Tips For Protecting Your Investment With Home Owner’s Insurance

When purchasing a new home it is important to buy the kind of home owner’s insurance that you need. The amount and type of coverage you need may vary due to the location of your home and the surrounding terrain. Read this advice on how to make the best decision on purchasing insurance.

To lower the amount you are paying in home owner’s insurance, take an audit of your home and the items in it annually. Every year, homeowners pay too much in insurance compared to the actual value of the items in the home. This is especially true for insurance covering appliances, technology and other valuables that have values that quickly depreciate. Be sure to update your policy to reflect today’s values.

When getting homeowners or renters insurance make sure you tell your insurance agent to add an addendum for flood and water damage. Most policies do not cover water damage unless it is added to the policy. Even if you don’t live in a flood zone, your home can suffer water damage from extreme weather and after a fire.

Make sure to take inventory when filing a claim in regards to your home owner’s insurance policy. You need to both prove ownership of specific items and have their worth verified. This is much easier when you actually have your items. Try filming your home with a video camera for proof. Go through every room, and quickly get all the items you own on tape. Get footage of the attic, basement, and any closets or storage lockers too.

If you have your home paid off and don’t have any liens on it, you may want to ask your insurance company if they offer a discount for that. If you are lucky enough to have your home paid off, you may receive a discount because of this if your insurance company offers it.

Not cleaning your gutters can lead to costly roof and wall repairs, which will either come out of your pocket or end up as a claim on your home owner’s insurance. If you choose the later route to finance them, you could end up with a large increase in your premiums. Have your gutters inspected every year!

All apartments should be equipped with a smoke alarm or two. If your apartment does not have one, you can pick one up for very little money, and it will save you some money on your renter’s insurance policy. It could save your life as well as saving you money.

If you are looking to lower your homeowner’s insurance premium, you may want to consider installing a burglar alarm. An alarm monitored by a central location or through your local police may lower your annual premiums by five percent or more. Show proof of this to your insurance company, and begin seeing the benefits of lower premiums.

Buying the right kind of home owner’s insurance could save you a lot of headache in the future. Since the needs of your home can vary on where you live, it is important to shop around. You will also need great advice on home owner’s insurance. Use the tips in this article to succeed at buying what you need.