Homeowners Insurance in Kentwood, Michigan (2024)

Kentwood, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, is home to many Michiganders who value safety and security when it comes to their homes. Luckily, a home insurance policy can help them uphold these values. 

Let’s check out what these Michiganders can expect from their homeowners insurance policies, how they can find the best rates on the market, and answer a few other questions that might crop up along the way.

At an annual rate, home insurance in Kentwood, Michigan, costs about $1,356, or about $750 below the state’s average rate of $2,114 annually. While residents of Kentwood may see lower premiums than other urban-dwelling Michiganders, it’s important to keep in mind that premiums are highly subjective based on each individual.

Insurers use several factors when determining premiums, some regarding you as a policyholder or a homeowner and others regarding your city, county, or state. 

Some individual characteristics insurers may consider when determining your premiums might be your:

As these factors vary from person to person, so do premiums. However, residents in a specific city, county, or state may see premiums in the same average ballpark due to factors about the environment in which they live. For example, the current home insurance crisis is driving premiums up exponentially in many states, like California and Florida, that are particularly susceptible to severe weather events like wildfires or hurricanes. Simply due to where these homeowners live, they may pay more for home insurance than others in less disaster-prone areas.

Another factor that plays a major role in how much you pay for your premiums is the amount of dwelling coverage you have on your policy. Before we get into the why, let’s see the cost breakdown of how dwelling coverage amounts change the average annual premium cost in Kentwood.

As the table above shows, the more dwelling coverage you have, the more expensive your premiums will be. Dwelling coverage, or Coverage A, is one of the main parts of your home insurance policy. It’s the coverage that protects the elements that make up the main structure of your home and will help you pay to repair or replace them should they be damaged by a covered peril on your policy. So, if your flooring, windows, walls, roof, or HVAC system suffer damage from a tornado, your dwelling coverage would have you covered. 

The amount of dwelling coverage you carry on your policy correlates to your home’s replacement cost. Insurers generally require policyholders to have at least 80% of their home’s replacement cost insured with dwelling coverage.

While the average premium in Kentwood is below Michigan’s state average, it’s important to remember that’s just an average number. Premiums vary widely from person to person, so while your neighbor in their brand-new house may see premiums below the average rate in the city, your colleague across the street who keeps making claims with their insurer may see above-average premiums. 

Whether your main concern is how well your policy covers you, how much it costs, or how you can strike a good balance between those two factors, everyone wants the best policy for their needs. Let’s check out how residents can find the best home insurance in Kentwood, Michigan, to meet their needs. 

The best home insurance in Kentwood won’t be the same for everyone, so there isn’t one ‘best policy” to be found like a lucky four-leaf clover in this Michigan city. While some of the best insurers in Michigan may be AAA, USAA, and State Farm, home insurance is highly subjective based on the policyholder’s needs and how an insurer can meet those needs, given the policyholder’s circumstances. 

The best way to determine your unique “best” policy is to first determine what you value most from your policy. Do you care more about how and when you’re protected, or do your premiums call the shots? Some people value one over the other –  cost or coverage. However, some value their safety and savings equally, so they must compromise to find their best policy.

The hunt for a policy that values cost over coverage may be more straightforward, as policyholders need only to search for the policy with the lowest premium. Finding a policy with the type of coverage you need can be less straightforward, whether you’re looking for a policy with optional endorsements for your extensive antique lamp collection or umbrella coverage to protect your liability when your children bring their wild friends over. 

No, home insurance isn’t required in Kentwood or by law in the state of Michigan. While there aren’t any laws that require homeowners to protect their homes with an insurance policy, mortgage lenders generally require an insurance policy as a stipulation of their loan agreement.

Mortgage lenders are invested in your home, so they want to protect it as best as possible. If your insurer drops you or if you cancel your policy during your loan period, your mortgage lender may take out a force-placed insurance policy for you. As these policies serve the mortgage lender’s best interest in your home, they’re often more expensive.

While homeowners insurance isn’t required by law or if you own your home outright, many Americans use a mortgage to pay for their homes, meaning they’re required to have a home insurance policy. Typically, home insurance policies have the same standard set of coverages and become customizable when it comes to coverage limits. 

While only nine cities make up Kent County, Kentwood is the third most populated city in this fourth most populated county in Michigan. While it may not be the most populated city in Michigan or in its county, these Michiganders care fiercely about protecting their homes, properties, and belongings. So, let’s look at what coverage residents can expect on their Kentwood home insurance policies.

While Kentwood faces a minor risk from flooding, flood insurance is never a bad idea, especially living so close to Lake Michigan. While, technically, Kentwood residents don’t need flood insurance, it can be helpful for some residents who value peace of mind. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), just one inch of flood water can cause roughly $25,000 in damage. Since Michigan sees a good deal of rain and a great deal of snow, there are many wet months during which residents may want flood coverage.

While some residents value coverage over cost, others may prefer the cheapest home insurance in Kentwood available on the market. While searching for the most affordable policy out there, it’s important to keep in mind that premiums are subjective, and insurers often use details about your personal life, like your claims history or age, to determine your rates. So, while some people may be eligible for rates below the city average, others may have a few characteristics working against them, keeping their rates above average.

If your rates aren’t quite where you want them, there are a few things you may be able to do to lower your premiums. While shopping around for the cheapest policy, remember these things.

Apply Discounts: Many insurers offer discounts for policyholders to lower their premiums without much effort. For example, many insurers offer a discount for those who bind home and auto insurance policies with the same insurer or for those who install a home security system. When combined, discounts can lower your premiums by about 20%. 

Adjust Deductible: Your deductible amount often directly correlates with your premium amount. Generally, policies with low deductibles have higher premiums, and those with high deductibles have lower premiums. So, if you want to lower your premium, select a higher deductible that you’ll owe your insurer should you file a claim.

Tailor Coverage Limits: Although home insurance policies generally have the same coverage categories, the coverage limits for each category are customizable. If you lower your coverage limits to what your mortgage lender requires, you’ll have less coverage and, in turn, lower premiums. Be wary when sacrificing coverage, though.

Whether you’re new to Kentwood or a long-time resident interested in getting the best homeowners insurance for your needs, the best way to get the right policy for you is to get and compare quotes online. By getting and comparing quotes, you can see all your options in one place so you can make a quick, easy, and informed decision about your policy.

Luckily, we have a quoting tool you can use for free right here at Clovered, so you don’t have to look any further to get your quotes. Just follow the prompts, and our quoting machine will do all the hard work to get you the best policy. If you’d rather chat with a licensed agent, we have those too! You can call 833-255-4117 or email [email protected] to chat with a professional about any of your homeowners insurance needs.