Here are some factors to consider when shopping for a home brought to you by Stonewall Insurance Agency:
1. Quality and Location of the Fire Department Houses that are located near highly-rated, permanently staffed fire departments usually cost less to insure. This also holds true for homes that have a hydrant nearby.
2. Proximity to the Coastline Houses located on or near the coast will generally cost more to insure than those further inland. There will also likely be a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible.
3. Age of the Home A stately, older home can be quite beautiful—but they can also cost more to insure. Ornate features like plaster walls, ceiling molding and wooden floors may be costly to replace and can raise the cost of insurance.
4. Condition of the Roof A new roof matters to insurers and keeps you and your family safer. Depending on the type of roof and whether or not you use fire and/or hail resistant materials, you may even qualify for a discount.
5. Is the Home Well-Built and Up to Code? Find out whether the house has been updated to comply with current building codes. Homes built by careful craftsmen and those built to meet modern engineering-based building codes are likely to better withstand natural disasters.
6. Risk of Flooding Damage from flooding is NOT covered by standard home insurance policies. If you are buying a home in an area at risk from flooding, you will need to purchase separate insurance.
7. History of Earthquakes While earthquakes are most frequently associated with California, they occur in the majority of states and, like flooding, are not covered under standard home insurance policies.
8. Swimming Pool or Other Special Feature If the house has a swimming pool, hot tub or other special feature, you will likely need more liability insurance.