Buying a home is one of the largest investments you will ever make. Your home is more than just a place to hang your hat and raise your family; it's where you'll put a solid foundation under your financial future. Our real estate agents know that the right homeowner's insurance policy protects that future and the following are things we advise you to consider when deciding which policy is best for your property.

• Comprehensive Coverage is Worth Every Penny
  Most mortgage lenders will require you to secure a comprehensive policy. Comprehensive coverage protects the property, your family, and the possessions within your home. It also provides personal injury liability protection if someone suffers an injury on your property.
  
  
• Bundling May Not be Best
  Bundling your home, automobile, and life insurance policies together can save you a bundle on your monthly premiums. However, it may cost you a bundle if you ever need to file a claim. You should always weigh any potential savings against policy deductibles and coverage limits.
  
  
• Consider Policy Riders
  Just because you have a comprehensive policy, it doesn't mean that all of your possessions are covered. Policies often exclude certain possessions including jewelry, artwork, electronics, etc. If you want to cover these items, you may need to purchase a rider to protect them.
  
  
• Plan for Problems
  Floods? Tornadoes? Sinkholes? Many policies don't extend coverage for natural disasters. You should always review your policy closely to identify what events are covered, and which are not. Once determined, you'll want to assess the risk of various events and determine whether it's to your advantage to purchase a rider to protect the property.
  
  
• Insure for Replacement Cost Not Home Value
  If your home burns down, you don't want a policy that covers the home's value. You'll want a policy that covers the cost of rebuilding your home precisely as it was before the damage occurred. Moreover, insuring your home for the replacement value as opposed to market value can significantly reduce your monthly policy premiums. This is a safe option as most policies offer replacement coverage equal to about 125% of the home's current value, which protects you against inflation and increases in the cost of materials and labor.
  
  
• CLUE In On Claims History and Credit Score
  Your credit score does more than just determine which mortgage rate you qualify to receive. It also determines how much your monthly insurance premium will take out of your wallet. Insurers consider credit score as a reflection of risk so you'll want to raise your score as high as possible before applying for a policy.
  
  Similarly, the home's claims history will determine your monthly premiums. Before applying, ask to see a copy of the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report. This itemizes any previous claims on the home and indicates potential risks to the insurer. If the home has a history of problems, the insurer may decline to insure the property.
       
• Pools, Hot Tubs, Trampolines, and Pets
  If the home has a hot tub, a swimming pool, wood stoves, a trampoline in the yard, or a "dangerous" dog breed in the backyard, you'll have a higher premium and higher deductible. In some cases, insurer's may decline coverage if these potentially hazardous elements are present on the property. 

We can help you find the perfect property for your family and financial future. We encourage you to contact us for more information about our listings and to discuss the most popular policy providers in the area.