Everyone is looking for a good deal on home insurance. That can make a big difference in your monthly budget. Assuming that you have shopped around for the best plan in your area, then you might think there isn’t anything more you can do. However, there are actually ways you can get a discount on your home insurance.

Your home insurance company benefits when you take steps to make your home safe from damage. They are willing to give you a reduction in your rate if you show them that you are reducing the risk that you will make a claim. One of the most common and useful ways to get a home insurance rate reduction is weatherization.

This varies considerably depending on where you are. In Texas, there are different ways to protect your home against natural damage and disasters. Home insurance companies would rather collect a reduced rate from you than deal with you making a claim after a storm or flood damages your home. That is an opportunity for you, because there are some useful ways for you to protect your home that will also reduce the cost of your home insurance. It’s a win win, because having your home suffer damage from natural weather and similar disasters leads to a difficult process, during which you need to make repairs while working with the home insurance carrier to find a solution. Reducing the risk of that happening and getting a discount on your monthly home insurance premium at the same time is a good deal.

The first type of weather-proofing you can undertake that can save you money is getting your gutters cleaned. Having leaves and similar detritus accumulate in your gutters presents a risk of water damage. This happens because the water in the gutters spills out onto the ground. That leads to cracked foundations, water leaking into the basement, water damage in any wooden parts of the house, and similar problems. Twice a year, either hire someone to clean out the gutters or clean them out yourself- it is not a particularly difficult task. Your home insurance carrier will not be eager to pay a claim on water damage if that damage came from preventable gutter overflow.

While gutters can lead to damage as a result of problems that build up over time, there are other problems that can cause damage suddenly. The most significant threat that can affect home insurance rates in Texas is probably storm damage. There are different ways for you to protect your home from storms. First of all, think about impact resistance. Heavy wind can cause objects to hit your doors and windows, which can lead to shattering. Installing impact resistant doors and windows will protect you from that risk. In addition, you might enjoy benefits like noise reduction. Because of the potential damage from glass breakage during a storm and the possibility of subsequent damage to the interior as a result of the wind and rain entering the home, home insurance companies are often willing to provide their customers with a discount or reimbursement if they install impact-resistant doors and windows. One important step to take before installing them is to find out if they meet the standards from the Texas Department of Insurance. The TDI sets rules for hurricane resistant installations, so it is important to make sure your choice of product is compliant with those rules before asking your home insurance company for a discount.

Aside from windows and doors, the roof is a part of the home that is vulnerable to storm damage. It is possible to make the shingles and the other components of the roof to resist wind, hail, fire, and other hazards. Hail in particular is one of the largest sources of home insurance claims in the state of Texas. In fact, it is so damaging that Texas state law requires home insurance carriers to offer homeowners a discount on their insurance if they can prove that they have installed a roof that meets the state insurance department’s standards. These standards can be quite demanding to ensure that the roof is of sufficient strength to actually withstand hails and storm damage. Roof damage is not always catastrophic. It can turn into leaks that build up and cause damage over time. Home insurance carriers are reluctant to pay claims on leaks if they are not addressed immediately, so heading off the problem with a strong roof is a good strategy.

To know how you might benefit from steps like these, call up your home insurance carrier. Your potential savings will vary depending on your plan, carrier, location, and your specific situation. The specific guidance in this article might or might not apply to your policy, but the underlying idea of saving money on home insurance rates through weather-proofing is common to all companies. Give your carrier a call and see if they are willing to tell you about any offers they might have for home insurance rate reductions in exchange for weatherizing your home.