Homeowners' insurance quotes can now be gotten direct from the insurance company or through an agent or even online. Which is the best way and how can a homeowner manage to get the best quote that would also save him/her money?

The choice between getting a quote and a policy from an insurance agency or from the company directly or going online rests solely with the homeowner. It depends on the mental set up of the person looking for an insurance coverage.

Many times the best quotes can be found online - there are innumerable agencies and even insurance companies that allow you to fill in a simple online form and supply you with a homeowner's insurance quote within a short time. Also since it is possible to get quotes from more than one company at the same time, it makes for easier comparison.

There are also online services that help you compare the quotes from different companies to find out which is the best one suited to your needs.

On the other hand dealing with a person or agent whom you have known for years might be the preferred way for many people. And since many insurance agents don't just provide a quote but also handle all aspects of the shopping including filing of claims if any, they turn out to be the best option for most homeowners.

At the same time, there fact remains that the insurance agents receive a commission or fee from the insurance company which might directly be drawn from your pocket.

Many people prefer to deal directly with the insurance company as this takes out the middleman and lets them know all the facts first hand. Moreover a direct approach also makes things simpler and straightforward in addition to removing the middleman's commission - that much less expensive.

Also unlike an insurance agent, the insurance company would not really try to influence a homeowner's choice of coverage.

Another big benefit of going direct is that you are not required to wait for your agent's availability when you wish to file a claim. Most direct insurers provide 24-hour toll free claims handling and processing services, so a phone call is all that's needed.

While this removes the personal touch provided by the agent, it also makes for ease of use and effective savings.

All said and done, the ultimate choice depends on how the homeowner looks at the situation and the method with which he or she is comfortable. Getting the quote is not the big thing - getting the right policy and coverage is.