problem getting homeowner's insurance

[maryh]

HELP.....i need some suggestions. Am getting ready to close on purchase of a home that I have been leasing for several years....and am now buying. I just found out that the company I had my renter's insurance with will not provide homeowner's insurance for me. They came to my house, when i was not home, to take exterior photos. They saw my rottweiler, Lurch. within an hour i got a call with the news that they do not cover homes with a "viscious breed".....rotts, dobs, and pit bulls. I have to get insurance before may 15 and I am NOT giving up my dog.
Anybody got suggestions?

[Dale Green Young]

Yup. Common occurrance. What state do you live in? has your dog ever bitten anyone?

[southerncomfort]

Try Safeco...BTW from a contractor's perspective they are by far the best Co. to deal with when you have a "serious" claim.

[Lora Lee]

Does your dog have his CGC? Any training certificates that can vouch for his temerament? I've heard that that often helps, although never in that situation.

[maryh]

i live in North Carolina. No, he has never biten. Is very well behaved, young male. The insurance company told me his individual behavior makes no difference; they will not insure, period, because of the breed. We live in very rural area, on acreage....nearest neighbor is several acres away. There is virtually no traffic....i live on deadend gravel road....down a private road. Have already tried three other companies. I will try Safeco. Any other companies that anyone knows of....would be much appreciated. thanks for any and all help.......

[norcal420]

You should try a search of the archives regarding homeowner's insurance since this has been discussed.

Anyway, I think State Farm will cover any dog. I know that USAA will cover any breed (deeds-not breeds) but USAA only covers ex-Military personnel and their immediate family.

Good luck. There are insurance companies out there for rottie owners....

[Karyn]

I have Allstate - they didn't even want to meet him.

[Ladybeth1]

I have Safeco, and they could care a less what kind of breed I have. I called to ask them before I got Odin, and they said it didn't matter what breed I owned, they didn't have a policy against specific breeds.

[Teena]

I have State Farm & agents have been to my house. They saw Axel and never said a word. I would give them a try. I live in Kansas.

[ajaxsdad]

we just had the insurance guy come out to sign paperwork for a new vehicle (they insure our home too) and he heard ajax barking in the garage. he asked what kind of dog he was and i replied that ajax was a mix. that was the extent of it.

[PlanetClair]

I asked the breeder I bought little Nico from and she told me she has a million dollars worth of business insurance and homeowners insurance through state farm. She also said it costs her next to nothing.

[amber bock]

Try farmers insurance group, and also since you are in a rural area try some local county mutuals.

[Justic]

I have travelers insurance. And did not have any problems. I also heard State Farm is not breed specific.

-Erik

[maryh]

First, thanks to everyone for all the comments and suggestions!
I tried six companies and finally found one. North Carolina has some very new state-level legislation that makes it even more difficult to obtain homeowner's insurance when there is a rottweiler on premises. Some of the companies will, indeed, cover the home BUT, the catch is, that there is, in some cases, a carveout for any incidents involving the dog, and/or a huge increase in the premium. BTW, the breeds included are pit bulls, rottweilers and dobs. Of note, GSDs are not on the list........because the NC police law enforcement community raised holy hell about having to pay their own personal homeowner insurance costs. Their excuse was that THEY know how to handle THEIR dogs and the rest of us are, apparently, unable to control our "viscious" breeds. Go figure!
Anyway, got full coverage, finally.