Home Insurance

How To Get The Best Home Insurance Rates

Strategies On Acquiring The Best Home Insurance Rates

Have you recently bought a home and purchased home owner’s insurance? Maybe you own a home and you have yet to purchase insurance for it. Either way, it is important that you are well-informed about the ins and outs of home insurance. The following article is going to give you some of that knowledge.

Lower Insurance Premiums

Crunch your budget and try to pay off your home mortgage as early as possible, in order to enjoy lower insurance premiums. When you own your home outright, insurance companies take the perspective that you will take better care of it now that you don’t owe on it. As a result, you can expect to see your premiums decrease.

Save Money

Add extra smoke alarms to your home to reduce your insurance premiums. Adding smoke alarms can reduce your yearly premiums by as much as 10 percent. Depending on your insurance company, you may even qualify for additional discounts for adding more smoke alarms than the minimum required to receive the discount. You not only save money, but you protect the lives of everyone in your family.

Repairs

Homeowner’s insurance is similar to car or health insurance. The higher the deductible the homeowner agrees to, the lower the annual premium. Higher deductible comes with less claims, as smaller repairs, such as leaking pipes, broken windows are taken care of by the homeowner. Have a savings account with enough funds to pay for the smaller repairs your homeowner’s policy will not pay for.

Theft

Most basic home owner’s policies only cover jewelry for one to two thousand dollars. If your jewelry is worth more than that, you’ll need to add additional coverage to your policy. This will increase your premium but is worth it in the case of theft, fire, or other losses of your items.

Alarm

Installing a home security system can help to reduce your homeowner’s insurance premiums. This is true if the alarm system is monitored by a central alarm center or connected directly to a police station. You need to give your insurance company a copy of your bill or contract to get your insurance discount.

In conclusion, whether you are an insured home owner or if you have yet to get home insurance, it is wise to be well informed on the subject. Use the information given to you in the above article to make sure you have the best home owner’s insurance possible.

Save On Homeowner’s Insurance

Saving On Homeowner’s Insurance

When purchasing homeowner’s insurance, its a good idea to buy insurance that guarantees replacement of your dwelling. If your home is destroyed or damaged beyond repair, this insurance will provide the money to rebuild a similar structure no matter how much it costs. Even if construction prices rise, this type of policy will absorb the extra cost. To figure out how much you would need to replace your home, factor in the building materials but not the land the dwelling is on.

If you live in an area prone to natural disasters, you should find out if you can afford coverage for extended replacement costs. In the case of inflation, or a change in your property value, this extended cover will allow you to claim a higher amount. Extended coverage will allow you a percentage, usually 20%, above the standard coverage.

Make multiple copies of the photo or video inventory you create for home insurance claims. The best thing to do is take digital files and put them onto multiple CD’s along with a spreadsheet of all the items on the videos, their serial numbers, cost at purchase, and the date you bought them. Leave a copy at a family member’s house for safe keeping.

The higher the deductible the homeowner agrees to, the lower the annual premium. Higher deductibles comes with less claims, as smaller repairs, such as leaking pipes, broken windows are taken care of by the homeowner. It’s a good idea to have a savings account with enough funds to pay for the smaller repairs your homeowner’s policy will not pay for.

 Savings On Homeowner’s Insurance

Use your home owner’s insurance to help you save on other types of insurance. Many insurers want to bundle different insurance products together, and will give you a substantial discount on other types of insurance if you combine them with your homeowner’s policy. This could become a huge help for those adding teen drivers to their auto insurance, or people who have a few blemishes on their driving record and need to reduce their insurance rates.

 Discounts On Homeowner’s Insurance

Don’t be shy about asking for discounts. Homeowners insurance companies have several discounts that aren’t widely published. Check to see if they have discounts for non-profit organizations or motor clubs, or for professional organizations and even the companies you work for. Sometimes you are able to get discounts by belonging to these organizations.

Keep as many policies with the same company as possible to reduce your total premium. Many insurance carriers offer discounts for customers with multiple lines of insurance. If you keep your home owner’s insurance and auto insurance with the same carrier, you may reap a significant discount on both policy premium totals.

 

Tip: You never want to allow your insurance to lapse; always pay your premiums on time to make sure that you’re fully covered at all times. It’s a good idea to setup auto payments for your homeowner’s insurance policy premiums; this way you never have to worry about whether you’ve missed a payment.

Get The Most For Your Money When Buying Real Estate

Get The Most For Your Money When Buying Real Estate

When making a purchase, no matter how small or large it may be, it is important that you know pertinent details. This is true with home purchasing, you want to know all there is to know about it before beginning the process. This article is going to give you home purchasing advice.

Insurance

Home ownership may be the quintessential American dream, but it should be entered into carefully and with much forethought.   The responsibilities that come with owning a home are significant and costs go way beyond the price of the house.  Property taxes, HOA fees and homeowner’s insurance are an important part of the long-term picture.  It is also essential to remember that home maintenance is a continual process with costs that can get quite steep.  Replacing old appliances, repairing roofs and maintaining plumbing and heating systems can implode a budget if not planned for in advance.  When you own a house there is no landlord to rely on to make repairs.  Be sure you are ready to juggle the true costs of home ownership before you take the plunge.

Small business owners need to insure more than just the building in which they operate.  They also need to insure any special tools or equipment used in the conduct of their business.  A business owner’s equipment and tools are considered personal property and are not normally included in the coverage provision of most business liability policies. Therefore, they must be protected against loss, theft or damage, with a separate policy.

After you sign a contract purchasing a home, don’t lose touch with your realtor or lender. Things don’t always go as smoothly as they’ve been planned. Keeping in touch ensures that you will be informed right away if something goes wrong with your financing or your homeowner’s insurance policy.

One important tip when it comes to real estate is to be sure that you check out the crime rate of the neighborhood.  This is extremely important to the safety of your family and the security of your possessions.  In addition to this, your insurance rates and resale value will reflect the neighborhood’s safety.

Before buying a home, sit down and determine your own mortgage budget. Your mortgage lender will tell you how much you can borrow based on your income and credit score, but it’s up to you to determine how much you can feasibly spend each month. Don’t plan on your mortgage payment, including fees and insurance, to be more than 30% of your monthly income.

Insurance is like any profession:  it uses a lot of specialized words (indemnification, liability, etc.)  So if you don’t understand something about a policy you’re about to buy, STOP.  Ask the insurance professional you’re talking with to back up and explain in terms that you can understand.  If you still don’t get it, make them explain it again. Nothing is worse than signing on for a policy that either costs too much or doesn’t cover enough, because you didn’t feel comfortable asking questions about it beforehand.

Obtain mortgage financing, check out home insurance and establish your moving time frame prior to seeking a home for purchase and making an offer to the seller. Your bid is infinitely more attractive to sellers if these issues have resolutions at the time you make an offer. Contingencies that are unresolved can affect whether your offer is accepted or rejected.

Protect your assets. It is important to make sure that your assets are protected; particularly those assets not directly connected to your investment properties. Always carry a comprehensive insurance policy on your properties and learn about other ways to protect yourself in the event of a lawsuit. Some options might include the establishment of a trust or a family-run LLC. Keep in mind that you will need to provide justification for your actions, so always consult a professional to find out what your safest option would be.

In conclusion, learning details about whatever purchase you make is important. This is especially true for home purchasing; you want to make sure you are well informed on the subject. The above article was made to help you with the process of purchasing. Enjoy your new home with soundness of mind!

Get The Most Out Of Your Insurance

Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Insurance

If you are completely new to the world of insurance policies, then you are here because you are hoping that we’ll have some tips on purchasing an affordable insurance policy that will help you with navigating the different types of insurance policies available. Here we’ll get you started with constructing your own methods and goals so that you can get a policy that is the perfect fit for you.

If the option is available to you, you should try to purchase your insurance from an independent insurance agency in PA. An independent insurance agency is better able to offer you a wide selection of policies from different insurance companies, thereby bringing you more savings and insurance that is better tailored to your needs.

Homeowner’s & Renter’s Insurance

If you rent a home or an apartment, it is always important to get your own renter’s insurance. Even if a landlord has homeowner’s insurance, it doesn’t mean that you will receive compensation for your things should they be damaged, stolen or lost. In many cases, the insurance your landlord carries only covers the building and immediate property, not what you have inside.

Make sure that your renter’s insurance covers theft as well as natural disasters.  Renter’s insurance tends me a network of exclusions.  Antiques or high end items may be excluded from coverage or you may not be covered in case of theft or flooding.  Make sure of exactly what your policy covers and doesn’t cover.

Small business owners should always make sure that they have small business insurance. It provides you with financial protection against things like natural disasters and power shortages. Things that are unpredictable like that can cause a business to quickly go under if you are not properly covered with the correct insurance.

Keep copies of your policies and contact information in secure places such as a bank lock-box. Having a paper folder with all your policies printed out in your home does no good if it is destroyed in fire or natural disaster. Likewise, cell phone contacts aren’t available if your phone is busted, stolen, lost or the charger is lost. Keep business cards in your wallet and a fireproof safe in your home for backups, or use a bank lock-box.

Make sure that your renter’s insurance covers theft as well as natural disasters.  Renter’s insurance tends to be a network of exclusions.  Antiques or high end items may be excluded from coverage or you may not be covered in case of theft or flooding.  Make sure of exactly what your policy covers and doesn’t cover.

These are just a few basic tips to help you ensure you are protected and are covered with the proper insurance should you be faced with any of these scenarios. Planning ahead is key in preventing financial loss should you suffer any of these misfortunes.

12 Ways to Save on Homeowners Insurance

12 Ways to Get Discounts on Your Home Insurance Policy

Remember that most insurance companies offer discounts (we do!) so make sure to ask your insurance agent!

  1. Haven’t filed a claim on your home insurance for over 3 years? Discounts!
  2. Discounts based on whether your home has smoke detectors, deadbolts, fire extinguishers, burglary alarms, fire alarms, fire sprinklers and other devices that qualify.
  3. Group savings based on being an employee/member of certain associations or companies.
  4. Purchasing multiple insurance packages from the same company can earn you discounts.
  5. Discounts based on the age of your home.
  6. Are you 60 years of age or older? Discount!
  7. Are you married or widowed? Discount.
  8. Some companies offer discounts based on your utility ratings!
  9. Some companies offer discounts based on your roofing materials.
  10. You may receive discounts for insuring up to 100% of the cost to replace your home.
  11. Is your home a new purchase? Many companies offer discounts if you close within 60 days of the policy effective date.
  12. Has your home recently been renovated? Discounts!

Also, make sure to check around for better rates if you’ve recently renovated, bought a house, changed jobs, gotten married, divorced, improved your credit score or have started a new business.

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60 Pottstown Pike
Chester Springs, PA
19425-9563

Phone: 610-458-3656
Fax: 610-458-2967
Kathy@duganinsurance.com

  1. We welcome your questions!