Why Did My Homeowners Insurance Go Up?

Why Did My Homeowners Insurance Go Up?

February 10, 2023

These are some of the reasons why home insurance rates increase. Your home insurance is determined by a lot of considerations. Others can be regulated by you; others can’t.

Your company has paid out a lot of claims.

The rule of large numbers is used by insurers to distribute risk across multiple homes and hold premiums down. But when a carrier has higher than expected claims for a year, it has to change rates to cover losses and operational costs. For example, if your neighborhood was hit last year by a hurricane, you should probably expect higher rates this year.

Inflation 

If your limits are changed to account for inflation and the cost of repairing your house, your home insurance rates will increase. The national 2019 inflation rate was 1.81 percent, but depending on the construction costs in your state, your home may see higher or lower rates. The more it costs to restore your home, the more you will be covered.

Some big home improvements you made

Home improvements raise the value of your home, and they also raise the cost of restoring your home. That can make premiums go up, as you might have guessed. This is particularly true if the upgrades add square footage or increase a room’s quality significantly, such as if you upgrade from particle board cabinets to custom cherrywood cabinets. That’s a major difference in the cost of having them replaced if you have a claim.

Lost Discounts

Read through the renewed homeowners plans and search for any discounts that might not have been enforced. If you have not submitted safety device proof, these discounts may be withdrawn and your prices may increase. Only contact your supplier and request the discount paperwork, which is easy enough to correct.

Related: What’s Not Covered By Standard Home Insurance

You’ve added slides and a swimming pool 

We lovingly call these “attractive nuisances” in the industry – the things in your yard that can draw tourists and cause accidents. Think swing sets, tree houses, swimming pools, trampolines, and slides. They can also welcome trespassers, and sadly, even your uninvited visitors’ experience you may be kept responsible for accidents.

You Filed a Claim

The history of your claims is the first place to check if your home insurance rates are going up. Even a small allegation can cause a large increase and remain on your record for years. Generally, because of natural disasters, non-catastrophic claims raise the premiums higher than claims filed. That includes stuff like:

  • House fires.
  • Theft.
  • Dog bites.
  • Water damage from burst pipes and appliances.
  • Liability.

Also Read: Easy Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs

Your insurer in your area covers so many homes

If so many homes are already covered in your region by an insurance company, it can raise rates to decrease its concentration. Again, distributing risk helps ensure that if a widespread catastrophe strikes and keeps rates competitive for homeowners, the organization can satisfy its claims obligations.

You have an outdated system for electricity, plumbing, and HVAC

Outdated systems will make insuring a home more costly if you have an older home (or hard to insure altogether). Investing in improvements to electrical, HVAC, or plumbing can not only make your home safer but can make insurance for your homeowners more manageable in the long run.

Your roof gets old

Anything under it is covered by your roof. It doesn’t do the job when it gets older as well. An older roof is more likely to have leaks and to sustain damage from wind and hurricanes. It could be time for your roof to be replaced if it has:

  • A flat or shed shape and is older than 10 years.
  • Wood shake or shingles or asbestos materials.
  • Existing damage.
  • Asphalt shingles and is older than 15 years.
  • Architectural shingles and is older than 20 years.
  • Clay tiles, concrete tiles, slate, or metal and is older than 40 years.

Your Credit Score Dropped

To help assess your rates, several states like Florida allow insurers to use your credit score. The higher your credit, the cheaper it would be for your premiums. Your insurance premium can go up if your credit rating decreases. The good news is that by paying your bills on time and reducing your credit card balance (aim for 30 percent utilization!), you can increase your credit score.

You Adopted Puppy

All dogs are good dogs, but some are breeds that are limited. For instance, if you have a German shepherd, your prices will rise to cover possible claims for a bite, and those are not cheap. The total liability for dog bites is $33,230.

When the policy is up for renewal, it can be disappointing to see a marginally higher cost, but remember: all companies raise rates slightly every year. Make sure you don’t risk coverage for a marginally cheaper price if you plan to look around for a new policy.

Get coverage built to protect your home.

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