A fire is a devastating tragedy if it strikes your home. The damage is severe and irreversible. That’s why a fire insurance is something that you should always get the moment you own a home. The insurance may not bring the valuable things that may get destroyed in case a fire erupts in your home but you would at least get compensation that will allow you to rebuild your life.
Insurance companies usually offer fire insurance policies so you wont need to do a lot of research just to get a fire insurance policy for your home. Ask the insurance representative that services your personal insurance policies if they also offer fire insurance. You may get better rates because you’re already an existing client.

Living in a disaster-prone area entails a lot of planning and preparation – and most likely a huge home insurance premium. A more cost-effective solution is building a Fortified home – a project developed by the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). Homes and buildings are certified by IBHS to be Fortified if it has special features such as wind and fire resistant roofing, hurricane straps and clips connecting the roof to the walls, impact and pressure resistant doors and windows, a securely anchored foundation, and landscaping techniques that reduce wildfire and flooding vulnerability. (source: www.insure.com)

These safety features help avoid total destruction of a home or building. Putting up a Fortified home will cost a little more than ordinary homes, around 3 to 5 percent above the usual cost of construction. But the add-on is worth it, rather than paying for repair or reconstruction. IBHS ensures that prices of disaster-resistant homes are within reach. There is a variety of construction design, you can choose depending on your budget. It also offers guidelines in choosing other home materials and accessories such as window materials.

Existing homes can be improved using disaster-resistant materials during renovations and re-roofing.

Calamities vary in different states. Check out this map to see whether you are in a tornado path or a hurricane-prone area. Practical tips are available to help you customize your home and give that added protection depending on your location.

Visit www.ibhs.org and check out the Features of Fortified Homes

If you prevent your home from being vulnerable to natural disasters like hail, windstorms, earthquakes, fires and floods, you would protect your home and possessions and save a lot on premiums. You could do this by reinforcing your roof, buying stronger roofing materials and adding storm shutters. In earthquake prone areas, you could make your home earthquake proof by refitting it. You could also consider upgrading your electrical, heating and plumbing systems to reduce fire and water damage. You could also ask your insurance agent what more steps you could take so that your home will be resistant to damages.

By protecting your home from theft and damage, you could prevent needing to claim your home insurance and reduce contents and buildings insurance premiums. Here are some tips to keep you and your home safe:

1. Keep your valuables safe. Store them away from plain sight.
2. Fit a burglar alarm. If you life in an area where thieves are rampant, insurance may require you to install one
3. Acquire a safe.
4. Check your door locks and see if they are strong.
5. Put locks on your windows. These may reduce your premiums.
6. Install a gravel surface so that if anyone is nearby, their footsteps will be heard.
7. Install a smoke alarm
8. Keep a fire extinguisher ready.
9. Cancel the newspapers so they wouldn’t accumulate on our doorstep and tell no one is home.

With these difficult economic times, we need to look for ways to lessen our expenses. Insurance is one necessity we cannot live without. One way to save money on your insurance is to “bundle” your policies through a single company. Many insurance companies now offer discounts to property owners who purchase their car insurance coverage from the same company as their howeowner’s policy. Recent studies have shown that more than 70 % of property owners have bundled their insurance. Aside from the savings, the convenience of paying just one monthly bill for your insurance is another advantage as well. Also, policyholders who bundle are more likely to be happy with their provider and often establish a long-term relationship with the insurance company. Furthermore, by going with just one company, you’ll be much more acquainted with their rules and operations, and it also makes it easier and more convenient to manage or add on any extra policies that may be needed in the future.

These are a few helpful tips on how to guard your home, your security, and your family with regards to the home insurance system and how it works:

Change your door locks. You just bought a new home, but you don’t know who might still have keys to the locks on your doors. It is better to be safe than sorry; better to be sleeping soundly in your bed than waking up in the middle of the night, worrying whether or not you’re being robbed out of your own house.

Put up a high-quality home security system. Security alarm systems put up all over the house could lessen the chances of your house being broken into.

Put up security lighting. Spotlights open at night would give you the upper hand on things and your protection, and would scare away those who even intend to go close to even your gate or lot.

Sure, home insurance is a great thing, but the first line of defense is prevention!

Granting that you live in a community with more chances of being burgled than others, this would mean your premiums will be higher than those who live in the more safe places. If you, however, wish to pay less for your premiums, take my advice and do the following precautions so as to save you from all that money and all that stress.

Report any structural damage of your home at first sight to your buildings insurer. It is always a good idea to be one step ahead of everything that goes on inside your house. So before your walls fall down, better to have it repaired or reported to your insurer.

Plant trees at a good enough distance from your house. Planting trees very close to the walls of your home could be disastrous in times of strong winds and storms.

Clear all gutters regularly. Prevent your drainage system from being blocked so as to keep all gutters clean and regularly checked.
• Always check for leaks. You wouldn’t want to enter your house one evening and see all your belongings floating around the house.

Off hand, molds don’t pose a threat to homeowners, and is overlooked most of the time, until the damage has become significant to be ignored. However, damages caused by molds, rust and other fungi are generally not covered by your basic homeowners insurance, since it is a maintenance issue. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure the cleanliness of his home. Check with your insurance provider if mold damage is covered, and the specific circumstances associated with the damage, since molds caused by flooding and that caused by negligence will have different assessments.

It would be good if mold damage is covered, but prevention and maintenance of a mold-free home is still the best option. Molds thrive in moist areas, and moisture usually persists in poorly-ventilated and dark parts of the house. Molds also grow faster on piled wood, boxes or paper, making the attic, garage and store rooms its best habitat. Inspect your home for molds, clean up and prevent further growth by using the tips found on the following links:

US EPA Mold Resources
Mold and Homeowners Insurance
Home Improvement
Mold Inspector
Household Mold Removal

(Image from www.tilex.com)