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14 things every house-shopper should do before signing on the dotted line…
But an important and often overlooked consideration is the insurance implications of your purchase.
You will be paying insurance on your home for as long as you own it, which is why you need to do your homework before you decide to make an offer. Why? Thinking through all the costs associated with buying a home will make the process run more smoothly, and it may also save you money.
So here are some important tips to help make all phases of your home search easier and more worry-free.
Before House Hunting:
1. Check Your Credit Rating
A good credit history helps you in many ways. Good credit makes it easier to get a mortgage at a competitive rate, and it may also qualify you for a good credit discount on your insurance. Get a copy of one or all of your credit reports. Make sure they are accurate and report any mistakes immediately. If your credit is not as good as it could be, take steps now to improve it [1].
2. Protect Yourself with a Renters Insurance Policy
If you are currently renting a house or apartment, protect yourself financially with a renters insurance policy [2]. In the event of a disaster, renters insurance [3] can help protect the down payment you’re building to buy your new home, as well as provide useful a insurance history to your prospective homeowners insurer when you go to buy your first home.
While House Hunting
As you search for your new home, remember that the physical characteristics of the house—its size, location, construction and overall condition—can affect the cost, choice and availability of home insurance. Following are some factors to consider when shopping for a home:
3. Quality and Location of the Fire Department
Houses that are located near highly-rated, permanently staffed fire departments usually cost less to insure. This also holds true for homes that have a hydrant nearby.
4. Proximity to the Coastline
Houses located on or near the coast will generally cost more to insure than those further inland. There will also likely be a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible [4].
In some coastal communities, private homeowners insurance coverage may not be readily available. Instead, you may need to purchase insurance through a state-run insurance program, which can provide less coverage, and in some cases be more costly, than private insurance.
5. Age of the Home
A stately, older home can be quite beautiful—but they can also cost more to insure. Ornate features like plaster walls, ceiling molding and wooden floors may be costly to replace and can raise the cost of insurance. And, plumbing and electrical systems can become unsafe with age and lack of maintenance. If you are considering buying an older home find out how much it will cost to update these features and factor it into the cost of ownership.
6. Condition of the Roof
Always check the condition of the roof. A new roof matters to insurers and keeps you and your family safer. Depending on the type of roof and whether or not you use fire and/or hail resistant materials, you may even qualify for a discount.
7. Is the Home Well-Built and Up to Code?
Find out whether the house has been updated to comply with current building codes. Homes built by careful craftsmen and those built to meet modern engineering-based building codes are likely to better withstand natural disasters.
8. Risk of Flooding
Damage from flooding is NOT covered by standard home insurance policies. If you are buying a home in an area at risk from flooding, you will need to purchase separate insurance. Insurance for flooding is available from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program [5] (NFIP), and from a few specialty insurers.
9. History of Earthquakes
While earthquakes are most frequently associated with California, they occur in the majority of states and, like flooding, are not covered under standard home insurance policies. Earthquake insurance is available from private insurers as an endorsement to a homeowners policy, and in California from the California Earthquake Authority [6]. Check rates with your insurance professional—the cost of earthquake insurance differs widely by location, insurer and the type of structure being covered.
10. Swimming Pool or Other Special Feature
If the house has a swimming pool [7], hot tub or other special feature, you will likely need more liability insurance. You may also want to consider purchasing an umbrella liability policy [8] to provide added protection in the event someone gets injured on your property and decides to sue you.
Before You Place a Bid on the Home
11. Check the Loss History Report
Ask the current homeowner to obtain a copy of the loss history report on the home. Homeowners can obtain either a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange [9] (C.L.U.E.) report, which is available from LexisNexis, or an A-PLUSTM [10] property report from ISO®. These reports provide a record of the type of loss on the home, the date of the loss and the amount and status of each claim—going back five years. If the report indicates there has been damage to the house, have it checked by a professional.
A home claim history can provide extremely valuable information and should prompt questions from the buyer. For instance, if there was a claim for water damage on the home, it is important to find out the source of the damage (such as a burst pipe) and whether it has been properly repaired. On the other hand, if there was a claim for wind or hail, which resulted in a new roof, this makes the home stronger and is very attractive from an insurance perspective.
12. Get the House Inspected
You’ll need to have the house properly inspected in order to get your mortgage approved. Accompany the inspector and make sure he/she does a thorough inspection of the home. The inspector should:
- Check the general condition of the home
- Look for water damage, termites and other types of infestation
- Review the electrical system, plumbing, septic tank and water heater
- Show you where potential problems might develop
- Double-check that past problems have been repaired
- Suggest important upgrades or replacements
If the inspector raises questions, your insurance company will as well. And, be sure to find out if there is an underground oil storage tank, as many insurers will not provide policies for homes that have one.
13. Estimate How Much It Will Cost to Maintain the House
Routine maintenance is your responsibility as a homeowner. Losses caused by failing to properly care for your home are not covered by standard homeowners insurance policies. So make sure you factor these costs into the overall price of owning the home.
14. Call Your Insurance Professional
Don’t wait until the last minute to think about insurance. Ask your insurance professional if the house will qualify for insurance, and get an estimate of the premium. The sooner you act, the smoother the process will be. Don’t be shy about asking for estimates on more than one house. Insurance is an important consideration when purchasing a home. If you are uncomfortable with the cost of insuring a particular house, keep looking for one that better fits your financial situation.
For more about insuring your new home: Homeowners Insurance Coverage [11]
ALL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- Insurance Information Institute: http://www.iii.org/article/home-buyers-insurance-checklist
Trees are pretty amazing things. They produce oxygen. They serve as natural air conditioners, both by blocking sunlight and through evaporation. And they even absorb sounds, helping to keep things peaceful.
These benefits, along with countless others, are great reasons to keep the trees on your Oklahoma property in good shape. Especially before the freezing temperatures start sweeping across Oklahoma. Unhealthy trees can actually pose great danger to your home and property, as well as to your family and other people, not to mention…a possibility of having to use your Oklahoma home insurance.
With these 5 tips from the National Arbor Day Foundation, you can help prevent tree trouble – and potentially save yourself from having to file a claim on your Oklahoma homeowner’s insurance.
- Inspect trees frequently. The size, color and condition of leaves, and overall leaf cover, are good indicators of a tree’s health. Cavities or disfiguration can be a warning sign, although they don’t always mean a tree is a hazard. Just keep a close eye on it. Dead branches are a big risk, because they can fall easily. Those that cross or rub can create weak spots.
- Plant in an appropriate space. Putting in a tree that will grow to be large? Don’t put it near power or sewer lines, or close to your home. And avoid brittle trees – their limbs are weak and more likely to break and fall. Examples include Silver Maples and Willows.
- Prune correctly. Cut outside the branch collar, and prune regularly as trees age. Don’t allow a tree to be topped. Make sure to take proper care of trees that have grown over your home before resulting in filing a claim on your Oklahoma homeowner’s insurance.
- Leave it to an expert. Once a year, have a qualified arborist thoroughly evaluate the trees on your Oklahoma property. An arborist can identify ones that need to come down immediately, as well as those to watch. In particular, trees that have been topped, or that have lost large limbs unexpectedly, could cause trouble. Taking down trees can be very dangerous, so leave it to a professional.
- Remember, you’re responsible. Property owners are generally responsible when their hazardous trees cause damage or injury to others. So keep your trees healthy, your space beautiful and your liability low!
When a tree does fall, you may or may not have coverage through your Oklahoma homeowners policy for any damage it may cause. If you’d like to discuss your coverage, please give us a call today. It may be a good time to think about adding extra liability coverage to your insurance portfolio with an umbrella policy. We are here to help! (405) 285-2929
When a big storm hits Oklahoma, you hunker down inside, relying on your home to protect you and your family. Once that storm passes, though, it’s time to repay the favor — identify the damage and protect your home from further issues.
The National Storm Damage Center has a number of resources and tips for homeowners.
Here are 4 major things this agency, and we here at Statewide, recommend you check after a storm:
- Your roof: If you see holes, split seams or missing shingles on your roof or if you notice leaking inside or out, it’s a good idea to have a qualified inspector come assess the situation.
- Your exterior: Siding, brick and stucco are all vulnerable to storm damage. You’ll want to look for cracking, chipping or dings and dents in siding, and for holes in stucco. Look closely and at different times of the day. Some homeowners don’t notice damage until it’s too late to file a claim, and different lighting can reveal damage you didn’t see before.
- Driveways and walkways: Cracking and splitting can create safety hazards, as well as reduce the lifespan of the concrete.
- Trees: According to the National Storm Damage Center, fallen trees and limbs cause more than $1 billion in damage annually. Check roofs, vehicles, fences and machinery for fallen limbs that may have caused damage or could pose a risk. Clean up what you safely can and rely on a reputable tree removal service to handle the rest. Depending on the circumstances, your homeowners insurance policy may help with tree removal and damage repair costs – if you experience a covered loss, that is.
A few more helpful tips:
- Keep trees well maintained and trimmed. Also notify neighbors if you see any overhanging branches on any of theirs.
- Know your insurance. Take a look at your policy so you know what’s covered, what your limits and deductibles are, etc. This will prevent any surprises during the claims process.
- Take pictures. Photographs can help you show the cause and extent of any storm damage that occurs.
- Talk to your agent. Make sure to take some time to talk to your agent for any questions or concerns.
Of course, if you’ve suffered through a major storm, don’t hesitate to call us for help with your policy or with finding a professional property inspector.
Click and hear what Trevon Nix has to say about Landlord’s Insurance. #ProtectYourHome #LandlordsPolicy
Just a friendly reminder that our office will be closed Monday, September 5th! Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend.
When generating a personalized home insurance quote for all Oklahoma residents, we take into account several standard aspects of your home and deductibles to find a starting price point. However, we also look at a few other factors when determining your home insurance premium.
The Structure of Your Home
What your house is made of can increase or lower your premiums. Concrete and brick houses tend to fare better against environmental elements and are less susceptible to house fires. Therefore home insurance premiums on them tend to be lower than their wood structure counterparts.
Your Insurance Score
Insurance companies actually use “Insurance Scores” rather than “Credit Scores” when rating for for your home and auto insurance. Each company has their own proprietary formula for calculating an Insurance Score; however, based upon our experience, we find that Credit Scores (such as those through TransUnion) are usually similar to Insurance Scores.
The Structure of Your Home
What your house is made of can increase or lower your premiums. Concrete and brick houses tend to fare better against environmental elements and are less susceptible to house fires. Therefore home insurance premiums on them tend to be lower than their wood structure counterparts.
The Age of Your Home
Newer homes that have been built with the current safety codes and better building materials may mean lower insurance premiums than their older counterparts that were built with outdated security measures and older structural materials.
The Emergency Response Team Nearby
Many homeowners don’t realize the effect of their town’s fire station on their home insurance premiums. If your home is close to a fire hydrant, near an adequate fire station, and has a higher quality emergency response team you may be eligible for lower premiums.
It is important to understand how your house can affect your homeowners insurance premiums. If you have any questions or wish to speak with one of our agents, please contact us today to review your policy.
Be mindful that children will be going back to school… so keep an eye out for children on the roads. #BackToSchool #Safety1st #ConsciousnessRaising
