Your home is one of your most valuable assets, and it is important to protect that asset with good insurance. But how can you be sure you have a good homeowner’s insurance policy? And how do you know what you should avoid? These tips will give you the information you need to make good insurance choices.
To save money when buying homeowners insurance, consider putting an alarm system in. Most major underwriters will give a discount for a home that has a monitored alarm installed. Many times the discount you get will add up to more than what you pay for the monthly monitoring cost.
If you want to insure your home against flooding, you’ll need a flood insurance policy. Flooding is not covered by most regular homeowner’s insurance policies. Protection against flooding covers damage from things like too much rain, creeks rising, landslides and more. If you think you need this additional coverage, speak to your agent, who will explain options and costs for your area.
If you are a senior you may get some discounts. A lot of companies will give a senior citizen a discount on home owners. You should shop around if your insurer doesn’t offer this type of discount.
If you have any spare money in a savings account, use it to pay off your mortgage. When you own your home outright your annual home insurance premiums can drop dramatically as insurance companies tend to assume that home-owner’s are more likely to take care of and secure their property.
To ensure the protection of major home improvement projects always report them to your homeowner’s insurance company once they are completed. While this may result in a small premium increase, it is the only way to make sure that the added value of your home is covered in case of damage.
Want to reduce your premiums by as much as ten percent per year? Install smoke alarms. Insurance companies find it a better investment if there are plenty of fire detection devices on hand. Plus, some companies will even offer a steeper discount if you’ve got multiple alarms set up.
Security System
To pay lower home insurance premiums, install a home security system. Insurance companies typically give a discount of 5% or more, to homes that have a maintained security system. You may have to pay more for your security system up front, but the purchase will save you money in the long run.
Keep one or two fire extinguishers in the kitchen and around the house. Depending on your home owner’s insurance provider, having functioning fire extinguishers handy might lower your rates. It is also great to have one handy in the event of a fire. They could end up saving your life.
Insurance Company
If you have recently renovated your home, make sure to let your home owner’s insurance company know. That way, should disaster ruin your newly renovated home, you will be reimbursed an amount that reflects the way your home looked after you renovated. Try to call the insurance company as soon as you make these renovations.
To help lower your annual homeowner’s insurance premiums, you may want to consider raising your deductible. However, remember that small claims such as a broken window will not be paid for by your insurance company.
You should be sure that your homeowner’s insurance covers medical payments and litigation fees, in case, someone visiting your home falls or gets hurt. This is important because you never know when an accident may happen and you will want to make sure that you are covered in a scenario like this.
Make sure you don’t have too much coverage if you are trying to save money. Remember valuable items depreciate over time and you should look over your policy once a year to make sure you don’t have too much insurance. Reevaluating this can save you money on your policy.
While your homeowners policy may protect you in the event of a fire, burglary, or natural disaster, such as an earthquake, it may not cover you for flooding, mold or other common disasters. Make sure you know what you are getting and what additional coverage you may need to purchase separately.
The most important thing you can do to ensure any claims you file on your home owner’s insurance in the future is to take a photo inventory of the items of value in your home. Proof of purchase is also helpful, so dig out any receipts you might have and keep them in a fire- and water-proof safe.
Do not ever make a blind guess concerning coverage. You could be in major trouble if you end up needing more money to rebuild than you guessed would be necessary. Consult a professional to help you understand the amount of money required to rebuild your home before signing up for a new home owner’s policy.
Insurance Companies
See if your policy offers discounts for non-smokers and retirees. There are some insurance companies that offer non-smokers a discount of around 15 percent if you qualify. To qualify, you have to be a non-smoker and you can’t allow smoking by anyone in your house. Retirees and senior citizens generally are given discounts since insurance companies tend to think that they’ll be home more and can better protect their home against burglary and fire.
Try to see if your home owner’s policy offers free record or renewal discounts. If you haven’t had a claim under your policy in the last 3 to 5 consecutive years, you could get a discount up to 15%, but it depends on your insurance company. Most companies can discount your premium if the policy has been going for 3 years in a row.
It’s important to take the time to assure your homeowner’s insurance policy is a good one. Now that you’ve read this article, you have advice that will guide you through the insurance process. Take time to review your insurance policy from time to time. Protect one of your most valuable assets!
