Frequently Asked Questions about Home Insurance

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about home insurance. Let us know if we have not answered your question.

How much insurance should I get?

You don’t want to find out too late that you have insufficient home insurance coverage. On the other hand, you also don’t want to pour money into home insurance that is more than you need. To find the happy medium, you’ll first want to figure out exactly how much your home would cost to rebuild in the same location. You might also want to consider additional protection, like inflation protection, that will add to your coverage annually based on inflation rates.

How is actual cash value protection different from replacement cost protection?

This protection pertains to your possessions. With actual cash value coverage, the insurance company will reimburse you for the value of your belongings minus the costs of depreciation, wear and tear, and age. This will likely not be even close to enough to purchase the item again new, which is what replacement cost protection does. Replacement cost protection means depreciation will not be deducted from the value of the item, so you will be reimbursed for the purchase price of the replacement item.

Should I let my home insurance company know when I do renovations?

This is a good idea, especially when the renovations cost over $5,000. Remember that, unless you update your coverages, the money and time you invested in renovating your home will be lost if disaster strikes.

How is the cost of my home insurance determined?

Your home insurance premiums will depend mainly on two things: your risk of loss and the home in which you live. Your risk of loss will depend on where you live. For example, certain areas might be prone to hurricanes or tornadoes, which will increase the risk of loss. Other factors that go into computing risk of loss include your proximity to a fire hydrant, how quickly local fire departments respond to emergencies, weather patterns, and statistics of loss in your area. With regard to your home, your costs will depend on how old your home is, what type of construction went into building it, and how much insurance coverage you require.

How do I lower my insurance premiums?

The easiest and quickest way to do this is to raise your deductibles, but be careful. You should not have a higher deductible on your home insurance than you can afford to pay all at once. Other ways to lower your home insurance costs will vary by company, but you might be able to get discounts for certain things. For example, some companies offer discounts if you have an automatic fire sprinkler system, burglar or fire alarms, smoke detectors, deadbolts, and fire extinguishers. Also depending on the company, you could save money by being age 55 or over, carrying multiple policies with the company, or owning a relatively new home. Ask your home insurance company about potential discounts.

What is a home insurance deductible?

A deductible is the portion of the loss costs for which you are responsible. For instance, if you have a $500 deductible, then you must pay for the first $500 of repairs or replacements. If the damages are $500 or less, then you would be responsible for paying all costs. If the damages exceeded $500, your insurance company would pick up the tab after the first $500.