Your home is likely to be the biggest asset you will ever
have, so protecting it against disaster makes perfect sense.
In fact, if you have a mortgage you won't have a choice - your
lender will require you to have insurance to cover the cost of
rebuilding your home in the event of a fire or other crucial
damage. Don’t rely on the coverage levels mandated by your
bank or mortgage company. Those levels are designed to protect
the house itself, but not necessarily your possessions. That’s
why it’s important to check with your agent or insurance
company, to make sure you have adequate coverage.
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Consider the following
homeowners insurance suggestions and tips:
1. Shop around. But don't consider price alone. The
insurer of your choice should offer a fair price and deliver the
quality service you would expect if you needed assistance in
filing a claim.
2. Raise your deductible. The higher your deductible,
the more money you can save on your premiums.
3. Buy your home and auto policy from the same insurer.
We will give you 18% percent discount on auto and 10%
discount on home insurance.
4. Do not use your insurance policy as a "maintenance
policy." If little things are broken try to fix them
yourself. Filing several small claims may cause your rates to
rise or have your policy canceled. Be aware of the importance
of monitoring home maintenance issues.
5. Invest in your home security. You can usually get
discounts for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt
locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as
15 or 20 percent if you install a sprinkler system and a fire
and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other
monitoring stations.
6. Do not miss a discount. Companies offer several
types of discounts, but they don't all offer the same
discounts in California. That's why you should ask your
agent or company representative about any discounts available
to you. For example, since retired people stay at home more
than working people, they are less likely to be burglarized
and may spot fires sooner. Retired people also have more time
for maintaining their homes. If you're at least 55 years old
and retired, you qualify for a good discount at some
companies.
7. Be a prudent homeowner.
- Keep your property free of hazards that might damage
your house.
- Stop smoking. Smoking accidents account for more than
23,000 residential fires every year. Some insurers offer to
reduce premiums if no one in the home smokes.
- Be a responsible dog owner. 40% of Americans homes
have a dog. There are 4 million dog bites per year, and dog
bites create 33% of all homeowner liability claims - resulting
in more than $1 billion in claims per year. So, Train your dog
and Keep your dog on a leash when walking.
- Safeguard your home. Take action to make your home
theft-resistant. Install exterior lights that are out of reach
and triggered by motion. Trim trees and shrubs near doors and
windows. Don't hide house keys outside. Consider investing in
a security system.
- When you're on vacation: Have mail and newspapers
picked up. Leave blinds in normal positions. Arrange to have
your lawn
mowed or your driveway shoveled. Tell police and neighbors
that you will be away and ask them to watch your home.
8. Be loyal to the insurer. If you've kept your
coverage with a company for several years, you may receive a
special discount for being a long-term policyholder.
9. Review the limits in your policy and the value of your
possessions at least once a year. You want your policy to
reflect the value of your home and belongings.
10. When you are buying a home, consider the cost of
insurance. Choosing wisely could cut your premiums by 5
to 15 percent. Before you make the final decision on
purchasing a home, call your insurance agent and ask them to
check the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, or CLUE
report. This keeps track of claims filed on homes and lists 27
different kinds of losses. If the previous owner filed too
many insurance claims, it could cause your rates to be higher.
11. Be aware of the risks not covered. Read your
insurance policy to find out exactly what is and is not
covered. Flood insurance
and earthquake damage are not covered by a standard homeowners
policy.
12. Protect your home business. Home businesses are
generally not covered under your homeowners insurance policy.
You may have only limited property coverage and no liability
coverage for your business under your homeowners policy.
Research coverage for property and equipment damage or theft,
loss of income, and general liability for customer and
supplier injuries.
By The Way: More than 40 percent of consumers
would like their homeowners insurance carrier to offer
coverage for identity theft,
according to a study released by J.D. Power and Associates.
We have it available just at the cost of $12 a year.
The study also finds that a large proportion of homeowners
do not carry enough insurance to rebuild their homes if
destroyed, with more than 25 percent of homeowners believing
they are underinsured.
Twenty-six percent of homeowners think they have a
guaranteed replacement cost policy, while 25 percent do not
know what kind of policy they have. Approximately 50 percent
of homeowners incorrectly believe the insurance company or
their agent -- not themselves -- bear the responsibility for
determining the replacement cost of their home and its
contents
