Andover, NH Home Insurance

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

Home · Lake House · Farms · Wells & Septic · Flood · Umbrella · Andover, New Hampshire

Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is an independent agency founded in 2005 and licensed in 10 states. We are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials. We shop each Andover home across 40+ carriers. Start with New Hampshire homeowners insurance, or read on. Looking for Andover, Massachusetts? See our Andover, MA home insurance page. For other towns and counties, see our New Hampshire insurance agency page.

Andover at a glance

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 2,456 Andover residents as of July 1, 2025. The town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2025, prepared with the Lakes Region Planning Commission, describes 40 square miles: rolling hills with several active farms in the east, and steeper, wooded land in the west, with Danbury’s Ragged Mountain dominating the northwest. The Blackwater River and its tributaries run through the center of town and create wetlands, especially near the Salisbury line.

Citing state housing data, the plan says 88% of Andover’s housing units are single-family homes. Per the Census, the seasonal share fell from 20.6% in 2010 to 15.0% in 2020 as seasonal homes were converted to year-round use. Many homes and businesses rely on private wells and septic systems, while the Andover Village District supplies water to the village area. NH Electric Cooperative serves 1,299 properties and Eversource serves 49.

The plan says development has taken place mainly along existing roads, farms are found throughout town, and many wetlands sit next to developed areas. For insurance, that means mostly single-family homes, some lake houses and farms, many on wells and septic, and many on unpaved roads: the plan says 24 of the town’s 49 miles of road are unpaved.

Where you live in Andover changes the policy

• On Highland Lake and Bradley Lake. Both dams are classified as significant hazard, and the town and the Andover Village District maintain emergency action plans for them. The plan says there is no history of significant dam failures in Andover.
• Along the Blackwater River. FEMA maps show floodplains along the Blackwater River, Highland Lake, Elbow Pond, Bradley Lake and minor tributaries.
• Between Boston Hill Road and West Shore Road. The plan says a culvert in this area regularly backs up where many residents live, and those homes can be affected.
• Roads that flood. The plan lists annual flooding on Valley Road; Currier and Switch roads north of Moody Road; Switch Road between Blueberry and Pinewood lanes; Sam Hill Road; a culvert that backs up on West Shore Drive; and Bridge Road and Elbow Pond Road, where culvert upgrades are planned.
• Private roads. The plan says downed trees are a particular problem along private roads that may get only limited cutback of vegetation.

Flood coverage in Andover

The plan says Andover joined the NFIP on June 17, 1991. Its flood maps were updated February 20, 2008 and are available at Town Hall and on FEMA’s Map Service Center. As of July 2024, there were eleven flood policies in force with $2,535,000 of coverage. There have been four paid losses totaling $58,293, all on single-family homes, and no repetitive losses.

The Selectboard commented on the increased intensity of rainfall leading to more frequent flooding, and the plan says most past flooding caused erosion and damage to culverts and roads. A homeowners policy will not pay for a river over its banks or surface water. Flood is its own policy. Check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

• NFIP through Selective. We write National Flood Insurance Program policies through Selective, a Write Your Own carrier. The NFIP covers up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents. New policies generally have a 30-day waiting period (see FloodSmart), so buy before storm season, not during it.
• Private flood. When a home costs more than the NFIP building limit to rebuild, or you want coverage the NFIP leaves out, we compare Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge. Each one decides address by address.
• Elevation certificates. If you have one, send it. If the house has been raised or has flood vents, it can make a real difference in how flood carriers rate it.

See our flood insurance overview. Water backup (sewer, drain or sump pump failure) is an add-on to homeowners; flood is separate. If your basement is finished, ask about both. See basement flooding coverage and our flood insurance overview.

High wind and tropical storms

The plan says downed trees can damage most structures in town in any high wind event, including common thunderstorms, bringing down power lines and blocking roads. It notes that older structures not built to current code could be most at risk. It estimates widespread high-wind damage to buildings could run into the millions of dollars. Wind damage and fallen trees are generally homeowners claims, subject to your deductible.

Winter in Andover

Severe winter weather rates high as well. The plan notes the town is upgrading the roof of the historic Kenniston covered bridge to reduce snow load. Roof damage from snow, ice dams and frozen pipes are generally homeowners claims, subject to your deductible and policy terms.

Winter, trees and wind in Andover

New Hampshire winters bring ice dams, frozen pipes and heavy snow loads, and storms bring down trees and limbs. These are generally homeowners claims, subject to your deductible and policy terms. A properly sized wind and all-perils deductible, and a roof in good shape, do more for most homeowners than any single add-on. Water damage from a burst pipe is usually covered when the home is heated and occupied; long vacancies can change that, so tell us if the house will sit empty.

Farms, wells and septic

If you farm, board horses or sell from your land, a homeowners policy alone may not be enough. Ask us about farm coverage. Homeowners policies generally don’t pay for a well running dry or for wear and tear on a septic system, so ask which endorsements your carrier offers for wells, pumps and underground lines.

Larger and lakefront homes

Under about $2 million, most of our 40+ carriers are in play. In New Hampshire, Andover generally writes up to about $1.5 million, or closer to $1 million for homes far from a hydrant or fire station. Around $2 million to $3 million, Hanover is often a fit, and Cincinnati and Chubb both write homes at any dwelling limit, so we quote both. Each carrier underwrites the specific house, so these are starting points, not promises.

See high-value home insurance in New Hampshire and seasonal home insurance.

Renters and tenants in Andover

If you rent in Andover, your landlord’s policy covers the building, not your belongings or your liability. A renters policy covers both, plus extra living costs after a covered loss. We shop renters coverage across our carriers, and Progressive Home is one of them; we use Progressive Home for renters policies only. Landlords who own two- to four-family buildings can see landlord insurance.

Auto, umbrella and the rest of the household

Most Andover households also need auto insurance, and many add a personal umbrella. We quote them with the home so the liability limits line up, and we put rentals, second homes, boats and valuables under the same review. One agent, one renewal conversation.

Common coverage gaps we see in Andover

• A dwelling limit based on what you paid for the home or its assessed value instead of the cost to rebuild
• No water backup coverage on a house with a finished basement
• Personal property limits that have not kept up with what the household actually owns
• Liability limits on the home and auto that do not line up with an umbrella, or no umbrella at all
• No ordinance or law coverage on an older home that would need code upgrades after a loss
• No flood policy on a home near the Blackwater River or a culvert that backs up
• Farm activity on a homeowners policy that excludes it
• Barns and outbuildings left off the policy

Most of these are straightforward to fix once someone reads the declarations pages side by side, and that is the first thing we do in a review.

Before storm season in Andover

• Know your hurricane or named storm deductible in dollars, not just as a percentage
• Photograph or video each room so a contents claim is easier to document
• Keep your declarations pages, flood policy and any elevation certificate somewhere you can reach from your phone
• If you are thinking about flood coverage, buy it well ahead of a storm because of the waiting period
• Keep the culvert or ditch by your driveway clear of debris before heavy rain

Buying a home in Andover

Start the insurance conversation before you are under contract, not the week of closing. Send us the listing and the inspection report when you have it. The report answers most of what carriers ask: roof age, electrical panel, heating, plumbing and any water in the basement. Get the well, septic and heating system inspected before you close. Near the Blackwater River or a lake, ask for any elevation certificate. We line up the homeowners binder, and a flood binder if you need one, so both are ready for your lender.

How an Andover home quote works

• Tell us about the house: address, year built, square footage, roof age and updates to wiring, plumbing and heating.
• Send your current declarations page so we can compare like for like and point out limits that look short.
• We shop the carriers that fit and lay the options out side by side, with the differences in coverage, deductibles and storm terms, not just price.
• You choose, and we handle the switch, including your mortgage company and the effective date, so there is no gap.

Serving Andover from Portsmouth

Our office is at 601 Islington St, Unit 206, Portsmouth, NH 03801, and we work with Andover clients by phone, email and online. Call (603) 431-4020. Nearby, see our Concord and Laconia pages.

Sources

• Town of Andover, Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2025 (Lakes Region Planning Commission)
• U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 subcounty population estimates
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center
• FloodSmart, buying a flood policy

Get a quote

Tell us about the property and we will compare carriers and follow up with options. Request a quote. There’s no obligation to buy. Prefer to talk? Call (603) 431-4020.

Frequently asked questions

Do you insure homes in Andover, NH?

Yes. We insure Andover homes from our Portsmouth office at 601 Islington St, and by phone, email and online. Call (603) 431-4020.

Does Andover flood?

Parts of it do. The town’s 2025 hazard mitigation plan rates flood impact high and lists roads that flood annually or several times a year, including Valley Road and Elbow Pond Road. FEMA maps show floodplains along the Blackwater River and the lakes. Check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

Does homeowners insurance cover a flooded basement?

Not from flood. Water backup from sewers, drains or a sump pump is an add-on, and rising or surface water needs a flood policy.

Who writes your NFIP flood policies?

We write NFIP policies through Selective, and we compare private flood from Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge.

Do you charge fees?

No. We don’t charge fees on any policy we write, including homeowners, condo, renters, landlord, dwelling and auto.