Being a homeowner can be hard work. There’s a lot to think about – what color to paint the walls, how to arrange the furniture in the family room, what kind of light fixtures to put in the hallways…and then, of course, there’s home insurance. If you’re going through the process of buying home insurance, you might be holding your breath and bracing yourself for the cost.
But we’ve got good news: you can save money on your home insurance.
There are these magical things called discounts that can knock the price of your homeowner’s insurance down. We’re going to explain about 15 home insurance discounts to ask about.
A brief note before we dive in: Each insurance company has their own discounts and offer different amounts of savings. You need to check with your particular home insurance company to see if they offer the following discounts, how you can qualify, and how much you can save.
Anyway, enough of that. Let’s get started.
15 Common Home Insurance Discounts
1. Bundling/multi-policy discount
You could get a discount for getting your home and auto insurance from the same insurance company (this is called bundling.) Insurance companies really like it when you buy more than one product from them, so they might reward you with a discount. Other than saving money, you can also enjoy the convenience of only having to deal with one insurance company. So, bundling your home and auto insurance is something to consider, though you should still shop around to see if it’s less expensive for you to bundle or to get each coverage separately.
2. Loyalty discount
Insurance companies really value loyalty from their customers. So, if you stay with the same company long enough they may give you some savings on your policy. It’s definitely worth checking on.
3. Being claims-free
Insurance companies may lower your rates if you go a certain amount of years without filing a home insurance claim. They like it when their customers are low maintenance. So, if you’ve had insurance from the same company for many years and you haven’t had to ask the insurance company for money, you could qualify for a discount.
4. Having a monitored burglar system
Many insurance companies offer a reduced price to homeowners with a monitored security system. Burglar systems deter would-be thieves, reducing your chance of being a victim of a break-in. Plus, having a monitored security system allows the police to respond faster, which increases the chance of catching the burglar.
5. Having a monitored fire alarm system or other fire safety measures
The faster the fire department can respond to a fire, the less damage your home will suffer. That means your claim to the insurance company would be smaller, hence why they may offer a discount.
Pro tip: You can also save money on home insurance if you shop around and get multiple homeowner’s insurance quotes. We would be happy to help you shop your rates so you can get great insurance at a low rate.
6. Getting an impact-resistant roof
Here’s the deal:
Roofs are expensive. If hail punches a bunch of holes in your roof, that’s not good. Having an impact-resistant roof lessens the chance of hail causing lots of damage to your home, so your insurance company might have a discount available. Keep in mind that you’ll need to make sure your new roof will qualify for that discount.
That actually leads us to our next discount – check it out:
7. Home improvements
If you make your home stronger in terms of safety, longevity, or structure, you could be able to get discounts because the chances of having a claim are reduced.
A few examples of improvements that may qualify for discounts:
- New wiring
- Water shutoff devices
- New plumbing
- Storm-safe windows
- New roof
- Invest in smart home technology
Again, it’s important that you check with your home insurance company before you do anything drastic for the sake of your premiums.
Get a quick homeowners insurance quote today and save money on your premium.
8. Living in a gated community
Living in a neighborhood that has an extra level of security such as a neighborhood watch or gated entrance can help you save money because there’s less chance that your home will be burglarized. Insurance companies like it when you take steps to thwart thieves.
9. Mature homeowner’s discount
If you’re retired, chances are you’re at home during the day more often than someone who’s working. Most burglaries occur during daylight hours while people are at work, but if you’re home to keep an eye on things you’re less likely to be burglarized. Also, if you’re at home you’ll also be able to see a fire and sound the alarm quickly.
10. Being married or widowed
Your home insurance company may offer a discount if you’re married or if you’re widowed. If either of those applies to you, it’s worth asking them about.
11. New home discount
When you’re getting insurance for a new home you could be eligible for a “new customer” discount if you bought the home in the last twelve months. The insurance company may be so happy to earn your business that they’ll throw in a discount to sweeten the deal.
12. Non-smoker discount
Insurance companies really don’t like fire, so they may have some savings for people who don’t smoke. The savings will most likely vary from company to company.
13. Sensors for leaks
Technology is constantly evolving. You might be able to get sensors for water and natural gas leaks, and you could get savings for having a water sensor. Plus, time is of the essence when it comes to leaks, so the sooner you’re alerted to a leak the better. And some sensors take it one step further and will both alert you and shut off the water if there’s a leak.
14. Having an HOA
Being in a neighborhood with a homeowner’s association (HOA) can get you a discount on your home insurance because HOA communities tend to have high standards for home maintenance. They also might have things like neighborhood watches that decrease your chance of burglary.
15. Paying in full
Some homeowners insurance companies will offer a small discount if you pay for your policy in full. It’s a win-win: they don’t have to bug you for money multiple times and you don’t have to give them money multiple times.
Summing Up
Insurance doesn’t have to cost the earth. There are discounts available to help you save money. Most of these discounts are geared towards making your home safer. Like we mentioned before, each carrier offers different discounts and different amounts of savings. But still, it’s definitely worth asking your agent if you qualify for any savings.
If you want to shop around for your home insurance, we would be happy to help. Our agents are professionals at helping people save money on homeowners and auto insurance. All you have to do is fill out our form or give us a call today.