Home Insurance in Schaumburg, IL

What Affects Home Insurance Premiums in Schaumburg, IL?

Unlike car insurance, home insurance isn't legally required in Illinois, although your mortgage provider may mandate that you purchase a plan. Still, purchasing home insurance in Schaumburg IL protects your house, possessions, and property after a break-in or natural disaster, making it a smart financial move for all homeowners in the Prairie State. If you're buying a policy for the first time, check out this guide to the top 7 factors affecting your premiums on Weathersfield Way or Salem Drive.

1. Your Location

Schaumburg is a suburb of Chicago, but it's much safer than the Windy City. In low-risk neighborhoods, your insurer doesn't have to worry so much about repairing shattered windows or paying cleaners to remove graffiti from your property. The lower your neighborhood's crime rate, the lower your premiums are likely to be.

2. Your House's Age

Older houses usually have less structural integrity and higher replacement costs than newer ones. On the other hand, newer houses often have more amenities than old ones, driving up their repair bills. Talk to your insurance agent about how your house's age and stability influences your quote.

3. Your House's Value

As your house's value goes up, so do your premiums. If you have a very expensive house and a big savings account, you can set a limit for home insurance in Schaumburg IL that's lower than your house's replacement value. Choosing this method means you're likely to be liable for some repairs after a hurricane or tornado, though.

4. Your House's Size

The bigger your house, the more opportunities there are for it to get damaged during a storm or robbery. As a result, large houses usually have higher premiums than small ones.

5. Your Possessions' Value

Home insurance in Schaumburg IL includes personal property protection. That way, if your belongings get stolen or ruined by water or flying debris, you have help replacing them. Agreed-value personal property insurance policies give you a lump sum of money for your damaged goods, while replacement cost plans cover your purchase of new items. Generally, replacement cost plans result in higher premiums than agreed-value ones.

Your insurer probably has limits on how many of your possessions it will cover. If you reach your limit, consider buying additional coverage, which increases your premiums but ensures that all your belongings are safe.

6. Your Property

The more property you have, the more ground your insurer must protect. Also, because you're liable for injuries that happen on your property, big grounds increase your visitors' opportunities for getting hurt. This is especially concerning if you have natural hazards on your property:

• Streams
• Woods
• Sinkholes
• Steep inclines

Expect to pay lower premiums for a small yard than for four acres of woods behind your house.

7. Your Perceived Risk

How likely are you to file a claim with your provider for home insurance in Schaumburg IL? The answer to this question depends on your history of making claims with previous home or renter's insurance providers. It also varies with your age, marital status, family history, financial stability, and credit score. The more of a risk you pose to your insurance provider, the higher your premiums are.

If you're interested in lowering your risk factor, invest in disaster-proofing your house. For example, choose stormproof windows, buy a flood insurance policy, and purchase a security system.

This information is intended for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.