Washington Township Homeowners Insurance
Find the right homeowners insurance policy for you.
Your house is one of the most expensive purchases you will ever make. It is therefore a wise financial decision to be certain that the property is insured. If you are among the proud property owners in New Jersey’s Washington Township, you can protect your investment with a comprehensive homeowners insurance policy.
When you are shopping for the best and most affordable coverage for your Washington Township home, a local independent insurance agent can help. Contact an insurance agent near you to learn more and to start comparing customized home insurance quotes.
How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost in Washington Township, NJ?
In general, homeowners in New Jersey pay more for home insurance than property owners throughout much of the country. However rates for home insurance in Washington Township tend to be higher than the state average. This makes shopping around for the best rate even more important. Let’s look at an average rate comparison:
- National yearly premium average: $1,173
- New Jersey yearly premium average: $1,092
- Washington Township, NJ yearly premium average: $1,872
Of course, Washington Township is diverse and includes homes with a wide range of sizes and values. As a result, your actual rates may be higher or lower than this average. Home insurance costs are calculated on a case-by-case basis and are based on a variety of factors such as:
- The age, size, and value of your house
- The type of home you are insuring (e.g., single-family, detached home, townhouse, condo, manufactured home, vacation home, etc.)
- The number of stories in your home and whether it has a basement
- The crime rate and weather risks in the ZIP code in which your house is located
- Your claims history and credit score
- Whether you are bundling your coverage with other policies like car insurance or business insurance
Each insurance company has its own way of calculating rates, so it is a good idea to compare quotes from a few different providers before making a purchase. That way, you can be sure that you are not overpaying for your coverage. Independent insurance agents in Washington Township make comparison shopping easy.
What Kinds of Damage Does Washington Township Homeowners Insurance Cover?
There are a number of ways that your Washington Township home may sustain damage. These include hazards like residential fires, property crimes, and severe weather events like hail and windstorms.
Catastrophic Events in New Jersey
- Number of federally declared disasters in New Jersey: 51
- Most common reasons for disasters in the state: Severe Storms and Hurricanes
- Average number of tornadoes per year in New Jersey: 2.0
- Average amount of property damage per year in NJ: $1.08 billion
- 1 in 15 insured homes has a claim each year.
A local independent insurance agent can help you review your dwelling and contents coverage limits so you can be sure that they are high enough to enable you to fully rebuild or replace damaged property following a catastrophic event.
Your homeowners insurance policy is designed to provide coverage against many of the hazards you are likely to face as a property owner in in Washington Township. However, not every risk is covered. Flood damage is excluded from home insurance coverage, even when the flood is the direct result of a covered hurricane.
Flood damage can be extremely expensive. Fortunately, your independent insurance agent can help you supplement your homeowners insurance with a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). That way, your house can have the full protection it needs.
Why Do Washington Township Homeowners Need Liability Protection?
We are only human. At times, we may be responsible for accidents or mistakes that lead to injuries or damage to others. If that happens, the injured parties can sue, and things can get costly. That is why your home insurance policy also provides you with personal liability coverage.
Homeowners liability insurance is designed to cover court costs, legal fees, and damages if you are responsible for injuries or damage associated with a covered event.
Examples of times that homeowners liability insurance can come to your aid include:
- If someone is seriously injured while on your property.
- If your pets or children cause injuries or property damage to others.
- If you accidentally injure someone while away from home, such as while goofing around in the park.
- If you are accused of libel or slander.
Talk to your insurance agent to learn more about the many ways that the liability coverage included in your Washington Township home insurance policy can protect you.
What Is the Burglary Rate in Washington Township?
The burglary rate in New Jersey is lower than the national average, and in Washington Township, things are even better. The burglary rate is very low in this township.
- Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in the US: 4.69
- Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in New Jersey: 3.47
- Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in Washington Township: 0.15
Although the risk is low, you need to know what to do if your Washington Township home is burglarized. First ensure that you and your family are safe, and then call the authorities. You will need a copy of the police report when you file a claim with your homeowners insurance company.
Your home insurance can provide you with compensation for your losses as well as for the cost of repairing any damage the burglars may have done to your home, once your deductible is met. If needed, your local insurance agent can offer advice and support throughout the claims process.
What about Insurance for Second Homes and Vacation Homes?
Maybe you own a vacation cabin in the Poconos. Or perhaps you own a second home nearby in Washington Township that you rent to young families. Whatever your reasons, if you own more than one residential property, there are additional factors to consider when insuring these homes.
Vacation homes that are left unoccupied for long periods frequently have a high risk of property damage due to hazards such as water leaks, pest infestations, or property crimes. These houses may need to be covered by vacant home insurance when they are not in use.
Homes that are occupied by tenants have higher liability and property damage risks than homes that are primary residences. These houses also have lower contents coverage needs for the homeowner, since tenants have to secure their own property with renters insurance. Landlord insurance is designed to meet the specific coverage needs of landlords.
An independent insurance agent can help you find the right policy to ensure that your second home or vacation house is sufficiently covered.
Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent in Washington Township?
Independent agents live and work in your community so they understand the risks you face as a homeowner in Washington Township. These agents make it easy to find the best home coverage available because they do not work for a specific insurance company. This enables them to shop around to find the policy that offers the best value for your money.
Find an insurance agent in or near Washington Township to start comparing customized homeowners insurance quotes.
http://www.naic.org/prod_serv/AUT-PB-14.pdf
https://www.census.gov
http://www.city-data.com