NJM Homeowners Insurance Review 2024
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Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
NJM
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
About NJM home insurance
NJM homeowners insurance earned 5 out of 5 stars for overall performance. NJM may operate in only a handful of states, but when it comes to coverage, it punches above its weight. NJM home insurance includes not only the basics you’d expect but also a suite of additional coverage that would cost extra at many other companies.
Based on these considerations, NJM is among NerdWallet’s Best Home Insurance Companies for 2024.
Where NJM stands out
Generous coverage. Not all companies offer guaranteed replacement cost for your home, and even fewer include it with standard policies the way NJM does.
Customer complaints. NJM’s small number of consumer complaints to state regulators indicates a company with strong customer service.
Where NJM falls short
Availability. NJM currently sells homeowners policies in only a handful of states.
State availability
NJM offers homeowners insurance in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
NJM home insurance coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
Type of coverage | What it does |
|---|---|
Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home. | |
Covers damage to unattached structures such as sheds or fences. | |
Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing. | |
Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs. | |
Covers legal expenses and damages if you're responsible for injuries to other people or their property. | |
Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault. |
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
In addition to this standard coverage, NJM includes four additional types of coverage that often cost extra at other companies:
Guaranteed replacement cost coverage, which ensures enough of a payout to rebuild your home with similar materials even if your dwelling coverage falls short. To be eligible for this coverage, you must insure your home to NJM’s full recommended replacement cost limit.
Replacement cost coverage for your personal belongings, which pays out enough for you to buy new belongings if yours are stolen or destroyed. (Other companies may pay out less to reflect the depreciated value of older items.)
Water backup coverage, which pays to repair damage if your sump pump overflows or water backs up into your home.
Ordinance or law coverage, which pays for expenses associated with upgrading your home to current building codes after a covered claim.
You can further customize your policy with the following add-ons:
Extra coverage for valuable items, like jewelry and heirlooms.
Extra fraud protection, in case you’re a victim of credit card fraud, a forged check or counterfeit money.
Identity theft coverage, which pays up to $15,000 for expenses you encounter if someone steals your identity.
Earthquake insurance, which pays for damage to your home or belongings from an earthquake (not available in Connecticut).
Coverage for fungi damage, or issues such as wet or dry rot.
Supplemental loss assessment, which covers up to $5,000, depending on your policy, when your condo or homeowners association is liable for an injury or property damage and you must pay your share.
Assisted living care coverage, which extends personal property and liability coverage to a relative in a nursing home or similar facility.
Increased coverage for items in storage, which raises your coverage limit for belongings in a self-storage unit.
Increased coverage for other structures, which raises your coverage limit for sheds, pools and other nonattached structures on your property.
Discounts
NJM may offer discounts for the following, depending on where you live:
Buying more than one NJM policy.
Having features such as smoke detectors, burglar alarms or automatic sprinkler systems.
Being a nonsmoker.
Being 65 or older.
Having an automatic backup power supply or portable generator.
Paying your premium in full, upfront, or signing up for electronic payments.
Opting for paperless statements.
Having impact-resistant glass on all windows.
Having a new home or roof, depending on the age of the home.
Consumer complaints
NJM received far fewer than the expected number of home insurance complaints to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (NAIC home insurance complaints also cover other home policy types, including mobile home, renters and condo insurance.)
Consumer experience
Website: Depending on your state, you can use the NJM website to get a quote, make a payment, view policy details, upload documents and report and track claims. The website also has a useful FAQ section with information about coverage, the claims process and more.
Claims: To file a homeowners claim with NJM, you can call 800-367-6564 or submit details online. The company makes claims payments by check or electronically.
Customer service: For assistance, you can submit an email online or call 800-232-6600. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The bottom line
If you live in NJM’s service region and you want the most comprehensive possible coverage for your home, the company’s homeowners policies are well worth considering.
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
Current Product
|  |  |
|---|---|---|
NerdWallet rating 5.0 /5 | NerdWallet rating 4.5 /5 | NerdWallet rating 5.0 /5 |
Complaints to NAIC Far fewer than expected | Complaints to NAIC Fewer than expected | Complaints to NAIC Far fewer than expected |
Coverage More than average | Coverage More than average | Coverage More than average |
Discounts Great set of discounts | Discounts Average set of discounts | Discounts Great set of discounts |
Bottom line Offers strong coverage in the five states it serves. | Bottom line Best for homeowners who want to work with an agent. | Bottom line Perks and high coverage limits for affluent homeowners. |
Homeowners insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full ratings methodology for home insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
