Home Insurance Quote | Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a longtime homeowner in the Sunshine State, if you’re looking for a Florida home insurance policy, you’ll need to shop for quotes to compare coverage and rates. However, there are several things that even some veteran homeowners might not consider when shopping for a better home insurance quote. Florida has some specific considerations you’ll want to keep in mind as you shop around.
It’s good to understand how insurance providers in Florida calculate your quote. Some factors that affect your rate are:
- The square footage of your home
- Roof shape and material
- Building costs in your area
- Local crime rates
- The likelihood of disasters, such as hurricanes
Below are some basic tips for comparing home insurance quotes in Florida:
Know what is covered.
Typically, home insurance policies cover the main dwelling, its contents, liability, other structures and loss of use. You want to be sure you compare the coverage limits for each of these as you review different quotes.
Hint: Ask about Ordinance or Law coverage, and whether you have replacement cost or actual cash value coverage or visit our blog about understanding your policy.
Know your liability limits.
The standard liability coverage protects homeowners up to $100,000. Experts recommend coverage of at least $300,000 as litigation in liability cases can be extremely costly. Take a moment to consider your liability limit before you make a decision on your new home insurance company.
Know the relationship between your deductible and your premium.
Your deductible is the amount of money you must pay out-of-pocket toward your covered loss. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium - but you’ll need to have your deductible amount available in the event of a loss. Hint: Make sure to ask about your hurricane deductible, which is typically a percentage of your dwelling coverage (instead of the flat rate most policyholders pay for an “all other perils” loss).
Consider extra coverage for valuable items.
Your home insurance covers the contents of your home, including personal items such as valuables up to a certain dollar amount. If you have extremely valuable items like art, jewelry and collectibles, you will want to add additional coverage to protect those items in the event that they are damaged or lost.
Don’t forget flood insurance.
Cited as the most common natural disaster in the U.S. according to the Insurance Information Institute (III), flood damage is not covered by your home insurance policy. In the U.S., the federal government offers flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). American Integrity also offers private flood insurance. Our rates are up to 15% lower than those available through the National Flood Insurance Program, and there is no waiting period for our flood coverage to go into effect. Remember this highly recommended coverage when you’re comparing your home insurance quotes in Florida. Don't risk it, get flood insurance.
Insure your home for the correct amount.
Some solid advice from Insurance.com reminds homeowners to insure their home based on the replacement cost and not the current market value. Market value will only insure your home for what it could currently be sold for. This value can fluctuate and can be far less than the cost to rebuild your home in the event of total loss. It’s wise to hire an appraiser to help you with the daunting task of home valuation.
If you feel it might be time to get a new home insurance quote in Florida, they are free and easy and can help you make a more informed decision about your home insurance policy. Visit American Integrity Insurance for a free, no obligation home insurance quote in Florida.