What to Think About When Getting Home Insurance

Home insurance is a necessary expense when purchasing a house. A home or a house is a valuable investment, and it is important to protect it. Home insurance covers a number of different events, from natural disasters to theft. In the event a homeowner experiences any of these events, the cost of rebuilding the home or replacing the stolen items is not wholly the homeowner’s responsibility. Home insurance, in essence, provides a great deal of peace of mind to the homeowner. 

The Basic Requirements and Offerings

Anyone who has a mortgage is required to carry home insurance, so any home purchase will come with this requirement. Beyond this basic requirement, there are many different levels of protection. There is one level of protection that insures the home in the event it is burglarized or damaged in a fire. More protection is offered for additional expense and will cover problems such as those caused by ice and snow accumulation, or problems with the water heating or plumbing systems. These levels of protection can be as comprehensive as the homeowner wants, but it is important to remember that those who live in areas where floods or earthquakes are common will have to purchase separate insurance policies to guard against these disasters as standard home insurance does not cover these events.

Do Research Before Deciding

The process of choosing a home insurance policy will require the homeowner to make a list of all of the valuables in their home that they would like replaced in the event of a loss. Taking photographs of these items to document them is recommended. It is also important for the homeowners to familiarize themselves with the different policies that exist and to have a conversation with a knowledgeable insurance broker. If the homeowner finds that there is a good insurance policy available through their current auto insurance company, they can often get a discount by getting both insurances through one broker.

Questions to Ask

During this meeting with the insurance broker, the homeowner should find out as much as possible, including the process for reimbursement for those items claimed to be lost due to theft or disaster, the amount of the deductible, the rate of personal liability coverage, and the cost of adding on additional coverage. Learning about special circumstances, such as the potential for reimbursement if the homeowner needs to call Portland pest control, is also a good idea. It is also important to learn more about the customer satisfaction rates of the insurance company. Homeowners should find out about complaints filed against their insurance company through their state board.

Home insurance is a necessity, and purchasing it can be confusing. Homeowners should educate themselves about the amount of insurance they need, and find out which company can provide it at the lowest costs. It is important to be as informed as possible about what each insurance policy covers in order to avoid unpleasant surprises or unexpected expenses later on.

Ways To Save Money On Your House Insurance Monthly

Are you tired of receiving a hefty home owner's insurance bill in the mail each month? If so, then you might be wondering what you can do to cut down on your home insurance premium and enjoy immediate monthly savings. Aside from shopping around for deals and discounts from other insurance companies, the good news is that there are some simple tips you can try out as a way of reducing your monthly home insurance costs. Not to mention, some of these tips can even increase the overall value of your home in the process.

Switch to Paperless Billing

Many home insurance companies these days offer a discount for policyholders who switch to paperless billing. After all, not only does this save the company money in printing costs, but it also saves trees and eliminates paper waste in the process! By switching to a paperless bill statement from your insurance company, you can simply receive this paperwork via e-mail, which you can then print out if needed.

Work on Your Credit

Believe it or not, insurance companies these days use one's credit score and credit history as a determining factor when it comes to the cost of one's insurance premium. Therefore, if you have less than perfect credit, consider taking steps to gradually increase your credit score over time. Doing so can lead your insurance premium to drop by a few dollars per month, which can add up to significant annual savings.

Update Your Home

If you live in an older home, then you are inherently at a higher risk to ultimately have to file a home owner's insurance claim. For this reason, owners of older homes cost more to insure. Fortunately, by making small updates, such as having new electrical wiring installed or better ventilation systems, you can drastically reduce the cost of your home insurance. Just be sure to report these updates and renovations to your insurance agent right away so that you can begin enjoying the savings.

Make Your Home Safer

If you do not already have some kind of security system in place, you may want to consider having garage alarms for home installed as a way of increasing security and reducing the chances of becoming a victim of a home invasion or burglary. Not to mention, most insurance companies offer substantial discounts for those who have security systems in place, so you can save money on your policy this way.

Bundle Your Insurance Policies

If you have other forms of insurance, such as vehicle or boat insurance, then you may be able to save a significant amount of money by bundling those packages through the same company. Check with your home owner's insurance company to see if they offer the other type or types of insurance that you need, and then take advantage of any bundling discount they may have.


Paying for home insurance can be a pain, but there are plenty of ways to reduce your monthly costs without sacrificing coverage in the process.