5 Factors That Raise Your Home Insurance Costs
A house is one of your biggest investments, so it makes sense to protect it with adequate homeowner's insurance. However, if your home insurance premiums seem to be increasing every year, it can be pretty frustrating. It's helpful to be aware of what can cause your premiums to skyrocket and avoid those things. Here are some common factors that can raise your home insurance costs.
Your Neighborhood
It might seem unfair, but where you live can affect your home insurance costs. For example, if there have been a lot of burglaries in your area in the last year, you may see an increase in your premiums.
Trampolines
If you have young kids at home, putting a trampoline in your backyard might sound like a great idea. Your kids can jump on the trampoline for hours with their friends and have a great time. However, it is important to understand that having a trampoline can also drive up your home insurance premiums. Trampolines can cause serious injuries, so your insurer may charge you extra money in premiums to protect themselves.
Wood Burning Stoves
Wood-burning stoves can save you money in heating costs, provide great heating, and benefit the environment. However, they may also increase the risks of fires. That is why insurance companies may charge higher premiums for homes with wood-burning stoves. If you already have a wood-burning stove, putting smoke detectors on every floor may help you reduce your premiums because they increase safety.
Certain Dog Breeds
Dogs are like members of the family and can be great to have around. However, certain dog breeds can increase home insurance premiums. Rottweilers and pit bulls, for example, are considered aggressive breeds and are more likely to bite.
Frequent Claims
The more claims you file on your homeowner's insurance, the higher your premiums will be. That is why you might not want to file a claim for every little thing. If the damage is not too much, you may want to pay for the repairs out of your own pocket. It is better to save your claims for bigger issues, like roof damage.
As you can see, there are many factors that can increase your home insurance premiums. If you would like additional tips on how to reduce your premiums, do not hesitate to reach out to your insurance agent. He or she should be more than happy to help you cut your costs.