The Value of Having Good Home Insurance

Shayna A.

Home insurance has become a necessity as burglaries are on the rise and the possibility of natural disasters has increased in the last few years. These occurrences and other tragedies are not unlikely, and without insurance you may not be able to pay for damages. Damages can lower the cost of your property.


Furthermore, all home insurance policies are not created equal. Trying to save a few dollars may cause you more headache and future expenses. Choosing a good home insurance policy requires as much time and thought as buying a home. You may not see the value when calculating the differences between the cheaper and more expensive quotes; however, a good, well researched policy has the potential of saving you thousands of dollars in the future.

Searching for a good policy involves knowledge of the property. Take a look at the surroundings as well as the typical disasters that could occur and check to see if the property is in a high risk area. Is the house located in a flood or fire zone? Is the property location at risk of a hurricane or an earthquake? Depending on the specific hazard, your home should be covered according to the particular hazard zone. Even if the occurrence is rare, if you plan on keeping the house for an extended period of time, you should purchase home insurance with specific hazard protection.

What items will be covered under the policy (i.e. the monetary value)? Add up the specific value of the items you would like reimbursed if damaged, and claim them on the policy. Typically, the policy should add up to the total cost to rebuild your home and replace all of your possessions. When attempting to determine the value of your home, do not use the full amount of the appraisal. The appraisal includes the cost of the land as well as the home price. Most likely, the land will not be harmed in case of a natural disaster.

Proper research and planning will guarantee a smooth and proper selection process which adds value to having good home insurance. The better the condition of your house, the lower the premiums will be. Features such as updated locks, newer wiring and plumbing, proper fire extinguishers and smoke detectors will also keep the premiums at a lower cost. With lower basic premiums, you can add the more expensive personal items to the policy without raising the premium drastically.

There is no question about the value of a good home insurance policy. With the proper research and guidance, you can find a great policy for a good price. Don’t run after the policies for the sake of price. Choose a policy which fully supports your needs and select one based on your criteria first. When you find what you are looking for, price can then be negotiated.

Call upon the expertise of friends, family, and insurance professionals, and choose a carrier with a good reputation. Following these basic principles and doing your homework will make the selection process easy and efficient and will allow you to sleep easier knowing your property is in safe hands.

Guest post author: Shayna A.

The First-Time Buyers Guide to Homeowners Insurance

So you finally own your own home. Congratulations. The first thing you are going to need is homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance is one of those things no one likes to talk about. You want to enjoy your new home, not talk to an insurance broker . But while homeowners insurance is one of those things none of us want to use, it’s something we all have to have as homeowners. But before you talk to that insurance broker, here are a few things you should know about homeowners insurance.


What Is Homeowners Insurance?

As the name implies, homeowners insurance protects you should something happen with your home. But it’s not quite as simple as that. As your insurance broker will explain, homeowners insurance is broken down into four components: Structure, Personal Belongings, Liability, and Living Expenses. You and your insurance broker will have to sit down and discuss each one in turn, as different families have different specific need for each type of insurance.

Structure Insurance

The structure part of your policy covers actual damage to your house. This pays for repairs should your house be damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster such as fire, hail, lightning, or hurricane. It does not cover earthquake or flood damage; these must be bought separately in areas where they are needed. Be sure your insurance broker lets you know if you have an “all ails” policy. This means that, other than earthquake and flood, all disasters that damage your home are covered unless specifically excluded. Some policies only cover what is specifically INCLUDED, which is generally not what you want.

Personal Belongings

This part of your policy protects the property inside your house, should they be stolen or destroyed. It is recommended that you purchase insurance for personal belongings equal to 50%-70% of what you purchased to insure the structure. If you have special items like jewelry that are particularly expensive to protect, you may wish to add a floater policy to protect these specific items.

Liability Protection

This insurance protects you should guests be injured on your property. You will generally need to purchase a minimum of $100,000 worth of coverage, though at least $300,000 is recommended.

Living Expenses

This coverage provides for you and your family living away from home while your home is being rebuilt if it should be destroyed or rendered unlivable. There is generally a standard premium attached to your policy for this coverage.

Be sure to sit down with your insurance broker and discuss each section of the homeowners insurance policy in turn. Families with many children may wish to purchase extra liability protection while those with antique furniture may want more personal belongings coverage. Each family has different needs, and your insurance broker can best help you decide what type of distribution of coverage is best for you and your family. Don’t forget to ask any questions you can think of, and don’t sign any policy until you feel completely comfortable with what you have purchased.

Auto Discount Insurance Quotes

When comparing on line auto discount insurance quotes, it is wise to check policies to determine what each company's full coverage supply includes. When automobile insurance agencies mention fully coverage this means you will receive full coverage within that individual company's guiding principles and policies.

If you obtain an auto discount insurance quote online and only study the premium rate, you may be in for an enormous surprise when you need to make a claim. Never blindly enter into an auto insurance policy agreement merely because it is named full coverage. A full coverage policy doesn't mean the auto insurance company will cover any and each issue that might happen to you or your vehicle.

All auto discount insurance quotes have constraints and exclusions. Limitations are typically based on your car repair habits. If you neglect your automobile or fail to maintain mechanical maintenance ( like oil changes or brake maintenance ), then the auto insurance company can not give many varieties of damage. When reading a full coverage auto insurance policy when you are comparing automobile discount insurance quotes online, don't only scan what is coated but also read over the firm's limitations and exclusions carefully.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Policies Explained:

A full coverage auto insurance policy can usually embrace the following : guilt ( coverage quantity depends on the legal desires in your state ), collision, complete coverage, towing, rental reimbursement, roadside help, coverage for uninsured and under insured motorist, and coverage for medical payments. The auto insurance policy could also include property damage.

What Merc goodies will it bring-2010

Following the 2009 pattern and because we are forthcoming 2010, it would be very clever from us to attain a review of the newborn models list Mercedes-Benz has prepared for the next year.The list includes:the newborn S-Klasse Coupe, the R-Klasse FL, the newborn CLS-Klasse, the newborn SLS AMG Cabrio, the C-Klasse FL and the newborn SLK-Klasse. The first field automotive event of 2010

Shop for Car Insurance Online

Why act silly and shop for car insurance with the help of a broker? Even more so, you are making a big mistake if you decide to buy car insurance by calling an agent direct on the phone. There is a lot of opportunity to get the right car insurance policy on your own, but only if you know what you are doing.A lot of consumers are afraid to shop for car insurance on their own via the internet. They

Volkswagen NCC new concept

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Pet Health Insurance

Health Insurance Reform for Your Pet

Most pet owners know what it is like trying to shell out payments for pet medical bills.

"They add up really fast," said Marco Urquidies, "and they get very expensive."

But most pet owners never consider getting pet health insurance - only one percent of owners have it.

Democratic state Assemblyman Dave Jones has introduced a bill to help regulate the pet health insurance industry in California.

Companies would no longer be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. It would also mandate that an insurer release when it increases premiums or decreases coverage.

Veterinarian Summer Godfrey says you should research your pet's breed to find out if he or she is prone to particular diseases or conditions.

"You do not want to wait until your dog breaks its leg and then go apply for pet insurance," Godfrey said. "If you apply for it when they are a puppy they really do cover a lot of things, depending on the plan."

Jone's bill would also make pet insurers post detailed information on their websites so consumers can see exactly what is covered and what is not. It would also make it easier to compare plans.

Pet insurance companies and animal advocacy groups say the bill is the 1st of its kind in the nation. The bill passed the state Assembly and a Senate insurance committee. It will head to the Appropriations Committee next.