A lot of reports discuss how to save money on your home insurance. The problem with many of those reports is the suggestions provided only translate into savings of $20 or so a year.
We want to give you five tips to save hundreds of dollars on your policy.
The best part is our suggestions don’t have anything to do with eliminating coverages or decreasing limits.
1. Watch Your Credit
Most insurance companies now use credit as one of the primary factors in determining your premiums. The higher your credit score, the less you pay in premiums. Insurance companies do this because insurance studies show a strong correlation between your credit score and the likelihood of filing a claim.
For those people who may have had a hardship that negatively affected their credit, some insurance companies will consider a life event exception. Make sure you talk to your agent if you’ve had an event that would qualify.
2. When Purchasing a Home, Factor in the Cost of Insurance
If you are purchasing a new home, there are a few simple things you can look for that can drastically reduce your insurance premiums.
-How old are the electrical, heating, and plumbing systems in the home?
If any of those systems are more than ten years old, there is a perfect chance you will be paying more in premium.
-Are the home’s construction materials the best suited for the climate or area?
For example, if you live in an earthquake-prone area, a frame house has a greater probability of withstanding the disaster than other types of construction. Your insurance premium will reflect that information.
-What type of fire department does the area have?
Is the fire department fully staffed, or is it a volunteer department? How far away are you from a fire hydrant and the fire station? How long would it take for the fire department to respond to an emergency call? These questions will affect the premium pricing.
-Is the area prone to floods, landslides, earthquakes, or hurricanes?
If it is, a standard homeowners insurance policy will be insufficient. You will probably need to purchase a flood or earthquake policy, which will cause your insurance premiums to escalate quickly.
-Do you know if the home has experienced claims in the past?
By looking at a C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report, you can see what types of claims the property has experienced.
3. Ask About Discounts
Most carriers have several discounts available if you qualify. It is always good practice to confirm with your agent that you are receiving the maximum number of discounts available.
Here are some of the most common discounts:
- Auto and Home Insurance with the same company
- Mature homeowner (age 55+)
- Being a member of a particular association or employer
- Fire Detection or Sprinkler System
- Alarm System
4. Make Your Home Disaster/Claim Resistant
While we are trying to focus this report on ways to save money, there are a few home improvement tips that could save you thousands during the time you own your home. While you may have to incur some upfront costs for the changes, these two improvements can save you a lot of money:
Secure Your Home. Installing an alarm system, deadbolt locks, and home security cameras can significantly reduce the chances of burglary in your home, decreasing your insurance premiums.
Disaster Proof Your Home. Adding storm shutters, more robust roofing materials, or retrofitting your home can protect it from a significant claim in a weather-related disaster. It will also decrease your annual insurance costs.
5. Pay the Policy in Full
Many insurance companies now offer significant discounts (10 – 15% off the total premium) if you pay for the policy in full rather than dividing it into monthly payments. Also, by paying the policy in full, you avoid monthly service charges that add $7 – $15 to each bill.
When you take those two things into account, you can save a few hundred dollars by just paying for the entire policy upfront.
Most agents are used to providing their clients with a monthly payment option, so be sure to ask what kind of discount you will receive when you pay for the policy in full. Also, ask your agent how much an installment fee is charged on each bill if you choose the monthly payment option.
