Homeowners Insurance in Houston
8 easy ways to save money on homeowners insurance
Protecting your home with homeowners insurance isn’t always cheap. The Insurance Information Institute puts the average cost of home insurance at $1,100 per year. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to save money on your home insurance.
Of course, your insurance would quickly prove that it’s worth every penny if you ever have a disaster or loss, but why not get the same coverage you enjoy now or the coverage that you’re looking for at a lower price? Here are our tips to help you lower your homeowners insurance premium.
1. Boost your credit score.
Okay, let us explain – your credit score has an effect on your home insurance rates. Insurance companies in many states use credit scores to determine how “risky” you are to insure. The better your credit score, the lower a risk you are and the lower your insurance rates will be. To improve your credit score, make sure to pay your bills on time. You can also pay off your credit cards. If you suspect there may be errors in your credit score, comb through your credit report and have any mistakes corrected.
2. Bundle your homeowners insurance and auto insurance.
Some home insurance companies will offer a discount if you get multiple policies, such as your homeowners insurance and auto insurance, from them. They’re flattered that you would buy more products from them, so they may reward you with a discount. If you’re happy with your home insurance company and think that you could switch your auto insurance to them, you may get some easy savings.
3. Go on a mission for discounts.
Each insurance company offers different discounts. If you’re lucky, you might qualify for some discounts that could knock some money off the price of your home insurance. Be sure to ask your agent if there are any ways that you can save. If you get a home insurance quote from an insurance agent or broker, politely inquire what discounts they can offer you.
4. Raise your deductible.
Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim before your insurance company will step in to start covering the rest. If you select a higher deductible or raise your deductible, you may get lower premiums from your insurance company because you’re less likely to file a small claim.
However, it’s a bit of a teeter-totter because you’ll have to pay more if you have a covered loss. You have to consider how much money you can realistically put towards a claim when you’re choosing your deductible. You don’t want to come up short if you have a claim, staring at an empty wallet. So, find the balance between deductible and premium that works for you.
5. Make your home safer.
By taking steps to make your home safer, you may be able to save money on your insurance. A few examples: insurance companies usually offer a discount if you have a home security system. They also like to see deadbolts. Updating your wiring system or replacing your roof with a more damage-resistant one might help you score some savings. But you don’t want to outsmart yourself – be sure to check how much the savings on your insurance will be and crunch some numbers before you do anything too drastic for the sake of saving on your premium. The savings have to be substantial enough to warrant the upgrades if you’re only doing it to save money on your insurance.
6. Keep your information up-to-date.
Your insurance company will probably want to know about any significant life changes such as a marriage, and these changes could have an effect on your home insurance rates. You may be able to get a discount of some sort. But it’s also important to keep your insurance agent updated so that they can help you ensure that you have enough insurance to fully protect your home.
7. Review your coverage needs and home insurance policy periodically.
It’s a good idea to review your home insurance needs at least once a year. Things change – the value of your home may have gone up if you did home improvements (meaning you could need more coverage) or you may have added safety features that qualify you for discounts. Taking a home inventory is also important so that you know how much coverage you need for your personal belongings. (Plus a home inventory will help you if you have a claim of fire or burglary.) Doing a policy checkup annually will help you make sure that your home insurance still fits your home.
8. Shop around for homeowners insurance rates.
It’s definitely a good idea to compare rates for home insurance. You never know what sort of deal or rate you might find, but since each company evaluates risk differently, you’ll get different rates from the various companies you get quotes from. So, you may be able to get the same coverage at a lower price – and that sounds like a plan!
You should see what coverage options and rates are out there, but remember that some insurance companies have loyalty programs that offer you benefits or discounts for staying with them. Be sure to check and see what your home insurance company offers for loyalty – it might be worthwhile to stay with them rather than jumping at the lowest rate you find, especially if you’re happy with your current company.
Source: insurancehub
Homeowners Insurance in Houston
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