12 ways to
save money on your
home insurance coverage
12 ways to
save money on your
home insurance coverage
10 second overview: Find out the best ways to save money on your home insurance by following our 12 easy steps suggested by SmartCitti’s insurance expert, Mark Chappell. Home insurance has never been made this simple by saving you money to spend on the things you love.
Renewing your home insurance is easy but did you know switching your home insurance coverage to a new provider is quick, simple and can save you important dollars to spend on the people you love – your family. Here’s how.
Home insurance is something few of us ever really think about. If you’re a homeowner, it’s worth spending a few minutes comparing insurance coverage quotes from a variety of providers because it will help save money on your premium each year.
It’s surprising how just a few changes to your home’s security can save you money on your home insurance, SmartCitti’s US President Mark Chappell says.
“Take a good look at your door locks and if you don’t have them switch them for deadbolt locks,” Mark says. “Make sure you have smoke detectors in your kitchen, hallway and upstairs. Check your intruder alarm. If you don’t have one, consider getting one. You could also have a water sprinkler installed. With a well monitored burglar and fire alarm this could save you up to 20% each year. Worth doing too so you have more peace of mind.”
We get it, your insurance is there for when you need to make a claim but, some insurance companies offer discounts if you don’t make a claim for a certain length of time.
“Of course, if something drastic happens you should make a full claim,” Mark says. “But get a quote to fix whatever the problem is and weigh up if you’ll save more long-term by paying out of pocket so you can say you’re claim free to insurers. Some insurers offer a discount if you haven’t made any claims for a few years.
You can always look up how much this might be in your case and do the math. If you could save $500 and what you need to fix will cost just $200 then it’s clear it would be better in that case to pay out of pocket. It’s a great idea to be aware of these types of savings and you can do that regularly by comparing quotes and benefits from different providers.”
Are you aware what your insurance deductible is? It is the figure you pay yourself if you ever need to make a claim.
“You can often reduce your insurance premium by reducing your deductible,” Mark advises.
“If you have a $400 deductible you could save between 15% and 20% off your premium by increasing your deductible to $1250, for example. Keep in mind if you did have to make a claim, you’d need to pay this premium so you can always ask us for help on this. We’re always happy to help advise on things like this.”
The key takeaway is only take on a deductible that won’t leave you financially overwhelmed when you need to make a major claim. But consider if you could raise yours just a little.
Are your auto and homeowner’s insurance policies with the same company? Typically, people have several different policies with different companies.
“This is a great way to save you money on your homeowner’s premium,” Mark says.
“We’ve found many insurance companies will offer up to 20% off your premium to put everything under one roof. Additionally, switching your coverage to a new provider will save money and you’ll likely get better benefits too. It is so much easier to have policies with just one provider.
“Get some quotes and find out what you might save, just from doing this one thing.”
In many states insurance companies run credit checks when they’re figuring out your rates. If your score is too low, you could end up paying higher rates. Take steps to fix your credit rating by reducing credit card balances and paying off your bills on time. Make sure nobody in your household is running down their credit score too without your knowledge. You may even have errors on your credit report which you can take steps to fix.
Have you ever heard of the term, “attractive nuisance” – this is what insurers call things like swimming pools, trampolines, and playground equipment. All of these can add to your homeowner’s insurance premium because they’re seen as likely to cause accidents and be costly to fix. If your kids don’t use the trampoline, or the pool, or their swings and slides anymore, then get rid of them – not only will you make some cash from selling them on, but you’ll also save money on your insurance premiums.
If you don’t ask, you don’t get. This isn’t always true with insurance coverage discounts, but it is worth double checking to see if there’s any you might have missed.
We have found some insurers offer additional discounts if you:
· Pay your premium via automatic bank payments
· Pay your premium on time each month
· Choose paperless billing
· Have a smoke free home
· Work in a specific career such as nurse or firefighter
If you live in Florida, for example, buying a home further from the sea can save you thousands on your annual home insurance bill. This is because a hurricane is more likely to damage a home which is on the coast than one that is inland.
“While you’re shopping around for a home and you have a few properties in mind, you can always type in their addresses to our insurance coverage comparison tool and figure out how much you’re likely to pay for home insurance before even buying,” Mark Chappell says.
“It’s a really smart way to save money, and if the insurance companies see it as a less expensive area to insure then it’s most likely to be a safer place for you to live.”
In some states the build date also has an impact on home insurance premiums. This is because of the latest building codes and older houses being less likely to conform to these codes. Newer homes often have more wind resistance and updated plumbing and electricals, as well as stronger more storm-resistant roofs and better hurricane protection than older homes.
Calculate your homeowners insurance cost before you close so you know what to expect.
Have you improved your home recently? Insurance companies often offer discounts for certain improvements such as impact resistant roofing and storm shutters.
If you've improved your home, you may have made yourself eligible for homeowners insurance discounts. Storm shutters and impact-resistant roofing make your home more difficult to damage and they often result in reduced premiums from insurers.
“Ask your insurer if they’ll send over an expert to inspect your home after improvements,” Mark Chappell says. “They can sometimes even do this remotely so it’s really worth considering, especially if you have done these improvements and not yet told your insurer. If they don’t reduce your premiums, you can always shop around and switch.”
New roofs can be expensive, often costing $8000 or more. In some states though you’ll find you can get tax breaks, grants, and you can even work with organizations offering governmental subsidies. This will then make you eligible for lower insurance coverage premiums, and it’ll make your house safer if there’s a storm or fire.
You might also earn an insurance discount by upgrading old plumbing and electrical systems.
In some states, home insurers are required to offer discounts to homeowners who make upgrades to their homes, so they’re more resistant to wind. Get a wind mitigation report for your home before shopping for insurance coverage, because this can make a huge difference to the amount you pay for home insurance, alongside your home’s value, age and location. The windstorm mitigation inspection will outline other improvements you could make to your home to decrease your insurance premiums and make your home more storm resistant.
Comparing different companies’ rates will let you see if you might be able to save by switching insurers. The costs for extremely similar homeowner’s insurance coverage can really differ from one company to the next.
“You could save as much as $1000 a year or more by shopping around, comparing rates and finding the cheapest offer,” Mark Chappell says.
“SmartCitti offers a simple tool on our website to help you do this. Simply you to plug in some basic information and get quick home insurance quotes. Saving money while protecting what matters most to spend on those people you love is that easy.”
Here’s a look at some of the benefits with home insurance coverage we have found clients in your state recently.
These unique coverages can be extremely valuable for anyone with high-end computers or home office equipment. Our insurance coverage option includes offers such as coverage for a computer for up to $10,000—typically homeowners insurance companies provide less than $2,000 in coverage for computers.
If your home were destroyed by a covered peril, this protection gives you coverage up to 50% more than your policy’s dwelling limit. After a loss, extended replacement cost protects homeowners against unforeseen expenses arising from your home’s depreciation over time. Most other insurers charge extra for this coverage.
Unlike other insurers, our insurance policies can provide up to $100,000 of coverage for repairing and replacing your appliances damaged by electrical or mechanical failure. We consider this an excellent feature, especially if you own expensive appliances, like a washing machine.
Our home insurance policies can cover the costs of repairing any damage to a sewer, water or electric line connecting your property to the street. This kind of protection usually requires the purchase of an extra endorsement on your typical policy.
This coverage offers up to $20,000 of protection against damage caused by water backup from drains or sewers. However, note that water backup coverage does not protect you from flood damage caused by storms or hurricanes. If you live in a flood-prone area, it’s a good idea to check if you need to purchase separate flood insurance.
Our home insurance carriers offer several discounts usually found with other homeowners insurance companies—as well as others that are more uncommon. Below, we have highlighted the most notable discounts we have found recently.
Own multiple fire extinguishers and receive a reduced premium.
Get a discount if you have a professionally monitored fire and burglar alarm or water leak detection sensors.
You might be eligible for reduced home insurance rates if you have storm shutters installed on your windows.
Purchase a policy at least eight days in advance of your old policy expiring.
Receive this discount if you are a member of a homeowner’s association.
Qualify for a discount when the home you are insuring does not have a mortgage.
SmartCitti compares quotes for you at the touch of a button. There’s no obligation to buy, but you’ll be able to see what you could save, and which benefits you’ll gain.
Here’s how:
1. Simply go to SmartCitti’s website
2. Select homeowner’s insurance. If you are renting, select renter’s insurance.
3. Input your address and your zip code
4. Find your address
5. Confirm your details
6. Browse quotes tailored to you
7. Compare prices and benefits
8. Switch and save money
9. If you have any problems at all, simply give us a call and one of our agents will help you
10. How to contact SmartCitti: Call us on 334-329-7136 or you can contact our toll-free numbers on: 877-77BE-SMART or 877-772-3762 You can email SmartCitti here: contact@smartcitti.com