subject: Fearing Fema- How I Found My Flood Risk And Bought My Perfect Homeowners Policy [print this page] Homeowners Insurance? I was overwhelmed with the thought of homeowners insurance- I had no idea of where to start! Was homeowners insurance the same thing as flood insurance? How do I search for homeowners insurance? Can I go online to search for insurance quotes? Can I get homeowners insurance from my auto insurance company? I had a lot of questions, and had no idea of where to start.
Homeowners insurance quotes were easy to search and find, and the rate information could be easily accessed online. I was happy to know I did not have to spend hours in my search for quotes, but homeowners insurance still confused me in regards to property flooding. I learned that flood insurance was not part of homeowners insurance, and if i wanted to protect my property from flood I would need to further search for insurance rates that would specifically cover flooding.
I did an online search and found my property's flood risk, and viewed local maps detailing risk of flooding for my city. I learned that my flood risk was very low, and that purchasing flood insurance to cover my property from flooding was not as necessary as I had thought. By opting out of flood insurance for my property I was able to keep my total homeowners insurance rate low. Other factors that kept me from choosing to cover my property with flood insurance were that my home had no basement, was built on a hill, and my property was on the bench of a mountain. Had my property had a basement, I would have bought a flood insurance policy that covered the additional risk of flooding.
Homeowners insurance can be purchased online and rates can often be combined with auto insurance and help homeowners save money. I went online and did a search of a few insurance companies I had known, and was able to obtain quotes very easily.
In 2011 we had to think a great deal about our homeowners insurance. While I had obsessed about my homeowners insurance in regards to flood risk, I had forgotten to worry about forest fires. My property was within the evacuation zone of a large fire in our area, and there were flames that threatened our property. We were evacuated to a local hotel, and there began pouring over our homeowners insurance policy and the details of what our insurance would cover and protect. Thankfully our homeowners insurance had outlined excellent protection for our property, and we did not have to lose sleep about coverage.
When friends shop for homeowners insurance and ask for tips, I always advise that people first search online and look at initial quotes and rates. Look at many different companies, but do not forget that combining policies for property and auto insurance can make your homeowners insurance more affordable, thus allowing you to save while keeping your property insured. Look at local flood maps and assess your flood risk. If your property is at risk for flooding, buy flood insurance in addition to your homeowners insurance!
