Purchasing homeowners insurance may seem like a necessary evil, but if you’re a smart consumer, you can find creative ways to save on your home insurance so that writing these checks is slightly less painful.  Whether you’re looking for your first home insurance policy or you want to reduce your current payments, here are some easy ways to save:

1-      Compare prices. The most definitive way to know you’re paying the best price is to shop around for quotes.  If you live in Maryland, for example, you’ll want to make sure that you get at least three Maryland home insurance quotes.  Just make sure that you’re comparing similar services so that you don’t end up short-changing yourself when you choose the most affordable plan.

2-      Secure your home. Most home insurance companies will offer cheaper home insurance coverage if you have a proper alarm system, smoke detectors or deadbolts.  Ask about reductions if you install any of these features.  A small investment in your home’s security now can reduce your premiums for years to come.

3-      Buy a bundle pack. If you have auto insurance or life insurance, see if your insurance company offers home insurance as well.  You can likely score a bundle deal by using the same broker.

4-      Review your policy annually. If you’ve held your homeowner’s insurance for a while but have never made a claim, you can ask for a reduction in your premiums.  Chances are, you’ll get it.  Likewise, if you’ve sold any valuables over the past year you may be able to get by with less coverage, which will reduce your overall costs.

5-      Raise your deductible. Since you don’t plan on filing home insurance claims very often, you can probably afford to raise your deductible.  Having a higher out-of-pocket expense in the unlikely event of a claim will reduce your regular payments for the life of your policy.

6-      Stop smoking. Fires caused by smokers burn down thousands of homes annually.  Your home insurance provider may be willing to reduce your premiums if nobody in the home smokes.  While you should ask for this reduction no matter what state you live in, your chances of receiving it may be higher in states that are prone to fires that spread rapidly.  If you live in Arizona, for example, make sure to ask your Arizona home insurance company for this reduction.

Your home is probably the most valuable thing you own, and you deserve the peace of mind that comes with having a proper home insurance policy.  Still, there’s no need to pay extra for services that will adequately protect your home.  With a bit of research and negotiation you should have no trouble saving money on your home insurance policy.