Missouri home insurance
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According to information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the rate of home ownership in Missouri exceeds 67% of the 2.8 million housing units in the state. As one of these homeowners, you know how much your house means to you and your family. With risks to your property such as powerful storms and home fires, you understand the importance of comprehensive protection. Strong Missouri home insurance delivers the best plan for protecting your largest investment.
Perils associated with owning a home in Missouri
Information from the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance shows that the biggest cause of residential property claims in the Show-Me State comes from damage from wind and hail storms. Data from the past twenty years reveals an increase in extreme weather in Missouri. The starkest reminder of this trend comes from the deadly tornado that hit Joplin in May of 2011 and resulted in more than $2 billion in insurance claims. Another bad tornado that hit Jefferson in 2019 led to property claims of more than $189 million.
While Missouri often escapes the worst of winter weather, temperatures do routinely fall below freezing in the coldest months. This can cause heavy snow on the roof and lead to ice buildup and water damage in a home. In February of 1979, 24 inches of snow fell in Cape Girardeau County. A comprehensive Missouri home insurance policy will often compensate homeowners for damage caused by winter storms.
As a homeowner, you also need protection from theft and vandalism. Overall, Missouri has a higher rate of crime than the national average and property crimes in the state rank as the 12th highest in the nation. Property crime includes home burglaries — breaking into a property and stealing items. Without good insurance, you could lose the value of jewelry, artwork and other significant items.
Costs that come with home insurance
While you do not have to carry Missouri home insurance, most people consider it a necessity. If you have a mortgage, the lending institution will likely require you to obtain adequate insurance. Of course, you will need to pay a yearly premium. In Missouri the average cost of insurance is about $150 a month, or $1,800 a year, placing Missouri among the 15 most expensive states for home insurance.
Other costs associated with home insurance typically involve property deductibles for a loss. Depending on your policy, you might have to pay a deductible for some repairs.
Home insurance costs depend upon many factors, so it pays to compare Missouri home insurance quotes as often as possible. By using our handy VIU by HUB tool, you can explore the cost of a plan that meets your specific needs and account for variables such as the value of your home, your level of protection and your location. You can find information from several top-rated insurance carriers, all in one place.
Benefits of customized Missouri home insurance
Since you have unique needs, it makes sense to find an optimal plan that protects your home and saves you money. By selecting the best insurance features and eliminating protections that are not cost-effective, you stand to gain important benefits, like:
• An affordable monthly or yearly premium payment.
• A plan that limits your risks to catastrophic events.
• A sense of satisfaction and peace of mind.
• The resources to repair or replace your home after covered damage occurs.
By comparing Missouri home insurance quotes, you get a better sense of what each feature costs. Taking this step with our VIU by HUB tool is a good way to find a policy that fits into your budget.
Advantages of understanding Missouri home insurance
Before you decide on a plan, it helps to understand the most common risks for your home and to know what situations your policy covers. An informed decision eliminates surprises and gives you the most relevant protections. It also helps to understand how the following factors influence the cost of your policy.
Location
Even within a state, home insurance rates vary by location. A home located in a high-crime area costs more to insure than one in an area that doesn't see much crime. The history of insurance claims in your ZIP code will also impact your rate as this factor might indicate either a higher or lower risk of natural disasters.
Home value
The more your home is worth, the more it will cost to insure. This is because it will cost more to repair or replace a more expensive home than one that has a lower value.
Deductible level
Compensation for covered damage to your home will typically have a deductible level of around $1,000 per incident. If you increase your deductible to $2,000 per incident you will pay less per month, which could make good sense if you do not have multiple claims.
Protection level
The more protection you have with Missouri home insurance, the higher your premiums. You can often add higher compensation amounts for theft and vandalism incidents. Increasing your Personal Liability protection might be necessary to insulate your exposure from lawsuits for personal injuries on your property.
You can also consider coverages such as Flood Insurance or Earthquake Coverage. Most homeowners policies exclude these, but separate policies may be available from some specialty insurance companies. Flood Insurance is available in a policy from the National Flood Insurance Program.
Replacement level
In the case of a total loss from a covered peril, you have some options when it comes to the repair and replacement of your dwelling. A policy with Dwelling Replacement will cost more in premiums but it will allow you to rebuild or repair your home without making compromises.
To better understand pricing issues, consider comparing Missouri home insurance quotes using our VIU by HUB online platform. This tool is a good place to start for insight into insurance costs.
This information is intended for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.