If you are looking for ways to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance, you’re not alone. Insurance rates have been rising in many areas of the country leaving consumers wondering how to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance. While we can’t always prevent homeowners’ insurance from increasing, there are some ways we can work to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance. Here we will look at some of the most effective ways to fight against rising premiums and lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance.
Increase your deductible to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance
Increasing your deductible to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance is one of the first things most consumers do. Carrying a large deductible can lower the cost of your insurance because it puts more of the claim costs on you. Still, increasing your deductible can make sense for homeowners trying to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance.
For example, if your deductible is $500, you may consider raising it to $1,000. If your deductible is $1,000, you may increase it to $2,500. While this can lower the cost of your homeowners’ insurance premium, it does put more of the claim costs on your shoulders. Remember, your deductible is the part you pay before your policy begins to cover expenses for a loss.
Shop the competition to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance
Like with most things, it pays to shop around. Different companies have different rates so finding the best one for your home can help lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance. Asking your friends and neighbors for recommendations or even using an online clearinghouse that does the comparing for you make shopping around a bit easier.
If you do shop around to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance, be sure you are selecting coverage with a well-established company with excellent financial ratings. It is always best to check with your state insurance commission or a financial rating organization such as AM Best to make sure the company you select has sound financial backing and credit.
Premiums can vary from carrier to carrier, so shopping around for the best rate can help to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance.
Bundle your policies to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance
Some insurance carriers offer a discount if you have more than one policy with them. Any discount is helpful to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance, but a multi-policy can be significant. Some multi-policy discounts can help to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance by a few hundred dollars per year.
Simply find a carrier that offers both home and auto insurance at a competitive price. Most of the large national carriers offer a multi-policy discount to help lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance.
Lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance with an annual policy review
Just like you should have an annual check-up to stay in good health, an annual insurance review keeps your insurance in good health. An annual insurance review can find ways to lower the cost of your homeowners’ insurance. Ask your agent for a policy review with an eye toward savings. Most of the time, something can be changed or tweaked to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance.
For example, in reviewing your homeowner’s policy, you realize you never told your insurance company that you updated the electrical system last year. Such an update can help lower the cost of your policy, but only if the company knows about it.
If you don’t have an agency to help you with an insurance review, every year check your policy and underwriting information to make sure everything is correct and current.
Know the insurance costs before you buy to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance
Real estate is all about location, location, location. The same can be said for the cost of insurance. While your homeowners’ insurance will be determined by the size of your home and construction materials and trim, it’s also largely determined by where the home is located. So, when considering ways to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance, think before you buy.
The location of your home can lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance or increase it. For example, if you live near a body of water or the coast, your premium will be higher than a homeowner who lives further inland. Also, the distance to a fire station can affect your insurance rate, as can the crime rate in your neighborhood.
Lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance by maintaining good credit
Maintaining good credit lowers the cost of just about everything you pay for – mortgage interest rates, cell phone bills, and utility deposits. Good credit can also help lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance. Most insurance companies use an insurance score when calculating your premium. If your credit negatively impacts the cost of your insurance, the company is required to notify you so you can dispute the adverse action.
Maintain a good credit score and lower the cost of your homeowners’ premium by paying your bills on time, keeping credit card debt to a minimum, and monitoring your credit report.
Consider a security system to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance
A home security system can earn you and a discount and help lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance. Smoke detectors, fire alarms, and even deadbolts all help to lower your premiums. For the best discounts, consider installing a central station monitored alarm system from a home security company. Sophisticated systems can help lower the costs of homeowners’ insurance by 10-20 percent.
Strategies to lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance
There are many ways to help lower the cost of homeowners’ insurance. Shop around, maintain good credit and complete an annual insurance review to make sure you are getting the best possible rates on your home insurance.
Most deadlines for a property claim are difficult to determine. In most claims, time is of the essence. Here we will discuss the deadlines for a property claim and what you can do as a homeowner to make sure you get the best and most fair claim settlement.
Policy contracts set out deadlines for a property claim
Most deadlines for a property claim are set out not by state laws and regulations, but rather by policy contracts. That’s why it is essential to understand your policy provisions. Some state guidelines monitor fair claim handling practices and include deadlines for a property claim.
Company response and deadlines for a property claim
When you first file a property damage claim, your insurance company is required to respond in a certain amount of time. The actual length of time can vary from state to state and contract to contract, but in Florida, insurance carriers have 14 days to acknowledge the receipt of your claim.
Most times the acknowledgment comes in the form of a claim number and an assigned company adjuster. This acknowledgment serves the purpose of letting you know that your insurance company is acknowledging your claim and the process has begun.
This acknowledgment can become vital if you file your property claim without speaking to a company representative. If you use an online portal or emailed a notice to your insurance company, be sure to get a claim acknowledgment.
Communication and deadlines for a property claim
Once your claim is acknowledged, there will likely be a lot of ongoing communication between you and your insurance company. Even with these exchanges of information, there are associated deadlines. If during the claim process, you contact your insurance carrier for information and leave a voicemail, the company has 14 days to respond to your request for further details.
Similarly, if you send in a written request for information through email, the 14-day contact deadlines for a property claim apply. This time frame exists to make sure your insurance company responds to your inquiries in a timely fashion.
Evidence of loss and deadlines for a property claim
Most insurance carriers require you to submit evidence of your claim. This process is also part of the deadlines for a property claim. The requirement for presenting evidence of loss can vary depending on your policy and insurance company, but generally, after you submit the proof, your insurance carrier has 0ten days to begin investigating your claim.
Evidence of loss and the deadlines for a property claim don’t have to be complicated. A proof of loss submission may be a list of damaged property or a written statement about what happened. The evidence of loss is one of the most important aspects when it comes to deadlines for a property claim because it kicks off the claim investigation.
Once you notify your insurance company about the claim, they will likely guide you on submitting the proof of loss. They may ask for photos of the damaged property, estimates from contracting specialists or details on make, models and manufacturer information of damaged property.
Once you have given this information to your insurance company, they have ten days to respond under the deadlines for a property claim.
Deadlines for a property claim with denials
After a claim is reported and the evidence submitted your insurance company investigates the claim. They take this time to review the information you provided, inspect the property and gather estimates. Most companies and policies give insurance carriers 90 days to complete such an investigation. However, the deadlines for a property claim are subject to change according to the action of the claim itself, but 90 days is a standard time frame.
After the end of 90 days, your insurance company should tell you if your claim is settled or denied. Often, an insurance company won’t take the full 90 days to notify you of the results of your claim. Again, deadlines for a property claim function as guidelines and often change based on the merit of the claim.
Deadlines for a property claim and your responsibilities
As a policyholder, you also have claims duties and responsibilities when it comes to deadlines for a property claim. Keep the following in mind:
Report your claim immediately:
If you have damage to your property, notify your insurance company as soon as possible. At this point, you may not have all the information they request. Don’t feel obligated to answer every question. The purpose of the initial report is to just put your carrier on notice that you have damaged property.
Secure your property to prevent further damage:
Your policy contract requires that you attempt to mitigate your losses when you have a claim. This could mean installing tarps or boarding up windows. Securing your property isn’t technically one of the deadlines for a property damage claim, but it is an important responsibility of the policyholder.
Track damages:
As you begin recovering from your loss, track your out of pocket expenses and damage estimates. One of the deadlines for a property claim may dictate how long you have to submit requests for reimbursement on your out of pocket claim expenses.
Policy contracts dictate deadlines for a property claim
When working on your claim, remember deadlines for a property claim are outlined in your agreement and are subject to change with the circumstances of your claim.
If you are struggling to get your claim settled promptly, contact Bulldog Adjusters for help. Our team of public adjusters works to make sure you get your claim settled fairly and quickly.
