6 easy ways to get cheap home insurance quotes

DONNA FUSCALDO
JULY 1, 2013 IN INSURANCE
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You don’t have to pay full price for your home insurance. There are lots of discounts you may be eligible for, including some very basic ones, and all you have to do is ask. “Insurance companies try to provide an opportunity for customers to lower their premiums,” says Mario Morales, senior corporate underwriting consultant at MetLife Auto & Home in Warwick, R.I. Homeowners signing up for new insurance coverage will be asked a series of questions, either by their agent or by the insurance company, to determine which discounts may apply. But come renewal time, there’s no obligation for them to recheck, which is why it’s important to stay on top of things, says Bill Wilson, an associate vice president of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, an Alexandria, Va.-based trade group. Getting cheap home insurance doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be as simple as being a faithful customer or having good credit. Here’s a look at six simple money-savers you may not know about.

6 steps to cheaper home insurance
1. Carry multiple policies with the same provider
2. Boost your deductible
3. Install an advanced alarm system
4. Be loyal to your insurance company
5. Impress your insurer with good credit
6. Disaster-prep your home

Carry multiple policies with the same provider

Insurance companies want your business and are willing to reward you for bundling multiple policies. Buying your home insurance and auto insurance from the same company can save you 30 percent in some instances, according to Brad Lemons, a vice president at Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Insurance. Increasingly, insurance companies are throwing life insurance into the mix, which means you may be able to save even more if you have your homeowners, auto and life policies under one carrier. “It’s always good for consumers to look for companies that have the ability to meet all their needs both from an insurance and a financial standpoint,” says Lemons. “The more you can get bundled, the more attractive it is to the consumer.” Not only will you save money, but you’ll have more consistency in the way claims are handled and how you receive communications.

Boost your deductible

Depending on the level of risk you’re able to handle, you can save a bundle off your home insurance premiums simply by going with a high-deductible policy. The deductible is the amount of your loss that you’d have to make up out of your own pocket, before the insurance kicks in. Instead of going with a $500 or $1,000 deductible, homeowners who can afford a big out-of-pocket hit or are willing to gamble that nothing will happen to their home might choose a $10,000 deductible — and save as much as 35 percent, Morales says. Though high deductibles are more typical on multimillion-dollar homes, folks in lower tax brackets often will opt for the highest deductible possible. “Some people who feel they really won’t incur any type of loss may decide to carry the maximum deductible to get as much premium savings as possible,” says Morales. But have the money to cover the deductible on hand just in case something does go wrong, he advises.

Install an advanced alarm system

Many people know that fire alarms, carbon monoxide sensors and burglary systems help to cut home insurance premiums. The discounts can be even greater with today’s more advanced monitoring systems that report to a central location and alert first responders. Alarms connected to a central station can cut premiums by an average of 10 percent, Wilson says. Insurers offer the discount because the risks are minimized if your home is being monitored 24 hours a day. “With fire response, time is everything,” he notes. Alarm companies advertise that the insurance savings can be 20 percent, or even more. If the premium discount is your main motivation for buying a particular security system, it’s a good idea to double-check with your insurance company or agent to find out specifically how much you’re likely to save.

Be loyal to your insurance company

Insurance companies want you to remain a customer for as long as possible, which is why loyalty can pay off with cheap home insurance. Lemons says longtime Nationwide customers can save anywhere from 5 percent to 10 percent. “It varies, but it’s usually between three to five years before you start to see discounts for loyalty kick in,” he says. According to Wilson, most insurance carriers offer some form of loyalty discount, typically in the 5 percent to 10 percent range. “Insurers make money keeping a customer several years,” he says. “It’s worth it for them to give a credit.” With some insurers, loyalty alone won’t yield savings. You might also need to stay claims-free or maintain multiple policies with the company. For instance, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers a renewal price break, though only if you bundle home, car and other coverage.

Impress your insurer with good credit

A high credit score can get you more than a favorable interest rate on a car loan or mortgage. It also can result in lower home insurance premiums. Insurance companies check credit reports to gauge whether a customer is likely to cost them in the future, Lemons says. Wilson adds: “The stats show people that have a better credit score have fewer claims.” Given that connection, insurers are willing to charge less if you have good credit. But what constitutes a good credit score, for insurance purposes? It varies. Each company uses its own calculation to determine how much a credit score will impact premiums, which is another reason it pays to shop around and ask questions. Indeed, Wilson says a quote for his own home insurance was unusually high, and it turned out that the wrong credit score was being used. Once he inquired about it, the premium dropped — by roughly $1,000. For a married couple, the insurer will take the better of the two credit scores and use that to rate the policy.

Disaster-prep your home

If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, a little preparedness may be worth a sizable discount on your home insurance. Savings can be as much as 30 percent in some states if the home is fortified in accordance with standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, or IBHS, Lemons says. Ways the requirements can be met include sealing the roof beneath the shingles and pruning trees away from the home. “Homes that follow the IBHS guidelines are less likely to be impacted when a storm comes through,” says Lemons. “The challenge is how to invest and retrofit your home.” Make your dwelling storm-ready and enjoy cheap home insurance through discounts that go by different names including a “fortified home discount” and a “windstorm mitigation discount.”

I hope you find this information helpful when searching for homeowners insurance for your new home.
Please stay safe and warm from the cold weather that has come upon us and have a great weekend!!!

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Remodeling Activity to Spike Through 2018
Daily Real Estate News | Monday, October 23, 2017
As homeowners gain more equity, they are expected to continue heavily investing in home improvement projects and repairs through the third quarter of 2018, according to the latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity report released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The LIRA index projects annual gains in home renovation and repair spending of 6.3 percent for the fourth quarter of 2017 and up to 7.7 percent by the third quarter of next year.
“Recent strengthening of the U.S. economy, tight for-sale housing inventories, and healthy home equity gains are all working to boost home improvement activity,” says Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. “Over the coming year, owners are projected to spend in excess of $330 billion on home upgrades and replacements, as well as routine maintenance.”
Abbe Will, a research associate in the Remodeling Futures Program at JCHS, says that recent hurricanes and other natural disasters have the potential for strengthening remodeling activity even more over the next year than forecasted. Major reconstruction and repairs will get underway in affected regions and likely lead to elevated activity, Will says.
For homeowners looking to remodel for resale, the National Association of REALTORS® publishes a report looking at the costs of some of the top remodeling projects. This is just a tid bid of information for you to think about.

Happy Monday! Call an agent today to help get to your goals of house shopping and selling!

Illuminate Listings Without Breaking the Bank
Help sellers put their homes in the best light before you put them on the market. New lighting industry innovations can help play up the hard work put into getting a house ready for sale, show how rooms are meant to function, and pass along energy-efficient savings to buyers.The proper illumination can shine a crisp spotlight, spread a wide beam, or cast a warm glow on a home’s best features to make a listing more appealing to buyers. Thankfully, most sellers don’t need to hire an electrician, install recessed cans, or purchase expensive fixtures in order to gain the benefits of this type of staging.Updated lighting not only helps your listing stand out visually but also attracts buyers eager to save energy and electricity costs. Here are a few ways you and your clients can take advantage of the latest developments in the lighting industry.
Add layers to enhance room function and mood. When evaluating an area’s lighting needs, make sure there are three layers of light. Ambient light creates a backdrop and should provide overall brightness without glare. Ensure there’s adequate task lighting to help homeowners perform typical functions for whatever space they’re in (under-cabinet lights to safely prep food in a kitchen, night lights for reading comfortably in bed, or a desk lamp for paperwork in an office). Accent lighting can draw attention to some appealing features, such as a striking kitchen island, large painting, or even a lovely mature tree in the backyard.
Increase energy efficiency. Many buyers are looking for energy savings in a home, and LED bulbs will greatly reduce heat output and conserve energy. Pam Price, head of retail marketing at LEDVANCE, which manufactures the Sylvania bulb brand, pegs the energy reduction for LEDs at 85 percent less than incandescent bulbs. Some sellers may be reluctant because they think LED light is too cool or the bulbs are expensive and nonfunctional with dimmers—all of which was once true, but has changed since the first generation debuted. In addition to the initial cost saving, LED bulbs typically last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, which are being phased out due to more stringent government energy requirements. Consumers can find each bulb’s life expectancy, generally in hours, on the package. Sellers should also find out if their local utility company offers rebates if they purchase such LED bulbs, says Joseph A. Rey-Barreau, an architect and a lighting consultant for the American Lighting Association.
Explore DIY options. Not only have these new lighting options come down in price over the years, LED options are also often much easier to install, even in some cases by DIYers. Under kitchen cabinets, sellers can easily attach modular strips with adhesive for much-needed task lighting. Rey-Barreau says a 24-inch strip will cost between $30 and $50 and is much easier for a DIYer than the old sockets that had to drilled into the base of cabinets.
Enhance safety. Smart lighting choices can also help alleviate buyers’ concerns about safety. Programmable systems can turn lights on and off in a room or entire house to avoid a vacant home look. Once pricey and complicated to install because they had to be hardwired, new options are wireless and less time-consuming and costly to install. They’re also more user-friendly to operate and can be controlled from smart devices and security systems, says Nancy Goldstein, a principal with Light Positive, a lighting design resource in Marblehead, Mass.
Play up the outdoors. Landscape lighting can also enhance safety while helping to highlight textures and plants outdoors, says Rey-Barreau. It brings the outdoors in to expand a home’s sense of space. “It minimizes the confining ‘black mirror’ effect that large areas of glass can produce when there’s no view beyond the panes at night,” says Goldstein. Costs here have also come down thanks to starter kits with four to eight lights available for $100 to $200, says Joe Dugandzic, executive producer and editorial director of Smarter Home Life, a website and YouTube channel about home automation and lighting.
Choose the right bulb and fixture. Too many sellers still buy bulbs on sale or don’t pair the right bulb with the right fixture for the desired need, says Dugandzic. For example, he suggests using an uplight-style lamp to illuminate a dark corner. Homeowners should consider light output or brightness (measured in lumens, rather than watts) and the color temperature, from warm white to cool blue (measured in Kelvins). Thanks to Federal Trade Commission requirements, manufacturers must now label packages with a “Lighting Facts” box that details this information as well as the bulb’s life expectancy, energy use, and estimated annual costs.Experts differ on specifics but here are a few tips from John Hales, owner of Mr. Electric of Greater Augusta, a Georgia company specializing in electrical installation and repair services, about what should be used where:
• Living room. Mixed lighting should reflect the many ways this room can be used. Try adjustable lamps paired with three-way LED bulbs from 1,500 to 3,000 lumens and 2,200–3,000K in the color temperature range.
• Dining room. Dimmable fixtures paired with dimmable LEDs allow for brightness. Make sure clients know different LED bulbs require different dimmers and are not interchangeable.
• Kitchen. Because of the different functions of this versatile room, good ranges are from 4,000 to 8,000 lumens and 2,700–5,000K.
• Bedroom. To preserve circadian rhythms, go for 1,500 to 4,000 lumens.
• Home office. Cool white lights in the 3,000 to 6,000 lumens.
Introduce sizzle. Lighting has a sexy side that can help differentiate listings in an affordable way. The newest bulbs render color more accurately than in years past. Some bulbs can change color to cast different moods. LED bulbs are also showing up in new, unexpected places such as illuminated showerheads, says Rey-Barreau. And some manufacturers are adding a hip factor by offering connectivity using Bluetooth, allowing homeowners to control lighting from the same devices that they use to control temperature, locks, garage doors, and other accessories.

This is some great information to help homeowners that are preparing their homes for sale. It’s a good way to set the mood when a buyer enters the home when they are searching for their forever home.

I hope everyone is out enjoying their weekend!!!

As real estate agents we are asked all the time when is the best time to sell a home. Really it depends on the market and location. The best thing we can do for our seller’s is give you seasonal tips to help sell your home.

Check out some of these tips from US News. Tips for preparing your home for sale when the weather is cooler and days are shorter. https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/slideshows/13-things-to-know-about-selling-your-home-in-fall-and-winter

Hibbing High School girls swim meet Tuesday October 17th at 5:00 P.M.

Happy Weekend! Remember as agents we work weekends. Call today so we can help with your real estate needs.