At Compare Homeowners Insurance Now, we have discovered the importance of getting homeowners quotes annually.  Here you will be able to get online quotes from multiple insurance companies and they will compete for business without you leaving the room.

For a quick estimate of the amount of insurance you need, multiply the total square footage of your home by local building costs per square foot. To find out construction costs in your community, call your local real estate agent, builders association. This figure may not be the home’s actual market value or what the owner originally paid for the home. This is particularly true in today’s market; where homes are being bought from foreclosures at prices well below the cost of rebuilding this home. When insuring your home, replacement cost policies are the best way to protect yourself.

Once you have determined your replacement cost, your ready to start shopping.

Comparison shopping is a great way to save money. When insurance companies compete for your business; you win. Results have shown that consumers can save 20 % and more just by taking five minutes to compare rates from top rated insurance companies. Compare Homeowner Insurance Now has done all the research and due diligence to make sure that you can get all the facts you need here at our site.

Listed below are additional ways to save on Homeowners Insurance.

Increase Your Deductible

• $500 save up to 10 to 15% .
• $1,000 save up to 20 to 25%.
• $2,500 save up to 25 to 30%.
• $5,000 save up to 35 to 40%

If you raise your deductible make sure you can afford this out of pocket cost, if there is a claim.

Insure Your Home, Not the Land

In different parts of the country the land is actually more valuable than the house that sits on it. Even though your home and your belongings are at risk from fire, storms, vandalism and other risk, the land your house sits on is not. When deciding how much homeowners insurance you need to buy do not include the land.

Make Your Home Safe

Add a security system, deadbolt locks, and smoke detectors, which can reduce the premiums.

Non-Smokers Discount

Smoking is the number one cause of home fire deaths in the United States.

Senior Citizen Discount

Are you a Senior Citizen or retired; some insurance companies offer discounts.

Electronic Payments

Setup your payments to be paid electronically or thru escrow.  Numerous companies now charge fees for mailed payments, having your payments automatically deducted can save additional money.

Check Your Credit Rating

If your insurance company relies on credit scoring, they may use it in two ways:

• Underwriting — Deciding whether to issue you a new policy or to renew your existing policy.
• Rating — Deciding what price to charge you for your insurance by placing you into a specific rating “tier” or level.

Review your credit rating and it’s accuracy often.

You’ll pay up to 15% less if the home’s heating, plumbing and wiring systems are less than a decade old.

Construction Materials

Ask insurers which materials are preferred locally. A brick house built in the Midwest, Southeast, Northeast would get a positive rate for its ability to withstand wind. However the same house would be less desirable and cost more to insure on the West Coast, where brick is among the least stable in an earthquake.

Flood Zoning

Check to see if the home is in a zone at risk for flooding, homes in these flood zones require extra insurance adding an average $400 annually, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Neighborhood

Pay attention to the risk factors in your neighborhood, such as crime rate, homes proximity to the fire department, how far is the nearest fire hydrant and the closest police station. The less risk in the neighborhood the lower the premium.

Past Claims

Check with the past homeowner for a copy of the home’s Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report, which details the property’s history of insurance claims.

Comparison shopping is a great way to save money. When insurance companies compete for your business; you win. Results have shown that consumers can save 20 % and more just by taking five minutes to compare rates from top rated insurance companies. Compare Homeowner Insurance Now has done all the research and due diligence to make sure that you can get all the facts you need here at our site.

2. Raise Your Deductible

Homeowners who increases their deductible from $250 to $500 could save as much as 15% on monthly premiums. Raising your deductible to $1,000, could save as much as 25 percent.

3. Insure Your Home, Not the Land

In different parts of the country the land is actually more valuable than the house that sits on it. Even though your home and your belongings are at risk from fire, storms, vandalism and other risk, the land your house sits on is not. When deciding how much homeowners insurance you need to buy do not include the land.

4. Buy Your Home and Auto Policies from the Same Insurer

Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them. But make certain this combined price is lower than buying the different coverage’s from different companies.

5. Improve Your Home Security

You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations. These systems aren’t cheap and not every system qualifies for a discount. Before you invest in a system, find out what kind your insurer recommends, how much the device would cost and how much you’d save on premiums.

6. Are You Retired

Retired people who stay at home more than working people are less likely to be burglarized and may spot fires sooner. Retired people also have more time for maintaining their homes. If you’re at least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a discount of up to 10 percent at some companies.

7. Maintain a Healthy Credit Record

Establishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. Insurers are increasingly using credit information to price homeowners insurance policies. If your insurance company relies on credit scoring, they may use it in two ways:

• Underwriting — Deciding whether to issue you a new policy or to renew your existing policy.
• Rating — Deciding what price to charge you for your insurance by placing you into a specific rating “tier” or level.

Review your credit rating and it’s accuracy often.

10. Review the Limits in Your Policy and the Value of Your Possessions at least Once a Year

Your policy should cover any major purchases or additions to your home. However you don’t want to waste money for coverage you don’t need. Insuring expensive items that you may have sold or no longer possess such as jewelry, china, silver, high tech equipment etc. Adjust/review your policy annually.

11. Add Safety Improvements

Adding safety features to your homes can pay for themselves quickly. Installing a smoke alarm or deadbolt lock, adding a fire extinguisher can earn a discount up to 5% with most insurers. Installing a high-tech security systems or shatterproof windows to protect against hurricanes and severe weather can reduce premiums as much as 10% to 25%.

12. Pay Your Homeowners Bill Annually

Pay your homeowners bill annually and you avoid the monthly convenience fee of $2 to $5 that many insurers tack on. If you cannot afford this check on signing up for monthly automatic payments that are setup through online banking and can also lead to a discount

13. Ask for Additional Discounts

Always ask for additional discounts. What organizations do you belong to? Do you have memberships to groups such as AARP, AAA, military or trade organizations?

2. Increase your deductible. (if you were at $250)

• $500 save up to 10 to 15% .
• $1,000 save up to 20 to 25%.
• $2,500 save up to 25 to 30%.
• $5,000 save up to 35 to 40%

Of course if you raise your deductible make sure you can afford this out of pocket cost, if there is a claim.

3. Purchasing home and auto policies from the same insurance carrier.  Usually they will offer a 10% discount if you carry both auto and homeowners insurance.

4. Insure your home, not the land. In different parts of the country the land is actually more valuable than the house that sits on it. Even though your home and your belongings are at risk from fire, storms, vandalism and other risk, the land your house sits on is not. When deciding how much homeowners insurance you need to buy do not include the land.

5. Make your home safe, adding a security system, deadbolt locks, smoke detectors all can reduce the premiums.

6. Non-smokers discount. Smoking is the number one cause of home fire deaths in the United States.

7. Are you a Senior Citizen or retired; some insurance companies offer discounts.

8. Purchasing a new home can be less to insure since the electrical, plumbing, heating and air will be new compared to an older house in need of repairs.

9. Geographical location, depending where you live West Coast, Mountains, East Coast, Southeast, Midwest all have different types of risk and will effect amount you pay to insure your home.

10. Review your  policy annually and update everything that was done is the past year. Items like jewelry, paintings that may need to be insured or even taken off  your policy. Do you add an addition to your house?

11. Setup your payments to be paid electronically or thru escrow.  Numerous companies now charge fees for mailed payments, having your payments automatically deducted can save additional money.

12. Check your credit rating. If your insurance company relies on credit scoring, they may use it in two ways:

• Underwriting — Deciding whether to issue you a new policy or to renew your existing policy.
• Rating — Deciding what price to charge you for your insurance by placing you into a specific rating “tier” or level.

Review your credit rating and it’s accuracy often.