FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2022 Buying home insurance is a key step in protecting your assets. But premiums cost money, and you’ll likely also likely want to limit those costs if possible. Depending on your current policy, you have ways to cut back on the cost of insurance without giving up the coverage you need. 1. Increase the Deductible The deductible is the amount you pay when filing a claim. After you pay this specified, your insurer will likely cover the rest of the costs. The deductible can range from $500 to several thousand dollars, depending on what you set it to.

By setting a higher deductible, you might pay less on your monthly premiums. However, it’s important to ensure you have enough funds to pay the full amount if a disaster occurs. So, only increase your deductible to an amount you can easily pay.

2. Increase the Safety of the Property Adding an alarm system, fire detectors or similar safety solutions to your home may cut your premiums. Safety precautions reduce the risk of

major damage to your property. Many insurance providers offer discounts for certain safety measures. 3. Avoid Making Claims on Small Problems Avoid making small claims on your policy. Only file a claim when your property has major damage from a covered incident. This may help you to avoid high-cost premiums. The claims you make on the policy generally remain on your insurance record. Because of this, your insurance premium will likely rise when you make

claims on your policy. 4. Update the Property Older homes are not always easy to insure for a low rate. These homes have a higher risk of costly issues, so insurers generally charge higher premiums to cover them. Updating your electrical system, pipes and other areas of aging infrastruc

ture can help you reduce the risks to the property. Repairs might allow you to obtain a lower monthly rate for home insurance. Home insurance protects your assets and allows you to focus on enjoying homeownership. By taking steps to keep your property safe and up-to-date, you can reduce your monthly insurance bills. Best of all, you can do this without skimping on coverage.