Homeowner’s insurance is a must-have on your Centennial home so you and your bank have the security of knowing it can be repaired or rebuilt if a disaster strikes. Although much of the cost of your coverage is based on factors you can’t control, like the cost of rebuilding your home in today’s economy, there are still several things you can do to decrease your costs. They include boosting your credit score, getting quotes from multiple companies from an independent agent, and adding safety features to your home to decrease the likelihood of needing to make a claim. Here are some of the best safety features to consider adding.

1. Install a smoke detector in every room of your home, plus a carbon monoxide detector on each floor. Insurance companies ask whether you have these, and if you do, you’ll qualify for discounts because you are more likely to respond to a fire before it gets out of control.

2. Purchase at least one fire extinguisher for each floor of your home. You should store one near the kitchen, one near the laundry room, and one near your garage or workshop area. You’ll get additional discounts on your home insurance in Centennial, Colorado if you have these.

3. Install dead bolts on all exterior doors. These make it more difficult to break into your home, and they’re one of the less expensive types of safety features you can add. Then make sure to tell your independent agent you have them so you can get better quotes on your home insurance.

4. Install a monitored security alarm system in your home. This is the best way to protect against burglaries, and you’ll get a sizeable discount on your homeowner’s insurance policy if you have an alarm system.

What would you do if the house you were renting in Centennial, Colorado burned down in a fire, or if the apartment above yours sprung a leak and dumped water all over your most prized possessions? If you didn’t have renter’s insurance, you would be in a tough spot. Even though you don’t have any financial liability for the physical home itself, your personal belongings are your responsibility to replace. That’s why it’s so important to have renter’s insurance. When you’re looking into getting a policy, there are a few things you should do to get the right one.

1. Calculate the value of your possessions. Walk though your house, condo or apartment room by room, adding up what it would cost you to replace all of your belongings in that room, including things like furniture, housewares, clothing, and electronics. The total is the amount of renter’s insurance you should buy to fully protect yourself. While you’re at it, take pictures of your belongings to help you in the event you have to make a claim.

2. Gather quotes for this amount of coverage through an independent agent. Because this type of agent does not work with just one insurance company in Centennial, Colorado, you’ll get an unbiased view of all of the options available to you. Once you have the prices, you can compare them to pick the insurance carrier that is likely to be best for you.

3. Discuss with the independent agent whether you should add any riders to your policy. These provide additional coverage for specific types of items, like jewelry, electronics, and other valuables. Depending on the type of policy you are getting, these may have only limited coverage under the standard policy. Adding riders ensures that your most valuable possessions are protected.