The average cost of homeowners insurance in California is about $1,590 annually. Although, rates will vary from city to city and home insurance company to home insurance company.
The cost of your homeowners insurance will depend on the size of your home and the location. There are other factors that will come into to play and ways you can save money. In this article we go over some of the basics.
What exactly is included in a homeowners insurance rate?
Your standard homeowners insurance policy will include 6 coverage areas;
Dwelling; This portion of your homeowners insurance will cover damage to your home from a covered peril. Things such as a windstorm or fire are included.
Personal property; This will cover your personal belongings if they happen to be stolen or damaged.
Other structures; Will cover other structures on the property such as a shed, gazebo or fence.
Loss of use; Also called additional living expense (ALE) coverage. This portion of your coverage will pay for items you buy or pay for if you’re forced from the home while it’s being repaired. This can include hotel stays and eating out.
Personal liability; Coverage that will cover you if someone is hurt or injured on your property. It can cover legal fees and much more.
Medical payments; This portion of your coverage will pay for medical costs if someone is injured on your property, regardless of who is at fault.
What will affect the cost of my homeowners insurance?
Homeowners insurance companies use a variety of factors to determine your homeowners insurance rates. We listed a few of the more common items below;
The home; Typically older homes will come with higher rates than newer homes. This has to do with safety and the cost to do repairs. Newer homes usually have less upkeep due to the features not having as much wear and tear. The materials used to build your home will also play a factor. If your home is made from expensive building materials more than likely you will have a higher homeowners insurance rate.
The location of your home; Location, location, location. This may be one of the most important factors. Things such as living next to a coastline or crime rate will come into play when determining your home insurance rate. How close you are to a fire department and if you live in an area prone to earthquakes or flooding will also play a major role in the home insurance rate you get.
The roof of the home; The material your roof is made from and the condition it’s in is a contributing factor to your homeowners insurance rate. If you have a roof made from fire proof materials, you may get a lower rate on your homeowners insurance.
The renovations you’ve made; Upgrades to your home and security features may help you to save money on your homeowners insurance. If you upgrade to a more energy efficient home you may be inline for a discount on your homeowners insurance.
The dog; If your dog is a more aggressive breed than normal, there’s a good chance you will be looking at a higher rate on your homeowners insurance. And there’s always the chance you can be denied coverage due to the breed of your dog.
Additional features; Items such as swimming pools or trampolines can be seen as more risky by an insurance company. If your home is deemed to be more risky, there’s a good chance you will encounter higher homeowners insurance rates.
Coverage limits; The higher the coverage limits are on your homeowners insurance policy, the higher your rate will be.
Homeowners insurance deductible; Your deductible will play a major factor in determining your rate. The higher your home insurance deductible is, the lower your rate will be. The lower your deductible is, the higher your home insurance rate will be.
Claims history; If you are a homeowner with little to zero claims, there’s a good chance you will get a favorable home insurance rate. If you have a history of higher than normal claims, more than likely you will have a higher rate than someone that has zero claims.
If you would like a free homeowners insurance quote please give us a call today at 1-209-339-1130