Florida is a homeowners insurance hot spot
right now. The annual premiums are at an all time high due to recent
hurricanes and other natural disasters. In the current market,
finding homeowners insurance can be a real pain. Here are some
things that you can do to make finding homeowners insurance in
Florida a little easier.
Know what kind of coverage that you need for your home. Knowing what your insurance
needs are will expedite the process of getting a quote. If you are along the
coast, you may need to purchase separate hurricane and flood insurance. These
things are not usually covered in a normal homeowners insurance policy, so be
prepared to shell out the extra money.
Know also what dollar amount you need to replace or repair your home in the event
of a disaster. Don't include the cost of your land in the amount that you estimate
you will need. You will not need to replace the land, only the structures that
are built on it. Insurance in Florida is expensive enough, so try not to overestimate
the amount you will need.
Ask for referrals from friends and family to get an idea of the quality of service
you can expect. Price is not the only thing to consider when buying homeowners
insurance in Florida. Speed and quality of service are also vital components.
You can have cheap insurance, but if their service is less than acceptable you
have not gotten a good deal. When disaster comes, you want to know that your
insurance company is reliable and will process your claim quickly and efficiently
so that you can get on with your life.
As with any state, when you combine your insurance needs at one
company they are more likely to give you a price break. So if
you are pleased with your auto insurer, and they offer home insurance
as well they may be a wise choice. Combination insurance policies
are not only for auto and home. If you own a boat or recreational
vehicle, consider moving all your insurance under one roof. Usually,
the more things you have with a company, such as home owners insurance and auto insurance, the better deal they
will give you.
One last word of wisdom is to make a list of your belongings and
store it in a fire and waterproof place such as a home safe or
bank safe deposit box. This can be time consuming, but in a disaster
situation it will hard to recall how many towels or dishes you
had. Some people prefer to make a video catalog instead of writing
it down. This can be much quicker, but again make sure you store
it in a safe place along with your homeowners insurance paperwork.
You will be glad you were so organized when something happens,
and so will your insurance agent.
