As lots of people end up finding out in any flood-stricken area , having a good insurance policy covering their house was a great idea. After the flood waters tore up most of the property, homeowners had some recourse and now many of them are back in new homes courtesy of the insurance companies. Here are some tips to help you find solid insurance for your home.
Save money on your homeowner’s insurance by not purchasing items that are potentially injurious. Building a swimming pool or buying a trampoline can raise your annual premium by as much as ten percent or even more. Instead, visit the neighborhood pool or playground and get the same enjoyment for a lower price.
When looking for a homeowners insurance policy, check with the agent who insures your vehicles. A lot of agents will give you a discount if you have more than one policy with them. It is possible to get a discount of 10% or more by insuring more than one thing with the same agent.
Higher Deductible
A higher deductible on your homeowner’s insurance can save you money on premiums. While a higher deductible may mean that you will be responsible for small repair costs such as broken windows, more often than not these costs are balanced out by the savings you will receive on your annual premiums.
Putting an addition onto your home will increase your homeowner’s insurance rates because there’s now more home to insure. Minimize the increase by being smart with your building choices. If you can arrange for steel-framed construction, you may be able to pay less by choosing this less-flammable material. Consider the new roof’s fire rating as well.
When getting homeowners or renters insurance make sure you tell your insurance agent to add an addendum for flood and water damage. Most policies do not cover water damage unless it is added to the policy. Even if you don’t live in a flood zone, your home can suffer water damage from extreme weather and after a fire.
Get an estimate of damages to your home prior to filing a claim on your home owners insurance. If it is not going to cost you much more than the deductible to repair, do not file the claim. Each claim that you file will cause your premium to increase for the year.
Making too many claims on your home owners policy can cause you to be ineligible for renewal. Chose the claims that you want to file carefully as it may cause you your policy if you file too many claims in a short period of time. If the cost of damages are close to the cost of your deductible, do not file the claim.
All apartments should be equipped with a smoke alarm or two. If your apartment does not have one, you can pick one up for very little money, and it will save you some money on your renter’s insurance policy. It could save your life as well as saving you money.
Guaranteed Replacement Cost
Select guaranteed replacement cost coverages on your home owner’s policy to make sure you are fully protected in case of damage or destruction. While coverage tied to the overall mortgage value or assessed value of the home may seem sufficient, often rebuilding a home costs more due to increases in construction and material costs. Making sure you have guaranteed replacement cost ensures your home is rebuilt should a disaster occur.
To be well protected and to make sure you receive monies coming to you from a homeowner’s insurance claim, be sure everything is well documented. This can be from taking photographs and videos of everything in and around your home, and then storing copies of these in a safe place or even at a relative’s home. Having this inventory compiled as such will help shorten the claims process.
First time home buyers (and indeed all home buyers) are wise to establish a mortgage the sets aside a twelfth of the amount of homeowners insurance every month. This should be held in excrow. If the money is already in this account, you will not have to take it out of your monthly budget.
Consider installing an alarm or security system to lower your homeowner’s insurance. Not only will you be protected from burglary or fire, but you will also lower your premium amount by installing features like this. You may also want to install deadbolt locks, which will lower your insurance cost too.
To lower your annual premiums, install up to date smoke alarms and security systems in your home. Insurance companies give significant discounts to home owners who take steps to protect their home, and these are among the most cost efficient ways to do that. Provide proof of your alarms or security system to your insurance company in order to receive your discounts.
As with the people all around the country, you also need a great insurance policy on your home to protect you against flood damage and other disasters that happen without warning. Follow the tips listed in this article to find the best coverage for the best price.
