Questions To Ask Your Home Owner Insurance Company
If you own a home, rent a home or are thinking about buying a home, you may want to contact a home owner insurance company to see what it will cost to protect your investment. Prior to 1950, all aspects of protecting the home, its contents and residents typically involved a different policy for each type of insurance protection. Since the early 1970's, home owner insurance companies began making the different types of insurance available under one policy.
When looking for a home owner insurance company, most people start looking online. However, when choosing an insurance agent you will want one that is familiar with the local insurance needs. They will also have a better understanding of local issues that may reflect the cost of home owner insurance. You should always know where the agent is located and how to contact them personally.
When dealing with a home owner insurance company you will want to know that you can contact your agent at any time day or night in the event of an emergency. Although nearly every home owner insurance company offers a toll-free number with which to contact them 24-hours a day, seven days a week, you may have a need to contact the agent after business hours and their accessibility needs to meet your needs.
Can Insurance Company Help With Combining Coverage
Many times a home owner insurance company also provides other types of insurance such as auto and life and when a policy holders has more than one policy from the same company they sometimes offer a discount on the whole package. Check with the agent before buying the home owner insurance if the company also offers other coverage, or if you already have car insurance with the company, check to see if they also offer home owner coverage.
Knowing how the home owner insurance company will communicate is also important. Many agent will make personal contact with the policy holders on a routine basis while some others may only make contact when the premium is due or if they are returning a call concerning a claim. Whether by phone or email, you will want to know the best way to reach the agent.
If you are dealing with an independent agent, you want to know they are dealing with a reputable and financially sound home owner insurance company. Buying from an agent and finding out your home is covered by an underwriter that is in bankruptcy protection may not give you the peace of mind you want in your home owner insurance company.
