After buying and finally owning your dream home, the next step into making it a good investment is by taking and applying for home insurance. Here is the guide to home insurance
What is Home Insurance?
Home insurance, also known as HOI [homeowner’s insurance] is a type of property insurance that covers all types of private properties and homes. Under several qualifications, a home insurance depends on the factors to consider determining whether what the current owner can qualify for when applying for the said insurance.
HOI includes insurance on losses occurring to one’s home, the contents of the home, loss of its purpose, or other loss including personal possessions within the property of the homeowner. It can include a liability insurance wherein accidents that may happen within the territory stated in the insurance policy can be covered.
(Here is the guide to home insurance)
Why is it important?
Home insurance, as stated by insurance policies, covers all the possible losses and damages incurred within your home property and territory. Additionally, when disasters or accidents like fire, tornado, storm, burglary, earthquake, flood or anything relative to it happens, HOI can cover all possible and necessary fixes and payments to the damages. In most cases, mortgage companies requires a homeowner to have an HOI before giving a loan whenever the current owner plans to buy a new house or plans to refinance. Mortgage companies look for this type of insurance to ensure that the individual can pay the amount that he or she owed them even after such losses or damages.
How Do I Apply for HOI?
Applying for home insurance is like buying your new home. In some ways, if not guided well, an individual may find it a daunting task. But when an individual is guided well in qualifying and getting home insurance, it becomes an easy task.
According to a survey in the U.S. 4 years ago, 2008 shows that about 64% of US Homes were undervalued by their insurance providers. It means that these U.S. homes were not having enough insurance to fully pay or repair the damages and loss to their properties whenever a disaster or accident may occur.
(Here is the guide to home insurance)
So how do you apply for the right home insurance?
The Guide to Home Insurance
1. Shop for the right policy.
Finding the right insurance provider for your home is a good start. It is like shopping for your best dress for an occasion. Shop around and talk to different insurance companies. Know their policies, and how they can help you in protecting and ensuring your home. Identify their insurance schemes in a way that you think would help you in insuring your home.
Things to do when looking for the right insurance provider:
- Seek help from an independent agent that would guide you through the process.
- Know the types of insurance companies.
- Request quotes from several insurance providers and compare their insurance policies and rates.
2. Determine the scope of your insurance.
Obviously, knowing the scope of the insurance policy helps you become aware of what you should only expect from your insurance provider in times that you may face losses or damage on your property. Always review the contract in the insurance to ensure that all the necessary agreements were stated in the contract.
(Here is the guide to home insurance)
Things to do when determining what your HOI does and doesn’t cover:
- Familiarize yourself with the basics of home insurance, as well as other types of insurance.
- Ask questions to an independent agent.
- Always be skeptic of guarantees, promos or any offers that insurance companies gives to you. Some can be good to be true.
3. Research about government assistance program for homeowners.
The best thing about homeownership is that local governments associated with HUD offers assistance housing programs for homeowners facing problems regarding their home properties or ownership like foreclosures. Aside from having your home insured, local government assistance programs for homeowners add an extra advantage to homeowners – especially in several calamities like flood, earthquake and storms.
(Here is the guide to home insurance)