Depending on where you’re looking for homeowners’ insurance, a simple policy could end up costing you a lot of money. Find out how you can save some serious cash on an ironclad insurance policy in the article below. These are some of the best tips in the industry to help you save.
If you are building an addition to your home or considering a major renovation, check what effect this will have on your homeowner’s insurance rates. Wood-framed structures are considered to be a fire risk, for example, and will raise your insurance rates. Using cement, steel, or other fireproof materials will mean your addition costs less to insure.
When you move homes, be sure that your belongings are insured for the move. This may mean buying insurance from the moving company. Your homeowner’s insurance policy may also cover items that are damaged, lost, or stolen in transit. Check with your insurance agent about a “special perils endorsement”, which will protect valuables during a move.
When buying a homeowner’s insurance policy, what is excluded from coverage is sometimes more critical that what the policy does cover. Flood coverage, for example, is not typically covered in most homeowner’s policies, but can be purchased as a separate policy. The same is true for other natural disasters such as earthquakes.
When buying a home don’t forget to purchase flood insurance. Floods are not always covered by traditional homeowner’s insurance, and recent events have made it clear that flooding can happen in places that aren’t expected. Losing a home to flooding waters and the damage that results can be extremely upsetting; make sure that you have an insurance plan in place in case something happens.
Flood Insurance
If you want to be sure your home and belongings are covered in the event of a flood, the time to buy flood insurance is not the moment it begins to rain. Most flood insurance plans will not cover flood damage incurred within the first 30 days of purchase, so you need to make that call today, rather than putting it off.
If you’re about to turn 55, this is a great time to shop for a new homeowner’s policy, or at least ask your current insurance carrier for a policy review. Many companies offer discounts for senior citizens, starting with folks who are only 55. If your company doesn’t offer this discount, take the time to shop around.
Install a security system to reduce the cost of your home insurance. By installing a burglar alarm that is linked to a local police station you can decrease your home insurance annual premiums by 5% or more. Make sure that you inform your insurance company that you have a security system installed and be aware that they may ask you to provide proof.
Pay off your entire mortgage before trying to get insurance for your home. This can help reduce your premium rates by substantial amounts. The reason for this is that insurance companies figure that their customers who own their homes are more likely to take better care of it, thus reducing the risk of problems.
Install smoke alarms in your home. It will not only help to protect your family in the case of a fire but it will also get you about a ten percent discount on your home insurance policy. Many newer homes already have them installed but if they are not, it is an affordable thing to add to your home.
Stay vigilant over the cost of your home insurance premiums by doing an annual check of your policy statements, and seek quotes from other companies to ensure you are paying the lowest rates. Your insurance doesn’t always automatically reflect changes that can lower your rates, so you want to make sure any discounts for adding alarms, sprinkler systems or removing a swimming pool are applied. Staying vigilant is the best way to save 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.
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.
It is important to keep in mind, that damage caused by floods and earthquakes to your home is not generally covered by your homeowner’s insurance. You must evaluate the likelihood of an earthquake or a flood in your area and determine if you will need to add special coverage provisions to your policy.
Believe it or not, you can find great coverage out there for a low price. It’s all about knowing how to shop for insurance. By using these tips you’ve just learned, you can now go out and find a very solid policy available at a great rate. Don’t just read the tips; be sure to put them into action.
