Saving on Homeowners Insurance

February 19, 2010 – 11:11 am

Your home is your most important asset. It provides shelter for you and your family. It is filled with memories and objects that you have gathered over the years. That’s why it is important to make sure your home is properly insured. You want to protect your most important asset in case of fire, accidents, storms, theft or property damage. A good insurance policy will provide this protection.

One reason it may not have adequate coverage is the recent economic crisis, which is understandable. But what does not make sense is what will happen if a disaster does destroy your home. Then what financial shape will your family be in?

There are ways you can save on your home insurance costs. First of all, you can raise your insurance deductible. Just raising the deductible to the next highest level can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your insurance premiums. You are still covered, yet you are spending less for insurance. Just make sure you can meet the deductible in case something happens and you need to file an insurance claim.

Second, make sure your home is equipped with protective devices, such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, burglar alarms or sprinklers. Not only will these devices protect you and your family, they will also get you a discount on your home insurance premiums.

Third, purchase more than one insurance policy from the same provider. You can buy auto, home and life insurance from one provider, allowing that provider to “bundle” the policies and give you a hefty discount on all insurance policies. This is a great way to save money on a much needed product.

When purchasing home insurance, insure your home for 100 percent of the cost to replace the home after a loss. This is called insured to value, and it can save you significant dollars on your home insurance premiums. You will have the coverage you need to protect your home and your family without spending a lot and without over insuring your home.

Although all the above procedures are ideal ways to cut cost, the primary way your insurance premium will drop is through a high credit score. Insurance providers analyze your credit score to assess your “risk.” Individuals with poor credit scores are considered irresponsible and “high risk.” Obtain a free credit score and study it for errors or causes for concern.

As you can see, there are numerous ways to save or reduce your home insurance premium. Simply cutting back costs or eliminating the policy altogether is not very responsible. Protect your best asset.

Tom Martens is the syndication coordinator Insurance-south-africa.co.za. South Arica’s leading Insurance information portal.

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