Factors that affect your Home Insurance Rates

Your home’s location, construction, and condition, as well as your credit and claims history, all play a part in how much you pay for home insurance. Insurance companies assess risk in different ways, so it’s essential to compare homeowners’ insurance quotes to be sure you get the most affordable rate. It is critical to review your insurance coverage regularly so you can be sure your coverage keeps pace with the cost to repair or rebuild your home and replace its contents, including any upgrades you might make over time.

Some of the things which affect the homeowner’s insurance quote are:

1. The replacement cost of your home – Under-insuring your home’s value is perhaps the biggest mistake homeowners make when insuring their homes. Not having enough coverage can lead to financial pain if the worst happens. Replacement cost is the amount of money to build the exact same house where it stands now. This is different from a home’s market value. Market value includes other things, such as the land’s value.
2. Home insurance deductibles – A deductible is an amount you pay toward a loss before your insurance company pays a claim. Choosing the right deductible amount is a significant decision. The higher the deductible, the more money you save on premiums.
3. Age of house, roof and materials – As your home and roof age, they could become more susceptible to damage from weather elements or even internal deterioration. Replacement costs, including material and labour, go up over time.
4. Wood-burning stoves – If you have a wood-burning stove, you could limit potential premium increases by providing your insurance carrier with proof your wood-burning stove was installed by a licensed contractor and meets code requirements. Install smoke detectors on all levels of your home. Additionally, keep a fire extinguisher in an easily-accessible location and make sure everyone in the household knows how to use it.
5. Marital status – When it comes to buying home insurance online, insurers tend to smile at married homeowners. Married couples historically file fewer claims than singles and are seen as, possibly, more mature and definitely less of an actuarial risk by insurance companies.
6. Having a swimming pool, hot tub, or outdoor spa – These nice-to-have features will increase your home insurance rates because you’ll need additional liability coverage in case someone is injured, and the Insurance Information Institute suggests homeowners with swimming pools and other special features, such as spas, consider an umbrella policy to provide additional protection in the event someone gets injured on your property and decides to sue.
7. Home-based businesses – As experts who offer home insurance online, you may need coverage for equipment and electronics, business vehicles, and inventory stored on-site if you work from home. Standard homeowners insurance may provide some protection for business equipment, but coverage varies by policy and may not be enough.

Hence, insurance companies use multiple factors when setting your home insurance rates. These factors point to the importance of shopping for home insurance.