Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Alaska Homeowners' Insurance -- Time-Tested Savings Tips

By Chimezirim Gabriel Odimba

Alaska homeowners' insurance: It doesn't normally take implementing a hundred tips to realize massive discounts while maintaining adequate coverage. Just understanding a few compulsory steps and applying them will make a big difference. Here are several things that will bring you closer to the goal...

1. The more claims you make the bigger the risk linked with insuring you. Making too many claims will result in your home being seen as a bigger risk than it actually is. You will attract a higher rate as a consequence of this higher risk perception.

File claims for only things that are really worth it. Don't file a claim if it's a minor issue you can handle with relative ease. This will help keep your rate cheap.

2. You'll get lower rates if you build with the right materials. For instance, brick homes are best in regions with high winds while frame houses are preferred in earthquake zones.

You'll pay more in the East if you have a frame home while in the West, a brick home will cost you more. So make sure you know which is better for you.

You will get a discount of not less than 5% if you use the recommended material for your home.

3. Ensure that the exterior of your home is fire-safe and your premium will be cheaper. You'll be doing the right thing if you ensure there's nothing that's inflammable close to your building.

Even though cutting bushes around your home looks mundane, you'll get cheaper rates if you do keep them at a distance of at least 10 feet from your structures. The risk of a fire in a home is one very strong issue that influences your home insurance premium.

4. Install shatter-proof windows and you will attract better rates. If you live in locations with high winds and hail storms get your windows replaced with these and you'll be eligible for considerable discounts.

I advice that you discuss this with your agent even before you undertake the changes as he or she might make contributions that will bring in more savings.

5. Buying coverage against every peril is NOT quite a need. The likelihood of certain perils in your state is too low to make buying coverage for them a real need. Different states have perils that are likely and those that can rarely ever happen.

Ensure that your home has coverage against all perils that have a good chance of occurring. However, there's no reason for you to actually purchase coverage for a peril that has not happened in a state for close to a century.

Settling for the right perils will make you pay for only coverage that is necessary. This will help you pay only the right amount you should.

6. You will save a lot of money on your Alaska home insurance if you obtain and compare quotes from five or more quotes sites.

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