Posts Tagged ‘home owner insurance’
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
As if there weren’t enough bills to pay, you also need to budget for your home insurance. Not being insured really is not an option. Should something happen, you are going to seriously struggle to meet the bills. This could mean something major, like your roof being ripped off in high winds, not a broken pane of glass in the front porch. However, home insurance can, like all insurances, be expensive, and it can be tempting to compromise the level of coverage in order to get a lower premium. But, there is another way.
All home insurance policies will have a deductible figure, and this is set at an affordable level. However, if you can afford to increase this figure then you can seriously reduce the amount you pay in monthly premiums. What you are then doing is accepting that minor damage to your home is not something you are going to involve you insurance company with. For example, if you can afford $500 then you would not bother to claim for any repairs that come in at that level, or even just over that level. You accept that you will have to claim should the damage exceed this figure but once you do claim, you are also going to be hit with a premium increase the following year so you want to really make sure that claiming is the best bet. Many people accept certain elements of annual damage. They know that the cost of correcting them is not beyond their means; they simply accept them as such. They are safeguarding their home insurance policies at the lowest possible premiums but with the highest level of coverage just in case something major happens and they really have no choice but to claim.
However, a word to the wise! Keep the deductible realistic. Setting it at more than you can ever really afford is not going to help you in the long run. You may feel that home insurance borders on a waste of money, and indeed many years can pass without a need for a claim. It is therefore understandable and tempting to set your deductible amount to the highest level possible and pay little attention to whether it is a realistic amount. You might feel happy that you have not cancelled the policy but you have certainly reduced the premium. However, as fate would have it, you can be almost certain that this is the year that something will go wrong and you will be forced to claim. You may then find yourself in somewhat of a financial mess.
Shop Around You can shop around for home insurance, and it could well be worth doing so. It is probable that you will be required to show evidence that you do have home insurance but most mortgage companies do not require you to take the policy through them. Some require you to have their policy for the first year but after this, you are free to shop around. Consider whether the company has a limited deductible amount and whether this is significantly less that you were prepared to pay. Other companies do not, and you could find a better deal by shopping around for someone that has a higher deducible, more in line with what you considered you could realistically afford.
You could find that your property is in a high-risk area, in which case sadly there is little you can do. Being in a high-risk area for flood, wildfires and the like can all push premiums up. You can bring them down slightly by making an increase in your deductible but you cannot move your property. You more than anyone will need the insurance if you are in a high-risk area. It is going to have to be a case of accepting it.
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Tags: business, family, Finance, home, Home Insurance, home owner insurance, homeowner insurance, house, house insurance, Insurance, insurance company, property, property insurance Posted in Insurance | No Comments »
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Myth #1: My home insurance covers mold and/or other issues related to lack of maintenance.
Fact: Actually, a standard home insurance policy does not cover issues related to a lack of maintenance. For example if a plumbing leak that was left unfixed caused mold to grown in the interior walls of your home- mold removal and remediation would NOT be covered in your home insurance. Remember that your home insurance only protects you from damage caused by covered perils such as wind, hail, lightening, fire and theft. Keeping your home well maintained and safe for others is your responsibility and your home insurance company will decline coverage for maintenance related claims.
Myth #2: Flood Insurance is only for people who live in a flood zone.
Fact: Lending institutions, such as the bank that holds your mortgage, will require you to obtain flood insurance if you live in a major Flood Zone. However, keep in mind that all homes are at the risk for flood and standard home insurance policies do NOT cover flood related damage to your home. Due to the recent flooding in the Midwest the importance of this type of coverage for homeowners outside of a major flood zone has become even more apparent. If your home is flooded and you do not have flood insurance you will be on your own to replace your home and its contents. Flood insurance is a wise idea for every homeowner.
Myth #3: I will have to skimp on my coverage in order to save money on my home insurance.
Fact: Saving on your home insurance does not mean that you have to give up important parts of your coverage. It is very important to always be adequately insured in the event of a loss. However, there are lots of ways that you can save money on your home insurance that do not involve changing your coverage. Home Insurance discounts are available for homeowners who use burglar alarms, smoke alarms, deadbolts and other protective devices. Want more savings? Ask your agent about combining your home insurance and your auto insurance policies- you can usually save up to 15% this way.
Myth #4: When determining my coverage, I should use the purchase price for my house as my dwelling coverage amount.
Fact: A common mistake when homeowners are getting quotes for their home insurance is that they use the purchase price of their home to determine their dwelling coverage. Yet, the purchase price of your home includes the land under your home- which does not need to be replaced in the event of a fire or other peril to your home. For this reason, your dwelling coverage should always reflect the replacement cost of your home- or how much it would cost to rebuild your home in the event of a total loss. To determine this amount, multiple the sq. footage of your home by local construction costs. You can use a http://homeinsurance.com/calculators/ home insurance calculator to help you determine the amount if necessary.
Myth #5: You can not buy a home without purchasing homeowners insurance.
Fact: This is a tricky one. Because while you actually CAN buy a home without home insurance (a lender may not require it or you may, although rare, pay cash for the home) you should still always have home insurance on any property you own. Whether a lender requires it or not, the risk is always there. It would only take one fire or lightening storm to destroy your home and leave you uncovered.
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Tags: business, family, Finance, home, Home Insurance, home owner insurance, homeowner insurance, house, house insurance, Insurance, insurance company, property, property insurance Posted in Insurance | No Comments »
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
What is homeowners insurance and why is it important? The second half of that question is easy to answer – if you have a mortgage on your home, most likely the lender requires you to keep homeowners insurance on the house to at the very least cover the balance of the mortgage.
Even if you aren’t carrying a note on your home adequate home insurance helps protect your investment, your belongings and possible liability. All three aspects of protection lead back to the question, exactly what is home insurance. Simply put, home insurance gives you financial protection against damage to your home caused by disasters and beyond the structure insures the belongings inside your home. Home insurance also protects you for liability and legal responsibility for injuries your property, you, members of your family and even your pets cause others.
Typical standard homeowners insurance provides you four areas of coverage — the structure of your house, your belongings, liability and expenses in case you are temporarily forced from your home because of an insured disaster. Home insurance policies can vary greatly so it’s in your best interest to compare home insurance quotes before making a selection. Even if your mortgage lender requires home insurance you are allowed to choose your insurer.
What is covered in each of the four parts of a standard home insurance policy? Let’s take a closer look:
The structure of your home
This part of a home insurance policy is fairly self-explanatory in that it pays to repair, or rebuild if necessary, your home for insured disasters such as a fire, hurricane damage, lightning and any other disaster covered by your policy. Keep in mind flood and earthquake damage are not part of standard homeowners insurance and require separate policies. General wear and tear is not covered, but detached structures such as tool sheds and garages are covered with a standard home insurance policy.
Personal belongings
Also self-explanatory, this aspect of home insurance covers your stuff – furniture, clothes and other personal items in the event they are stolen or destroyed by a covered disaster. One interesting feature of personal belongings coverage is your belongings are also covered off-premises anywhere in the world.
Liability
Liability protects you against legal action for personal injury or property damage caused by your household. The liability aspect of home insurance also provides no-fault medical coverage in case someone is injured in your home.
Additional living expenses
What happens if your home if affected by a disaster such as a fire or a major storm? Where will you stay? This aspect of home insurance pays your expenses while living away from your home while it is being repaired. Covered expenses include hotels, meals and other living expenses.
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Tags: business, family, Finance, home, Home Insurance, home owner insurance, homeowner insurance, house, house insurance, Insurance, insurance company, property, property insurance Posted in Insurance | No Comments »
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Your home says a lot about you – your family, your interests, your wealth, your values – all reflected in the place you choose to live. So, by buying Home Insurance, you’re buying lifestyle insurance, guaranteeing that even if the worst happens, you’ll be able to rebuild your home and your life.
Purchasing home insurance is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but making the right home insurance decision now can prevent an unfortunate incident like a fire, flood or other loss from becoming a disaster for you and your family.
A standard home insurance policy covers the structure of your home and your personal belongings, as well as providing liability protection and compensation for living expenses if you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a fire or other covered claim.
When buying a Home Insurance Policy, don’t be afraid to ask your insurer questions about what the policy covers and what is excluded from coverage. Many a homeowner has filed a claim thinking a loss was covered, only to find out the fire, water damage or mold they reported was excluded by their home insurance policy.
The most common exclusion to home insurance policies are floods and earthquakes, so if you live in an area prone to these events, make sure you have coverage for them. Other common exclusions to home insurance policies are neglect, intentional loss, earth movement and general power failure. Lawsuits between home insurers and insured regarding exclusions related to mold have become common in recent years as research has revealed that a number of deadly illnesses can be caused by mold in the home.
Nail down exactly what the policy covers to make sure you’re getting what you think you’re paying for.
Also, before you purchase a home insurance policy, make sure you know how much your house is worth, and its replacement cost. You’ll need to purchase coverage that matches this amount.
Be sure to ask about home insurance discounts. Many insurers offer discounts to reward behavior that reduces risk. Homeowners pay an estimated extra $300 million per year for home insurance, just because they neglect to ask about discounts.
Remember to research your insurer before buying a home insurance policy. Does your insurer have a good service record? Does your insurer offer the lowest price for the best home insurance value? Asking this question now can save you money and aggravation.
Also, keep documentation of all the valuable personal possessions in your home. Most home insurance policies provide coverage for personal possessions, so keeping track of them will keep you from getting hosed in the event of a loss.
Your home is your greatest investment and something more – the most direct reflection of your life. Protect it by buying the correct Home Insurance Policy.
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Tags: business, family, Finance, home, Home Insurance, home owner insurance, homeowner insurance, house, house insurance, Insurance, insurance company, property, property insurance Posted in Insurance | No Comments »
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