Your home is your most important asset. It provides shelter for you and your family. It is filled with memories and objects that you have gathered over the years. That’s why it is important to make sure your home is properly insured. You want to protect your most important asset in case of fire, accidents, storms, theft or property damage. A good insurance policy will provide this protection.
One reason it may not have adequate coverage is the recent economic crisis, which is understandable. But what does not make sense is what will happen if a disaster does destroy your home. Then what financial shape will your family be in?
Instead, focus on ways you can save on your home insurance. A lot of home owners are saving on their premium by raising their deductible. Raising the deductible one level can save a family hundreds of dollars every year on home insurance.
Protect your home with safety devices such as smoke and burglar alarms if you haven’t already. Insurance providers reduce premiums for homes well protected.
Purchase more than one policy from the same provider. This process, known as bundling, can save you even more money each year on your home insurance policy. Companies award clients that continue to come back for more than one insurance policy.
Always insure your home for 100% of the cost to replace the home after a loss. The above scenario is labeled as “insured to value,” and it’s yet another way to save big.
Also, make sure you maintain a strong credit score. Many insurance providers will examine your credit report and scores as part of the insurance process. The providers use your credit score to help develop their own insurance score, which decides how high of a risk you are. The higher the risk, the higher the insurance premiums. Many insurance providers believe a good credit score is an indicator of responsibility, meaning you will pay your premiums on time and won’t file excessive insurance claims. You can obtain a copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus and review it for mistakes. Correcting mistakes can help boost your credit score. So can paying down debt.
While it is important to cut back on expenses during a tight economy, it is not a good idea to cut back or cancel your home insurance policy. You want to make sure your investment is protected. If you have specific questions or need an insurance quote, contact a qualified insurance provider. They can help you design a home insurance policy that not only meets your needs, but that is also affordable.
Tom Martens is the syndication coordinator Insurance-south-africa.co.za. South Arica’s leading Insurance information portal.
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