Homeowners Insurance: Buying Home Insurance
If you plan to buy a home or condo, you must have Home owner insurance. Not only does it protect your home investment, it is also a requirement when you buy a house and lot through mortgage.
Home insurance is a protection given to your house in case it is damaged or needs repair.
One effective way in buying a condo insurance, another term for home insurance is to inquire first at your existing insurance company, whether it is life insurance or car insurance.
Some insurance companies have different types of insurance policies. Moreover, many insurance companies grant discounts if you buy several insurance policies with them.
There are many types of coverage to choose in buying home owner insurance. HO-1 is the basic type to protect your property from 11 threats which include fire, vandalism, lightning, theft, major breakage and overflow of water from plumbing. The HO-5 policy covers everything except flood, war and earthquakes.
If you need to insure your house from natural disasters, you need to buy a separate condo insurance. Another consideration before buying your home insurance policies is to make an estimate on how much it would cost for you to rebuild your house in case it is damaged or destroyed.
The insurance company has its own guidelines to estimate the replacement expenses together with the corresponding premiums. Of course, the higher the replacement expenses, the higher the premium.
The premiums for your home owner insurance also differ depending on where you live, the value of your house, your length of stay in your house, and the number of insurance claims in your neighborhood. So better to shop around and compare home insurance providers.
If you want to save on your condo insurance, look for ways that can help get lower premium. For example, you can install effective security system, fire protection system and maintaining a 100 feet around your home.
If your neighborhood is prone to flood, your basement and its furnishing are not covered unless you have a separate flood insurance. In other words, know your major risks and do something about it to make it disaster-resistant.
Depending on your insurance company, there are policies that cover the contents of your house. Know which items are part of the home owners insurance. These can be any valuable items such as jewelry, expensive equipment, computers, artworks and more.
There are also riders that you can add on to cover your living expenses when you have to stay somewhere while your house is on reconstruction. Another coverage that you should check is your liability in case a guest is injured by slipping off your stairs. There is a type of condo insurance that covers liability expenses while you are away.
Increase your deductible. It can save you up to 25% over a 5-year or 7-year period. When you pay the lower deductible on your home owner insurance, you are only wasting your money particularly when you have never filed a claim [because you never meet the deductible].
Finally, you have to maintain a good credit rating. When the insurance company knows that you have good credit standing [by paying your bills on time], you may get good premium rates for your home owner insurance.
Homeowners Insurance: Fire Safety Tips
As the weather cools and families spend more time indoors, the risk for home fires increases this time of year. Appropriately enough, October is Fire Safety Month according to the Home Safety Council. Here are some of the top recommended tips for preventing fires in the home this season:
Cooking is the most common cause of residential fires, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Although it may not seem like a big deal to leave the room for a few minutes while cooking, its never a good idea. It only takes a few seconds for a simmering dinner to turn into a charred kitchen. Make sure when cooking that flammable objects are kept far away from gas and electric stove tops including dish rags, paper towels, etc. Also, never leave children unattended in the kitchen while food is being prepared.
Someone is injured in a fire every 30 minutes in the United States. And every 158 minutes, a fire related death occurs.
-CDC- Fire Deaths and Injuries Fact Sheet
Smoking is the leading cause of fire related deaths. Of course your best bet is to quit. However, if you must smoke, do it carefully. Smoke outdoors and purchase fire-safe cigarettes if possible. Always use an ash tray to extinguish your cigarettes and make sure there are no warm embers in the ashtray before emptying in the trash.
Heating: If you have a furnace, it is recommended that you get it inspected by a professional at least once a year before the winter season. A heating and air professional will be able to tell you if you need your furnace cleaned or repaired. If you have a fireplace in your home, be sure to have your chimney cleaned once a year to avoid chimney fires. Also, make sure the area in your home in front of your fireplace is clear of furniture, drapery or any other flammable objects. If you use space heaters in your home, be sure they have been safety inspected and never leave them on when you are not in the room. Again, keep them away from flammable objects.
Candlesare popular around the holiday season but extra precaution should be taken whenever you have candles in your home. First of all, electric candles are much safer and should be used whenever possible. However, if you must opt for the real thing make sure you keep the candles in a safe place where they cannot ignite other objects. Also, make sure to blow out candles before leaving the home or going to bed for the night.
Other Tips:
Test your smoke and fire alarms to ensure they are functioning correctly Plan a fire evacuation plan with your family
Homeowners Insurance: Top 5 Questions About Homeowners Insurance
Got homeowners insurance questions? Here are the top five homeowners insurance questions complete with answers.
What does homeowners insurance cover?
Homeowners insurance protects your home and your personal possessions from damage due to fire, lightning, burglary, vandalism, and acts of nature. It also protects you against liability lawsuits if someone is hurt in your home and they sue you.
How much insurance do I need?
You need enough homeowners insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding yourcheapest homeowners insurance policy home if its destroyed, to replace your personal possessions if theyre damaged, and to protect you from liability lawsuits.
To assess how much home coverage you need, get the square-foot building costs in your area from a builder or a realtor, then multiply that figure by your homes square footage. For coverage for your personal possessions, take an inventory on everything you own and use the total value. And for liability insurance, figure enough coverage to protect your assets in the event youre sued.
What about flood and earthquake insurance?
Most standard homeowners policies do not provide flood or earthquake coverage. If you live in a flood or earthquake zone youll need to get additional insurance.
Where can I get cheap homeowners insurance?
Insurance premiums can vary by hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year from one company to another, so the best way to get cheap homeowners insurance is to comparison shop. www.InsuranceBestPrices.com enables visitors to easily comparison shop the top insurers in the industry, helping them to secure the most coverage for the lowest cost.
How do I find a good insurance company?
Most states maintain a department of insurance website that provides a host of consumer information, including claims that have been filed against insurance companies. Also visit the Resources page of InsuranceBestPrices.com for some great online tools to help you find the best insurance coverage for your home.
J.D. Power & Associates rates homeowners insurance companies based on input from customers who own insurance policies with those companies. These ratings give you a good idea of how an insurance company treats its customers and how it pays its claims.
Homeowners Insurance:Frequently Asked Questions
It might happen that you are a new homeowner and want to insure your home but dont know about Homeowners insurance. You might take advice of an insurance broker, but at the same time you should also have some elementary knowledge as well.
Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers that might give you some guidelines about Homeowners Insurance.
Q.1 How can I find the right homeowners insurance?
Answer: Internet is the best option to get the right homeowners insurance. You can find online homeowners insurance quote and can make a comparative study to get the best deal
Q 2. How can I find the best home insurance rates?
Answer: You can request for an online home insurance quote. A comparison of all collected information will help you a great deal to find best homeowners insurance rates.
Q 3. How the security of my house affect home insurance rate?
Answer: Some of the home insurance companies are associated with security companies. If you install in your home modern security facilities like burglar alarms, home video camera, fire alarms and deck-bolt locks to assure additional safety, the insurance companies will give you discount on the home insurance rates.
Q 4. How smoking is related with premiums?
Answer: Smoking is the one of the main causes for residential fires. If all the family members are non-smokers then some insurance companies offer to reduce premiums.
Q 5. Can I get discount, if I am pensioner?
Answer: Yes, of course you can. Some home insurance companies provide discount for senior citizens of the country. If your age is more than 55 and you are a pensioner, then you are qualified for a discount of 10 to 15 percent.
Q 6. Can purchasing more than one insurance policy from the same company help me?
Answer:Buying homeowners insurance policy and auto policy from the same insurance will surely help you getting low rate insurance.
Q 7. Will my rate grow up if I file insurance claim?
Answer: One insurance claim will probably not affect the rate but more than one will surely grow up your rate.
Homeowners Insurance: Tips For Getting The Best Quotes
Once you have found the home that you would like to buy and have begun the process of closing on the house, you will need to begin searching for a Homeowners insurance policy that meets your needs and your budget.
Depending on the part of the country you plan to live in, the size of the home being purchased, and the amount of theft prone possessions inside, insurance price quotes can vary greatly. But most price quotes from a private insurance company will fall between $300 and $1500 a year.
Hopefully you are working with a helpful realtor who has already informed you of the importance of shopping around for Homeowners insurance price quotes before deciding on a coverage plan that is right for you.
If a realtor has not told you already, it is best to call at least three different insurance companies to get price quotes for your home. You may already have an insurance company in mind, possibly one that handles your parents’ insurance needs or one that already handles your car or life insurance.
If you don’t already have an insurance company then don’t be afraid to simply search online or through the telephone book for insurance companies. You may also recognize names from advertisements. Feel free to use these names as a starting point for a price quote.
Whichever insurance companies you decide to begin your search with, make sure you get at least three different price quotes from three different agencies before settling on the best quote for your home.
Before you begin calling the insurance agencies regarding a price quote, it is best to have hard knowledge about the home you are purchasing. This includes the current appraisal value of the home or an estimate from before the house was put up for sale.
You will also want to have a list of the dimensions of the home and the amenities inside the home, such as the square footage of each room and any special flooring, countertops or architectural design that adds to the value of the home.
As well, before you get started have a list of belongings that will add value to the home, such as appliances, furniture, jewelry and any major artwork or collectors items. Having all of this information ready can speed up the rate quote process.
With the advent of technology and computers, many major home insurance companies have begun placing information for quick 10-15 minute rate quotes online. This frees you up from having to speak to a representative on the phone, who may be trying to talk you into insurance that you don’t need.
Many of these websites also provide information explaining different types of insurance, so you can feel free to sit and read over the information without feeling as though you are asking too many questions.
Some of the major insurance companies that have information available online, as well as quick rate quotes for Homeowners insurance include Allstate, State Farm, Liberty Mutual, and Travelers insurance companies. Of course there are several other insurance companies available online, so take time to research these companies if you have access to a computer and the Internet.
If you have tried several insurance companies and still aren’t happy with the price quotes being offered, try switching up the details of the plan. Before locking yourself into an insurance rate you are unhappy with, ask about changing the deductible, the coverage costs or even the personal liability insurance.
It really is a personal preference as to how much insurance is enough insurance for your family, so keep in mind that if you feel like you can’t afford the price quotes being offered, there are ways to make payments more manageable.
One of the best ways to manage the yearly payment of Homeowners insurance is simply to increase the deductible, or the amount the homeowner will pay before the insurance company steps in and begins paying for damages or loss. Most insurance companies will require a minimum deductible of either $250 or $500 but the homeowner can easily change that deductible to $750 or $1000 to reduce the annual payment.
If this still doesn’t work in giving you a fair price quote, speak to the insurance agent and ask for options regarding reducing the rate. If you give them a ballpark figure of how much insurance you can afford a year, most often they will work to help you attain these figures.
You may even want to consider adding security or fire safety features to the home, if that insurance company offers a discount for these features. Although it may cost a bit of money out of your pocket to add these features, it will save your insurance premium in the long run.
What Is Homeowners Insurance?
Homeowners Insurance provides you with the coverage in case of a disaster.
In the event of a disaster your homeowners insurance will provide you with financial protection. A homeowners insurance policy insures the home in which you live along with the possessions you keep in it.
Home Insurance is a Package Policy
Homeowners insurance is purchased in a package policy. A package policy means that it covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or a member of your household cause to other people. Homeowners insurance also covers damage caused by household pets.
A homeowners insurance policy covers most disasters, however there are some exceptions such as floods, earthquakes and poor maintenance (Also known as wear and tear). If you want coverage for floods or earthquakes, you will have to purchase separate policies. However, maintenance related problems are the homeowners responsibility to take care of. In fact, keeping up with the maintenance of your home will help to reduce the likelihood of a loss in the future. A good example of this is the replacement of a roof that is showing signs of wear.
Overall it is very important to have homeowners insurance coverage that suits your specific needs. You never know when a loss is going to occur and you are going to need the money to fix it. Take Hurricane Katrina for example; there were many of people that were without homes because they didnt have flood insurance. That is why it is very important that you get the proper coverage.
Remember that standard homeowners policies do not cover flooding so you will have to purchase that separate through your homeowners insurance agent. Discuss all of the possible exposures with your agent, broker, or insurance company.
Replacement Cost
Replacement cost coverage is available for the structure of your home; This allows you to repair the home to the state that it was before the damage took place. Actual cash value coverage is replacement cost less depreciation. The older your possessions are, the less you will recover from the homeowners insurance company.
Renters Insurance
Not only is insurance coverage available for homeowners it is also available for the people who rent apartments or houses. If you rent a house and you have a renters insurance policy, you will be covered in the event of a loss. The coverage for a renter is relatively inexpensive and will cover your property, your liability, and loss of use of the home due to a covered loss.
Coverage Types
The standard homeowners insurance policy includes four different types of coverage.
1) The coverage for the structure of your home is offered by the homeowners insurance company. This means that they will repair or rebuild your home in the event of a covered loss.
2) The coverage for your personal belongings that you have in your home is also covered by the homeowners insurance company. This means in the event of a claim that is covered by your insurance policy, your personal belongings will be able to be replaced. Note: It is a good idea to carry replacement cost coverage for your contents. This way, your items are not depreciated if there is a loss. With replacement cost coverage, your property can be replaced with items of like kind and quality.
3) Liability protection covers you in case of a law suit against bodily injury or property damage that you are your family members caused to another party.
4) Additional living expenses if you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of an insured disaster.
There can be more to a home insurance policy and there are limitations for certain types of property. It is best to discuss these options with a representative at the time your are applying for coverage.
Factors That Affect Cost of Home Insurance Premiums
Location.
In purchasing a business or real estate we have already heard the primary factor to take into account is location, location, location. It is also an item that homeowners Insurance companies take into account. If the area has a history of crime, fires, hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters, you will be looking at increased premiums. Over time they can add up to a considerable sum.
Age of Dwelling.
The age of the home is taken into consideration because many older homes have outdated electric and heating systems. The older wiring throughout the house does not meet many of the electrical codes that are required in newer homes and the heating units do not have the safety features of today’s systems. As a result the possibility of fire and damage are greater and yes, you guessed it, higher premiums.
Type of construction.
The material that your house is mainly constructed of will also be a factor in amount you pay for premiums. Remember the Three little Pigs? It was only the house made of brick that withstood the wolf’s huffing and puffing. Likewise when it comes to houses withstanding damage, homes made of brick, block and masonry receive a better rating than those made of wood. Fire and wind damage are just naturally a greater possibility with a home constructed mainly of wood.
Fire protection.
Many factors are taken into consideration win the area of fire protection. The distance to a fire station, whether a fire dept. has up to date equipment, the training level of its firefighters, and finally that particular fire stations response history. I recently talked with a man whose father’s home burned to the ground because the fire department arrived 35 minutes after the call for help was sent out. (The fire station was less than five miles away.)
Number of living units.
Owning a townhouse or condo can mean a more expensive insurance policy. Multi-family dwellings cost more in premiums because although you may take all the steps to keep your dwelling in good repair and free from safety hazards, your neighbors may not be so conscientious and what affects one dwelling will in all likelihood affect the homes that closest to it.
Age of the Homeowner.
If you’re under the age of 55 and still working you’re out of luck in being considered for a discount. A “Mature Homeowners” discount is often available for those who are over 55 and retired.
The above are often factors that you have no control over, you can’t change your age, the age of your home, or the location of the fire station; they are what they are (unless of course your are in the market for a new home – then you can certainly be on the lookout for homes that lend themselves to cheaper homeowners insurance rates). However, there are some proactive measures that you can put into place in order to be eligible for discounts on your homeowners insurance policy.
COMMON HOME INSURANCE DISCOUNTS
Protective Devices. Installing different security devices can earn a discount on your premiums. A security alarm system that is hooked up to alert the local police station is considered a good deterrent to theft and will reduce the amount you pay in homeowner premiums. (Even installing dead bolts on all the outside exits will usually earn you a discount.) Also, fire protective devices such as smoke alarms, sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers are all items that qualify you for a discount.
Consolidating Your Insurance Needs. Many Homeowners Insurance companies also offer Auto Insurance. Almost all of them will offer you a nice sized discount if you will insure your autos along with your home with them. An added advantage for you is that you are dealing with a single insurance agency.
Keep a Good Credit History. Advertising in all the different forms of media are constantly bringing to our attention the necessity of having a good credit history and the need to frequently check on its standing. However, there may be certain aspects of maintaining a good credit history that you may not be aware of. You should not apply for too much credit. Credit that is checked several times in a short period of time can make your credit look bad. If you’ve just moved into an area and there are suddenly numerous stores you’ve never had access to before, be careful about going hog wild in acquiring their charge cards. Also, gas and airlines offering you perks for using their card mean more credit checks. Strangely enough, or should I say fortunately, credit checks made by insurance companies have no ill effect on your credit rating. By law (in most states) homeowners insurance companies are allowed to check your credit record, note whether you pay your bills on time and use that information to determine the cost of your insurance policy and even make a decision as to whether they will offer you coverage on your home. However, although some state laws allow homeowners insurance companies access to a person’s credit history, it does state that an insurer may not make a decision based solely on your credit report.
Take the Highest Deductible. By raising your deductible to $1,000 or $2,500 you can save as much as 20% on your premiums. If you’re willing to pay that higher deductible should the need arise, there’s a good chance you will come out ahead.
COMPARE DISCOUNTED HOME INSURANCE RATES
With the above information in mind, be sure to ask your insurer about the factors that could reduce your premiums. Questions are free and if they net you a discount that might otherwise have gone overlooked, who cares if the agent thinks you are a bit driven. After all, driven to find the best discount is a good thing. A timely put question could be just your ticket to the cheapest home insurance!
Be sure that you shop around as different companies offer different discounts. It is up to you to compare quotes and potential discounts to see how much you can save. After all, spending just a few moments doing your homework can result in $100′s or even $1,000′s in savings!
Homeowners Insurance Discounts
What are some of the best homeowners insurance discounts to take advantage of? How can one easily find a cheapest home insurance? Whether buying a car, shopping for furniture or paying for a college education, most everyone is looking for a discount of some sort. Knowing where to go, what to look for, and how to prepare are all essential in order to get the best deal. It is the same with finding discounts on a homeowners Insurance policy. With the proper knowledge and guidance in the direction you should go, you can take advantage of many discounts without sacrificing excellent coverage.
Often the time to best consider homeowners insurance is before you buy the house. Knowing what factors will affect the cost of your home insurance premiums can help you choose the right house that will allow you to purchase a very affordable homeowners insurance policy. Read on to learn some of the factors that will affect the cost of your home insurance policy and then learn some of the discounts that you can take utilize to lower your rate even further.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Homeowners Insurance Premiums.
A Quick Guide to Homeowners Insurance
At first glance, homeowners insurance may seem perplexing and quite overpowering. Understanding your policy is crucial to know what you are actually purchasing, and also an extremely important part of owning a home. A homeowners insurance policy provides financial security against disasters, as well as insures the home and the possessions kept within.
A basic homeowners insurance plan consists of four major types of coverage. These include: Home structure, coverage for personal belongings, liability protection, and living expenses in the event you cannot reside in your home as a result of an insured disaster.
Earthquakes and floods are not covered by standard insurance plans. To insure your home against these natural disasters, you will need to purchase a separate insurance policy. However, here is a list of catastrophes that are covered by homeowners insurance: fire, lightening, theft, vandalism, overflow of water from plumbing, just to name a few. You need to think ahead when purchasing homeowners insurance. When assessing the amount of coverage you should buy, think about how much it would cost to reconstruct your home if it were completely demolished.
All of your personal belonging are covered if they are stolen or ruined by an insured disaster. A majority of insurance companies will offer coverage for 50% to 70% of the sum of insurance you have placed on your home. Between $1,000 to $2,000 is allotted for expensive items such as furs and jewelry. Up to $500 coverage is also allowed for unauthorized use of credit cards.
Liability protection shields you against legal action for bodily harm or estate damage that was caused by you or family members. This part of the policy pays the expense of your defense in a court of law, and is supported throughout the world.
If you are unable to live in your home due to damage from an insured disaster, most homeowners insurance policies will pay for the additional expenses such as hotel fees and restaurant tabs, while your house is being reconstructed. However, coverage for these extra costs vary with each insurance company.
Get homeowner’s insurance quotes.
