Introduction
Homeowner insurance is also known as hazard insurance or home insurance. It is a term property insurance that covers private/person homes. Home owner insurance combines several personal insurance protections like. losses at the insured home or even those that are caused by the homeowner, but are within the policy..
Home owner insurance requires that at least on of the named person in the policy occupies the insured home. Home owner insurance is a multiple line insurance in that, it covers property and liability at a certain premium. The cost of home owner insurance depends on what it would cost the insurer to replace the home in case a calamity stated in the policy occurs. None the less, home owner insurance is a necessity. In most cases, it would almost impossible to get a mortgage without a home owner insurance.
Step 1
Understand your area. Despite the materials used to build your home, the place and geographical conditions of where you live could have significant effect on the amount of home owner insurance premiums that you pay. It is quite obvious that home owners living in places that are prone to earthquakes, storms, hurricanes and other natural disasters will pay more premiums.
Step 2
Have a good credit history. Most home owner insurance providers offer low premium rates for people with a clean and good credit history. This is because, they are sure that they are dealing with a creditworthy person who will be faithful in paying the premiums. Before seeking a home owner insurance, get your credit report, go through it and make the necessary corrections.
Step 3
Raise your deductibles. Deductibles are the amount of expenses that the insured party will have to pay using his/her own money before the insurance company caters for the expenses. Each and every home owner has deductibles. The higher the amount of deductibles, the lower the amount of premium to be paid. But a high deductible also means absorbing the minor damages like leaking pipes and broken Windows.
Step 4
Make regular policy reviews and comparisons. The insured home owner should review the insurance policy at least once a year. This way, he/she is able to add any newly acquired items in the policy and also reduce the amount of certain things that might depreciated. These reviews and comparisons reduce the premium rates and keep your policy up to date with your home developments.
Step 5
Maintain a good security and safety system. Things like a burglary alarm and a smoke alarm that are monitored by the local police and fire stations respectively, will not only ensure the home owners safety but also reduce the amount of monthly premiums he/she will be expected to pay. They reduce the premium rates with about 5-10 percent or more. However, the home owner will have to produce proof of central monitoring by the relevant stations.
Step 6
Embrace preventive maintenance. The home owner insurance is meant to replace and repair the insured property in case a major loss occurs. An insured home owner who files many minor damages claims might suffer an increase in the premium rates. It is therefore important to always ensure that you take care of small issues like leaking drainage quickly. This will help to reduce losses and the depreciation rate of your home.
Step 7
Pay off your mortgage. Most homeowner have mortgage balances that are yet to be paid. But it is obvious that insured home owners who pay off their mortgages end up pay less premium than those with unsettled mortgage and other credit balances. This is because the insurer assumes that a home owner will take better care of the home if it is fully his/hers.
Step 8
Compare what different insurers are offering. There are states that provide information about home owner insurance companies and their rates to the interested state members. The Internet a lot of helpful information about the different home owner insurance companies. It would also be wise to seek advice from trusted friends and family members who have home owner insurance. This will help greatly in selecting the right insurer who will offer a fair deal and deliver quality services that satisfy your expectations.
Step 9
Look for a complete home coverage. A standard home owner insurance policy only covers the structures of your home and selected personal belongings. It does not cover high value possessions like jewelry and coin collections. If you have certain things that value and would like to insure, it would be good to purchase a personal articles floater that will insure the things that you value and are not covered by the standard home owner insurance policy.
Step 10
Get the facts. When you plan to insure your home, get the relevant facts like the age of plumbing system, electrical system and other essential systems. This will assist you in determining the amount of insurance you are expected to pay. This will make easier for you to know a genuine insurer and one who may be out to exploit you by charging higher premiums when not necessary.
Home owner insurance may be expensive to acquire but in the long run it is definitely something worth having. This is because:
- Your huge investment is protected: with a good home owner insurance policy, you will never have any worries that anything bad might happen to your home. In case any thing happens to your home, you will well compensated.
- You are able to protect your home at low premium rates: generally, home insurance is not as expensive as other types of insurance polices. But it all depends with the type of home to be insured and its location.
- It helps to reduce the damage expenses: in case a major damage occurs in your home, your insurer will always be there to repair it without having to use your money. This helps to reduce the stress of having to deal with such conditions even when you do not have enough money.
The above benefits should motivate each home owner to buy the best available home owner insurance and protect the huge and probably best investment the home owner has ever made.
Sources and Citations
Hunt, Jr. FJ. (1962). Homeowners - The First Decade
Willis G. (2006). Getting homeowners insurance 5 Tips Home Edition: What to do if you have no coverage.
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