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.
Paying off your mortgage can help you save money on your home owner’s insurance premiums. Insurance companies work under the assumption that those who own their homes will take better care of them. The sooner you can eliminate your mortgage obligations, the sooner you can enjoy lower premiums.
Be sure to review your policy yearly to check and see if there are any discounts available to you. This may result from additions such as a security alarm tied to a monitoring agency, a fire suppression system, and installation of additional fire alarms. There also may be items in your neighborhood that can effect it such as removal of trees or additional fire suppression outlets.
Homeowners who pay off their mortgages faster will see less costly insurance sooner. Insurance companies believe that if you own your home outright or have a greater stake in it’s equity, you will be more likely to take good care of it and keep it’s value higher. Try to increase the amount you pay each month to pay it off sooner.
Paying off that mortgage once and for all will allow you to pay less for homeowner’s insurance. Granted, this is not something that can be done overnight, but it is something to think about in the long run. Many insurers offer significant savings for homeowners who do not owe anything. Someone who owns their home outright is golden in the eyes of an insurer.
Installing Additional
Save on homeowner’s insurance by installing additional smoke detectors. Smoke detectors are required in most new homes, however voluntarily installing them in older homes or installing additional detectors in a new home can get you further discounts. Not only is this a smart monetary decision, but it is one that could save the lives of you or your loved ones.
When you buy a house, remember flood insurance. Many home insurance policies do not cover floods, and flooding can occur in the most unexpected areas. Even a minor flood can cause a lot of damage to your home, which is why you should be covered for this eventuality.
Stay away from pools and trampolines. While your kids may love to jump on the trampoline or swim in the pool, these little extras are insurance nightmares. Insurance companies will up to double the rates of a homeowner who installs either of these items. Stay away from extras with the potential to harm!
Insurance Policy
There are simple ways to reduce your homeowner’s insurance premiums. If you want to add to your home, you might want to go with steel instead of other cheaper materials.
Consider raising the deductible on your home insurance policy. A higher deductible on your insurance policy can significantly lower your annual home insurance premiums. Unfortunately, by raising the deductible, your home insurance company will no longer pay for small claims, such as broken window repair, leaky pipe repair and minor wind and flood damage repairs.
Installing a security system in your home is a great way to lower your home owners insurance premiums. A savings of 5% or more is typical with the installation of a system that includes monitoring by local law enforcement or a central security center. Make sure to submit proof of the monitoring contract to your insurance company to ensure you receive your discount.
Turning 55 is a great reminder to start looking for a new home owner’s insurance policy, or reviewing your current policy. Many insurance companies offer a senior citizen discount. Tell your insurer you plan to shop around if they don’t offer a discount.
It is cheaper to get and keep homeowner’s insurance if you do not have injury prone devices. Insurance companies see pools, trampolines, and other similar objects to be a higher risk for injury and will therefore raise the amount of your premium. Although having a pool may be fun, removing it will save you money!
A great way you can save on your homeowners insurance is to avoid expanding on your home too much. Sure, you can fix up those odds and ends, but putting that dream patio in your back yard or that extra bedroom on the second floor is going to cause your insurance payments to spike.
Multiple smoke alarms are very beneficial for your home. Insurance companies will lower your insurance premiums if you have smoke alarms installed in your home. Making sure you have a lot of smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in your home can mean that you save a lot of money.
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.