ll homeowners are looking credit score would have nothing
for ways to reduce our home to do with insurance rates, it is
insurance costs. Costs a fact that they do. Home
continue to rise and budgets get Insurance companies are using
tighter and tighter with each your credit score as an indicator
passing year. Here are 8 tips to of responsibility. The theory is
reduce your home insurance costs. the more responsible the
individual the less claims they
will have. So, insurance
1. Increased Home Security companies are giving lower rates
to those individuals with a
Most homes are fitted with some better credit score.
sort of security device. To make
the most of your Home Security 3. Consolidate your policies.
Discount make sure that you home
is fitted with: dead bolt locks, Most, if not all companies that
smoke detectors, fire sell home insurance, offer
extinguishers and a burglar and discounts for insuring your autos
fire alarm that are monitored. with them. These discounts can
You do not have to have all of sometimes save you up to 30% off
these to receive a discount on of your total insurance bill.
your home insurance so even if Plus, you get the added
you only have one or two make convenience of having one agent
sure that you ask for the for both your home and auto
savings. insurances.
2. Keep your credit score as high 4. Protect your home with
as possible. updates.
While it would seem that a good Discuss with your agent about the
possibilities of receiving home Companies will not pay more than
insurance discounts for keeping what it is going to cost to
your home in good repair. Some rebuild the home anyway, so make
home insurance companies will sure you are insured correctly.
offer savings for a anew roof,
electrical, HVAC, plumbing 6. Stay away from low
updates. The discounts are deductibles.
generally not enough to warrant
the replacement but if you needed The deductible is your portion of
it anyway, be sure to get the the claim that must be paid
discounts if applicable. before the insurance company pays
for the claim. The lower your
5. Make sure you are not over deductible, the higher your
insured. premium will be. Deductibles can
range anywhere from $100-$5000 or
Your home insurance coverage more. The majority of homeowners
should not necessarily be what will carry a $500 deductible, but
you paid for them home. Land the savings one can receive by
values are calculated into the raising your deductible to $1000
final sales price and should be can be significant, up to 20%. It
considered when insuring the doesn't take too many claim free
structure. In others words you years to make up the difference
cannot hurt the dirt. A good idea between the two deductibles, but
is to call local builders and ask remember you should never raise
them what new home construction your deductible to a level that
cost per square foot is going you could not afford to pay.
for. Take that number, multiply
that times your square footage 7. Ask your Home Insurance Agent
and that is the amount that your
home should be insured for. Most of the time, an agent will
make sure that you are receiving easier. Companies like ours at
100% of the home insurance HometownQuotes.com (yes, I am
discounts that you qualify for, biased) have given you the
but it doesn't hurt to ask. Some ability to get multiple home
insurance companies have insurance quotes by filling out a
discounts that others do not. form that takes about five
Some offer discounts that most minutes to complete. Also be
would never dream as being a aware that not all insurance
discount such as 55 and retired, companies are created equal.
non smoking, military service, There are some bad ones out there
law enforcement, single parent but most, at worst, are pretty
discounts, etc. good. Getting the best price is
great, but check up on the
8. Don't be afraid to shop Around company offering you that price
at reputable insurance rating
sites like Moodys.com or
Home Insurance shopping is easy. AMBest.com.
Insurance shopping online is even
About the Author:
Matt McWilliams is one of the co-founders of HometownQuotes.Com, an online insurance quotes web site. He is considered an expert in the field of online insurance shopping and finding new ways to help consumers save money on their insurance. For more information visit: http://www.HometownQuotes.com
Source: www.isnare.com
