Budget-conscious homeowners know there are often ways to save on goods and services, but might wonder when it comes to homeowners insurance, “how much?” Insurance is complicated, and homeowners insurance cost is determined by many factors. Luckily, despite how complex it might seem, there are some ways you can save on your homeowners insurance.
Here are some budget-friendly insurance tips:
Leverage your history
Your insurance company will ask for information about prior insurance history when creating a quote for your homeowners policy. If you’re buying your first home, you likely won’t have prior homeowners insurance history to share.
However, if you’ve ever had renters insurance, you can use this history to your advantage. You may be eligible for a discount on your quote if you’ve never made a claim in the past.
Bundle your insurance policies
Most insurance companies offer discounts for bundling different types of insurance with the same provider. If your homeowners insurance provider offers car insurance, for example, it might be worth it to switch your auto policy to them and bundle.
Standard homeowners insurance policies include dwelling coverage, liability coverage and personal property coverage. However, they might also offer additional coverage at a discount compared to what you pay elsewhere. For example, if you have personal liability insurance with another provider, you may be able to switch and lower your homeowners premium at the same time.
Keep up with renewals
Gaps in insurance history can sometimes equal higher premiums. If you’ve ever fallen behind on payments and had a policy canceled, your new insurance provider may see that as a higher risk and increase your premiums.
As long as you keep any existing policies current, you’re more likely to avoid penalties from a new provider. You may even be offered a discount for being fully insured for a long period of time without gaps.
These are only a few tips for saving on your homeowners insurance policy. Shop around for the best quote, and inquire with an insurance agent about any special discounts you might be eligible for.
About the Author
Carolyn Andrews
Carolyn Andrews has over 30 years licensed Brokerage experience in both California and Colorado. Born in England, Carolyn moved to California in 1980, then relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1991. Carolyn has also received recognition for Top Sales at RE/MAX Alliance Aurora in 2007-2008 and is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Chairman’s Club, as well as a recipient of the ReMax Lifetime Achievement Award. Carolyn has sold over 2000 homes personally in her career. Carolyn has been actively involved in many aspects of the Real Estate business including investment property, luxury homes, mountain resort property, skiin/ski out, REO/default management, loss mitigation, valuations, and disposition. She has been a speaker and panelist at several conferences and has been consulted on many occasions by various organizations in the REO/financial industries for her expertise and served on many boards. She has attended numerous ongoing classes to stay abreast of changes in the ever-evolving Real Estate industry. She is the prior State Director for Colorado for VAREP(Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals). She is a member of 3 boards of Realtors including Metro Denver, Colorado Springs and Summit County mountain areas. She heads up The Andrews Group and is or has been an active member of NAR, CAR,REOMAC, CIPS, CRS, AREAA, NAPW, NAHREP, and is an original member of the ELITEReal Estate network. She was ranked #1 for most homes sold in Denver 2007 by Denver Board of Realtors, #2 for 2008, and #2 for 2009, #5 in 2010 and #4 in 2011 and has been consistently in the top 10 ever since. Carolyn Andrews has been a top rated Endorsed Local Provider for the Dave Ramsey Organization and also a Top Producing agent for 2018 for the Homelight Company.
