Homeowners insurance protects the home itself and the things you keep in it. Home owners insurance provides protection against many disasters. Damage caused by most disasters is covered but there are exceptions. The most significant are damage caused by floods, earthquakes and poor maintenance. You must buy two separate policies for flood and earthquake coverage. Maintenance-related problems are the homeowners responsibility. This is where you may want to look into a warrantee plan for just in case a water heater goes out. Homeowners insurance is a package policy which covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to others.

You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm, or dead-bolt locks. When doing your quote make sure to note if you have these items if not asked during the quote process. Also make sure to note if you have a sprinkler system installed for fire safety. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police station or other monitoring facility. These systems aren't cheap and not every system qualifies for the discount. If your looking to get a system, find out what kind you local insurance companies would recommend and how much you'd be able to save on premiums.