This type of insurance, also known as Homeowner Insurance or Hazard Insurance is required by any mortgage company when you purchase a home.  It is designed to protect a private residence and covers various losses including loss to the home (fire, slab leak, hot water heater bursting, etc), contents (theft, etc), loss of use of the home, other personal possessions (tools, lawnmowers, etc), and liability insurance including accidents that may happen at the home or on the property (injuries from trampolines, pools, falls, etc.)

The cost for a home insurance policy is figured based on what it would cost to replace the home, and any additional riders (coverages) that you add to the policy.  Of course, the safer your home is (fire detection equipment, security system, proximity to fire station, police, crime statistics in the area, etc) the more deductions from your rate the insurance company will allow.

Most companies require payment of the policy prior to the year it will cover.  Some companies allow monthly charges to your credit card or bank account for the policy.  If you set up an escrow account with your mortgage company when you purchase the home, the mortgage company will be responsible for paying your insurance policy out of your escrow account once a year for you.

It is important to have an insurance agent that you trust, that is accessible for information and that can provide you with good coverage at a good value.  There are many insurance providers and we always recommend that you shop insurance carriers – making sure to compare apples to apples and that the different quotes include the exact same coverage.

We have recommended the Shane Ferrell Insurance Agency (agentshane.com) to many of our clients (and I use this company personally) with good results.  If you haven’t compared insurance companies in a while, I would recommend setting up an “insurance check up” with your agent and getting quotes from other providers for comparison.

As the Richest People on the Planet say – protecting your assets is one road to wealth…