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Home Insurance

Home Insurance

Home Insurance, Home Insurance Guide, Home Insurance Quotes

Looking for home insurance? Then be sure you read the following guide as it will help you understand what the different options are, what insurance types are available to you and how to quickly find cheap but comprehensive cover.
   
   
 
This home insurance guide will give you crucial information you need to know; such as:
 
An introduction to home insurance.
What to look for with home insurance.
Types of cover and how they work.
How to get a cheap quote today.
 
Looking for Great Value Home Insurance? >> Click here to find a cheap quote

 
An Introduction to Home Insurance
Homeowner’s insurance coverage is recommended when you buy a home. If you finance the home, your lender will require that you purchase it and list them as a named insured.

The insurance covers damages to the structure of your home, fences, garages and other structures as well as personal property and legal liabilities in case someone is injured on your property or your pet injures someone or you cause damage to someone else’s property. 

 
It also covers living expenses for loss of use of your home during the time your home is being repaired or rebuilt. You will need to purchase additional coverage for flood, wind damage or earthquake insurance if you live in a natural hazards zone and your lender requires it..
How Are Insurance Premiums Determined?
You should shop around for insurance to get the best prices and product. Insurance carriers base insurance premiums on factors including the history of the home and the prior owner’s claims that may have been filed and paid as well as your credit history and claims that you have filed in the past that have been paid.
 
In regards to 'history', when you are in the process of purchasing a home, you should ask the seller to provide you with a CLUE report as part of the contract contingencies so you make sure you are able to obtain insurance. A CLUE report gives the claims history on the home for the past five years.

Keep in mind that some areas are more prone to claims and it may be difficult for you to obtain insurance if the home is in a flood or fire zone or other natural hazards zone and has had claims filed in the last five years. Unfortunately, if there has been an issue, they WILL find out. Insurers report information about paid claims into a national database that each insurance company uses to determine risk. They use this information and compile it as part of your risk file in deciding what insurance rates they are going to charge you for new coverage or for renewal rates.

You can order a copy of your own insurance report from LexisNexis. If you have been turned down for insurance, you are entitled to a free report and this way you can find out what your insurance score is and check for errors so you are not denied coverage and receive the best rates. Errors on the report could cost you higher premiums and you can dispute these errors by following the dispute process under the FCRA Section.

For more information go to the government website or go to the LexisNexis website for information on how to dispute errors. Errors must be removed by the credit reporting agency if the company that reported the dispute does not respond within 30 days to the dispute or the information cannot be verified.

 
Saving Money On Insurance Premiums
You can also save money on your insurance premiums by bundling your home and car insurance with the same company. Premiums may be 5% to 15% lower by doing this. Many polices contain inflation protection that automatically increase your coverage amount and because home prices have fallen, the repayment value of your home may be less, and as a result your premium may be adjusted to reflect this drop. 

Choosing the highest deductible you can afford will save you money. So by increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000, for instance, you could end up saving as much as 25% on your premium.

Having a home alarm system and smoke detectors may qualify you for a discount too. There may also be senior discounts for people over 50. Working with a local insurance broker is a good idea if you want to save money in these areas, because they will be familiar with the different insurance carriers and local neighborhoods (that could require extra or special insurance coverage), and will most likely be able to save you money.

 
Determining How Much Insurance You Really Need
Your insurance agent can determine how much insurance you need by using a cost estimator. You can also find a home insurance calculator online to figure the amount of coverage you need by plugging in your zip code, square footage and year built.

Keep in mind, however, that in reality you are purchasing replacement cost coverage. This means your insurance company will determine a percentage of additional coverage besides the insured amount to account for inflation on construction costs if you need to rebuild your home.

For example if your home was insured for $500,000 and your insurance company has 125% replacement cost coverage, you would receive an additional $125,000. It is recommended that you obtain at least 200% replacement cost coverage. You should have the option to increase the limits on your policy and to obtain an umbrella policy for coverage above $1,000,000.

TIP: It is a good idea to review your policy every few years to determine if you need to make any changes. Also, go through your home and take pictures of your personal property and make an inventory list in case your home is destroyed or damaged. Your insurance company may require this in order to process your claim, if the worst was to happen.

 
Condo or Townhouse Homeowner Insurance
If you own a townhouse or condo, you'll need insurance for the interior of your unit as well as your personal items, personal liability coverage, interior walls and floor coverings. Even though condo associations have master association plans, they do not cover the interior of your unit. Also since condo associations have been cutting costs on insurance by increasing deductibles, your HO-6 policy would cover the unit owner cost for losses below the deductible.

You can also purchase special assessment HO-6 policies that cover special assessments for items such as roof replacements and other major repairs to common areas.

Conclusion :With so many storms, floods and other natural disasters occurring these days, having insurance gives you peace of mind that you are protecting your most value asset-your home. You never know when you may need to use it, and you want to make sure you have the most coverage at a price that you can afford.

 
Finding A Cheap Home Insurance Quote
Whether you are renewing your home insurance and looking for a great deal that gives you maximum coverage, you can use our simple and easy to follow quotation system to find the best deal available to you. Click the orange 'get a quote' button below to get started...
 
 
Save Money On Your Home Insurance...
Click the 'Get a Quote' button to get matched up with top insurers. Find the best home insurance deal today!

 
 

 

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