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Insurance Insider Reveals Little-Known Secrets
10 Ways You Can Save $
on Your Homeowners Insurance — And Provide Better Protection for Yourself and the People You Love!
Your home is probably your most valuable asset. It is also a huge risk for you financially. What if something happens to it? A fire? A flood? Vandalism? What if someone visiting you slips, falls and suffers a serious injury? And sues you? An accident like that could put a dent — or worse — in your financial security.
For most people, insurance is a mystery. They know they need to have insurance for their homes (mortgage lenders require it), but they don’t understand the coverage provided by the policy. And they don’t know which insurance companies offer the best — the best! — prices. Because they don’t understand the product, many people think insurance is a rip-off, and it is — if you pay too much or buy coverage you don’t need
All homeowners insurance is not created equal. In fact, almost none of it is. There are thousands of different products out there, from hundreds of insurance companies. How do you find the insurance and the insurance company that are best for you? You read this special report and tap into my vast knowledge of the products and the companies that offer them.
I am an insurance “insider.” I know what kind of insurance fits your needs. And I know what insurance companies sell this kind of insurance at the best — lowest! — price. Because I’ve specialized in the insurance needs of homeowners and their families, I have decided to dedicate myself to solving for you some of the mysteries of homeowners insurance.
10 Ways to Save $
Now that you know the basics of a homeowners insurance policy, here are 10 ways you can pay less. In many cases, you can get the same level of coverage for fewer dollars.
- One Insurer, Multiple Policies — Do you have an automobile insurance policy? If so, is it with the same insurance company that provides your homeowners insurance? If the answer’s no, you’re paying too much — for both policies. Almost every insurance company that sells homeowners insurance wants its policyholders to also buy auto insurance from that company. These insurers offer so-called multi-policy discounts. Usually, these discounts are at least 10% — and some insurers apply the discounts to both the auto and the homeowners/renters policy.
- Raise Your Deductible — The deductible is the amount you pay before insurance kicks in if you have a claim. For example, if you have a $250 deductible and you file a claim for $1,000 in damage to your home, you pay the first $250 and your insurer pays the balance, $750. The higher the deductible you choose, the more you pay. Also, though, the higher deductible, the less you have to pay for your policy. Depending on the insurance company, you can save between 12% and 37% if you have a deductible of $500 to $5,000.
- For the rest of the top 10 ways contact us for a free special report. We would be thrilled to share.
Home Safety – A New Year Resolution
Want a New Year’s resolution that’s easy to keep, costs next to nothing, yet could save lives? Simple: Do a safety makeover throughout your home. All it takes is a little time and a lot of common sense. Here are a dozen key ingredients:
- Do a walk-around survey to identify and resolve risks – things like loose window catches and other fittings, slippery floors and rugs, unsecured cabling, floor obstacles, and sharp edges.
- Do the same thing around the yard, checking for fall hazards, security of equipment and proper safeguarding around swimming pools and ornamental pools.
- Check (and replace if necessary) smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. If you don’t have alarms, install at least one on each story of your home.
- Ensure all gas appliance, fires and clothes drier venting is clear.
- Check, restock or buy a good first aid kit. Better yet, have two. For what to include, see this Red Cross list: http://tinyurl.com/RC-fakit
- Make sure all dangerous tools, from kitchen knives to garage equipment, are securely out of the reach of youngsters.
- Have a fire escape plan and share it with everyone in the house. Need more info? See: http://tinyurl.com/esc-plan
- Check electrical outlets and appliance cabling for wear and damage. See this guide from the Home Safety Council: http://tinyurl.com/HSC-elec. Install covers over unused outlets.
- Clear out and clean your fridge, replace kitchen cutting boards and cracked pots – all potential sources of food-borne infection.
- Dispose of expired and unused medications and make sure that those you use are properly labeled and safely stored – that’s at the right temperature and out of reach of little hands.
- Make sure ladders are properly secured before using, and follow the rule of always having three limbs in contact with the ladder.
- And don’t forget, home safety these days also encompasses use of your personal computer. Install internet security software and keep it up to date. Plus, if you have kids, take steps to monitor their usage.
Every year, home-related accidents result in 20,000 deaths and more than 20 million medical visits. Resolve that, in 2012, you and your family won’t be among them. Take the time to discuss safety with them, especially children.
Take Steps Now To Avoid Tipover Tragedies
More than 2,000 children die in home accidents every year. Sadly, 2011 become a notorious period for what are known as tipover tragedies – deaths caused by falling furniture and equipment. With more equipment being wall-mounted these days – big, flatscreen TVs are a prime example – the risk of an accident is growing. These accidents happen either because the items are not properly secured or because they are too easily reached by children. If you’re installing wall-mounted equipment, always follow the manufacturers’ instructions, particularly noting the need for special mounting fixtures and anchoring correctly to wall studs. Also ensure that furniture that could be tipped over is out of reach or bolted to the floor or walls. Check all at-risk furnishings and equipment regularly. See also this useful guide from Consumer Reports: http://tinyurl.com/tipovers
Gilliland Insurance Group 