Home Owners
Why is my Homeowners Insurance so Expensive?
Here are some common reasons why you might be paying more for your homeowners insurance than you’d like:
• The state you live in may increase the amount you pay for home insurance. Many states like Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Florida have higher homeowners insurance premiums primarily because of the higher risk of natural disasters that typically occur in those states.
• The building materials of your home may not be sufficient against natural disasters. Homes made of wood will require more expensive home insurance than homes made of brick. Some states like California have strict building codes to help protect homes from earthquakes, and Florida has codes for buildings to be wind resistant.
• Certain breeds of dogs will raise your home insurance. The top ten breeds that increase homeowners insurance rates are Akita, German Shepherd, Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinscher, Presa Canario, Siberian Husky and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
While there’s no reason to avoid living in a state because homeowners insurance rates are higher, it’s important to make sure that if you do choose to live in those states you buy a house that is strongly built.
Try finding a home that will have a greater chance of surviving Mother Nature and meets the standards and codes of the stricter states like California and Florida.
If you own a dog from one of the breeds listed above, there are a few things that you can do to save on your homeowners insurance. First, have your dog trained and provide your insurance company with a training certificate. Also, you can call your dog’s breeder organization and you may be able to find a homeowners insurance provider that does not adjust your policy price based upon the breed of your dog.