to home insurance that has your back while you go out to explore and innovate. Read our guide to securing home insurance in Seattle.
How much is homeowners insurance in Seattle?
The average home insurance rate in Seattle is $1,047, coming in just over the Washington home insurance average but just under the United States average of $1,200. Seattleites will pay about the same as residents in Washington’s other big city, Spokane, which has an average rate of $1,048.
Seattle might be famous for rain, but the city ordinarily doesn’t experience much more extreme weather than that. In general, Seattle’s weather patterns and crime rates are on par with the average for a U.S. city, keeping home insurance comparable to the rest of the country.
Seattle Home Insurance Premiums
What does home insurance in Seattle cover?
A typical home insurance policy in Seattle will cover your dwelling, personal property and personal liability. Those three categories are broken down like this:
- Dwelling insurance: Covers damage to any structures on your property including your home and any add-ons like fences or sheds.
- Personal property: Covers any belongings you have on your property.
- Personal liability: Covers accidental injury to a guest visiting your home or damage to someone else’s home that is your fault.
Think of it this way: If you invite friends over to watch the Seattle Seahawks game and one of them trips and falls on a front porch step, you’ll be covered. And yes, you’ll also be covered if your children try to beat Ichiro Suzuki’s single-season hit record in a friend’s backyard and a baseball ends up going through the window.
Seattle Insurance Coverage Options
Traditional coverage
Physical Structure
Living Expenses
Liability Protection
Additional Structures
Personal Possessions
Supplemental coverage
Fire
Earthquake
Flood
Considerations for Seattle residents
Seattle homes are older. In fact, 76% of Seattle homes were built before the year 2000. And what’s more? 25% of them were built before 1940, making them more than 80 years old! Though they may provide the romantic nostalgia fit for the Pacific Northwest scenery, older homes may cost a bit more to insure as they have an increased risk of damage.
Seattle weather may also, well, rain on your parade. Experiencing an average of 152 rainy days per year, excessive rain puts Seattle homes at a higher risk of flooding or water leakage. If not taken care of, rain and older homes might become a hotbed for mold or other water-related issues.
A few other factors that may impact home insurance in Seattle include:
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Pets: Some insurance companies increase rates on homes with dogs — and as there are more dogs in Seattle than kids, this may impact Emerald City dog lovers.
- Extreme weather: Natural disasters like the infrequent earthquakes experienced by Seattle residents may impact coverage.
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Property crime: Seattle has the highest property crime rate in Washington state, reporting more than 34,000 crimes in 2019.
Tips for lowering your homeowners insurance premium
“Hey Alexa, how can I lower my home insurance premium?”
Step one might just be investing in an Echo device, created by the Seattle-headquartered Amazon, or another smart home device. Smart home kits can help you monitor your carbon footprint, energy usage and home security, helping keep your family safe and your home protected.
Some insurance companies, like Hippo, see investing in smart devices as a commitment to home safety. Hippo has invested in providing smart home kits to its customer base — if you’re not a Hippo customer, ask your provider what options are available for you. You can also earn home insurance discounts by preparing your home for extreme weather, making renovations to an older home to protect it against weather or age-related damages and purchasing damage-prevention equipment like fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
Are worries about the safety and protection of your home keeping you up at night? You don’t have to stay “Sleepless in Seattle.” A home insurance provider can act as a trusted partner to keep your family and property safe. Contact Hippo for a home insurance quote from a company that cares.
