Brightway Insurance Offers Tips to Find Affordable, Comprehensive Home Insurance in Florida

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Every homeowner needs to protect their most important investment - their house. But no one wants to spend more than necessary.

"Florida homeowners can find affordable, comprehensive insurance to protect their homes and their families," said Pete Poggi, of Brightway Insurance, the fastest-growing independent insurance agency in Florida. For a free quote on homeowners insurance, go to brightway.com.

Here are 9 ways to find affordable insurance for an existing home or when looking for a new home:

1. Make sure you have an updated wind mitigation inspection.  Insurance companies are looking for roofs that are in good condition and have better-than-average construction. Your roof condition can provide you larger discounts.

2. Shop for your insurance outside of hurricane season. You'll have more options and more leverage then. Hurricane season is June-November.  

3. Get a monitored alarm system. Some carriers give discounts.

4. The quality and type of shutters can affect your rates. Use of hurricane-grade shutters can provide additional savings.

5. The location of your home makes a difference. Homes that are further from the coast will likely have lower premiums.

6. Insurance carriers provide discounts for newer homes. If your home is less than 10-15 years old, you can benefit from lower rates.

7. If you are going to buy an older home, make sure the roof, plumbing, and electrical systems are updated to code.  Look for rotten wood, tree limbs that extend over the house, steps without handrails, or foundations that are not completely enclosed. Any of these issues can make it harder to obtain homeowners insurance.  

8. If your home has a pool, make sure it is completely fenced in. Codes can vary, but most communities require at least a 4' high fence with a locked gate.

9. You can get the best rates and the most customized insurance policy from an independent insurance agency. These agencies represent the customer first, rather than just a single carrier. Independent agents can shop the market to ensure you end up with a policy that provides the correct coverage and the best price.

Independent agents can also come to the rescue if a policy is cancelled. According to Poggi, "Representing numerous carriers allows an independent agent the ability to find the best carrier for your specific property. That's because different carriers have different criteria for evaluating property risk and other factors."  

Many people like to compare prices when they shop - except when it comes to insurance. That's another reason to work with an independent agent.

"No one enjoys shopping for insurance. We can make a recommendation on which company offers the best coverage. We can show you the rates of all the carriers so you will know that you are getting the best option," Poggi said.  

About Brightway Insurance

Inc. Magazine and Insurance Journal agree. Brightway Insurance is one of the fastest-growing insurance firms in the country with over $70 million in new customer premiums written in 2010 alone. The company's 300-plus associates are proud of being named "One of the Best Companies to Work For" by Florida Trend Magazine in 2010 and 2009. Founded in 2003, the company focuses their services on providing home, auto, and life insurance to families and business throughout the Southeast. For information, go to http://www.brightwaynow.com  

SOURCE Brightway Insurance