Homeowner Insurance Provider

Lower insurance rates possible for some MFPD homeowners

Previously, ratings for the Marshfield district were a 9 for those living within five road miles of a fire station and a 10 for those living farther away. Now, those living within five road miles of a station have a rating of 7. The lower the rating, the better.

Taylor said the new low rating will not be published until April, but homeowners can call their insurance agents now.

“Their insurance agents should be able to obtain this information from ISO,” he said.

If not, the fire department could also send the necessary information to insurance companies.

Taylor looked at four insurance companies, using an example of a $100,000 coverage amount on a house. He said the average savings, from going from a 9 ISO rating to a 7, was $182 a year, though each company varied.

“This is one way the district can give back to the taxpayers,” Taylor said. “We want to do that any chance we get.”

One thing that helped lower the rating was landowners in the fire protection district granting access to ponds and other water sources on their property. Taylor said landowners simply filled out a form, and being able to show additional sources of water helped the rating.

“That did, of course, help us improve,” Taylor said.

Any landowners who wish to grant permission to the fire district can call Taylor at 859-0884.

The ISO rating process takes two days, and is an intensive study of the entire fire department’s operation, including how calls are handled at the 911 center, how the department obtains water, and the department’s capabilities, training and equipment.

“It’s a very long process, and it involves a lot of preparation, training and paperwork,” Taylor said. “The firefighters put a lot of time into getting ready for this.”

Taylor said the department would keep working to lower the rating in the future, but that will require larger projects, such as new fire stations to distribute trucks throughout the area and a better, more efficient water supply.

Beneficial Information About Your Home Owner's Insurance

Beneficial Information About Your Home Owner’s Insurance

In some places like the Midwest, tornadoes can come at any time and wipe homes out by the hundreds. You just never know when something may damage your home. Even if you don’t live in a tornado zone, you still want to make sure you have a solid insurance policy. Check out some insurance tips for your home in this article.

To make sure that you are paying the lowest amount on your homeowner’s insurance, compare the cost of your insurance policy to another company’s policies at least once a year. You should also review your existing policy and mark any changes that may have occurred which could lower your premium.

If you have worries about people being injured on your property – although I cannot imagine why – you do have coverage under your home owner’s insurance for personal liability. This coverage is typically $100,000, but you can have it raised if you feel that is insufficient coverage for your home.

If you have roommates, double check your policy to see what is exactly is covered in the event of a disaster. Some polices cover everything in a premises and others only cover your possessions. Confirm what is covered or you may end up cutting your roommate a check after a disaster.

Having a working burglar alarm that is monitored at a central station or can contact the police right away will help lower the cost of homeowner’s insurance. It could lower the price by as much as 5%. You would need to prove that you have the alarm hooked up at your home by providing the bill to your insurance company.

When creating a photo inventory, make sure you don’t stand directly in front of reflective surfaces to take the best photos. Your home insurance provider will appreciate the extra effort you put in if you supply the best photos possible of the items you are claiming were damaged or stolen.

Check out Consumer Reports before you open a home owner;s policy with any company. Consumer Reports has a great website that makes it quite easy for a consumer to find the information that they seek. The scores that are given, will help you decide if that particular company is one that you want to work with.

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