You get your insurance bill each month, and you’ve started wondering … can I stay fully protected and still cut costs? Even slightly? Consider these tips as you review your home and auto insurance policies. Curious to learn more?
Here are tips on how to lower insurance costs:
- Look at location. If you’re thinking about purchasing a new house, take a look at its surroundings. A home near a fire hydrant/fire station could lower the cost of your home insurance by reducing fire risk. So could being further from lakes or ponds (reduced flood risk), and being at the top of a hill rather than in a lower flood zone.
- Put safety first. Whether you own a home or are renting an apartment, take safety precautions. Install a security system. Make sure you have smoke detectors, and maybe even a sprinkler system. Secure your windows and doors with locks. Keep up with regular home maintenance. Not only can these measures keep you safe, they could also save you money.
- Bundle your policies. Does one company insure your home and another company insure your car? Contact an agent who represents each one to request a quote. See how much you could save if you bundled both policies together. You might even be able to save by adding other policies, like life insurance.
- Increase your deductible. A deductible is the out-of-pocket amount policyholders have agreed to pay when there’s damage to an insured item. In many cases, a higher deductible could result in a lower insurance bill. On the flip side, it would mean paying more out-of-pocket in the event of a loss. One thing to consider: Don’t raise your deductible to the point that you won’t be able to afford to file a claim.
Looking for more tips on how to lower insurance costs? Ask one of our local, independent agents what you can do, and what makes the most sense for you.
