If you’re shopping for home insurance, there’s a lot to consider. Protecting your home is a big decision, and you want to get it right. Read on to learn four things you can do to find the best policy for your needs.
Know How Much Coverage You Need
You can’t get an accurate quote on home insurance without knowing the level of protection you require. Do you live in a 4,000-square-foot home in an expensive market, or is your house a modest bungalow in an up-and-coming area? Your insurance should be able to cover you at full loss, such as after a tornado or fire.
What about your personal property? Home insurance also protects your furnishings, appliances, electronics, clothing, and other belongings. Pro tip: take photos or a video of your home, along with an inventory of major purchases, and we can help you assess the level of coverage you need.
Don’t forget to consider additional needs, such as:
- Scheduled coverage for valuables like jewelry, antiques, artwork, firearms, precious metals, furs, and collectibles
- Earthquake and flood insurance
- Specialty coverage for unique situations, like owning horses or renting part of your property through homeshare sites like Airbnb
- Protection as a high-net-worth individual
- Umbrella insurance to supplement your liability coverage (recommended for dog owners)
Understand How Premiums and Deductibles Work Together
With home insurance, your premium and deductible complement each other. The premium is what you pay for your insurance, whether monthly, every six months, or annually. The deductible is a small amount that you pay out of pocket when a claim is filed. Usually, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium, and vice versa.
Your goal is to find a homeowner policy that gives you the right match of premium and deductible for your budget. If your funds are tight, choosing a policy with a higher deductible can, for example, result in a lower premium. Just be aware that if you file a claim, you will have to pay the deductible. Therefore, in some cases, it’s less expensive to simply take care of the repair on your own rather than submit a claim.
Evaluate What You Get for Your Money
Sometimes the least expensive policy isn’t always the best. You want the most comprehensive coverage for your premium dollars. Extras that aren’t always included are things like water backup, replacement cost for lost property (versus actual cash value), and loss of use coverage (AKA alternative living expenses) if you have to live somewhere else while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.
Get a Quote from an Independent Agency Like Clayton Hanley
Another thing you want from your home insurance is responsiveness from your agent, whether you want to make changes to your policy or file a claim. At Clayton Hanley, we provide more personalized service than you’ll find with big insurance companies.
Also, as independent agents, we have a wider array of home insurance products at our disposal for you. This lets us better tailor a policy to your precise needs.
To start a quote or learn more about home insurance, we welcome the opportunity to chat with you. Call Clayton Hanley Insurance at 314-487-2921 today, or reach out online to let us know how we can assist you.
