Ever wondered how insurance companies come up with your homeowner premiums? Here’s the inside info!
Accurately pricing homeowners insurance is not simple. Determining the premium for your home involves mathematical calculation based on many factors history has shown may increase or decrease your chance of suffering a loss. Consider how the following rate factors may affect your premium:
· Characteristics of your home: its age, material, wiring, structure, roof, garage
· Location: if it’s close to a fire station
· Protection: if your home has burglar alarms, sprinkler systems, deadbolt locks
· You: your record of paying debts
· Prior claims: is there a history of multiple claims on a home insurance policy
Some factors may seem beyond your control—such as the materials the builder used or whether your local fire department is fully staffed and properly equipped. Yet there are other factors you can impact that may mean a significant difference in how much you will pay compared to others in similar homes, such as improving your insurance score through prompt payment of premiums, good maintenance, or installing or upgrading alarm systems and locks.
Even factors that seem beyond your control may, in fact, be possible to improve under certain circumstances. When considering claims history, for example, you may not feel you can control certain unexpected losses. But you can decide, through increased deductibles, how large and significant those losses must be before asking your insurance to pay them.
Whether your home includes a view of the Great Lakes or the Great Plains, the insurance company’s goal is to set premium so that it fairly reflects the risk profile of your home. Improvements in that profile help both your insurer in terms of lower losses, and reduced premiums for you. Let’s talk today on how we can work together to get you the best protection for the best cost.
Contact us for all of your insurance needs!
Illinois and Wisconsin residents, at R Hobbs Insurance Agency, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at (847) 680-0888 or send us a note at chris@rhobbsinsurance.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!
Content Source: Kemper