Credit: Mike Olbinski

With such a diverse array of insurance options to choose from, finding the right insurance for your personal needs can be difficult. The only way to truly ensure that you are purchasing the insurance policy you need for the price you are willing to pay is to educate yourself. There are some basics worth considering when buying insurance in this state.

It is important to understand that Arizona is home to a very diverse array of natural disasters. These include dust storms, earthquakes, land slides, flash floods, and tornadoes, just to name a few. Take the time to do some research about the disasters that occur most frequently in the area of Arizona where your house resides. These statistics should help immensely when deciding which policy is right for you. According to the Western Farm Press, “The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 5 counties in Arizona as primary natural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by ongoing drought and related disasters that began Jan. 1 and continues”. Knowing the disasters which specifically tend to affect your county is crucial.

While it is possible to buy insurance that covers your home in the case of a specific disaster, it is often easier to buy a comprehensive package which covers your home in the case of the most common natural disasters. Although these comprehensive policies can be expensive, they offer peace of mind. The worst thing that can happen is for a different natural disaster to occur than what you are specifically covered for.

There are other precautions besides purchasing home insurance that should be taken into consideration. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. One of the best ways to prevent a disaster from damaging or destroying your home is by taking some simple precautions. Meet with your agents to discuss some simple home modifications that can help prevent you from having to file a claim. Simple things like installing a lightning rod to prevent fires, installing a sump pump to prevent flooding, and strengthening a foundation can go a long way.

Evaluate the worth of your home before deciding to purchase a policy. Many people don’t take a close enough look at exactly how much coverage a specific home insurance policy provides. If you aren’t sure how much your home is currently worth, hire a professional to assess its current value. This will help ensure that you don’t overpay or underpay for your policy and are getting the exact amount of coverage that you need.

A good home insurance policy will also provide deductions based on various factors. These could include paying your bill on time, living in a low-risk area or simply because you have been a customer for a long period of time. Deductions can help you save a lot of money in the long run on the cost of your insurance. Do your research to help find out which insurance company can provide you with the most deductions. Also, when a disaster does strike, big or small such as a fire, water damage, or mold, we can help get you storm damage clean up providers.