Saturday, November 28, 2009

Homeowner Insurance -- 7 Sure Tips


Contrary to what you might have thought, it's a lot easy to position yourself for a lower rate. The two things that are holding you from attracting a better rate now are relevant information and a determination to use the tips you get -- That's all. Following are a few things that will help you reach this goal...

1. Do not insure your home along with the land it is standing on as this will cost you more but very needless. People do this without knowing. You have made the same mistake if you insured your house for the price you bought it without checking the cost of the land it's standing on and deducting it.

For folks who've mistakenly done this, call your agent and check your home insurance coverage again. Subtract the land's price and you'll realize that you'll need far less coverage.

Your premium will be more affordable and you'll still have adequate coverage if you do this right. Since insurance is for things that can be lost or damaged, insuring the land which can neither be lost or damaged isn't a smart move.

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2. You'll spend more or less depending on your credit rating. Folks who have very good ratings spend far less than folks who have poor ratings. If your credit rating is bad then you've been missing important payments. This is a behavior that most insurance carriers believe will be exhibited in the way you handle your premiums. If you're considered a likely defaulter, it makes you a bigger risk and draws much higher rates than otherwise.

It will, therefore, be a good step to do something about making your credit rating better. Apart from the other benefits in doing so, it will ensure you get lower home insurance rates.

3. Choosing to pay your rates monthly leads to higher rates than you'd spend if you decide to pay yearly. An insurer sends 12 notices for monthly payments instead of one for annual payments. This costs them more.

As if that was NOT enough expense, each check they get attracts a transaction charge as well. 12 checks are 12 transactions which mean 12 different transaction charges. And as with every other thing, it is you the end user or insured who bears that cost.

Therefore choose yearly payments instead if you want to save through this means. The actual amount you could save might differ but you may be able to save up to a month's premium worth with most insurance companies if you choose this option.

4. Make sure that the exterior of your home is fire-safe and your premium will be lower. Do you have things that could easily help combustion close to your structure? They'll make you pay more. Even though cutting bushes around your house looks mundane, you will get lower premiums if you do maintain them at a distance of at least 10 feet from your building. This is because how fire-safe a home is goes a long way in determining what it will cost to insure it.

5. Motion-sensitive lighting reduces your home's risk of burglary and, as a result, makes it easier for you to get cheaper home insurance premiums. Your home becomes a no-go area for thieves since they'll be noticed easily. Your rate will be reduced you have lowered your home's risk of burglary through this type of lighting.

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6. Make sure every door that leads outside has dead-bolt locks. They will make it more difficult for burglars to get into your house. And as you know, the less the risk of burglary in a home, the cheaper premiums it will get.

7. Do you have locks on each of your windows? If you don't you'll be spending more because of that. You can take this to another level by fixing burglary-proof bars on them all. If you're not one of those folks who have a deep hatred for these kind of fittings, they'll get you huge discounts. If you are not one of those people who claim that having such makes them feel imprisoned in their own home, have them fixed if you intend to lower your home insurance premiums by a huge margin.
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