Lot of advice here on the physical side of things but do give some weight to your emotional/mental state as well. A lot of people who let stress and negative emotions go unchecked can have them manifest themselves into very real back pain.

It's a bit of a pain since you'll probably end up being on the phone for about 45 mins with each insurer on hold/answering questions/discussing coverage options, etc. Well worth it every couple of years though to a) get the best premium you can find and b) review your coverages to make sure they're still appropriate for your needs. Both auto and home can be covered in one phone call.

You could start by asking around some of your friends and colleagues to see who they use, then simply call those insurers asking if they can give you a quote. Also, do some research to see if you're eligible for any group discounts (for instance a lot of colleges or universities, professional associations, etc will negotiate favourable discounts for their members with specific insurers).

Going to disagree with you on the unbeatable part there. I think they were a solid third when I did my shopping around last year.