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Homeowners Insurance
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Discuss it: Real estate forum
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• Sometimes you'll get a better deal if you buy your homeowners and auto insurance from the same company.
• Make sure you get a quote for insurance that would pay to replace your belongings, rather than pay you based on their depreciated value.
• Update coverage for the value of your home and its contents, if needed, every five years.
• Raise your deductible to $1,000 or $2,500. You'll pay less in premiums, but more importantly, you'll reduce the risk that your insurer will cancel your coverage because you made too many claims.
• Ask your agent what documentation you need to substantiate a claim, in case of theft or fire. I think it's easiest to videotape your house and describe your possessions. Don't store the tape in your house.
• Carry enough liability coverage to protect you against a lawsuit if someone gets hurt on your property.
Protect your belongings by videotaping them yearly
If something ever gets lost, stolen or burned at your home, how do you prove it to your insurance company? Once each year, around my wife's birthday, she does a walk and talk with a video camera in hand to document our possessions. As she's going through the house, she ...
Unclaimed money could be waiting for you
There could be unclaimed money from bank accounts and insurance policies hanging out unloved in your name. Here's how to claim at no cost if it's rightfully yours.
Increase in home equity bodes well for worker mobility
Equity in homes is going up for the first time since the real estate bust began. That's a clear sign of recovery in so many places. One third of Americans who have a home now own it free and clear, according to the latest data from Zillow. The cities where ...
When should you switch insurers?
A huge percent of people never shop their auto and home insurance. That's not necessarily a good idea considering that modern American business punishes loyalty, rather than rewarding it. The Wall Street Journal reports that roughly 1 in 3 people never shop their auto insurance. Almost half never their shop ...
Best and worst home insurance companies
A new ranking of home insurance companies shows that just focusing on the cost of premiums isn't necessarily the smartest idea. Clark names the two top insurers and the bottom three.
Best and worst home insurers
A new ranking of home insurance companies shows that just focusing on what you pay in premiums isn't necessarily the smartest idea. The Sept. 2012 issue of Consumer Reports names the best and worst home insurers in the business. Now, keep in mind that the best does not necessarily mean ...
Which kinds of insurance to buy (& NOT buy!)
Insurance pitches are everywhere, but not all insurance is necessary. Clark names five kinds of policies to skip and four kinds you've got to have to protect yourself and your family.
Renting out your home or car comes with insurance hassles
Renting out your home or car for extra cash could leave you in a lot of financial hot water with your insurer. I've talked in the past about sites like VRBO.com, HomeAway.com and Airbnb.com as way to get a deal if you're looking for a rental, but also as a ...
Major home insurer increasing premiums
One major home insurer wants to triple their profits, and if you're with this company, it might cost you significantly. Get the scoop.
Get a better price on your insurance premiums
Paying too much in auto insurance premiums? Your loyalty to your current insurer may not necessarily reward you financially. Here's how to turn the tables.
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