Gathering multiple online home insurance quotes is the first step to
protecting your home and saving money. Following are tips to compare home insurance rates and identify which quote is best for you:
Check Those Insurance Limits!
Hopefully, all of your online home insurance quotes were obtained using
the same information; this approach will give you an “apples-to-apples” comparison.
Review each insurance quote carefully to ensure that the limits for property, liability,
medical payments, loss of use and other indicated limits are the same.
Watch the Insurance Numbers!
If one of your home insurance quotes is significantly cheaper than others, raise your red
flag. These lower rates could be an indication of a significant insurance coverage gap.
In addition to checking limits, review insurance deductibles. Some insurance policies may include
a deductible that is based on a percentage of the home’s value at
the time of the loss rather than a set dollar amount. A difference such
as this could result in significant out-of-pocket expenses for you. Review
all insurance rates closely to ensure you will be getting a set deductible.
Don’t Sacrifice Insurance Coverage!
Look for information about what the home policy actually covers. It may have a
fancy-sounding name such as “perils insured against” or just plain “form.” Regardless
of the wording the insurance company uses, this is where the insurance policy spells out the types
of losses that are covered and those that are not. An “Open Perils” or “Special
Form” insurance policy is preferred; because such a policy covers all losses unless
specifically excluded.
Check Out Those Insurance Discounts!
Insurance d iscounts are one way insurance companies compete for your business. Most
discounts are available without sacrificing insurance coverage. Insurance discounts may be available
for certain qualities of your home, such as a burglar alarm. Others may be
company-specific, like a multi-policy discount. When you compare insurance rates be sure
to consider both the immediate and long-term effects of insurance discounts.
Learn About the Insurance Company!
Before purchasing a policy from an insurance company check with your insurance
agent, state insurance department or an insurance company rating agency like A.M.
Best (www.ambest.com) for information concerning the company’s financial
strength. This is extremely important. Placing the financial security
of your home and family with an insurance company that cannot afford to pay your
claim is not worth the few dollars you could save on your premium.
Compare rates today! Get your free home insurance quote today.
