SPECIAL REPORT: Ways To Save On Your Home Insurance- by John Adams, for Fox5 GOOD DAY ATLANTA 1
12 Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs edited by John Adams The following originally appeared in the Atlanta Journal Constitution: 12 Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs The price you pay for your homeowners insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on the insurance company you buy your policy from. Here are some things to consider when buying homeowners insurance. 1. Shop Around It'll take some time, but could save you a good sum of money. Ask your friends, check the Internet or contact your state insurance department. States often make information available on typical rates charged by major insurers and many states provide the frequency of consumer complaints by company. Also check consumer guides, insurance agents, companies and online insurance quote services. This will give you an idea of price ranges Page 2 of 16
and tell you which companies have the lowest prices. But don't consider price alone. The insurer you select should offer a fair price and deliver the quality service you would expect if you needed assistance in filing a claim. So in assessing service quality, use the complaint information cited above and talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the type of service they give. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs. Check the financial stability of the companies you are considering with rating companies such as A.M. Best (www.ambest.com) and Standard & Poor s (www.standardandpoors.com) and consult consumer magazines. When you've narrowed the field to three insurers, get price quotes. 2. Raise Your Deductible Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay a claim, according to the terms of your policy. The higher your deductible, the more money you can save on your premiums. Nowadays, most insurance companies recommend a deductible of at least $500. If you can afford to raise your deductible to $1,000, you may save as much as 25 percent. Remember, if you live in a disaster prone area, your insurance policy may have a separate deductible for certain kinds of damage. If you live near the coast in the East, you may have a separate windstorm deductible; if you live in a state vulnerable to hail storms, you may have a separate deductible for hail; and if you live in an earthquake prone area, your earthquake policy has a deductible. Page 3 of 16
3. Don t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding costs The land under your house isn't at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in your homeowners policy. So don't include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay a higher premium than you should. 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 coverages from different companies. 5. Make your home more disaster resistant Find out from your insurance agent or company representative what steps you can take to make your home more resistant to windstorms and other natural disasters. You may be able to save on your premiums by adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof or buying stronger roofing materials. Older homes can be retrofitted to make them better able to withstand earthquakes. In addition, consider modernizing your heating, plumbing and electrical systems to reduce the risk of fire and water damage. 6. 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 Page 4 of 16
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 buy such a system, find out what kind your insurer recommends, how much the device would cost and how much you'd save on premiums. 7. Seek out other discounts Companies offer several types of discounts, but they don't all offer the same discount or the same amount of discount in all states. For example, since retired people stay at home more than working people they are less likely to be burglarized and may spot fires sooner, too. 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. Some employers and professional associations administer group insurance programs that may offer a better deal than you can get elsewhere. 8. Maintain a good credit record Establishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. Insurers are increasingly using credit information to price homeowners insurance policies. In most states, your insurer must advise you of any adverse action, such as a higher rate, at which time you should verify the accuracy of the information on which the insurer relied. To protect your credit standing, pay your bills on time, don't obtain more credit than you need and keep your credit balances as low as possible. Check your credit record on a regular basis and have any errors corrected promptly so that your record remains accurate. Page 5 of 16
9. Stay with the same insurer If you've kept your coverage with a company for several years, you may receive a special discount for being a long term policyholder. Some insurers will reduce their premiums by 5 percent if you stay with them for three to five years and by 10 percent if you remain a policyholder for six years or more. But make certain to periodically compare this price with that of other policies. 10. Review the limits in your policy and the value of your possessions at least once a year You want your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to your home. But you don't want to spend money for coverage you don't need. If your five year old fur coat is no longer worth the $5,000 you paid for it, you'll want to reduce or cancel your floater (extra insurance for items whose full value is not covered by standard homeowners policies such as expensive jewelry, high end computers and valuable art work) and pocket the difference. 11. Look for private insurance if you are in a government pool If you live in a high risk area say, one that is especially vulnerable to coastal storms, fires, or crime and have been buying your homeowners insurance through a government pppl, you should check with an insurance agent or company representative or contact your state department of insurance for the names of companies that might be interested in your business. You may find that there are steps you can take that would allow you to buy insurance at a lower price in the private market. Page 6 of 16
12. When you re buying a home, consider the cost of homeowners insurance You may pay less for insurance if you buy a house close to a fire hydrant or in a community that has a professional rather than a volunteer fire department. It may also be cheaper if your home s electrical, heating and plumbing systems are less than 10 years old. Choosing wisely could cut your premiums by 5 to 15 percent. 13. Where there's smoke, there's fire. Unfortunately. Even though the number of smokers nationwide is in decline, smoking remains the No. 1 cause of home fire fatalities in the United States. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, smoking caused 18,900 residential fires in 2007, killing 595, injuring 1,200 and causing $327 million in residential property loss. Home insurance companies generally raise their rates if there's a smoker in the household. Will they conversely offer you a discount if your home is smokeless? With home insurance, it is one of those underwriting questions that does provide a credit for some policies in some states. Nonsmoker credit: 5 percent to 15 percent... Check the CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) Page 7 of 16
report of the home you are thinking of buying. These reports contain the insurance claim history of the property and can help you judge some of the problems the house may have. Remember that flood insurance and earthquake damage are not covered by a standard homeowners policy. If you buy a house in a flood prone area, you'll have to pay for a flood insurance policy that costs an average of $400 a year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides useful information on flood insurance on its Web site at FloodSmart.gov. A separate earthquake policy is available from most insurance companies. The cost of the coverage will depend on the likelihood of earthquakes in your area. If you have questions about insurance for any of your possessions, be sure to ask your agent or company representative when you're shopping around for a policy. For example, if you run a business out of your home, be sure to discuss coverage for that business. Most homeowners policies cover business equipment in the home, but only up to $2,500 and they offer no business liability insurance. Although you want to lower your homeowners insurance cost, you also want to make certain you have all the coverage you need. ### The INSURANCE INFORMATION INSTITUTE, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038 contributed to this report. ### The Georgia Insurance Commissioner offers a Homeowners Page 8 of 16
Insurance Rate Comparison which can be helpful in comparing rates among all the companies licensed to sell insurance in Georgia. Go to http://www.oci.ga.gov/ and click on CONSUMER SERVICES at the TOP of the page, then click on HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE on the LEFT side of the page. Finally, click on RATE COMPARISON on the left side of the page. CONSUMER GUIDE FOR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE Question: During a storm, water rose to a level high enough to damage the carpet in my home. I learned that damage is not covered under my homeowner's policy. Where can I get flood insurance? Answer: If your local government participates in the Federal Flood Program, you can request a special flood policy. Call 800 427 4661 for more information. Question: My washing machine overflowed. Will my homeowners policy cover the damage? Answer: Yes. Water damage from overflowing washing machines and dishwashers normally will be covered by homeowner's policy. Question: As a result of a rain and hail storm, we have a hole in our roof. If I get the roof patched before the insurance adjuster comes to see it, will the insurance company still pay for the actual repair of the roof? Page 9 of 16
Answer: Yes. It is your responsibility to protect the roof from further damage until the insurance adjuster can determine the extent of the loss. In order to get reimbursed for these expenses, you should keep receipts to submit to the insurance company. Question: I recently installed smoke alarms on all levels of my home. Am I entitled to a discount on my homeowners policy? Answer: Most insurance carriers offer discounts for several features, one of which may include smoke alarms. The amount of the reduction varies from company to company. You may be able to get an insurance discount and have a safe home for your family as well. Question: My insurance company is not renewing my homeowners policy. What can I do? Answer: First, contact a representative of the Commissioner's Consumer Services Division to ascertain if the non renewal meets statutory requirements and if the action can be rescinded. If the termination is legal and Consumer Services is unable to Page 10 of 16
help, there are many insurance carriers who are aggressively writing homeowners insurance. If you can t find homeowners insurance at first, keep looking. If one insurance carrier can t place you, it doesn't mean that another insurance company can't. Consider taking a higher deductible. If you still can't get coverage, contact the Georgia Fair Plan at (770) 923 7431. The Fair Plan is an association of Georgia licensed insurers authorized by the code to maintain fair access to insurance. IMPORTANT NUMBERS Consumer Services 404 656 2070 Toll Free 800 656 2298 Arson Hotline 800 282 5804 Fraud Hotline 800 656 2298 www.oci.ga.gov Email: consumer@oci.ga.gov www.oci.ga.gov Insurance Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens Consumer Services Division is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. to assist you with your insurance questions and concerns. Question: I rent my apartment. Is it necessary to have renter's insurance? Will this Page 11 of 16
kind of insurance cover the structure? Answer: You should consider purchasing a renter's policy which will cover the contents of your apartment. If you have valuable items such as jewelry, antiques or artwork, it may be advisable to have these items scheduled separately. A renter's policy does not insure the structure of the unit. Insurance for the structure of the rental building is generally carried by the owner of the building. Question: I am shopping for a house. What do I need to know about homeowner's insurance before I buy? Answer: There are two parts to a typical homeowner's policy: Property coverage protects the home and contents plus losses for additional living expenses. Liability coverage protects you from lawsuits. The amount of home coverage should be at least 80% of the replacement cost of your home. Coverage of the contents of your home is usually an amount equal to at least half of the structure coverage. To make filing a claim easier, you should keep an inventory of your possessions. If you own rare or expensive items, consider purchasing special contents coverage in larger than standard amounts or a separate policy specifically covering those items. property at current prices with no reduction Page 12 of 16
for depreciation. You can usually upgrade your policy to replacement cost coverage for an additional charge. A current inventory of your personal belongings, stored in a safe place, will help you in establishing what property was destroyed and its value if you have a claim. Homeowners Insurance Question: If my house is damaged by a disaster, will my homeowners insurance cover my house? Answer: To properly insure your house, find out the current value of the house. It's generally best to insure it at the full cost to rebuild. Any damage caused by wind is normally covered under a standard homeowner's policy. If you choose to insure your home for less than 80% of its replacement value, you may not receive the full value of your claim. Question: If my home is destroyed by a disaster, would my homeowner's policy cover my furniture and belongings? Answer: Yes. However, if you want to protect the contents of your home at full value, you must secure replacement cost coverage. Inventorying your property prior to loss is strongly suggested. Using photographs and a videotape can be helpful. If you have any unique items, you may choose to insure these Page 13 of 16
items specifically. Policies will normally cover contents at their actual cash value, however, most companies have a replacement cost option. Theft following a disaster will impose low monetary limits on money, jewelry, furs, silverware, guns, etc. Higher limits may be warranted. What Is Homeowners Insurance? Homeowners insurance is coverage for your home, contents, and your personal liability. A homeowner's policy usually covers: (1) Property damage to your home and other detached buildings; (2) Contents and personal belongings; (3) Reimbursements for your additional cost to live at another place if your home is damaged and uninhabitable; (4) Personal liability to protect you from a claim or lawsuit if you are responsible for injuries to others or damage to their property. What Is Usually Not Covered? Most homeowners policies will not cover vehicles or vehicle stereo equipment, or losses from natural disaster such as flooding, earthquakes or nuclear accidents. You can usually buy coverage for these things in a separate policy. What Is The Difference Between Page 14 of 16
Actual Cost Coverage And Replacement Cost Coverage? Most standard homeowner's policies provide replacement cost coverage for your dwelling up to the policy limit. Your contents and personal belongings are settled at their actual cash value at the time of the loss. This is replacement cost less deduction for depreciation. Some policies will offer replacement cost coverage which will repair or replace personal Question: We advised our neighbors that a dead tree in their yard could cause serious damage to our property if it fell in our yard. They ignored our warning. Whose insurance would have to pay for damage to property? Answer: These circumstance reflect probable negligence by your neighbors, and you may be covered by their homeowner's policy. To obtain a quick settlement, you can file a claim with your homeowner's company if the tree fell as a result of a covered risk. Your insurance company should ultimately collect for the damages, including your deductible, from your neighbor's carrier. Question: If a tornado damages our home to the point that we cannot live there safely, will our homeowner's policy cover staying at a hotel? Answer: Many homeowners policies have Page 15 of 16
provisions to pay a reasonable increase in living expenses which are necessary to maintain the insured's normal standard of living. It is important to check your policy to find out if you have this coverage. If you do, you also need to find out what amount your policy will pay. Page 16 of 16