For the Lowest Home Insurance Rates, Go Insurance Rates

A new study released in Nov. 2009 showed that Americans are not utilizing all of the discounts available to them when it comes to their homeowner and auto insurance. The study was released by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) for Trust Choice.

Study Results

From those surveyed regarding their home insurance policies, 34 percent admitted that they are probably not taking advantage of all of the home insurance discounts they could - or they simply didn't know that discounts were available. This number represents a percentage of 53 million households.

In regards to auto insurance, more than 20 percent of car owners were not taking advantage of auto insurance discounts, or didn't know they existed.

Americans Throwing Away Much-Needed Money

The vice president of agent development with IIABA, Madelyn Flannagan, commented on the results of the study by noting that many Americans may be "foolishly" throwing away money because they fail to ask about the homeowners and auto insurance discounts they may qualify for. She noted that many companies offer impressive discounts, often based on region or other unique factors, and if customers don't ask about what's available, they're truly missing out on savings.

Don't Throw Your Money Away

If reading this article has made you think about the discounts you may be missing out on, don't continue to throw your money away. You could ask your current insurers about discounts you could be receiving with auto or homeowners insurance. Also, it's a good idea to shop around for coverage with different insurers to see if other discounts are available to you.

The greater your commitment is to saving on insurance, the greater your chances are of doing just that.

Do you think you're spending too much on homeowners are auto insurance?

Much has been written about the fact that the Chinese symbol for crisis is also the symbol for opportunity. If you're a homeowner who's recently suffered damage to your home, all the shock and chaos may make you forget that a big check from your home insurance provider is on the way - and you can spend it as you see fit. Whether you get a lump-sum payout, an advance payment, or a partial payment contingent on different conditions, the bottom line is that you're getting money and a blank slate. When those two things come together it can be a very exciting time indeed.

The Claims Adjuster

The first thing you're going to do is call your claims adjuster. They will inspect the damage and help you fill out all relevant claims forms. It may be tedious, but it's the first step on the road to getting reimbursed. Additionally, take lots of pictures and make sure to save all estimates and assessments.

The Attitude Adjuster

When your home insurance provider helps you it means they're going to give you money. In your situation, now is the time to start forgetting your misfortune and remembering your opportunities. Sure your living room is gone, but you've also got the chance to turn what was once a den of dullness into a showcase for your excellent taste. You can put in a bay window with a reading nook. You can put in hardwood floors, or floor-to-ceiling windows, or a new fireplace. Was your old carpet looking more and more like an old, miserable sponge? Rip it out and put down hardwood. Or maybe you want tile, but you can't decide between rich, red Mexican terra cotta or grey slate.

Taking Savings to the Next Level

If you're smart, you can also save on clean-up and repair costs - which the insurance company has covered - by doing it yourself. With that extra money you can either apply it to further home improvements that improve the resale quality of your home or save for a rainy day. Cedar closets or new kitchen appliances, the choice is yours. Of course, spending your home insurance reimbursement check in a frugal way is also a smart choice: by keeping costs low and coming in under budget, you can pocket the difference. At the end of the day, that money could provide you with all sorts of new opportunities.

If you're a homeowner you must have home insurance, period. Your investment is too large to go unprotected. Once you're insured, make sure you understand what is or is not covered. If you're unclear about any aspect of the policy, don't be afraid to ask.

Your home is probably the most valuable asset you possess and you want to make sure it's properly protected. How much you pay for home insurance will be influenced by where you live, of course. Factors that are unique to a geographical area will have a big impact on a state's average home...

In Florida, the battle for funding for state-provided property insurance has resulted in lobbyists pushing for a 10 percent across-the-board rate increase. The increase requests comes from insistence that Florida insurance regulators are failing in their duties to ensure the proper funds sit in...

Some homeowners are upset after learning that they'd been threatened cancellation by their insurance companies for simply for filing a claim. The claims filed were related to property damage as a result of drywall imported from China.
The problem started when homeowners began to recognize that...

Some Florida homeowners may soon be out of insurance coverage as one of the state's largest providers has given some policyholders the ax. On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, Nationwide Insurance Co. announced that it will be dropping 60,000 of its Florida homeowners policies, which makes up almost...

For the first time in5 years, customer satisfaction with home insurance increases dramatically. This is according to a recentsurvey from J.D. Powers and Associates.

In the survey, the research firm found that the driving force behind customer satisfaction seemed to be price. This may be a...

On September 30, 2009, the Senate passed a temporary 31-day extension of the Federal Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which was set to expire on that day. Now, the program, which issues flood insurance to homeowners in and around flood plains, will expire on October 31, 2009.

The temporary...

If you own a home in Louisiana, you can take advantage of insurance and tax breaks bytaking on home renovations that comply with statewide building standardsenacted after Hurricane Katrina. Luckily, these renovations can not only help you save money in the long-run, but also protect your home...

After being hit with life-threatening floods in September 2009, many Georgia residents called their insurance companies to place claims only to realize that floods were not covered in their policies. This news was a major blow to homeowners who simply were unaware that they were not paying for...