| wner’s insurance may soon be increasing for | | | | alone to cover the cost of the survey. |
| Florida residents—and even more for those living | | | | 6. Storm damage is a big factor in Florida insurance |
| in the southern part of the state. This is the ideal time | | | | rates, and one way in which you can keep your rates |
| to check your policy and your home to see if you can | | | | low is by owning a home with a hip roof rather than a |
| cut your costs and make up for the rates hike. | | | | gable roof. This type of roof diverts wind better than a |
| Your Policy | | | | gable roof does, and puts less strain on the house |
| 1. One of the simplest ways to decrease your | | | | during high winds. |
| insurance premiums is to increase your deductible. This | | | | 7. Make sure your home is within five miles of a fire |
| is true of most types of insurance, but few pay off as | | | | station, and within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant. If |
| much as increasing the deductible on your home. | | | | it’s too far away from either of these things, |
| Increase it to $2,500 and you could save hundreds of | | | | you may have to buy your insurance from Citizens, |
| dollars every year. | | | | Florida’s state run insurance carrier, and means |
| 2. If you’re looking at getting a new policy, | | | | paying top dollar. As in the case of the hip roof, this tip |
| ignore the new trend for online insurance shopping. In | | | | might not help if you already own a home and plan to |
| locations that are subject to special weather | | | | stay there long-term. However, if you’re looking |
| conditions, there called hurricanes in Florida, it’s | | | | to relocate it’s something to keep in mind. |
| always best to shop locally. Work with a local agent | | | | 8. Have your alarm system monitored. Overall you |
| who deals with multiple carriers, and you’ll | | | | might not save money, but it more or less allows you |
| benefit by having an agent who does the shopping for | | | | to improve your home’s security for free, or |
| you and can help you choose the best deal from | | | | close to it, as the amount you save on your insurance |
| among several carriers. | | | | will typically cover the cost of having your alarm |
| 3. Choose an A-rated, admitted carrier. An A-rated | | | | monitored. |
| carrier is more likely to remain financially stable in tough | | | | 9. If you have a diving board, a trampoline, or a dog of |
| times, and an admitted carrier has state-approved | | | | a dangerous breed, you’ll pay dearly for it with |
| rates and is covered by Florida’s Guarantee | | | | your insurance carrier. You may even find that |
| Fund. Both of these factors mean more security for | | | | conventional carriers aren’t interested in insuring |
| your policy. | | | | you, and that means getting insurance from Citizens. |
| 4. Ask your agent about their carrier’s renewal | | | | You may not want to give up a much-loved family pet, |
| processing process, and find out if they requote the | | | | but there’s no harm in questioning how much |
| policy each year. Choose an agent that does requote | | | | you really need a diving board. |
| every time renewal comes up to make sure you | | | | 10. Owning a property of five or more acres increases |
| always have the best coverage at the best price. | | | | your insurance costs. In most cases you’ll need |
| Your Home | | | | to buy a policy from a specialized carrier, which |
| 5. If your Florida home was built before 2002, having it | | | | naturally costs more. However, if you don’t |
| surveyed for wind mitigation factors could save you | | | | mind reducing your property a little, you can sell off an |
| hundreds of dollars every year. This kind of survey | | | | acre or two and reduce your premiums at the same |
| documents design features in your home—such | | | | time—reduce your land parcel to four acres or |
| as FBC shingles and reinforced garage | | | | less and you’ll be able to shop around and |
| doors—that help it resist damage in high winds. In | | | | reduce your costs. |
| most cases you’ll save enough in the first year | | | | |