Saturday, May 23, 2009

Cheap Home Insurance -- Seven Tips For Bigger Savings

By Chimezirim Odimba

We all want a very affordable rate if it comes with adequate coverage. But in what ways can this be achieved? You'll find several useful tips in this article...

A home that has a smoker or smokers will receive more expensive premiums. With over 23,000 residential fires being caused by smoking you'll agree that it's really a serious issue. Do your best to make sure no one smokes in your home and you'll attract more affordable rates. For folks who smoke, note that you're entitled to a downward review in your rate if you quit smoking for more than twelve months. Apart from if your insurer is one of the few that do NOT consider smoking as a factor in calculating your rate, change to another insurer if your rate is not reduced after this.

You will lower your home owners insurance premium by up to 15% if you change to modern heating, electrical and plumbing systems. For example, the old school fire place may be more romantic but it's nevertheless not as safe as a modern heating system. Strides have been made in house building technology. Doing this will lower your rates and will, more often than not, really increase the value of your home.

You might be amazed to hear that you might not be taking advantage of half the discounts that you could easily qualify for. Knowledge is vital to going out for what you're eligible for. Sit your agent down and demand that they tell you about all discounts that your insurer gives and how to qualify. In most cases, you will be pleasantly surprised at the hundreds of dollars you will save with unhyped discounts.

The material you use in the construction of your house has a big effect on your home owners insurance premium. Frame houses are more resistant to earthquakes while brick homes are more resistant to high winds. As a result, having a frame home in the East will definitely cost you much more in home insurance. On the other hand, those who live in the West will get lower rates if theirs is a frame home because of the earthquakes there. Building with the right material for your state will save you a minimum of 5%.

online home insurance quotes

You do NOT really have to insure your house against all kinds of peril. The probability of certain perils in your location is too low to make buying coverage for them necessary. Different states have perils that are likely and those that can rarely ever happen.

Make sure your home is insured against all all losses that have a reasonable chance of happening. Buying insurance for a peril that has never happened in a state can be regarded as waste. You'll only purchase necessary coverage if you secure yourself against real potential perils. This will lead to savings if you had too much coverage before doing the review.

A neighborhood watch will make your neighborhood safer and therefore help you get less expensive rates. Therefore, if you've got one in your community, let your agent know about it. And, if you do not have it in your neighborhood, you can initiate one. It will be easier than you think to convince your neighbors to initiate one if they are told how much they will save on home owner insurance besides the other benefits.

You will save much if you really have between 25-30 minutes. Visit, receive and compare home insurance quotes from selected insurance quotes sites. The cheapest quote should be what you pick easily.

Nevertheless, you have to look beyond just the lowest quote to the best price to value ratio. The cheapest may not be the best price/value for you as an individual.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment