10 Ways To Save Money On Your Homeowner Insurance Policy
It is so important to have the necessary home insurance to cover your property in the case of damage. You want to have enough to cover any possible damage. While you want to have enough insurance, it really should not be that expensive. This article will offer you ten different ways to save money on your homeowner's insurance.
A basic homeowner's policy covers you for loss against your home, your personal belongings and property, and for liability. You can buy different levels of coverage and you can also buy additional coverage for specific items such as jewelry or art work.
You will need to look through the policy before you purchase it. It is important to know what your policy entails and what is covered under it. You will need to read through the exclusions. At the very minimum, you should know what you are covered for so that you are not surprised if you need to file a claim.
Once you know what coverage you need, it's time to save some money. Follow these 10 tips to do just that.
1. Shop Around. Like with any purchase it pays to shop around. Ask friends and family for agents they have been pleased with. Check and compare homeowner insurance quotes online. Check with consumer agencies to find out a companies reputation.
2. Higher Deductibles. The higher your deductible the lower your premiums will be. This is a great way to save some money but you need to be smart about it! Don't choose a deductible that is more than you could afford to outlay. If you have a claim and cannot come up with your deductible your insurance will not kick in.
3. Combine Policies. If at all possible purchase your home, auto, health care, or any other policies you require from the same company. Often multiple policies can earn you up to 25% discount on all your policies.
4. Disaster Proof. Disaster proof your home so that you can earn additional discounts. Storm shutters, stronger roof materials, making your home earthquake proof can save you money. Check with your insurance agent to find out what upgrades would be beneficial.
The fifth point is home security. You can save between five and twenty percent every year when you have home security equipment put in. You can earn additional discounts for security when you install smoke detectors, dead bolts, sprinklers, and burglar alarms.
Six. It is important to have excellent credit. Your credit rating will effect the price that you pay for insurance. The insurance industry thinks that if you have excellent credit that you are a better customer. They think that it will mean that you are less likely to file any claims. It is important to maintain a good credit rating.
7. Be Consistent. Stick with the same insurance company. Staying with the same company will usually earn you a discount on your premiums. Most companies will give you a 5% discount after 3 years and a 10% discount after 6 years.
Eight. Make sure that you check your limits. It is important to pay close attention to the coverage that you have. This way you can determine if you have coverage that is unnecessary. It is also important to realize if your coverage is lacking. Are you still paying premiums on an expensive fur coat that you no longer own? Have you bought some expensive jewelry recently? Did you add it to your policy?
Investigate Before Buying. When looking for a house, be careful of those small items which can change the amount of your insurance payments. A fire plug located within a certain distance can lower your payments, while a nearby volunteer fire department can raise them. Some heating sources can raise your payments too, as can certain neighborhoods.
10. Go after the discounts that many insurance companies offer. They probably won't tell you about them, so make sure you ask. One example might be a discount of as much as 10% for seniors. Association memberships may also result in a discounted premium.
Your homeowner insurance policy should provide you with peace of mind that should you need to make a claim you will be covered. It deserves your time and effort to ensure you've got the best policy for your needs!
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Published January 10th, 2008
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