Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Affordable Home Owner Insurance -- Seven Tips For Huge Savings

By Chimezirim Odimba

Would you like a more affordable rate that is also adequate coverage? Let's explore some proven steps to achieving just that...

Smoking increases the risk of a fire in your home. With over 23,000 residential fires being as a result of smoking you'll agree that it's really a serious factor. Non-smoking homes pay cheaper premiums than homes with smokers. For folks who smoke, note that you're eligible for a downward review in your rate if you quit smoking for over 12 months. Apart from if your insurance provider is among the few that don't consider smoking as a factor in arriving at your rate, change to another insurer if your premium is not reduced after this.

Update your heating, electrical and plumbing systems to current standards and you will get a discount of as much as 15%. You can bet that heating your home the old-fashioned way, although romantic, could more easily lead to a fire incident. Your home is will be at less risk if you opt for modern standards. You will in addition to being a better homeowner insurance risk, most likely make your house worth more in the marketplace.

You might be suprised to hear that you might not be taking advantage of half the discounts that you could easily qualify for. Information is vital to going out for what you're eligible for. Sit your agent down and demand that they tell you about all discounts that your insurer gives and eligibility requirements. In most cases, you will be pleasantly surprised at the amount you'll save with unadvertised discounts.

You'll enjoy lower rates if you use the right materials. Frame houses are more resistant to earthquakes while brick houses are more resistant to high winds. This implies that those who reside in the East will save if theirs is a frame home. But if you live in the West, a frame building will save you much more. Expect to save a minimum of 5% if you opt for a building with the appropriate material.

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You do NOT really have to insure your home against every peril. There are perils that are very unlikely in certain areas. Understanding the history of a place you can predict correctly the kinds of perils that can occur.

Make sure your home has coverage against all all losses that have a reasonable chance of happening. Nevertheless, there's no reason for you to really purchase coverage for a peril that hasn't occured in a state for five decades. Choosing the right perils will make you buy only coverage that is necessary. You will reduce your premium by doing this if you bought more than necessary initially.

If your community has a Neighborhood watch, that should get you a discount. So, if you've got one in your area, let your agent know about it. You can as well initiate one in your neighborhood if you do not have it. Everybody in your neighborhood will stand to benefit as this will reduce their home owner insurance premiums.

As you take other steps to bring down your home premium, here's something you can do to get lower rates now: Visit trusted quotes sites and get quotes.

Visit a minimum of five of such sites for the best results. It's free, quick and easy. Please make certain you give your correct details as you fill the forms on each site. All you have to do next is just pick the insurance company that gives you the best price/value from the quotes you receive.

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Saturday, May 23, 2009

More Affordable Homeowner Insurance -- How Disaster-Proof?

By Chimezirim Odimba

You lower your home insurance premium by taking steps that will make your house more disaster-proof. Apart from making sure that you have everything in place to prevent fire and burglary, the following are recommended for various areas...

a. Storm shutters will afford your home superior protection from wind damage.

b. Using a heavier roofing material will make your home more insurance friendly thereby making you save more on your home insurance premiums if you reside in a windy area.

c. If you reside in a state where earthquakes are a threat, you will save if your home is retrofitted for earthquake protection.

d. Dry limbs on trees could easily cause a lot of liability issues. So ensure that you cut off all dry or dead limbs on trees on your property.

e. It is also advisable that you ensure no trees come to your structure. This is because tree branches over or close to buildings could easily result in extensive damage if they fall off for any reason. Furthermore, having these over your roof could greatly reduce its lifespan depending on the material involved.

If you're interested in other ways to make your home really disaster-proof, discuss with your agent.

Compare what applying each would cost and by what factor it will reduce your rate. You'll spend far less on homeowners insurance if you implement these.

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Finally...

You will save much money in home insurance if you obtain and compare home insurance quotes from quotes sites. You'll realize savings if you visit just one quotes site. But keep this in mind, you'll get better results by using at least five.

The simple logic in this is that you'll receive a greater number of home insurance quotes from many more insurers. This raises your chances of receiving better quotes.

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Monday, May 18, 2009

Cheap Homeowners Insurance Rates -- Steps

By Chimezirim Odimba

You qualify for lower rates once you are a retired person. But take note that not all insurers offer this discount.

The reason for this discount is the fact that having someone almost always at home makes a home less-prone to burglary attacks. The risk of fire damage is also reduced with folks who are often at home since they will likely spot them early.

You'll as well enjoy a discount if you have motion-sensitive lighting in your home. Thieves generally don't like to operate in any place they could be easily seen or caught. The risk of burglary is a key factor in determining a home's risk to an insurance company and, consequently, your premium.

Do your best to place fire extinguishers at important points in your home. If you do NOT have any other place, ensure that your kitchen has one. And make sure it is such that is proper for the kitchen in question.

And, always remember that you must make it very easily accessible. Doing this will help you lower your premiums.

If your community has a Neighborhood watch that could fetch you some discounts. So, if you have one in your neighborhood, let your agent know about it. And, if you do not have one Everyone in your community will stand to gain as this will reduce their home insurance rates.

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quotes Now And Save!

Installing a sprinkler will make you eligible for big discounts. Sprinklers are very useful in putting off fires and by extension reduces the risk of fire damage. It is slightly expensive so you'll do yourself a lot good to ask your agent what you'll save if you have this fixed.

You will save much by visiting not less than 5 quotes sites. That way, you'll increase your chances of getting the lowest quotes possible since five sites will return not less than 25 quotes altogether.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Steps To Affordable Homeowners' Insurance Rate

By Chimezirim Odimba

There are suggestions you must take note of and apply if you're really serious about getting big discounts. I'll show you a good number of them in this article...

According to statistics from a reliable source, 33% of all liability claims (totalling a sum of $1 billion) annually are caused by dog bites. Dog owners, therefore, attract more expensive home insurance premiums. Nevertheless, keeping your dogs in a place where they can do no harm will make you pay less.

Increase your deductible.

A deductible is an amount an insured is expected to pay before his/her insurance company becomes bound by law to pay as indicated in the terms of their policy. For homeowners insurance policies, your deductibles will normally start from $250. You'll easily get a discount of about 12 percent on your rates if you increase your deductible from this base amount ($250) to $500. Increasing it further to $1000 could result in 24 percent discount. Talk with your agent to find out how much is possible as all insurers don't offer the same savings..

Make the exterior of your house fire-safe and you'll reduce your home insurance premium. Do you have things that could likely aid combustion close to your house? They will make you pay more. As simple as it seems, cutting back bushes and maintaining them up to ten feet from your building will help reduce your premiums. Fire-safety is a strong factor that determines how much or little you your rate will be.

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quotes Now And Save!

If you're retired, you can enjoy cheaper premiums with a retiree discount. Ask your agent if your insurance provider gives such a discount.

The rationale for this discount is the fact that having someone always around makes a home less-prone to burglary attacks. Furthermore, Fires will be quickly noticed and put off if someone is always at home.

Having window locks on each of your windows will help lower your home's risk of burglary. You can take this to another level by fixing burglary-proof bars on them all. Even though some folks don't like this because it makes them feel imprisoned in their own home, it really does reduce your premium by a good amount. If you have nothing against this have them fitted in your home and get cheaper rates.

You can see savings of hundreds of dollars on your home insurance policy by obtaining insurance quotes from quote sites. The best method is to visit a minimum of five quotes sites and making sure that you provide the same (correct) details.

I recommend that you use not less than five quotes sites since that will make it less likely that you'll miss out offers not carried by the other sites. This offers you a broader basis for doing more extensive comparisons thus increasing your chances of realizing more savings.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Advice For Cheap Home Owner Insurance Rates

By Chimezirim Odimba

You are totally free to NOT insure your residence except it is being financed and you still have a mortgage on it. Nevertheless, some people will rather do without most necessities than to stay without a home insurance. The plain reason is quite very clear -- Their home represents not just a very important possession, but their most important investment in life. Are not they right?

But even though we are ready to make much sacrifice to obtain adequate home insurance coverage, we'll be very happy to receive it at a far cheaper rate. That is what this piece is all about -- To show you time-tested ways you can reduce your home insurance rates but still make sure you have the best coverage for your house.

Having your premium removed automatically from your account will get you cheaper rates. Simply tell your bank that you intend to set up an EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) in favor of your insurance provider. This is recommended because of its convenience and the fact that it gets you a discount.

Do you have smoke and fire detectors fixed in your home? If you fix them in all the essential areas of your building you'll get a discount. Furthermore, don't forget to change their batteries from time to time.

With such detectors fires will be spotted on time and put off more easily before they can cause any real damage. This gets you a lower rate since it implies that the risk of a fire damage is reduced.

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quotes Now And Save!

Get a group home insurance policy if within your reach because you'll get a more affordable rate with it. Some associations have also arranged discounts for their members with home insurers so check if yours has such.

Though, before you apply this option, compare the premiums you will get through such an association with what you'll pay with another insurer. This is because you may end up finding an insurance company that is willing to take less than you'll even obtain with an group discount. Doing extensive shopping will help you get the cheapest rates. Ensure you do NOT leave ladders hanging just anywhere. They might really attract a burglar. Don't also leave your tools, machinery or things like that on the lawn or wherever in the open as they could cause accidental injury and add to your liability claims. Thieves will have an easier time breaking into a household that gives them such opportunities. All such things will ultimately add to premium if you don't keep them in the right place.

You can get lower rates on home insurance now by visiting a minimum of five quotes sites. Each site will take you about 5 minutes or less to receive quotes. (Some folks fill in details that is not quite true about themselves. That is NOT a smart move as the quotes you'll get this way won't do you any good).

You'll simply pick lowest home insurance quote for you from the list of quotes received. It's as simple as that. However, you could easily save hundreds of dollars.

Cheap quotes, while interesting, must not be settled for without checking the insurance provider's rating. Few things can be more painful than discovering that you paid premiums diligently to the wrong insurer only when you file a claim. It's vital that you take the time to first check with your state's department of insurance website or its equivalent. Check if your preferred insurer is licensed to offer home insurance in your state.

You can as well obtain useful information about an insurer from independent organizations like BBB, A.M Best Company, Phelps, Inc., Standard & Poor's Insurance Rating Services, Moody's Investor Services, Inc.

Cheaper Washington Homeowner Insurance? Try The Following

By Chimezirim Odimba

You will get cheaper home insurance rates if you do your landscaping right. There won't be potholes that could cause injuries and that will reduce your liability claims. To this extent, you'll be saving yourself money while making yours a more beautiful home. If you are still thinking about it then you should discuss with your agent for suggestions that could help you get a bigger discount.

Having a smoker in your household will raise your Washington home insurance rates substantially. And statistics have it that over 23,000 residential fire annually are as a result of smoking. You'll spend less in home insurance if no member of your household smokes. If you quit smoking successfully for up to 13 months, tell your agent and demand for a well-earned discount. If your insurer refuses to lower your rate after you've quit, switch to another insurance company.

If you strengthen your roof you will get cheaper home insurance premiums. This is truer if you reside in the East. Your agent should be able to state steps that you should take if you want a discount this way. One simple step to take is to fix weighty shingles.

According to statistics from a reliable source, about 1 out of every 3 liability claims (costing insurers a sum of $1 billion) each year are as a result of dog bites. This should make it clear that if you have a dog or dogs your premiums will be much more than a person who does not. However, keeping your dogs in a place where they can do no harm will make you spend less.

More often than not you may decide to do a level of renovation on your house. Your motivation might not be to lower your home insurance premium. You need to make sure that your house is just the way you like it with everything in excellent shape.

If you do this you will be eligible for a more affordable homeowners insurance premiums. So don't forget to tell your agent.

New houses and renovated houses will bring you cheaper rates always. However, take note that the scope of renovation carried out will also determine the amount of discount you'll get.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Cheap Home Owners' Insurance: Do Not Overlook These

By Chimezirim Odimba

Would you appreciate cheap rates for sufficient coverage? If so, these suggestions will go a long way in helping you reach that goal...

Does your apartment have fire escapes? If you do then tell your agent and see amount in savings this will get you. Even if all you have are simple rope ladders for the upper rooms, you still could get a discount. Those who don't have these will attract cheaper rates if they get the appropriate kind and number for their home. In order to ensure that this will get you a discount, ask your agent what your insurer sees as a standard fire escape.

It does happen that we sometimes want to renovate our house. Your motivation might not be to lower your home insurance rate. You need to ensure your home is just the way you want it with everything working as it should

If you do this you'll qualify for lower rates So do not forget to tell your agent.

Brand new homes and houses that have been renovated are better risks to an insurance company and therefore attract lower home owners insurance premiums. But remember that the more extensive the renovation is, the more the savings you'll get.

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Having your premium deducted automatically from your account will result in lower rates. If you don't know how to do this, ask your banker or agent. In addition to saving you in premiums you'll also save yourself a lot of time and hassles.

Because of gas and oils, your motor garage is a big fire risk. So your premiums will be cheaper if your garage is located at a safe distance from your main structure.

In some places it costs more to get enough coverage because you'd have to buy special insurance for certain disasters that are peculiar to such an area. You'll won't have to buy this additional insurance if you avoid buying your home in such an area. Just to give you an idea of how much this will save you, you'll spend as much as $400 extra on flood insurance if you buy a home in a flood-prone area.

You should know that no mortgagor will allow you remain without such if they know you need it. And even if you have cleared your mortgage, you'll not feel comfortable to hear that you have not given yourself coverage from a peril that has a high probability of occurring.

Therefore, buy your home in a flood-free locality and save yourself avoidable expenses.

You can save more by visiting a minimum of five quotes sites. That way, you will increase your chances of getting the lowest quotes available as five sites will give up to 25 quotes altogether.

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