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What Everyone Should Know About Home Owner's Insurance

By Claire P Remmington


Every time you turn on the TV, ride down the street, open a magazine or listen to the radio, you're seeing or hearing insurance companies push their products in your face. Find out the truth about how to save money on homeowners' insurance with these tips. Don't fall victim to the colorful campaigns.

Another way to get a discount on your home insurance is by having some form of fire safety in place. Smoke alarms are a good choice. While these are generally common in most current buildings, installing them in aging homes can save you about 10% or more in annual premiums. The other plus is that they can possibly save you if there's a fire.

If possible, pay your home insurance premiums annually. When you spread your payments over monthly or quarterly installments, insurance providers will normally charge you an admin fee and interest. By paying your home insurance in a one-off payment at the start of the year, you can avoid these extra expenses.

To decrease your insurance rates, upgrade your home appliances, heating and electrical systems. When these systems are newer, the cost to replace them, in the case of a claim, is less expensive than with older appliances and systems. Don't forget to call your home owner's insurance company if you recently upgraded. It could mean money in your pocket.

You may not think you need flood insurance if you live outside a high-risk flood area, but it may be a smart idea anyway. About one-quarter of the federal disaster claims made for flooding come from homes and residences outside of high-risk areas. You can also receive a substantial discount on flood insurance if you live in a low- or medium-risk area.

When buying a home don't forget to purchase flood insurance. Floods are not always covered by traditional homeowner's insurance, and recent events have made it clear that flooding can happen in places that aren't expected. Losing a home to flooding waters and the damage that results can be extremely upsetting; make sure that you have an insurance plan in place in case something happens.

Increase your coverage when you make significant changes or renovations to your home. Adding a bathroom or home theater increases the overall value of your home but also increases the expense to rebuild should your home be destroyed. After investing in a renovation or addition, make sure your investment is fully protected.

There are two things you can do to lower your home insurance premiums. First, install a security system. This will potentially reduce your annual premium by 5%. Bear in mind, that you must issue the insurance company with proof that you have a working security system, such as a contract or bill. Second, install smoke alarms throughout your home. This could save you as much as 10% per year.

One way to save on your home owner's insurance is to increase the amount of the deductible on your policy. Increasing your deductible can usually help bring your premiums down. Make sure, though, that in the case of a claim you are financially comfortable with paying the deductible amount you are choosing.




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