3 Quick Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Rates

Homeowners insurance rates can vary by hundreds of dollars depending on policy options and the provider you choose. Here are three quick ways you can lower your homeowners insurance rates:

1. Compare Homeowners Insurance Rates

The simplest way to see if you are getting a good homeowners insurance rate is to compare homeowners insurance rate quotes. Comparing homeowners insurance rates from multiple providers can help you save money on a new policy, also. An online comparison service such as InsWeb.com makes getting multiple homeowners insurance rate quotes quick and easy.

2. Security Features Can Lower Homeowners Insurance Rates

There were over 237,000 home robberies in 2007, according to the FBI. Homeowners insurance companies understand this, and often offer lower homeowners insurance rates to homeowners who install security and safety features. Installing smoke detectors, security systems and deadbolt locks can mean lower homeowners insurance rates.

3. Homeowners Insurance Rates: Discounts

Homeowners insurance helps protect against theft, vandalism, and other damage—but that doesn’t mean you have to pay an arm and a leg for it. Look for discounts on homeowners insurance rates. For example, because smoking accounts for over 20,000 residential fires in the U.S. each year, non-smokers usually get reduced homeowners insurance rates. If you were a smoker when you bought your house, but have subsequently quit, many insurers may lower your homeowners insurance rates.

If you are over 55 and retired, many companies offer homeowners insurance rate discounts of up to 10%. And some companies offer “loyalty discounts” of 5% to customers who stay with them for 3-5 years, 10% if you stay with them 6 years or more.

Natural disasters like windstorms, blizzards and wildfires can devastate a home. If you install storm shutters or fire-retardant roofing, you may qualify for lower homeowners insurance rates.

Compare homeowners insurance rates using InsWeb's online questionnaire—it’s quick and you can find homeowners insurance rates that meet your needs in minutes!