How much is home insurance?

The average cost of homeowners insurance for a 12-month policy from ASI, one one of the carriers we represent, ranged from $676 ($56/month) to $2,044 ($170/month) in 2019. The range in price is significant because there are a multitude of factors that affect homeowners insurance premiums, including location, claims history, and your home’s characteristics.

What impacts the cost of homeowners insurance?

Location, location, location

Homeowners insurance rates vary by region, and even by zip code. If you reside in a state prone to severe weather issues like tornadoes, hurricanes, and hail, you could pay more for home insurance than homeowners in states that aren’t plagued by catastrophic weather. Areas with lower construction costs often enjoy more favorable home insurance rates. Here are more location-based factors that can affect the cost of homeowners insurance:

• Coastal properties: Homes in coastal regions are sometimes riskier to insure than inland properties, due to a greater chance for natural disasters.
• Crime rates in your ZIP code: Your insurer can use this information to determine how likely you are to file a theft claim.
• Homes near woods and brush: These properties are susceptible to damage from wildfire and falling trees.
• Proximity to a fire hydrant and fire department: Easy access to a water source means a fire is more quickly extinguished.

Type of home

One of the first questions asked by a home insurer provider is, “What kind of home do you have?” Construction materials, and other home specs, can raise the overall value of your property and increase the cost of your homeowners insurance, including:

• Concrete vs wood: Concrete block homes typically cost less to insure than wood frame houses because they’re less susceptible to fires and strong winds.
• Siding, flooring & heat: Your insurer will also ask about your siding type, flooring materials, and even how you heat the home to assess the risk of insuring it.

Roof shape and materials

Your roof’s construction and shape can be critical when it comes to the cost of your homeowners insurance:

• Asphalt vs. wood shingles: If your roof material is asphalt shingles, which are less flammable, you usually pay less for home insurance than if you had a cedar or wood-shakes roof.
• Gable vs hip: Gable roofs are the most common and affordable roof type to install, but they are prone to wind damage. Hip roofs (characterized by all sides gently sloping downward) often cost more to install, but are more resistant to wind and could lessen the price of home insurance.

Home insurance companies focus on claims you previously filed. If you had multiple losses, you’ll likely pay a higher rate as you’re more likely to file another claim.

Home insurance score

Home insurers may use an insurance score in some states. Each company uses its own method of calculating an insurance score, which typically includes a blend of credit and claims histories. Insurers value this information because there is a correlation between credit history and insurance risk. The higher your score, the lower your home insurance rate.

Coverage selections

Your home insurance cost depends on the home insurance coverages and deductibles you select. Eliminating extra protection like personal injury coverage and lowering your limits of liability may save you a modest amount of money. Conversely, you can often increase your coverage by thousands and your rate is only minimally impacted.

Home-based business

If you’re running a business out of your home, you may be denied coverage or pay a higher rate for home insurance. It often depends on the nature of your business, and your insurer may require you to purchase a separate policy.

Dogs

Because you could be liable if your dog bites someone, coverage for animal liability may increase the cost of your home insurance. It’s important to note that some insurers won’t cover dog bites regardless of the breed, so you’ll want to consult your policy to see if you’re covered. If not, you can purchase separate insurance for dog bite incidents.

Trampolines and swimming pools

Due to the potential for injury, insurance companies consider trampolines and pools to be “attractive nuisances,” and will raise the cost of your homeowners insurance. Some companies won’t cover trampolines, and many require a fence or locked gate, at least four feet high, around a pool in order to qualify for coverage.

How about South Carolina homes?

With all these factors in mind, the average price of home insurance in South Carolina ranks medium among US States with an average monthly price of $101. 

Low-cost states: Arizona, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

Medium-cost states: Arkansas, California, Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia.

High-cost states: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, and Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Note that the price for any state is an average price for all states combined in a given category. For example, while the average monthly price in any given low-cost state may be higher or lower than $77, the average monthly price for all of the low-cost states is $77.

Give us a call today to discuss your questions and receive a no-obligation quote. 

Source: https://www.progressive.com/answers/average-homeowners-insurance-cost/