Tips You Should Know When Purchasing Homeowners

June 2, 2017
Modern, open-plan living room with white furniture, stone fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to a pool.

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It can be a real challenge to buy homeowner's insurance, especially for new home buyers. Here are five tips so you can understand the type of homeowners insurance that will fit your needs.


​1) Be Smart About Paying Insurance

Talk to your policy provider regarding the payment plan that will work best for your budget. If you have a mortgage, most of the time the lender will handle your insurance through your escrow account to make sure the home maintains insurance. Sometimes this is preferable as paying the annual premium in full will give you discounts versus paying month-to-month. However, don’t let your mortgage company pick your insurance company in the process of buying a house. You can always pick your own insurance, even if the mortgage company is paying the bill.


2) Protect Yourself by Taking Extra Measures

Take more steps to make sure that your home is well maintained, install a home security system, use deadbolts, update your electrical wiring, make sure that the heating system is fully functional and current so you can save on insurance costs and get policy discounts. If you live near the police department or fire station, you may be eligible to get more savings.


3) Determine Your Needed Coverage Type

You may save time when you buy homeowners insurance if you first figure out what kind of coverage will suit your needs. There are many types of homeowners insurance coverage, designed for different types of houses and situations. Your agent will know the type of policy you need, and help you determine how much coverage you should have.


4) Know The Value of Your Policy

Know what type of coverage amount you are checking out. You can determine this by estimating your home's value and how much the various repairs will cost. Your agent should be able to estimate the rebuild cost of your home to make sure you have enough coverage.

 

It’s pretty common to have a replacement cost that’s different than the amount you paid for your property. The reasons for this vary, but remember that your land is not included, and replacement cost can vary over time as the cost of materials and labor fluctuates.


5) Take Inventory Of Your Belongings

Make a list of your possessions including their value. A lot of people have thousands of dollars of belongings that you might want to replace or get compensation for if they get destroyed, lost, or stolen. The purchase of home insurance is more than just the building. If you don't remember the cost because of the lack of receipts and other records, get help from a professional appraiser to complete this task.

 

At the Brad Spurgeon Insurance Agency Inc. we take pride in making sure our clients are well protected at prices they can afford. To learn more about how we can help you please contact our agency at 1-409-945-4746 or Click Here to request a free quote.

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