Homeowner's insurance in Texas is no small investment, as you may be well aware. The average cost of homeowner's insurance in Texas is around $2,400.00, ranking it at number 7 for the most expensive states in the U.S. for homeowners insurance.
So how do you compare Texas Insurance rates?
The most effective way to compare rates is to use an independent agent. They have access to a number of different carriers, so they can give you a complete quote picture. Remember, it's not just about the final number – it's what you actually get for that final number.
Just an FYI. You may be wondering, how much is the average house insurance per month? The yearly average for the state of Texas is $2355, so the monthly average would be close to $200.
Sometimes even one insurance company can ruin it for the rest of them. We pride ourselves as being an advocate for the homeowner. In short, we're here for you.
And judging from what goes on in the insurance world, someone hast to be. Homeowners insurance companies take advantage of the fact that homeowners, by law, must have insurance for their home, giving them the excuse to milk you for everything you got.
Well, we at Texas Insurance Ratings are going to be there in your corner, to make sure you get the best possible coverage for the best possible price.
Without naming names, there are some valuable details we can share with you in this regard. With the state average of homeowners insurance being what it is at $2355 per year, you can obviously conclude that some people pay more for their policies, and some pay less.
This translates into another obvious fact: Some insurance companies are charging more for the same policies, while others are charging less. What this means for you is that you need to shop around and compare prices.
But what you also want to compare is value. In other words, what kind of coverage are you actually getting for the price of the monthly premium?
Plus, you may have highly valuable personal belongings you need to insure. Will the coverage caps on their usual policies be enough to cover those things if they're damaged, stolen or lost?
Will you choose actual cash value reimbursement or replacement value reimbursement? If you choose actual cash value, your insurer will take the brand new cost of replacing the item you lost, minus depreciation. However, choosing replacement value works out for most people to be a better deal. The insurer will reimburse you for what it costs to replace the item brand new – at current prices.
In the majority of closings, you will be required to pay a certain amount of the homeowner's insurance premium upfront – sometimes an entire year's worth - at closing, or else the loan will not close.
Of course, your insurance will be based on the actual home. If you've made an offer on your home, and it is accepted, then waste no time. Get your home insurance quotes together, and make a decision on your coverage.
Make sure you have your coverage set up well before the closing date. That way you can minimize time constraints and any undue stress that delaying would cause.
Quite simply, you still have the right to compare typical home insurance rates and insurance plans in general.
It's one thing to compare the final numbers that show what each plan is going to cost. It's quite another to look at what exactly is covered, and for how much. In other words, what kind of coverage will you actually get for what the insurance company is going to charge for it?
One of the biggest nail-biting factors in an insurance plan is the deductible. Generally speaking, the higher the premium you pay, the lower your deductible will be in case you have a claim. On the flip side, you can get a lower premium, but if you have a claim, you'll have to come up with a large sum of money, sometimes $1,000.00 or more.
But woven in between are the other parts of the coverage. One plan might give you a larger amount of coverage in terms of liability, while another may offer less.
The best advice we can give is for you to decide what aspects of coverage are the most important to you and your family, including those that make sense to your new home situation.
One of the most common ways to get the best insurance rate is to ask your agent about any available discounts. They could be any one of these:
Discounts for no claims
Existing security features in the home
Discounts for a new customer
If you know you have a good credit score, be sure to ask them for any discounts related to this. Your premium will be determined, in large part, by your credit score.
Another way is to work with an independent insurance agent. These people work with many carriers, and are going to work for you to find a company that will issue you the right policy for the right price.
One more way to get the best homeowners insurance rate is to buy both your homeowner's and auto insurance from the same carrier.
Home values can go up and down, especially if you live in a natural disaster-prone area. If your home is "totaled" in a natural disaster, will your insurance plan cover your replacement value. The replacement value is the cost to rebuild your home – labor and materials.
Ask for an estimate of your replacement value from your insurer. They should account for any "riders" needed, such as price increases in materials. Ask them about any possible contingencies that could be reasonably anticipated.