18 Factors that Determine Homeowners Insurance Rates

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has released an alarming finding that homeowners insurance rates are rising across the United States. The agency found that home insurance premiums have skyrocketed almost 47 percent during the last decade.

In today's economy, every homeowner needs to find ways to lower their homeowners insurance premium, but what factors do insurers use to calculate your insurance score? In this article, you'll learn about which factors that determine the price of your home insurance premium. You'll also learn several methods that can help you reduce your premiums.

Your insurer may charge you higher rates if your home is more expensive to replace.

Here are several factors that affect your home insurance rates. They include the following issues:

1. Replacement Value – This figure is how much it would cost to rebuild your home and provide replacement cost coverage for your possessions if a covered peril destroyed it. Your insurer may charge you higher rates if your home is more expensive to replace.

   Homeowners insurance companies set the limit of your personal property insurance at between 50 percent and 75 percent of that for your dwelling coverage. For example, if your dwelling insurance limit is $300,000, your personal coverage limit would be around $150,000 and $225,000. This coverage will depend on the company and the policy you choose.

2. Age – New homes are generally cheaper to insure, compared to older homes that are more prone to losses.

3. Construction – An insurance company will evaluate the materials used to construct your home. Homes built from materials that protect them from fires and other perils are cheaper to insure. You may incur higher premiums if it has timber, wood, or other flammable materials. For instance, brick homes cost less to insure than wooden homes.

4. Square Footage – Larger homes can be more expensive to repair or replace, and your insurer may charge you higher premiums.

5. Number of Primary Inhabitants – Insurance companies believe larger households have an increased liability compared to smaller ones.

6. Roof Build – Many providers will elevate rates for people that have roofs constructed from flammable materials. Your premiums may be lower if your roof has fire-retardant asphalt or other protective materials. They will also evaluate the age and condition of your home.

7. Public Protection Classification – The Insurance Services Office developed this tool for property and casualty insurers. It assesses a home's risk by rating its fire protection services. It measures several categories, including emergency communications, water supplies, fire departments, fire prevention and safety education programs. The best rating assigned is "1," the worst score is 10.

8. Pets – Insurers companies also consider your pets when calculating homeowners insurance rates. Your insurer will increase your premiums when you own an aggressive dog with a known bite history. It may also hike your rates if you own a dangerous dog breed, snakes or exotic animals.

9. Credit Score – Another factor home insurance companies will consider is your credit score to determine your home insurance premium. Your insurance company will reward you with lower premiums when you have an excellent credit history. Research shows that individuals that have a low credit score file more insurance premiums. To clean up your credit history, pay off your credit card bills and other debts.

10. CLUE Property Report – LexisNexis, a consumer-reporting agency, generates the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange report. It contains information about any previous insurance claims filed on your property, including those submitted by previous owners. It contains up to seven years of personal auto and personal property claims history.

11. Security and Alarm System - Other factors that affect your insurance premium rates are your security and alarm systems. Insurance carriers favor homeowners that have safety systems because these devices may decrease risks like burglaries and break-ins.

12. Deadbolt Locks – These safety devices can reduce the risk of theft, robberies and other property crimes.

13. Neighborhood Crime Rate – Insurers charge increased rates to people who live in unsafe neighborhoods.

14. Your Deductible - It is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your carrier begins paying for your claim. Choosing higher deductibles means you'll lower your potential benefits, which makes your policy less valuable. It results in cheaper rates.

15. Attractive Nuisances – These are hidden hazards on your property that can potentially increase liability claims and insurance premiums. These structures include pools, playground equipment, machinery, swimming pools, ponds, swings and trampolines.

16. Proximity to fire station - Insurance carriers also consider other factors to calculate your home insurance premium. For instance, your home insurance company will also consider how far away you are from a fire station.

    If you live close to a fire station, it is more likely that a firefighter can extinguish a blaze within minutes, thereby reducing insurance costs for your carrier. The insurance industry uses the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule from the Insurance Services Office to determine fire prevention efforts. According to their rating, the lower the score, the safer a home is from a fire. The agency uses a default ranking of 10 if a house is more than five miles away from a fire station.

17. Proximity to Water - If you live near a coastline, you may have a higher chance of a hurricane or flood-related damage. If you have a federal home loan, like an FHA, and live in a coastal area in the United States, you're required to have flood insurance.

18. Your Marital Status - Another factor that can affect your home insurance costs is your marital status. Married people file fewer claims on average than single homeowners. Home insurance carriers see these couples as more stable than their unmarried counterparts, as a result, they receive a lower home insurance rate.

New homes are generally cheaper to insure, compared to older homes that are more prone to losses.

Do you need to identify other factors that determine homeowners insurance rate costs? Speak with an agent at your local insurance company and find out if you can correct any of these factors to decrease your premium. If you have factors that you can't change, like your location, compare these rates with other insurers to see if they will provide lower rates. Use SmartFinancial's app to compare coverage and premiums with other home insurance companies. Start by entering your zip code on this page.

Your premiums may be lower if your roof has fire-retardant asphalt or other protective materials.

How To Calculate Your Homeowners Insurance Coverage on Your Own

Are you unsure how much homeowners insurance you'll need to protect your property? You can use the following process to find the best home insurance policies for your residence in case the worst happens.

1. Use a home insurance calculator.

Online calculators can help you estimate the amount of homeowners insurance you'll need. These sites will calculate a quote after you answer questions about your home, location, square footage, heating systems, construction and other features.

2. Estimate your Home Insurance Coverage using a formula.

Another method that will help you calculate your rates is the homeowners insurance formula. If you prefer not to use an online calculator, this equation can help you estimate how much it will cost to repair or replace your home. Here is the formula:

Home Square Footage x Price-Per-Square-Foot to Build in Your Area = Replacement Cost

You can find out these values by doing a little research. For instance, you can contact a local building contractor and ask them the average price-per-square-foot in your area. These professionals will ask questions about your home's construction and materials. They'll also give you a price-per-square-foot estimate based upon this information.

Next, you'll use this estimated figure and multiply it by your home's square footage. This calculation will give you a ballpark figure about how much dwelling coverage you'll need. Additionally, consider how much it will cost to replace your valuables within your place for your personal property coverage. Use the coverage limits from your previous homeowners policy

If you're switching home insurance carriers, you can transfer the information from your previous homeowners policy to your provider.

Make sure to correct any information to ensure it's current. Dwelling insurance should be updated biennially to reflect any changes in the cost of construction materials. If the amount fluctuates, your provider will want to see a copy of your policy to verify that the information is correct.

3. Hire an appraiser.

You can also hire an appraiser to get an updated replacement cost valuation for your home's rebuild cost You should only hire a professional who is a replacement cost specialist. These appraisals shouldn't include your home's curb appeal in its replacement cost valuation. You're looking for an estimate about how much it would cost to rebuild based on current construction materials and labor. Contact your local insurance agent to get a referral for a local appraiser.

4. Take an inventory of all personal belongings.

Next, take an inventory of your belongings to calculate your personal property coverage. These estimates should include any indoor and outdoor valuables you currently own. This step will make it simpler to categorize your items by property location and type. In your inventory, include items such as:

• Electronics
• Kitchen appliances
• Washers and Dryers
• Furniture
• Clothing
• Collectibles and expensive items
• Sports Equipment
• Musical Instruments
• Artwork

As mentioned earlier, your insurance company sets your personal property coverage limit at 50 percent of your dwelling coverage. So, if your dwelling coverage limit is $400,000, your personal property coverage limit will be $200,000.

5. Consider raising your coverage limits.

Several insurance companies will give you the option to protect your things with 75 percent of your dwelling amount. Insure your home at a higher limit or its replacement cost, and it will generally cost more. If you live in an area with lower risks and a temperate climate, paying additional coverage may not be necessary. Most insurance carriers have reimbursement limits or sub-limits on rare and expensive kinds of personal property.

Jewelry, electronics, instruments, and other items have $1,000 or $2,000 sub-limits. To increase these amounts, you can add a scheduled personal property endorsement to your policy for an additional cost to cover items with higher replacement sub-limits.

6. Consider coverage endorsements.

Next, see if your insurance company provides additional coverage for things that your standard homeowners insurance policy will not cover. These include:

• Flood insurance – Separate policy that pays for flood-related damages and house contents.

• Earthquake insurance – Separate policy that pays for damages to your place and covered items caused by an earthquake.

• Water backup of sewer – Pays for losses caused by a sewer or drain backup.

• Personal umbrella liability – Covers losses to your home from

• Dog bite policies can protect when you have an aggressive dog breed or exotic breed.

7. Consider your total assets.

Your personal liability coverage (along with the medical payments coverage) is the only part of your policy that isn't set as a percentage of your dwelling coverage. Insurers set your personal liability limits between $100,000 and $500,000 in $100,000 increments. The coverage you get depends on your total assets and your liability-related risks. In homeowners insurance policies, personal liability coverage is a general liability that protects you when someone suffers injuries on your property. If someone sues you, they can go after all of your assets, including ones not connected to your property. The liability portion of your policy may cover your attorney fees.

Your insurance company will reward you with lower premiums when you have an excellent credit history.

Find & Compare the Best Insurance Quotes for Your Home Today!

How to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Rates

Here are several tips that can help you reduce the cost of your home insurance premiums.

1. Seek Discounts and Credits.

You can speak with an insurance agent to see if you qualify for any discounts at their company. Many insurers offer decent credits that can help lower your insurance rates.

2. Bundle Coverages Such as Your Home and Auto Insurance

You may pay less, on average, if you bundle your policies with one insurer. When you shop for coverage, see how much each bundle will cost by looking at the final cost of homeowners insurance. Next, compare this bottom-line rate with other insurance carriers to get the lowest price. Contact your insurance agent and ask if it's possible to lower your premium rates by raising your deductible. If you increase your deductible, you'll be less likely to file smaller claims. It will also encourage you to make the best use of your insurance coverage.

3. Take advantage of loyalty discounts.

Ask if your provider has a loyalty program. Some insurers provide additional discounts to customers if you've remained with them for a few years.

4. File fewer insurance claims.

Some carriers view people who file even a minor insurance claim as a potential risk. They believe that it is an indication you'll file similar insurance claims in the future.

5. Make Improvements to Your Property

You can also make several improvements to your home or property to see what you can improve to get a discount.

5. Get a security system.

Consider making your home safer with a monitored security system. Research says that you can get a 20 percent discount on your premium. You can also add motion-sensing lights, upgraded locks, windows, and doors.

6. Insure your home, not your property or land.

You don't need to insure the purchase price of your home if the majority of its value comes from the land. If you lose your home, you'll need to rebuild the structure and parts of the landscaping. The actual land itself doesn't need to be insured. If you get a home appraisal, it should list the value of the improvements, including the things you'll have to pay to replace. It will help you determine the actual coverage that you'll need.

Are you seeking a quality homeowners insurance policy? SmartFinancial is an intelligent way to find great coverage at an affordable price. All you'll need to do is complete our short survey. We'll provide you with multiple premiums and coverage from local insurance carriers. To get started, enter your zip code on his page.