There are so many home / property insurance providers these days that it can seem a bit confusing for even those who are more knowledgeable about the industry. Whether this is your first time trying to buy house insurance, or you’ve done it in the past and want to look for a better policy, you’ll need to decide whether you want to shop around for quotes yourself or have a broker to help you.
The first step is to figure out exactly what kind of homeowner’s policy you require and what type of coverage(s) you need. Some of the things that are usually standard in insurance policies (“HO3 Homeowners Policy”) include dwelling coverage, coverage of other structures on your property (garage, storage building, swimming pools, etc.), and certain items that are inside your home. This kind of policy can also cover instances when you have to stay elsewhere because your home because uninhabitable for reasons such as extreme weather damage, rodent infestation, broken pipes / flooded basement, etc.
The location will play an important role in rates when you buy house insurance. It’s just a given that some geographical locations are more expensive to live in than others. Those who live in a rural area with a low-crime rate, for instance, will almost always pay less for insurance than those who live in an urban area susceptible to crimes.
Buy House Insurance With a Known Policy Limit
In order to get an idea of how much your policy limit is going to be for dwelling coverage, you’ll need to determine the build price of the home, or your home’s “replacement value”. If you have to rebuild your entire home, how much will it cost? It might be a good idea to consult with contractors, roofing companies, builders, etc. to help you with the calculations.
If you want to protect certain valuables such as jewelry, antiques, art collections, etc… , don’t just assume it will be covered in the policy. In many instances, you’ll have to add “riders” to the policy. Also known as an “endorsement”, these riders allow you to add coverage beyond what the standard insurance policy offers.
Today’s homeowners really don’t have to stick with the traditional insurance companies. There are some online companies that offer unique approaches that include “flat fee” and “giveback” services.
One A-rated online company you can buy house insurance from is Lemonade. It does offer a “flat fee” model, and is known for paying out claims superfast. It’s also reinsured by some of the top reinsurers in the industry. Check out some Lemonade discounts right now to learn how you can get good, affordable home insurance.