The home you purchased was a very large investment. It is best if you’re always protecting this investment with a great homeowner’s insurance policy. There are many places to find insurance and many types of coverage, so pay attention to these tips so that you can figure out what you need and for what price.
Homeowners insurance is not optional. Without homeowner’s insurance, you are completely without recourse in the case of fire, natural disaster, or theft. Most mortgages require the owner to take out an insurance policy.
Insurance Companies
Lower your homeowner’s insurance by searching for insurance companies that offer discounts to customers who have multiple policies. Many insurance companies offer discounts of up to ten percent or more, so be sure to shop around until you find the best deal. This can allow you to save on two or more different policy premiums.
Some things that your home has in it will make your insurance go up or down no matter what has happened to your home. The cost of insuring a home with a pool will be high, due to liability. Your home’s distance from emergency services such as fire hydrants also affects the cost of your coverage. Keep these things in mind when shopping for a home, although these things should not be a deal breaker if you find the home you always dreamed of.
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 considering insurance for your home, be sure to sign up with a deal that has a guaranteed replacement value clause written into it. This will ensure that your house will be covered no matter what the cost of materials and labor currently are. This helps if you are in an area that has seen and will see an increase in construction costs and property value.
You can reduce the premiums you pay on your homeowner’s insurance by setting up a security or alarm system. These security systems are generally inexpensive and help protect your home when you are away.
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.
Remember safety when you rent, to keep costs down on insurance. Installing fire extinguishers, fire detectors, security systems, etc. into your home can save you a lot of money on premium costs. It can save your life too, so get these items, learn about their usages, and keep them current.
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.
If you need to file a homeowner’s insurance claim, you’ll need to prove your losses. A good way to document your possessions is to take a video while walking through your house, describing the items. Then upload the video to a safe, non-public place online, so it won’t be destroyed if anything happens to your home. Scan receipts for your possessions, too.
Consider a home security system. Doing this could reduce the annual premium you pay by more than 5 percent! Just be sure that you are connected to a central station so everything will be documented.
When you buy real estate you need to be sure to purchase title insurance. It is a form of insurance which insures against financial losses due to defects in the title. The insurance company will defend the title in a possible lawsuit or reimburse the owner for his monetary loss. The insurance policy costs a few hundred dollars but in case of a lawsuit it can provide you with the protection you need.
Guaranteed Replacement Value
Even if a person is trespassing, the burden of liability still falls on your shoulders if they hurt themselves while on your property. It is a sad state of affairs when a criminal trespasser can sue you. Never forget your need for solid homeowner’s insurance.
Always select guaranteed replacement value home insurance. This type of insurance policy ensures that your home will be rebuilt, no matter what the cost, in the event of a disaster. This is important as the cost of building a new home tends to increase yearly. Without a guaranteed replacement value policy, if disaster does strike your insurance company may not provide you with enough money to rebuild your home.
Do not be confused with the various types of coverage out there. Just remember that you need solid protection for your home and what’s inside of it. If you follow the tips in the article above, you will be able to find a solid policy that provides ample coverage for your home without breaking the bank.
Guaranteed replacement value must be part of your insurance policy. Replacement costs from damage and destruction are covered by this insurance.