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I know, I know. Home insurance policies are just notas exciting as cutting your grocery bill or finding great deals at a neighborhood garage sale, but…..we have to talk about it. Because the average homeowner spends approximately $900/year on an annual policy — and that’s a lot!
We don’t want to ever think about needing home insurance, but so much can go wrong when you own such a big asset, not to mention all the floods, hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters that require additional policies. Plus, if you’re beholden to any type of bank, they most likely require proof of insurance before they’ll hand over any money. All-in-all, it’s a really good thing to have!
But before you think your homeowner’s policy as a once-and-done kind of deal, the truth is, you need to be your best advocate and stay on top of that rate. Although we do want to protect our investments to the fullest extent,we also don’t want to pay out more than we have to.
Here are afew ways tomake sure your policy is the lowest it can go, while still providing top-notch coverage!
How to Reduce Homeowners Insurance:
1. Shop with an Independent Agent– Joseph and I have continually received the best deals by working with someone who isn’t loyal toany particular company. These agents are trained to do all the research and prep work for you, and make sure you always get the lowest rate. I don’t know about you, but that saves a lot of time and headache on my end! We’ve also found that the best way to find an agent you trust is by word-of-mouth, so start asking your friends who they use and recommend right away. These agents should be a free resource for you because they are paid by commissions from the insurance companies.
2. Choose a HigherDeductible–A higher deductible almost always results in a lower rate, but it also means youcould be caught without enough cash if something terrible did happen to your home. If you decide to go higher, make sure you have enough of an emergency fund to cover the deductible if you have to meet it.
3. Drop Unnecessary Coverage– We don’t personally have super expensive electronics, artwork, or jewelry, but if you’ve been insuring those pieces and sold them in the past year, let your insurance holder know so they can reduce your rate. You don’t want to be insured any more than you absolutely have to!
4. Improve Your home– As you slowly make improvements to your home, you might want to focus first on the items that could reduce your policy and give you a decent discount.Analarm system,deadbolts, wind-resistant shutters, updated electrical wiring, and a better roof are just a few. Be sure to check with your specific insurance company for details on exactly what’s included before you spend any money.
5. Bundle Your Policy– This isn’t always the case, but you can often save significantly on your annual payment just by listingyour Home, Auto, and Liability insurance all with one insurance agency. But don’t forget to do the math and break down the totals to make sure that is truly the case!
6. Maintain Good Credit – Believe it or not, insurance companies take a look at your credit score before deciding how much they will charge you for a policy. If your credit isn’t squeaky clean, make an effort to fix it as soon as possible. Start paying all your bills and credit card payments on time, and don’t max your limits. And always always always check your report at least once a year for discrepancies – I was once mixed up with my sister’s college loan for the longest time because I didn’t check!
Needto Reduce Even MoreMonthly Expenses?
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How do you plan to reduce your mortgage?
Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.Read my full disclosure policy here.
