Stephen Kaindo

You Want To Save Money on Homeowners Insurance? Here Are Some Home Improvements You Can Undertake Are you tired of paying high prices for your homeowner’s insurance cover? If so, there are many simple ways to lower the cost of your home insurance. First, you need to understand that many factors determine the amount you pay for your home insurance, including the size of your home, its current condition, and your insurance company. This means that you can lower the cost of your home insurance by improving the condition of your home. So, as you search for the best home insurance quotes, make sure your home is in perfect condition. Continue reading to learn more about home improvements that can save you money on your homeowner’s insurance. Installation of a Security System Most insurance companies will give you a break on your home insurance premium if your home has a burglar alarm or an advanced security system. Your home security system should also be linked to an outside monitoring system to make it more effective. Most insurers will consider this factor when giving you their home insurance quotes. Some insurance companies will even ask you for a home alarm certificate to prove that your security system is linked to the local police or a private security company. Although the amount of discount you get varies from one insurer to another, most discounts for unconnected burglar alarms are between 2 and 5 percent. And if you have an additional home security system that is linked to the local police or a security company, your insurance premium can go down by about 2 or 3 percent. Improvement of Home Installations You need to make sure that all the important installations, such as the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, in your home are in perfect condition before you contact your insurance company for a quote. If these systems are working properly, your insurer might give you a discount on your homeowner’s insurance because it means the risk of flooding and fire is minimal. Some insurance companies will reduce your home insurance premium by about 6 percent if you fully replace your plumbing system during home improvement and an additional 2 percent discount if you overhaul your electrical system. Full Replacement of the Roof If you live in an area that is prone to harsh weather conditions like hailstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires, your insurance company will consider the condition of your home’s roof before they give you a quote. So, if you want to lower the cost of your homeowner’s insurance, you have to replace your roof. In some instances, you will get a discount on your home insurance if you install a specific type of roof. For example, if you install a fortified roof that is made from strong materials that can withstand hailstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes, your insurer will be encouraged to lower your premium. Most insurance companies in the United States offer a 35 percent discount on homes with impact-resistant roofs. However, this discount may vary, depending on the state you live in. Installation of Sensors and Detectors Installing a sensor system that can alert you when there is a gas leak in your home and a smoke detector to let you know when there is fire will earn you a discount on your homeowner’s insurance premium. It is also possible to get a lower insurance premium for your home if you have a freeze alarm. This alarm alerts your local service provider when temperatures in your home drop below the preset level so that they can adjust your heat levels, especially when you are not at home. Some insurance companies will give you a 3-5 percent discount on your premium if your home has a sensor to detect gas leaks. Since the law requires every homeowner to install a smoke detector in their home, you won’t get any significant discount for your smoke detectors but it’s still important to have them. Install a Generator or Solar Power Your insurance company will reward you for installing a generator or solar power in your home because these alternative sources of energy ensure that your essential systems and appliances that use electricity, such as sump pumps, HVAC systems, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, and others, continue to run when there is a power outage. The alternative power sources help to reduce costly disasters and insurance claims for mishaps such as flooding from ruptured pipes. Some insurers offer a discount of up to 10 percent on home insurance premiums if your home has a generator or solar power that automatically powers your appliances when there is a power outage.      The good thing about these home improvements is that they are not costly compared to the high cost of your homeowner’s insurance premium that you have to pay monthly or the cost of repairing your home when disaster strikes.