Insurance > 10 Ways To Save On Homeonwers Insurance

10 Ways To Save On Homeonwers Insurance

by: Robert Rogers

1. Raise Your Deductible - Save Up To 25%

Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay a claim, according to the terms of your policy. The higher your deductible, the more money you can save on your premiums. Nowadays, most insurance companies recommend a deductible of at least $500. If you can afford to raise your deductible to $1,000, you may save as much as 25 percent. Remember, if you live in a disaster-prone area, your insurance policy may have a separate deductible for certain kinds of damage. If you live near the coast in the East, you may have a separate windstorm deductible; if you live in a state vulnerable to hail storms, you may have a separate deductible for hail; and if you live in an earthquake-prone area, your earthquake policy has a deductible.

2. Don?t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding costs

The land under your house isn't at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in your homeowners policy. So don't include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay a higher premium than you should.

3. Buy your home and auto policies from the same insurer

Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them. But make certain this combined price is lower than buying the different coverages from different companies.

4. Make your home more disaster resistant

Find out from your insurance agent or company representative what steps you can take to make your home more resistant to windstorms and other natural disasters. You may be able to save on your premiums by adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof or buying stronger roofing materials. Older homes can be retrofitted to make them better able to withstand earthquakes. In addition, consider modernizing your heating, plumbing and electrical systems to reduce the risk of fire and water damage.

5. Improve your home security

You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations. These systems aren't cheap and not every system qualifies for a discount. Before you buy such a system, find out what kind your insurer recommends, how much the device would cost and how much you'd save on premiums.

6. Seek out other discounts

Companies offer several types of discounts, but they don't all offer the same discount or the same amount of discount in all states. For example, since retired people stay at home more than working people they are less likely to be burglarized and may spot fires sooner, too. Retired people also have more time for maintaining their homes. If you're at least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a discount of up to 10 percent at some companies. Some employers and professional associations administer group insurance programs that may offer a better deal than you can get elsewhere.

7. Maintain a good credit record

Establishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. Insurers are increasingly using credit information to price homeowners insurance policies. In most states, your insurer must advise you of any adverse action, such as a higher rate, at which time you should verify the accuracy of the information on which the insurer relied. To protect your credit standing, pay your bills on time, don't obtain more credit than you need and keep your credit balances as low as possible. Check your credit record on a regular basis and have any errors corrected promptly so that your record remains accurate.

8. Stay with the same insurer

If you've kept your coverage with a company for several years, you may receive a special discount for being a long-term policyholder. Some insurers will reduce their premiums by 5 percent if you stay with them for three to five years and by 10 percent if you remain a policyholder for six years or more. But make certain to periodically compare this price with that of other policies.

9. Review the limits in your policy and the value of your possessions at least once a year

You want your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to your home. But you don't want to spend money for coverage you don't need. If your five-year-old fur coat is no longer worth the $5,000 you paid for it, you'll want to reduce or cancel your floater (extra insurance for items whose full value is not covered by standard homeowners policies such as expensive jewelry, high-end computers and valuable art work) and pocket the difference.

10. Look for private insurance if you are in a government plan

If you live in a high-risk area -- say, one that is especially vulnerable to coastal storms, fires, or crime -- and have been buying your homeowners insurance through a government plan, you should check with an insurance agent or company representative or contact your state department of insurance for the names of companies that might be interested in your business. You may find that there are steps you can take that would allow you to buy insurance at a lower price in the private market.

MD, DC, VA, PA Free MLS Home Search at http://marylandrealestatehomes.com

About The Author

Robert Rogers is a writer in the Washington DC area who specializes in money saving tips. More information at http://marylandrealestatehomes.com

10 Ways To Save On Homeonwers Insurance

10 Ways To Save On Homeonwers Insurance

by: Robert Rogers

1. Raise Your Deductible - Save Up To 25%

2. Don?t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding...

10 Ways To Save On Homeonwers Insurance

Insurance > 10 Ways To Save On Homeonwers Insurance

Do You Need Life Insurance

Do You Need Life Insurance

by: Joseph Kenny

It can be very difficult to decide if you need life insurance. Life insurance can be an extremely onerous financial commitment and investment, and it will also last for a considerable period of time, so you should take careful consideration in deciding if it is the best way of achieving the financial and other goals you and your loved ones may have.

Life Insurance Policy

Basically, a life insurance policy will cause a sum to be paid to the named beneficiary upon the death of the insured. This sum will generally be paid to the beneficiary, free of income tax. So in which instances is life insurance generally used above its alternatives? Well its primary function is to provide death benefit protection in a tax efficient way. For example, if you would like to transfer wealth from your estate to your beneficiaries you can do it through life insurance.

You should now that it may still be liable...

Do You Need Life Insurance

Insurance > Do You Need Life Insurance

Whole Life Insurance Explanation

Whole Life Insurance Explanation

by: Donald Lusan

A whole life insurance explanation should be required reading for anyone about to purchase life insurance. Whole life, in my humble opinion, has in recent years got a bad rap. People tend to buy term life insurance because it is cheaper. Although I believe that a good term insurance can take care of the insurance needs of most people, a good whole life insurance policy is worth looking at.

Guaranteed Death Benefit

The death benefit of a whole life insurance policy is guaranteed to stay level for the duration of the policy. If you think about it, that means a lifetime. That type of guarantee cannot be sneezed at. The premiums of your whole life insurance policy is also guaranteed never to increase. This is also a very important feature. The policy can never be cancelled by the insurance company.

Cash Value Accumulation

A whole life insurance policy has cash values, that cash...

Whole Life Insurance Explanation

Insurance > Whole Life Insurance Explanation

The Four Chief Types of Life Insurance

The Four Chief Types of Life Insurance

by: Evan Davis

Life insurance, at its core, is a means to protect the financial security of one's survivors. It is generally thought of as a way to provide income replacement for a wage earner's survivors in the event of death.
Life insurance is purchased from an insurer by making regular payments of premiums during the life of the insured.
Upon the death of the insured, designated beneficiaries receive a financial benefit.

Although all life insurance policies maintain those consistent characteristics, there are different means to achieving the same end.
Four distinct types of life insurance have been developed and are in common usage.

*Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is probably the most basic form of life insurance.
Term insurance is purchased for a specific period of time (the term).
The length of the term can vary considerably.

The Four Chief Types of Life Insurance

Insurance > The Four Chief Types of Life Insurance

If You Have Been In An Accident, Do You Need A Lawyer?

by: Jody Ehrhardt

If you have been in an accident, whether at work, in an automobile or under some other circumstances, you may be wondering if you need to seek the advice and counsel of an attorney. On one hand there are the advertisements by lawyers on television that insist that you need their help to protect your rights. On the other hand, the insurance company that is handling your claim may insist that they are doing everything necessary for your interest and health. Who should you believe?

In most cases it is advisable to seek the counsel of an attorney. Even if you do not end up hiring him or her to represent you, it is a good idea to at least consult with them to make sure that you understand all of the legal repercussions of your injury. Many times, certain laws or rights maybe unknown to you, or worse, the insurance company may not willingly inform you of all of your rights.

If You Have Been In An Accident, Do You Need A Lawyer?

Insurance > If You Have Been In An Accident, Do You Need A Lawyer?

Life Insurance ? Why Does The UK Have A ?2.3 Trillion Protection Gap?

by: Michael Challiner

According to Swiss Re, one of the world's largest re-insurance companies, less than half of the UK population has any form of life insurance protection. They then go on to put a figure on the value of this protection gap. Using an average income of ?20,000 and assuming that the value of protection needed ranges between 5 and 10 times income, they put a value on the protection gap at ?2.3 trillion.

But in all probability, whilst the gap is huge, ?2.3 trillion is likely to be somewhat over stated. After all there are people who are disqualified from having life cover due to their age - just over 1 in 5 are under 18 years old, the minimum for life cover, and 1 in 6 are effectively uninsurable as they're over 65. Then there's a raft of persons for whom life insurance is just not necessary. These are people aged between 18 and 65 who do not have dependents...

Life Insurance ? Why Does The UK Have A ?2.3 Trillion Protection Gap?

Insurance > Life Insurance ? Why Does The UK Have A ?2.3 Trillion Protection Gap?

Before You Look for Health Insurance

Before You Look for Health Insurance

by: Richard Keir

Shopping around for medical insurance can be a confusing business.
You need to keep your wits about you and keep track of the benefits and costs of each policy and each type of policy.
Too often we tend to look at the price first and the rest of the policy becomes a blur of fine print. And we're off to check the next policy.

Slow down. There some important things you should do before you start chasing around to get a policy. Doing these few things will make the whole process simpler and clearer - and you're much more likely to make a good decision.

You need to carefully consider your situation.
Think about these questions and note your answers:

What's the general state of your health?

How old are you?

Do you have any serious medical problems currently or in your medical history?

Do you have any history of recurring or on-going medical...

Before You Look for Health Insurance

Insurance > Before You Look for Health Insurance

5 Top Things Baby Boomers Must Do Before Starting a Home Based Business

5 Top Things Baby Boomers Must Do Before Starting a Home Based Business

by: Patty Gale

Don't quit your day job just yet.If you are a baby boomer looking to start a home business, there are 5 essentials things you must do first.

Leaving the security of a job with an established 401(k) plan, health insurance or other benefits can create a real tug of war for baby boomers who want to pursue their dreams of owning their own business.

Analyze Your Exit Strategy

At the time of this writing, the youngest of the baby boomers are turning 42 and the oldest are turning 60.
No matter where you fall into this group, analyzing and preparing your exit strategy from your job will be crucial to your long-term success as a home business entrepreneur.
Do you have adequate savings?
If you're married, will you be able to participate in your spouse's health insurance?

Create a Financial Plan

How much is your salary...

5 Top Things Baby Boomers Must Do Before Starting a Home Based Business

Insurance > 5 Top Things Baby Boomers Must Do Before Starting a Home Based Business