Do you want a more affordable rate that still leaves you with the right coverage? Here are steps that will help you attract big discounts easily…

1. Do not insure your house along with the land it is standing on as this is more expensive but quite needless. People who ignorantly do this are paying a lot more than would be of any benefit. They just insure their home for its entire value without subtracting the land’s cost.

For folks who have mistakenly done this, meet with your agent and check your home insurance coverage again. Subtract the value of your land and buy coverage only for your structures and its contents.

This implies that you will pay a lot less on home insurance. Always remember that insuring the land your home is built on is plain waste of money since it does you no good whatsoever.

2. You’ll pay more or less depending on your credit rating. Those who have very good ratings pay far less than people who have low ratings. A poor credit rating suggests that you have not been paying your bills in a timely fashion. This is a behavior that most insurance carriers believe will be exhibited in the way you pay up your premiums. This makes you a higher risk to them and you, therefore, are made to spend much more than some other person with similar profile that has a very good rating.

It will, therefore, be a smart step to do something about making your credit rating better. You will get cheaper premiums if you do.

3. You’ll get cheaper rates if you choose to pay your premiums yearly and not every month. A strong reason for this is the cost an insurer incurs by posting you twelve payment notices instead of just one annually.

Furthermore, each check they get attracts its own transaction fees too. They pay transaction charges twelve times instead of once a year for monthly premiums. These and other costs so incurred by your insurance company are eventually paid by you, the insured..

Therefore choose yearly payments instead if you intend to make savings through this means. The actual amount you could save may differ but you may be able to save up to a month’s premium worth with most insurers if you choose this option.

4. Make the exterior of your home fire-safe and you’ll reduce your home insurance rate. Having things that are highly inflammable or that help combustion around your building will make you pay more expensive rates. Bushes around your home should be cut and maintained at not less than ten feet from your building. This is because how fire-safe a home is goes a long way in determining what it will cost to insure it.

5. Motion-sensitive lighting reduces your home’s risk of burglary and, therefore, helps you get cheaper home insurance rates. Burglars generally do NOT like to operate in any environment they could be easily noticed or caught. Since thieves keep off from houses with such lighting, you lower your home’s risk of burglary and, consequently, your premiums.

Did you know that lightning kills more people than tornados and hurricanes each year. It normally strikes about 270,000 times and kills an average of 76 people each year. A typical home insurance policy protects our homes from lightning damage. when you purchase comprehensive insurance with your auto policy, any damage to your vehicle is covered as well. Your health insurance will cover medical expenses in the event you or a family member were to be struck by lightning.

Lightening-related insurance claims filed by policyholders have dropped almost 11.5% since 2004. The average cost per claim however, has risen almost 70% over the past five years. Experts on insurance-related matters, blame increased claims cost on two things: Severe storms and a large increase in consumer electronics in homes.

High dollar electronics are now common place in the average houshold, which has a significant impact on insurance claims losses. While we enjoy having sound systems, computers, and high definition televisions , these expensive electronics have contributed greatly to the cost of the average lightning related claim.

While the weather is beyond our control, we can take steps to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our homes from the effects of lightning. It’s important to do your part to lower insurance rates-and keep your family, your home, and possessions safe. Don’t underestimate the power of lightning.

Here are some safety tips for you and your family

Try not to have contact with sinks, baths and water faucets.

Avoid windows, doors, and electrical appliances.

Aviod using a telephone during storms. Use a cell phone instead.

When storms are approaching, go to an area of lower elevation .

Stay away from single trees, metal objects, open areas, and hilltops.

Look for shelter in a nearby home or car.

Having a lightning protection system properly installed is approximately 99% effective in preventing potential lightning damage.

Make sure your home’s electrical system is properly grounded.

The simplest and most effective way to protect expensive electronic equipment is to unplug them before storms approach.

Lightning can destroy costly electrical systems, home electronics, and start fires. To help prevent damage use surge protectors

A typical bolt of lightning can result in heat of up to 50,000 degrees which often results in a fire. Such fires often go unnoticed , burning in attic space or within the walls of the home. Even if there is no visible flame, if you smell smoke or sense the possibility of fire, call the fire department quickly so that they can determine whether there is an immediate hidden danger.

It is also a good idea to follow up by having a qualified electrician diagnose frayed wiring and other potential hazards as soon as possible.

Although your chances of being struck by lightning are only 1 in 600,000, being prepared can reduce those numbers and keep yourself, your family, and your home safe when lightning strikes.

If you’re like most people your home is most likely the most important investment you’ll make in your lifetime. Making sure it is protected from an unexpected event is crucial to your financial well being. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should be aware of when purchasing homeowners insurance.

Most policies cover four areas

The structure of the home

Personal property

Liability coverage

Loss of use expenses

Structure of Your Home

If one of the disasters named in your policy damages or destroys your home you should have enough insurance to rebuild. Other Structures that are typically covered include: garages, storage sheds, and fixtures attached to the land includingdriveways, fences, patios, sidewalks, and retaining walls.

Personal Belongings

Personal property protection can be based on actual cash value or replacement cost and covers the contents of your home and other personal items owned by you or family members. Taking pictures or video of you valuables is a way to provide proof of ownership in the event of a claim. Many policies include off-premise coverage, which means your possessions are covered any where in the world.

Liability

In the event someone gets hurt on your property liability coverage protects you against law suits. It pays for your defense in court and any money you are required to pay, up to your policy limit. If someone is injured in your home, it also includes no fault medical coverage.

Additional Expenses

If you are forced out of your home during repairs of damages caused by one of the covered disasters in your policy,loss of use protection typically covers living expenses over and above your normal living expenses. A standard policy will pay for your hotel stay, restaurant bills, etc.

Two types of coverage are actual cash value and replacement cost coverage.

An actual cash value policy pays to rebuild your home, minus depreciation. A replacement cost policy pays to replace your home and possessions without a deduction. The highest level of protection is guaranteed replacement cost coverage. With this type of coverage the total cost to replace your home will be paid, even if it is higher than your policy limit.

These are the primary areas you need to consider when shopping for homeowners insurance. Do some research online and compare quotes from different insurer’s. Narrow your quotes down to two or three, and then contact the agents with any questions you have. Spending time comparing quotes is worthwhile and can save you a significant amount of money.