• Home
  • Get A Quote
  • Customer Service
  • Claims
  • Report Your Claim
  • Carrier Contact
  • Pay
  • Refer a Friend
  • About Us
  • Location Map
  • Employee Directory
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Call Us Call or Email Us Today
Client Center Login
  • Home
  • Quote
  • Coverages
    • Automobile
    • Business & Commercial
    • Flood
    • Health
    • Homeowners
    • Life
    • Renters
    • Umbrella
    • Watercraft & Boat
    • Windstorm
  • Service
    • Customer Service Portal
    • Customer Service Forms
  • Claim
    • Claim Information
    • Report a claim to the agency
    • Report a claim to the carrier
    • What to do after an accident
    • What to do if there's a fire
    • What to do if there's a flood
    • What to do to after a loss to your home
    • Prepare for hurricane season
    • Water Damage -Act quickly
    • what to do a power outage
  • Pay
  • Resources
    • Employment Center
    • Blog
    • Important Links
    • Secure Area
    • Insurance Glossary
    • Join Our Newsletter
    • Insurance Carrier Contacts
    • First Home Insurance checklist
    • Video Tips
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Employee Directory
    • Testimonials
    • Location Map
    • Refer a Friend
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Homeowners Insurance HOME Read More
Auto Insurance AUTO Read More
Renters Insurance RENTERS Read More
Business Insurance BUSINESS Read More
Life Insurance LIFE Read More
Watercraft Insurance WATERCRAFT Read More
Home > Blog > 10 steps to find the right home insurance
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018

10 steps to find the right home insurance

 

10 steps to find the right home insurance

Shopping for insurance is like shopping for any major item. It's a good idea to shop around to find the policy that best meets your needs and pocketbook.

1 Decide what kind of coverage you need. 

There are different types of home insurance policies. Most mortgage companies will require that you have a replacement cost policy, which will pay to repair or rebuild your home based on current construction costs. There are also actual cash value policies that pay to repair or rebuild your home, minus depreciation. Your agent can help you find the policy that’s best for you.

2 Decide how much coverage you need.

Make sure you have enough coverage to replace your house if it’s destroyed. Your agent can help you determine the cost to rebuild your home. You’ll also want to make sure you have enough coverage for your personal property. You can use TDI's Home inventory checklist or search for home inventory apps. There are several free options available, including one from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

3 Get price quotes from several companies.

  • Use an independent insurance agent who has access to multiple carriers to help you with options.

4 Look at a company’s complaint record.

A good way to assess a company’s customer service is to look at its complaint record, which is measured by a complaint index. A value of 1 is average. Less than 1 means it gets fewer complaints than the average, and a number higher than 1 means the company gets more complaints than average. You can check complaint indexes on HelpInsure or on the TDI website.

5 Decide on a deductible.

A deductible is the amount you have to pay before the insurance company will pay. For example, if you have a claim for $1,800 and a deductible of $1,000, the insurance company will deduct $1,000 and pay you $800. The higher your deductibles, the lower your premium. If a policy has a deductible that’s a percentage, make sure you know how that translates to a dollar amount.

6 Ask about discounts. 

Most companies offer discounts if you reduce the chances of a loss. Common discounts include having an alarm system, having fire alarms or sprinkler system, having other policies with the same company, being over 65, and being claim free for three years in a row.

7 Verify the company’s license.

Once you decide on a company, check to make sure its license is up to date. You can get this information by calling TDI's Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 or by checking TDI’s Company Lookup feature.

8 Avoid gaps in coverage.

Never cancel a policy until you get your new policy or a written statement that proves you have coverage. Keep shopping if a company turns you down.

9 Review other types of insurance for your home.

Depending on where you live and what you’re insuring, you might need more coverage than a standard home insurance policy to be fully covered.

  • Flood insurance. Home insurance policies don't cover flood damage. You need flood insurance for that. If your property is in a flood zone, your lender will require you to have flood insurance. But don’t rule out flood insurance just because it isn’t required for your home. More than 20 percent of flood claims are from outside of flood zones.
  •    
  • Extra coverage. You can get extra coverage for jewelry, fine arts, electronics, or other expensive items. You can also buy coverage for damage caused by backup of sewers or drains, mold, and leaks from plumbing, heating, or air conditioning systems.
  • Liability insurance.If you want more liability coverage than a home insurance policy provides, you can buy a separate umbrella policy. Make sure the agent or company explains the coverage because policies vary.

10 Know where to get help.

We have staff ready to answer your questions from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday. Call us at 281-558-2210

Suzanne Brown Insurance Agency

A Texas Independent Insurance Agency with over 100 insurance carriers

www.SuzanneBrownAgency.com

281-558-2210

 

 

Posted 3:35 PM

Tags: home insurance, houston home insurance, insurance, renters insurance, flood insurance, umbrella insurance, independent insurance
Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

  • houston insurance(432)
  • houston home insurance(353)
  • home insurance(328)
  • auto insurance(225)
  • houston auto insurance(212)
  • independent insurance agent(207)
  • katy home insurance(184)
  • insurance(169)
  • renters insurance(138)
  • cypress home insurance(121)
  • woodlands home insurance(109)
  • flood insurance(108)
  • spring home insurance(107)
  • katy auto insurance(103)
  • katy insurance(91)
  • independent insurance(87)
  • independent insurance agency(70)
  • houston flood insurance(55)
  • spring auto insurance(55)
  • cypress insurance(49)
  • woodlands auto insurance(47)
  • home insurance houston(42)
  • insurance agent(40)
  • woodlands insurance(39)
  • best insurance(37)
  • home insurance agent(33)
  • spring insurance(32)
  • life insurance(28)
  • cypress auto insurance(26)
  • home insurance katy(25)
  • houston renters insurance(25)
  • home insurance woodlands(24)
  • business insurance(23)
  • auto insurance agent(22)
  • springwoods village insurance(19)
  • magnolia home insurance(18)
  • home insurance spring(18)
  • umbrella insurance(18)
  • water damage(17)
  • jewelry insurance(16)
  • auto insurance houston(15)
  • health insurance(15)
  • liability insurance(14)
  • best insurance agent(14)
  • identity theft(13)
  • boat insurance(13)
  • hurricane season(12)
  • katy flood insurance(11)
  • windstorm insurance(10)
  • homeowners insurance(10)

View Mobile Version
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Blog
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Facebook Logo

Resources

Home About Us Get a Quote Customer Service Refer A Friend Contact Us

Contact Us

  • 11999 Katy Freeway Suite 635
  • Houston TX 77079
  • P: 281-558-2210
  • Email Us
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
Powered by Insurance Website Builder