A home's specifications and needs are factors that impact your home insurance costs. If you're building or buying, you might be able to impact your rates by considering these factors.

Sometimes, factors that you can't control will also impact your home insurance rates. For example, your distance from emergency services like the fire department may impact the home's risks.

Your insurance company will review this information. Things like distance will help the company to understand exactly how much risk you face.

How Does It Impact You?

The Insurance Services Office ranks local fire departments and other protection services. Factors like the available equipment, staff, and water supply all play a role in this ranking.

You may have no idea that your insurer is using this type of information to make key decisions about your home. But, these factors can impact your insurance and your costs. However, companies analyze these risks with the ultimate goal of helping the consumer.

For example, location matters. If your home is close to the local fire department, that may reduce some of the risk of a total home loss in a fire. The distance of a local fire hydrant will play a role in this cost as well. If one is closer, it's easily accessible to the fire, and your risks are less.

You might choose a home to live in that’s close to the fire department or a hydrant. It might help reduce your home insurance costs.

What other factors matter? How much exposure to fire exists?

Do you live in an area that’s had a lot of fires? The western United States, for example, is a high-risk area. Having local fire protection very close makes a difference.

What’s surrounding your home? If there is dense vegetation that is easily able to catch on fire, this adds to the risks.

The location of your home based on access can matter, too. If you live in a place where getting water to the home to battle a fire is difficult, this makes your home a higher risk.

If you have not done so yet, talk to your home insurance provider about fire risks. You can also ask what steps you can take to reduce those risks. Your agent may encourage you to remove anything that can burn from around the exterior of the home. This reduces your risks.

Do you have questions about home insurance rates in your area? Merritt Hall Insurance is here to help you get the coverage you need at the best price. Give us a call at 800-677-9180 or start a free online quote today!