Purchasing a rental property comes with its fair share of risks. One may hope their current homeowners’ insurance policy will also cover their rental; however, this isn’t the case. You see, rental properties have their own unique risks that a homeowners’ insurance policy won’t cover. Therefore, to protect yourself and your property, you’ll need to purchase landlord insurance.
In this article, we’ll discuss landlord insurance in-depth, as well as ways to save money on your policy. Let’s begin.
When you opt for landlord insurance, you’ll have to choose between three different policies. The coverage and cost will vary depending on the policy you choose.
This is often regarded as one of the cheapest policies, which in turn offers limited coverage. So, if a certain peril isn’t listed in your policy it won’t be covered.
This policy is much more expensive and offers greater functionality. However, like dwelling policy one, you must list the perils you want covered. So, if damage occurs, you’ll be compensated for the replacement value of that item if it’s included in the policy.
Dwelling policy three is the most expensive option for landlord insurance. Whether a peril is listed in the policy or not, it’ll be covered.
This option will give you peace of mind knowing all the possible risks are covered.
Research indicates that landlord insurance typically costs 25% more than homeowners’ insurance. For example, if your homeowners’ insurance costs $2,200 a year then your landlord insurance would be $550 more to insure the same property.
Of course, many things affect the cost of your landlord insurance, such as your location.
Let’s take a look at some landlord insurance costs by state:
Several factors are taken into account during the gathering documentation stage.
Some of the notable examples include:
The following tips mentioned below can help you save money on your landlord insurance:
The first thing that you need to do is ensure that the space is properly maintained. A property that’s taken care of will result in less claims filed on your part. Insurance companies like to see this because it shows that you take property ownership seriously.
By increasing your deductible, your rates will go down. However, by doing this you’re agreeing to pay more upfront in the event of a claim, so make sure you have enough cash set aside.
Property value can fluctuate easily. So, if yours increases substantially then you may need to adjust your dwelling coverage. The last thing you want is finding out you’re underinsured when it comes time to file a claim.
Talk with your insurance provider to understand the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost value.
Another way to save money on your landlord insurance is by installing safety features throughout your property. This can include security systems, motion lights, cameras, smoke detectors, and so on.
Some insurance companies will over you a two to five percent discount.