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Home Owners Insurance 101
Your Step-by-Step Resource to Home Owners Insurance

By Bobbie Sage, About.com

Home owners insurance is critical and if you carry a mortgage is a requirement by the mortgage company, and rightly so. If something were to happen to your home and it was destroyed completely, someone would still need to pay for it. So, if home owners insurance were not required, you would have to pay for a home still that did not exist.

It is never too late to learn about home owners insurance. If you currently have it, it is important to educate yourself to make sure you have your home properly covered. If you are thinking about buying a home, getting off on the right foot with the correct home owners insurance policy can save you a lot of hassle. And besides having the right coverage, getting a good deal on your home owners insurance can actually make you smile!

Here at Home Owners Insurance 101 you will learn what coverages are best for you, help in choosing the right home owners insurance company, filing a claim basics and a few things in between. There is no better time than now so let's get started...

What Kind of Home Owners Insurance Policy Do You Need? When shopping for insurance, it is important to understand how home owners insurance works so you can obtain the correct coverage. The typical home owners insurance policy is divided into 2 parts: Part I: Home Insurance Property Protection and Part II: Home Insurance Liability Protection. Learn more about the two parts of homeowners insurance at:
Understanding Your Home Owners Insurance Policy

It is also important to remember that there is usually a deductible when filing a home insurance claim unless noted on the policy.

Choosing a Home Owners Insurance Company: When looking for a Home owners insurance company, of course a low premium is important. But it is also important to learn about the financial strength of the home owners insurance companies you are interested in. By choosing a home owners insurance company that has strong financial strength, you should have no worries that the company will be able to pay your home owners insurance claim when needed. Learn about different insurance company's financial strengths at:
Insurance Company Report Cards: Did Your Company Make the Grade?

There are currently two "hot topics" in homeowners insurance coverage: Dogs and Mold. When trying to choose a home owners insurance policy you may want to research some information about how the different companies you are interested in cover dogs and mold. Find out more at:

  • Dogs and Your Insurance
  • Mold Not Covered
  • Making the Call: OK, now that you have some info on the insurance companies that you are interested in buying your home owners insurance policy from, it is time to make some calls. When contacting insurance companies about an insurance quote, you can save a lot of money by knowing your discounts. Having combo insurance policies, home security systems, and dead bolt locks are just a few ways you can save on your home owners insurance price quote. Learn about those savings along with more at:
    11 Ways to Save on Your Home Owners Insurance

    Another area to ask about when making the call is if your valuables are insured. On a standard homeowners insurance policy, coverage limits for jewelry, furs, watches, and related items is only $1,000 combined. You can learn more about making sure your valuables are insured here:
    Are You A Home Owner with Insurance that Limits Coverages on Valuables?

    Understanding Your Home Owners Insurance Policy: You've done your research and made the call and now you have your home owners insurance policy. But, you already have questions? Not to worry. Your insurance agent is there to help you. If you cannot get into direct contact with your agent, locate your insurance company's 1-800 number on your policy paperwork. When you call that number you will be able to talk to a licensed home owners insurance agent who can view your policy and answer any questions you may have. Here are some common home owners insurance policy questions:

  • Why didn't the insurance company pay the appraised value of my loss?
  • Why didn't my policy pay for damage caused by a flood?
  • Why is the company charging me more than my agent quoted me?
  • More Home Owners Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
  • If You Need to File a Home Owners Insurance Claim: Hopefully, you will never need to file a home owners insurance claim. If you are unfortunate and do have to file a home owners insurance claim, it does not have to be a difficult process. Filing a claim can be short or more involved depending on how small or large of a claim you need to file. Here are some helpful guides that will hopefully keep your home owners insurance claim filing process hassle free:

  • 5 Steps to Preparing and Filing Your Homeowners Insurance Claim - Includes a Step-by-Step Home Owners Insurance Claim Filing Video
  • How To Prepare Your Insurance Claim When Forced to Evacuate Your Home
  • How to Hire a Contractor for Your Insurance Claim
  • Explore Personal Insurance
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