5 Ways To Save on Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance rates vary by hundreds of dollars from company to company. Fortunately the Internet has made comparing multiple homeowners quotes as easy and non-committing as finding car insurance. As you review your homeowners insurance and compare quotes, use the five following tips fully take advantage of your potential savings.

Raise Your Homeowners Deductible: Save up to 25%

The lowest hanging fruit for homeowners insurance savings may be to increase your deductible. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), if you can afford to raise your deductible to $1,000 from $500, you may save as much as 25% on your annual premium. Remember, homeowners insurance is not intended for small fix-it claims, therefore, the benefits of a lower deductible can be quickly dissolved by the higher rates that you will experience after making such claims. As homeowners insurance intended for major peril, consider higher deductibles and collect the savings in the cost of your premium.

Bundle and Save up to 25%

Purchasing your homeowners insurance and your car insurance from the same insurance carrier could save you up to 25% on both premiums.

Install Alarm System & Water Leak Sensors: Save up to 20%

Have you added new security devices to your home in the last year; perhaps a deadbolt lock, window locks, or even and an alarm system? Insurance companies highly value the protection afforded by fire sprinkler systems, burglar alarms, and fire alarms – especially those connected to monitoring agencies such as your local police and fire department. Accordingly, some carriers reduce premiums by as much as 20% if you install some of these features.

Discounts for Home Improvements

A new home’s electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, and overall structure for that matter, are likely to be in better condition than those of an older home. Accordingly, their insurance rates are generally lower as the risk for a potential claim is mitigated. If you have made any home improvement in the past year, you should see if a new policy will reward you with policy discounts.

Eliminate Coverage You Don’t Need: Analyze Your Homeowners Limits

Ideally, you want your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to your home, but you should not spend money for coverage that you don’t need. You may have jewelry, appliances, electronics, and other valuable possessions that depreciate over time; therefore, it is in your financial best interest to compare the limits of your homeowners policy to the actual value of your possessions at least once every year.