What Do I Need To Get A Home Insurance Quote? | Davis Insurance Associates – Local Home Insurance

What Do I Need To Get A Home Insurance Quote?

Be Prepared When Getting a Myrtle Beach Home Insurance Quote – Let’s Make This Easy!

Whether you are looking for Home Insurance in Carolina Forest, Longs, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, or anywhere in South Carolina, having your information ready will really help you in your search for the right home insurance.

>Click here to start a Home Insurance Quote<

 

Getting a Homeowner’s Insurance quote can be painless and only takes a few minutes when you have all your information on hand.  Knowing the details of your home, including what kind of safety features you have installed, may help you qualify for money-saving discounts and will help ensure that you choose the coverage that best meets your needs.

There can often be more questions involved in getting a homeowner’s insurance quote than a car insurance quote, so be ready to answer specific questions about your home.  Though this may seem like a lot,  Davis Insurance Associates we will do everything we can to get you a home insurance quote in Myrtle Beach, or just about anywhere in South Carolina, quickly and easily!

---

Here’s a checklist to help you get started:

 1. Who lives in the home?  You may be asked for contact information about anyone who lives in the home, who is on the deed of the home, how long you’ve lived there, your marital status, whether you run a business from the home, and if you own any pets.

• Names
• Dates of Birth
• Social Security Numbers
• Marital Status
• Mailing address (if different than location address)

2. Where is the home?  Obviously the location of the property is important.  While this address is definitely needed, your agent can most likely find this other info on their own.

• Address
• Distance to a fire department and fire hydrant
• In a city or neighborhood
• Is it over water or only assessable by boat
• Is it easily assessable by car

 

3. How do you use the home?  There are different policies designed for different uses of the home and it is important to have the right coverage.

• Primary home
• Secondary/Seasonal home
• Rental property (short term, long term, Airbnb type program)
• Combination of secondary and rental
• Vacant or unoccupied

4. What’s your insurance history?  It’s a good idea to be ready with the details about your existing coverage, if your home is already covered by homeowners insurance.  Do you have a mortgage on the home?  Are there any prior insurance claims?  What deductibles are you comfortable with?  Have your current policy in hand if possible.

• Name of current home insurance carrier
• Renewal date
• Current coverage limits and deductibles
• Current added coverage such as endorsements or coverage for jewelry

 

5. What’s your house like?  You’ll likely be asked a series of questions, including if it is a single-family home, townhouse or condo.  Much of this information will help in determining the cost to rebuild your home and the amount of coverage that you will need.

• Year it was built
• Type and age of the roof
• Number of stories or style of home
• Heated square footage and total square footage
• Exterior finish (vinyl siding, brick, hardi board, etc.)
• Details about your garage
• Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
• Number and type of fireplaces
• Screened porches or enclosures
• Fences or detached structures on the property

 

6. What improvements have you made?  If you have made upgrades to your home since you purchased it, your existing homeowners policy may not reflect the current value and replacement value of your home.  Improvements may include:

• New roof
• New HVAC system
• Updated plumbing
• Updated electrical
• New floors
• Added room or finished attic space
• Added solar panels
• Installed swimming pool or other detached structure
• Other updates that increase the value of your home

 

7. What kind of safety devices does your home have?  Certain safety devices, such as a centrally monitored security system, smoke detectors or fire sprinklers, may qualify for a discount on your insurance.  Some insurance carriers have begun giving discounts for smart devices that send alerts to your smart phone.  Other discounts offered by some carriers are automatic water shut off controls, whole house generators, and more.

 

8. Are there any additional exposures on the property?  Insurance carriers like to know what they are insuring, and that includes any additional structures or liability exposures.

• Pool or hot tub
• Trampoline
• Size of lot
• Chickens or chicken coups
• Farming activities
• Things like zip lines, tree houses, or large climbing equipment

 

Having all this information ready to go can make it easier for you to get a home insurance quote that fits your needs at a price that’s right for you.  Home insurance in Myrtle Beach typically costs more than inland areas, so often having these details can help reduce the premium.

It is also important to provide accurate and complete information to your insurance agent.  There is a reason agents ask you several questions to get a quote.  Be wary of getting a quote from an agent that doesn’t ask many questions.  You may get a quote you like, but when it gets time to purchase the policy something can come up that changes the premium or prevents the agent from binding coverage.  Also, if not addressed up front, other issues can come up after the insurance company performs their inspection.  Details about the property such as roof type, other structures, or pets on the property can trigger the carrier to change the coverage and premium, or even cancel the policy.  Be open about your home and additional exposures you may have with your insurance agent!

In addition to a Home policy, you may want to consider purchasing other coverages such as; umbrella, jewelry, flood, or earthquake.  Davis Insurance Associates is here to serve Myrtle Beach and South Carolina, count on us to understand your risks and help you protect them.  Let our office help you with your Home Insurance in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, Longs, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, and South Carolina.