A home is one of the largest assets that most people will own in their lives.
Every year, over 3.7 years million homes get broken into, and an average of 27 million people become displaced from their homes due to natural disasters.
With statistics like that, homeowners insurance is a given, as well as critical to even finding a lender to purchase your home. But what kinds of factors come into play when choosing your home insurance provider?
Read these 7 factors to consider when picking home insurance, so you are never caught off guard or lose your investment!
What is Home Insurance?
Home insurance is a property insurance policy that you pay for each month (or at another predetermined, regular rate) that is protection through monetary compensation if anything ever happens to your home.
These policies can also cover medical expenses if someone is injured while on your property.
Once you have filed a claim with your company if damage, destruction, or injury does occur on your property, you will then need to pay your deductible, and the insurance company will pay out either the max liability that had been determined or up the amount of your claims.
1. Know Exactly What is Covered in Your Insurance
This may seem silly, but while many home insurance companies give standard coverage based on the appraisal of the house, the details on what exactly that means can vary. Make sure that you are covered for anything you might need, such as flooding, hurricanes, fires, or other potential issues. What coverage you need will heavily depend on where you live.
Will you want coverage if friends or neighbors injure themselves and need medical aid? Those are factors to consider when choosing the best insurance for you.
There are a lot of options out there, make sure the home insurance provider you choose fits your needs the best.
2. Understand the Insurance Terms and Conditions
Make sure you know all the details of your insurance terms and conditions. This is the ‘fine print’ of your insurance deal, and you will want to have a solid understanding of all of it.
Make sure to talk to the insurance agent about details such as if your insurance can increase after filling a certain amount of claims.
You will have to pay a deductible for any claim that is paid out. It is imperative that you prepare yourself for the amount that will be, as well as knowing what the max amount of your coverage can be.
Ask a lot of questions as to why the company might not pay your claim, or if you will need to be prepared with receipts for any of your items.
3. Check Out the Reviews of the Insurance Companies You are Considering
Insurance companies will want you as their client when you call, which can make some a little more prone to exaggerate how great their company is.
Make sure you ask lots of questions and do your own digging for reviews of how they have treated other customers in the past. This will ensure you have a very true understanding of what the company is like before you make a decision.
4. Customer Service and Ease of Information
As with any contractual agreement, but particularly could be surrounded by a large amount of stress, you must be sure that you will be well taken care of.
Do you feel that the customer service agents are considerate and kind? Are they patient when you are asking with them and asking questions? Do they readily provide you with the information you need when you are asking the questions you have?
Customer service will make you feel welcomed and will be very open with the information you request. Other things like wait times and ease of access to the agents should also factor into your assessment.
Other considerations, like how easy the website is to navigate, should also come into play. Is it difficult to find information on all the details of the coverage? You will want all the fine print to be easy to access.
5. Compare Prices and Coverages From at Least Three Different Insurance Companies
Comparing coverage and pricing from multiple insurance companies give you the upper hand in choosing the best possible insurance for your home. This can also enable you to negotiate better rates once you have a handle on what other companies are offering.
You will also be able to get a feel for what the coverage specifications should be, as well as have an understanding of the finer print involved in the coverages. You will only be better off looking at all your options.
The insurance company you choose should offer you great benefits, and make you feel valued and secure. Comparing insurance costs along with the coverages that are included in the package will ensure you make the best decision for your home and family.
6. How Fast is Their Claims Process?
If you have experienced the loss of your home due to natural disasters, the loss of possessions due to a break-in, or someone has been injured on your property, it is essential that the claims process be taken care of as quickly as possible.
Take a look at the claims history of the company you are considering to make sure they are quick, professional, and kind in getting your claim distributed.
7. Are There Any Home Insurance Discounts?
It may surprise you to know that there are often discounts that you can receive just by asking. Letting the insurance representative know that you are comparing prices from other companies will also be an encouragement for them to see what discounts they can offer you, as they will certainly want you to become their client.
Having excellent credit, and a history that is not riddled with claims in other insurance areas will definitely be to your benefit.
Picking Home Insurance Does Not Have to be Overwhelming
While there are many options out there, with guides like this you are well on your way to knowing the kinds of questions you need to ask and the information to look for when picking home insurance that will best suit the needs of you and your family.
Did you enjoy this article? We offer fantastic advice on housing, business, technology, and lifestyle. Check out our other posts for more information!