If you own a home, you want to protect your investment with home insurance. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The following five tips can help you save.
1. Be selective when buying a home
Certain homes cost more to insure. To save on home insurance, research the potential cost involved before you make an offer on a home. For example, you may want to avoid buying a home that is situated in a floodplain if it means you’ll have to extra to buy flood insurance.
2. Shop around
You can often save on home insurance simply by taking the time to compare rates. Shop around to see which insurance company can offer you the best deal. Don’t choose a company just because you’ve always used them. Find out which one offers the best rates and has the best customer satisfaction.
3. Use the same company for auto and home
If you use the same company for both your auto and home insurance policies, you may be able to get a discount on your home insurance. Be sure to discuss this with your insurance company.
4. Improve your security and safety
Many insurance companies offer discounts for adding safety features to your home. For example, there’s a good chance you can obtain a better rate on your home insurance if you install a home security system. Ask your insurance company if this is the case.
5. Don’t over-insure
You can save on home insurance by not over-insuring your home. Remember, you don’t need to insure the value of the land, just the value of the home. Also, if any of your possessions are included in your policy, make sure they have maintained the value for which they are insured and that they are something you actually still own. Do a yearly check of your policy to make sure that it is accurate and still fits your insurance needs.
Be patient and do your homework. A little legwork can really pay off when trying to save on home insurance.
Published on January 16, 2007