The Secret Sauce for How to Save On Homeowners Insurance

Don’t be at the mercy of higher-than-ever home insurance premiums: Take back your power with resources and ways to save.

Key Points:

• Consider home upgrades that can help you save on homeowner insurance premiums over the long run.

• Regularly review your plan and home improvement priorities to determine ways to reduce your home insurance costs.

• Tap into available tools and resources that can help you be better informed and offer consumer protection

Homeowner insurance hits your pocketbook hard, but as a homeowner—with the right tools, knowledge and resources on your side—you have the power to fight back and save. According to the pros, the best ways you can potentially amp up your home insurance savings in 2026 include:

Improving your home’s resiliency

• Start at the top: Upgrade to newer, longer-lasting, impact and weather resist roofing, such as quality metal roofs, which are also fire and storm resistant. According to AI, this is a major rating factor in 2026 and can help you earn substantial discounts.

  
  

• Install protective devices: Burglar alarms, smoke detectors and fire suppression systems can earn you discounts on your premiums.

  
  

• Guard against leaks: Leaks are a major cause of claims. Consider smart water-shutoff valves or leak sensors. Research shows installing these devices can reduce premiums by 2 to 6 percent. Watertight roofs like metal also help prevent external and internal water damage.

Homeowners who take steps to add more resilient upgrades to their home such as quality metal roofs often find it pays off in the long run.

Being a good customer

• Try to avoid “nuisance” claims: Paying for small repairs out of pocket may save you from rate increases or even non-renewals in the long run. Customers who maintain a claims-free history for 3–5 years typically qualify for significant discounts.

  
  

• Improve your credit score: Research shows that customers with a bad credit score may pay as much as twice the amount for homeowners insurance as those with good credit.

  
  

• Reduce your risk:  Getting rid of risky or potentially dangerous items like trampolines, playsets or pools (especially those with slides or diving boards) can reduce liability premiums. 

 

Analyzing your policy structure and plan

• Consider your deductible tolerance: One of the fastest ways to lower premiums is to increase a deductible from $1,000 to $2,500 which can save an average of 12 percent annually. However, make sure you feel comfortable doing so by having enough in emergency savings to cover a bigger out-of-pocket cost.

  
  

• Right-size your policy: Calculate only the cost of rebuilding your home—not your overall land/market value—when determining what to insure to help avoid overpaying.

  
  

• Bundle for savings: Give your same provider more business by combining your home and auto policy and reap a savings reward, up to 30 percent in some cases.

  
  

• Review your plan: It’s a good idea to compare your plan annually, get quotes from other carriers and as an option, consult with an independent agency who can help you “shop” multiple providers.

  
  

• Remember, it never hurts to ask: Special features unique to your home may qualify you for discounts or savings. Don’t wait for your provider to ask about potential discounts for having features such as a better quality metal roof, a LEED-Certified “green” home, or being a senior, non-smoker, or an active/retired member of the military.

Beyond working with and choosing the right provider, you can also find resources and consumer advocacy groups depending on the state you live in that offer resources such as guides to policy basics, tips for choosing a policy, how to prevent damage and can help advocate for you. Here are just a few to consider: 

National resources

• NAIC Consumer Information: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners website offer guides, tools and resources such as how to shop for a policy.

  
  

• NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: This report provides helpful data including average costs, with both countrywide and state-specific information.

  
  

• Consumer Reports: Provides a buying guide for homeowners insurance that explains the basics of coverage and what to consider when purchasing a policy. 

State-specific resources

• State Insurance Departments: Many states have government insurance departments that provide consumer-focused information or state insurance commissioners that serve to provide education and act as consumer advocates to protect policyholders and maintain fair, competitive markets.

  
  

• State-specific company comparisons: Websites like NerdWallet, Bankrate, and Policygenius provide company comparisons and their average costs with information for specific states.

  
  

• Advocacy and assistance: Organizations such as United Policyholders offer consumer rights information and guides on communicating with insurance companies.