Andover Companies
- Far fewer consumer complaints than expected.
- Includes more generous dwelling and personal property coverage than most insurers.
- Many additional coverage options to choose from.
- Limited online experience.
- Available in only eight states.
About The Andover Companies home insurance
Massachusetts-based Andover Companies sells home insurance through independent agents. The Andover Companies earned a NerdWallet rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 thanks to strong coverage and few consumer complaints. However, its policies are available only in Illinois and select Northeastern states. If you live in one of these areas, Andover home insurance is well worth considering.
Based on these considerations, Andover is among NerdWallet’s Best Home Insurance Companies of 2025.
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Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.Where The Andover Companies stands out
Consumer satisfaction. Andover draws very few complaints to state regulators, suggesting that most of its policyholders like their insurance.
Generous default coverage. Andover policies generally come with broader coverage for your belongings and more coverage for the structure of your home than a standard homeowners policy provides. (Note that most but not all homes qualify for this coverage.)
Customization options. Andover has a long list of optional coverage types to choose from.
Where The Andover Companies falls short
Availability. Policyholders outside of the eight states Andover serves will need to look elsewhere for coverage.
Online experience. Andover’s website offers the basics, including claims filing and bill payments. However, it lacks certain features you might find on larger insurers’ websites such as online quotes, claims tracking or live chat.
What Andover Companies home insurance covers
These types of home insurance coverage generally come standard:
- Dwelling
Dwelling coverage pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home after a covered event. It also covers attached structures, such as porches.
Typical amount: Enough to rebuild your home.
- Other structures
Other structures coverage pays to repair or rebuild stand-alone structures on your property, such as a fence or shed.
Typical amount: 10% of dwelling coverage.
- Personal property
Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace stolen or damaged belongings. Personal property coverage comes in one of two options: actual cash value or replacement cost.
Typical amount: 50-70% of dwelling coverage.
- Loss of use
Loss of use coverage, sometimes known as additional living expenses coverage, helps pay temporary living expenses while your home is being repaired. This can cover hotel stays, home rentals and meals.
Typical amount: 20% of dwelling coverage.
- Personal liability
Personal liability coverage pays if you injure someone or cause property damage unintentionally or through neglect.
Typical amount: $100,000 to $500,000.
- Medical payments
Medical payments coverage pays to treat someone injured on your property, regardless of who’s at fault. It also pays if you, a family member or a pet injures someone away from your home.
Typical amount: $1,000 to $5,000.
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
In addition to the standard coverage listed above, Andover also includes the following with most of its policies:
Guaranteed replacement cost coverage. Pays whatever is necessary to rebuild your home after a covered claim, even if your dwelling coverage limit falls short. Conditions apply; for example, you must notify the company if you build an addition to your property.
Ordinance or law coverage. Pays to upgrade your home to the latest building codes during repairs after a covered claim. Most Andover policies include an amount of ordinance or law coverage equal to your dwelling coverage limit.
Replacement cost coverage for personal belongings. Enables you to replace stolen or damaged items with brand-new ones after a claim.
Open perils contents coverage. Offers a more generous type of coverage for your belongings than most homeowners policies include. Normally, home insurance covers your stuff only for events named in the policy (such as fire or theft). With “open perils” coverage, your policy covers anything except events specifically excluded.
Optional Andover Companies home insurance coverage
You may also be able to add the following extra options to your policy:
Home system and service line coverage. This endorsement can pay to repair or replace things like water heaters, HVAC systems or underground service lines if they break down. Learn more about equipment breakdown coverage.
Identity theft insurance. If someone steals your identity, this coverage can pay legal bills, lost wages and other recovery costs.
Personal cyber coverage. This add-on can help you restore lost data and deal with other consequences of cyberattacks.
Extra coverage for valuables such as jewelry, fine art, musical instruments and collectibles.
Water backup coverage in case a sump pump overflows or a drain backs up into your home.
Home day care coverage for policyholders who provide care services for up to three kids in their home.
Additional coverage endorsement. This option adds coverage for things like lock replacement, refrigerated items lost in a power outage and legal defense against personal injury claims.
What’s not covered
Homeowners insurance, including policies from Andover, generally doesn't pay for damage due to:
Landslides, mudslides or mudflow.
Neglect or lack of maintenance.
Normal wear and tear.
Where Andover Companies home insurance is available
The Andover Companies homeowners insurance is available in seven Northeastern states and Illinois.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all homeowners in a given state.
- Find the best home insurance in your state
Discounts
Depending on where you live, you may be able to save by:
Having certain protective devices in your home.
Being a loyal customer.
Having a new home.
Being a nonsmoker.
Having a hardwired generator.
» MORE: The cheapest home insurance
We recommend getting home insurance quotes from at least three companies to find the best deal on the coverage you need.
Consumer complaints
One strong sign of consumer satisfaction is how many people complain about their insurance company to state agencies. The Andover Companies scores highly on this measure, drawing a very low proportion of home insurance complaints compared to other U.S. insurers.
How we determined our complaint scores We analyzed three years' worth of complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. When comparing insurers, we accounted for company size and total premiums.
How to file a claim with The Andover Companies
You can file a claim through your online portal or by phone with your local agent. You can also call Andover at 800-225-0770. To track the status of your claim, reach out to your adjuster, your agent or a company representative.
Here are some key things to remember when filing a home insurance claim:
Document the damage. Take photos and create an inventory of damaged items. Provide details like labels and model numbers if possible, especially for more expensive items. Once you've documented the damage, you can make temporary repairs if it's safe to do so.
File your claim as soon as possible. This is especially important if the damage was caused by a storm, as it likely means other homes in the area were also affected.
Save your receipts. You may end up spending money on temporary repairs or living expenses before getting a payment from your insurance company. Keep all receipts so you can submit them for reimbursement later.
For more information, see how to file a home insurance claim.
How to contact The Andover Companies customer service
Phone: Andover encourages policyholders to work with their independent agents for help, but you can also call the company directly at 800-225-0770.
Email: You can email welcome@andovercos.com.
Online tools
Website: With Andover’s online portal, you can see policy information, pay bills and file claims. However, you can’t get a homeowners insurance quote on the Andover website.
Mobile app: The company doesn’t offer a mobile app.
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
- See all NerdWallet home insurance reviews
How we rate homeowners insurance
NerdWallet’s star ratings reward companies for consumer-first features and practices. We evaluate factors such as consumer experience, coverage, discounts and financial strength.
In our research, we analyzed:
More than 270 million homeowners insurance rates.
More than 100 insurance companies.
Nearly 200 homeowner profiles.
View our complete homeowners insurance rating methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What other types of insurance does Andover offer?
What other types of insurance does Andover offer?
In addition to homeowners insurance, The Andover Companies sells condo, renters, umbrella, dwelling fire, watercraft and business insurance.
Is Andover a good insurance company?
Is Andover a good insurance company?
NerdWallet awarded The Andover Companies 4.5 stars out of 5 due to its strong coverage and low rate of consumer complaints.
How long has The Andover Companies been in business?
How long has The Andover Companies been in business?
Merrimack Mutual, the oldest of the three companies that make up The Andover Companies, was founded in 1828. The company expanded with acquisitions of two other insurers in 1913 and 1955.
Star rating 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, claims process and website functionality. 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 or star ratings.
Here’s how we weighted each category to come up with our list of the best home insurance companies:
Consumer experience (40%).
Financial strength (30%).
Coverage (25%).
Discounts (5%).
Read our full home insurance ratings methodology for more details.
Complaint methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare with 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.
