How To Choose The Correct Home Owner’s Insurance

Whether you’ve just purchased a home or are looking to update your policy, it’s important to have good homeowner’s insurance. Homeowner’s insurance protects you and your home from things like theft, natural damage, and accidents. In this article, you’ll find a selection of tips that anyone who needs homeowner’s insurance should know.

Take care of little issues within your home before they turn into major issues. Your homeowner’s insurance premium is based on the claims you file. If you don’t file any claims because you have prevented problems before they happen, then you won’t have to deal with your premium raising because of claims.

Because your home insurance more than likely covers your belongings, documenting your major assets is an important part of getting the most from your insurance. Simply taking your camera around the house, photographing your most valuable items, and then saving that information in a zip file, is an easy way to ensure that you get the most from your insurance plan should tragedy strike. Obviously, it is far harder to prove what you owned after it is gone.

Know your homeowner’s insurance policies about additional off-site living expenses. In many cases, though not all, your policy will cover the costs of living elsewhere if your home is so damaged that you have to live elsewhere. However, you will need every receipt to document these expenses in order to receive your settlement.

To decrease the amount of time it takes for your insurance company to pay you for losses or damage to your home, document your home’s contents ahead of time. In the aftermath of disaster, it can be difficult to remember everything you had and the insurance company will want a list. Take photos or video of your possessions, especially electronics. You should record all model and serial numbers. You can store this documentation in a fire-proof box in your home, but leaving a copy at a relative’s house or emailing one to yourself is a good idea, as well.

If your home is new or very recently built, check with your insurance company to see if you qualify for a discount based on the newness of the dwelling. Many home owner’s insurance carriers offer discounted rates on new construction because the home is less likely to have pre-existing problems or damage.

Don’t be shy about asking for discounts. Homeowners insurance companies have several discounts that aren’t widely published. Check to see if they have discounts for non-profit organizations or motor clubs, or for professional organizations and even the companies you work for. Sometimes you are able to get discounts by belonging to these organizations.

Review your homeowner’s insurance policy every year to make sure it still accurately reflects your situation. Keep track of additions or changes to your house that might call for discounts or premium reductions. Do not neglect your neighborhood, either. The installation of new services nearby (e.g. a new fire hydrant close to your house), may also call for lower insurance payments.

Homeowner’s insurance is essential for anyone who wants to own their own home. Now that you’ve read our tips, you have information you can use to find a great homeowner’s insurance policy. Don’t think of your insurance policy as a waste of money. Think of it as a way to protect one of your most valuable assets.