Choosing a home insurance plan is an important, but sometimes difficult decision. Your home is where you make your most precious memories, and you want it to be protected as fully as possible, but what exactly do you need and what don’t you need? The following are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding home insurance.
What does home insurance cover?
Home insurance typically covers the actual structure of your home and anything attached to your home, such as a garage. It also covers personal items inside of the home, such as clothing, furniture, and appliances like your refrigerator and stove. It also typically covers other structures on your property, such as a gazebo.
How do I know how much coverage I need?
This is all dependent upon your home. Factors that determine the amount of coverage you will need include the size and cost of your home, whether you have a mortgage or not, and the cost to rebuild should you ever suffer a covered loss. You should reevaluate your coverage on a regular basis.
What is NOT Covered by my Homeowner Insurance Policy?
Every homeowner has a policy unique to them and their home. In many cases, however, you do need extended insurance coverage for things like earthquakes, floods and wildfires. These are optional coverages and do not come standard on most policies. Another thing that is not covered by homeowner insurance is standard wear and tear of your home.
How Can I Lower My Insurance Premium?
Often times, people want to lower their insurance premium. Luckily, there are actions homeowners can take to potentially lower their insurance premium. You can install fire sprinklers and smoke detectors, have an alarm system or monitoring service, install a new roof, and don’t own a high-risk dog breed or exotic pets. Having a clean credit history is also helpful in lowering your premium. An insurance company can raise your premium if you have red flags on your credit report.
Be sure to check back for part two of this series, where we will cover more frequently asked questions regarding home insurance.