Homeowners Insurance in Sumter, South Carolina (2024)

Sumter homeowners will need home insurance if they have a mortgage. Deciding on the right homeowners insurance provider isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Below, we provide the information you need to make an informed decision.

We break down average rates in the Sumter area, as well as common factors and coverages you can expect.

For $200,000 homes, the average home insurance cost in Sumter is about $2,376. They’re higher than the similar-sized city of Greer that’s just two and a half hours to the east.

There are many factors that insurance companies consider when determining rates. We’ll analyze premiums accounting for some important variables so you can fully understand what to expect when shopping for Sumter homeowners insurance.

The rates in this article are sourced from the South Carolina Department of Insurance. The top 25 insurer groups by national premium volume were required to submit their annual rates, while other companies opted to do so voluntarily. The sample rates are for a homeowner with no insurance claims in the past five years and an average credit score.

Based on our list of top providers, the average premium for a $350,000 house in Sumter is 60% higher than the average home insurance premium for a $200,000 house. But, you’ll see when looking at individual rates from providers that they can vary quite a bit.

For instance, the most affordable companies, Universal Property & Casualty and Travelers, are over $500 cheaper than the closest competitor for homes at both price points. Also, Foremost is remarkably more costly than the rest of the names on the list. 

It’s important to note, though, that this doesn’t mean Foremost would be the most expensive for you, nor does it mean that it’s not worth it. Every provider can have slight differences in their offerings, and the best option for you may not be the best option for someone else.

For a further understanding of home insurance costs in Sumter, take a look at the numbers below, where we accounted for even more of the factors that affect premiums:

You’ll see that masonry homes have lower premiums than frame homes. You’ll also notice that younger homes cost less to insure than older homes. 

On average, masonry homes had premiums about $250 lower than frame homes of similar value and age, although the difference varied greatly by company. This occurs because masonry homes tend to be able to stand up to the elements better. Bricks and concrete are sturdier. Thus, they take less damage from strong winds than wooden frames. Masonry homes are also less susceptible to fire damage since there’s much less flammable wood in them.

Younger homes also tend to have lower premiums because older homes are more likely to have issues that lead to claims. Old roofs, aging HVAC systems, and out-of-date construction methods can all be warnings signs to insurers.

Take a look at the costs of home insurance for $350,000 houses in Sumter:

No matter where you are, home insurance policies consist of some common, essential coverages. In Sumter, it’s no different. Here are the parts of a home insurance policy you can expect:

Dwelling coverage is for the main structure of your house. It covers the roof, walls, floors, any porches or balconies, and the wiring and plumbing systems. Other structures coverage is designated for the features on your property that aren’t attached to your home. These could include sheds, fences, carports, detached garages, and more. 

Dwelling coverage is based on the value of your home (either its market value or its replacement cost), and other structures coverage is based on a percentage (typically 10%) of your dwelling coverage.

Personal property coverage financially protects your belongings. Furniture, television, computers, clothes, art, and jewelry fall under personal property coverage. If your items get stolen or damaged by a covered peril, your insurer will reimburse you for them.

Loss of use coverage is applicable if you’re forced to move out of your house because of damage from a covered peril. Let’s say your house is rendered uninhabitable from hurricane damage or a fire. You’ll have to go somewhere else temporarily while your insurer covers the repairs. Your insurance company will also cover your costs under loss of use coverage in this scenario. They can reimburse you for a hotel stay, gas, food, and more.

Liability coverage kicks in if someone sustains an injury on your property and wants to pursue you for the damages. Think of a slip and fall, or a dog bite. If you’re found liable for the accident, your liability coverage can cover your legal fees and the injured party’s medical expenses. Home insurance policies normally come with at least $100,000 in liability coverage, but you can choose to raise this limit.

Medical payments coverage is like liability coverage, but it’s designated only for minor injuries. Policies usually have medical payments coverage limits in the thousands of dollars, such as $4,000 or $5,000.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) creates flood zone maps for the country, determining which areas are at risk or not. Some properties in Sumter around Turkey Creek and the Green Swamp are in flood zones. Even if your home is not in a flood zone, many parts of Sumter are prone to flooding regardless due to the combination of heavy rains, flat topography, and nearby waterways in the area.

Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damage from floods. To protect your home from excess water damage, you’d need a flood insurance policy. Clovered provides flood insurance, too. We partner with some of the nation’s top private flood insurance providers, in addition to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). We can help you find the coverage you need at the price you want.

In addition to the factors we mentioned, insurers think about many other considerations when determining a premium. Some of them are:

Location of your house: If your house is in an area susceptible to severe weather, you may pay higher premiums. While Sumter is largely protected from hurricane damage because of its distance from the coast, South Carolinians still have to be wary every storm season. Just three years ago, effects from Hurricane Florence were felt in Sumter. 

Insurers factor in the possibility of damage from severe weather and calculate it into premiums to account for the chance of a hurricane damage claim payout. The same goes for tornadoes. The Sumter area has a fair chance of seeing tornadoes every year. Providers account for these.

Your claims history: Another part of calculating risk for insurers involves looking at the policyholder. If you have a history of filing insurance claims, a provider will likely charge you higher premiums. Insurance companies believe that someone who has filed claims in the recent past is more likely to file another in the future, so they raise the rates for that person to offset the increased chances of a payout.

Features of your home: While they may make your home more enjoyable, having certain elements in your house called “attractive nuisances” can increase how much you pay for home insurance. Pools, trampolines, and playground equipment are all attractive nuisances. They make your home riskier, so insurers watch out for them.

Conversely, certain things about your home can decrease your rate, too. Having a home security system can get you a discount with many insurance companies. Proving your home can stand up to strong winds with a wind mitigation inspection can reduce premiums also.

When you’re shopping for home insurance, you should get quotes from multiple providers to see which one is the best deal for you. At Clovered, we make this easy. We partner with many of the country’s top insurance providers, and we have agents that want to help you find coverage.

 You can use our online quoting platform to compare homeowners insurance options completely online, or you can speak to one of our licensed agents on the phone by calling 833-255-4117 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also email us anytime at [email protected] with any questions.