What factors affect homeowners insurance cost?

You bought a new house and are trying to get a handle on your monthly expenses, one of the most important being your homeowners insurance. Determining the average cost of homeowners insurance depends on a wide variety of factors. For instance, did you know that owning a specific breed of dog can impact your homeowners insurance cost?

Let’s take a look at some of the factors that determine how your homeowners insurance is calculated – and what you can expect.

1. Insurance and claims history

   The following are some of the factors taken into account when determining your homeowners premium:
   • Credit history
   • Insurance score
   • Gaps in coverage
   • Amount of homeowners claims
   • Frequency of homeowners claims
    

2. Qualities of your new house

   • Age of the home – Older models may be more expensive to insure because they often aren’t updated to local building codes.
   • Type of structure – The primary material used (such as brick or stone), as well as roof type (such as composite shingle or slate), are taken into consideration.
   • Security and safety features – Having the latest alarm systems and smoke detectors installed could result in a lower premium. Other devices that could help reduce payments include deadbolt locks, fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems.
    

3. The location of your home

   One of the biggest impacts on your homeowners insurance cost is where you live. If you reside in an area prone to hurricanes or earthquakes, for instance, you generally will need additional coverage – which will likely impact your rate.

   In addition to your region, the physical location of your house matters, too. Being close to a police or fire station are contributing factors, as well as living in a neighborhood that experiences a high number of burglaries.

   Remember, dependable homeowners insurance shouldn’t have to strain your budget. There are plenty of opportunities to save, such as bundling your auto and homeowners policies. Take a look at some of the insurance discounts Nationwide has to offer.

Insurance terms, definitions and explanations are intended for informational purposes only and do not in any way replace or modify the definitions and information contained in individual insurance contracts, policies or declaration pages, which are controlling. Such terms and availability may vary by state and exclusions may apply.