Everybody who owns a home needs to insure it. Not every homeowner knows how to get the best policies and the best bargains though. Homeowner’s insurance is such a broad field and the costs are so high, just a little learning can have a very big effect. Here are a few tips to stretch your insurance dollar further.
Some features of your dwelling will cause your insurance to increase. The cost of insuring a home with a pool will be high, due to liability. Your premiums will also depend on the distance between your home and emergency services. This does not mean that you should choose a home based on insurance costs only, but this is one of the things that can impact your costs.
Be aware of what your home insurance actually covers. A regular home insurance policy doesn’t cover things such as flood damage. This type of insurance needs to be purchased separately through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Another thing to consider is earthquake damage. If this is something that you may experience, you will have to buy specialized coverage from a private home insurance company. Luckily, both of these types of coverage are relatively inexpensive.
Make sure that you have a record of everything that is covered under your home insurance. Make a detailed list, and take pictures of all valuables. It also helps to keep receipts for big ticket items. There is free software online that will enable you to create a home inventory, room by room. If you need to make a claim, having all this information on hand will help to speed up the process.
Buying an excellent alarm system is a great way to decrease your homeowner’s insurance premiums. Statistics show that homes with security systems experience fewer break-ins. Also, this will make your house look less risky to insurance companies. Be sure that you send your insurance company written documentation proving that your home is being protected by a security system.
When you are dealing with homeowners insurance keep in mind that some insurance companies will actually lower your premium if you get your mortgage paid off. They will think that since you own the home outright you are more likely to take better care and pride in your home.
There can be many things that can be done to help lower your homeowners insurance. Most people will think about what they have done in regard to safety in their home but most don’t think about the neighborhood around them. For example, if a fire hydrant was put in within 100 feet of your home it might be used to lower your premium. It never hurts to call and ask.
You may be liable for any injuries people get while on your property, regardless of whether they were authorized to be there or not. It is a sad state of affairs when a criminal trespasser can sue you. Don’t let this happen to you — homeowner’s insurance is an absolute must-have.
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.
Find a good policy with a guaranteed replacement value to avoid finding yourself living in a home less valuable than the one you lost. It will cover the costs associated with getting a house that is like the previous one in the event it is destroyed.
Don not, under any circumstances, allow your hazard insurance on your home to lapse. Most mortgage companies have a clause in the agreement you signed that in the event you don’t pay it, they will find a new policy for it, sparing no expense, and charge you for the premium. It will usually be at least double what you were paying before. You are better off doing whatever you need to in order to keep your policy current.
Many people are surprised that when they pay off their mortgage, their home insurance rates drop. There is a dramatic drop in the cost of home insurance when you own your home outright. This is likely due to the fact that insurers think that if you own it, you are likely to take better care of it.
Get yourself a security system that comes with central monitoring. You will get a good discount from your insurance company and have a great deal of security and peace of mind. In order to receive this discount, you must prove that your alarm is centrally monitored.
Hopefully these homeowner’s insurance tips have been of some benefit to you. This insurance is for helping you in case of disaster; you want to get the best, most cost-effective coverage you can. If you ever need to make a claim, you will appreciate every bit of time and effort you take to find the best deal on homeowner’s insurance now.