What is Stillwater known for in homeowners insurance?

What makes a home non-standard for insurance?

Stillwater is one of a small number of carriers that actively writes what the industry calls the non-standard market, the properties that preferred-carrier rules tend to decline. A non-standard home is not necessarily a bad risk. It is often a well-maintained property that does not fit the narrow eligibility boxes a preferred carrier sets during underwriting. Factors like roof age, a past claim, a lapse in prior coverage, or a credit-related rating factor can all push a home out of the preferred tier.

What types of homes does Stillwater typically write?

Homes that often land in the non-standard category include:

• A roof that is 15 to 25 years old when a preferred carrier wants it newer.
• A single water or weather claim in the last few years that triggered declines elsewhere.
• A gap in prior coverage that stricter carriers penalize heavily.
• An older but well-maintained home that the standard market is reluctant to write.
• A landlord or seasonal-use property that complicates placement with a strictly owner-occupied insurer.
• A home with a wood stove, an older electrical panel, or similar features that some carriers flag automatically.

For example, a 1968 ranch with a 19-year-old roof and one wind claim from a 2023 storm might be declined after underwriting review by a preferred carrier, while Stillwater could still offer replacement cost protection at a higher premium rather than leaving the home uninsured.

How does non-standard pricing compare to standard coverage?

Non-standard pricing follows the risk profile of the home. A property with an older roof, a recent claim, or a coverage gap carries more uncertainty for the carrier, and that uncertainty shows up in the premium. The price is typically higher than what the same home would cost in the preferred market, but the alternative is often no coverage at all. Carriers like Stillwater fill the market gap that preferred insurers leave open. To understand how carrier placement decisions are made, see how an independent agent chooses which carrier to place you with.

What trade-offs come with a non-standard policy?

Non-standard policies carry trade-offs that differ from a preferred policy. A higher deductible for wind and hail is common. Roof settlements may be based on actual cash value rather than full replacement cost as the roof ages, reducing the payout at claim time. Some non-standard policies apply sub-limits on specific perils. For example, a policy might cover the main dwelling at replacement cost but apply a separate wind deductible of two percent of the insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. See the comparison of replacement cost vs. actual cash value for more on how settlement basis affects a claim payout.

Can a non-standard home qualify for standard coverage later?

A home does not stay non-standard permanently. As the property improves, it can often qualify for a more competitively priced standard carrier. A new roof is the most common trigger. After a roof replacement, a home previously declined by preferred carriers often qualifies for lower-premium coverage with better settlement terms. A coverage review after a major improvement can show whether better market options are now available. See the difference between admitted and non-admitted carriers for context on how market access works. A free coverage review will identify which markets fit your home and explain why.