The best piece of home insurance advice anyone could ever give you is to at least get some form of it. It’s completely unappreciated until a disaster strikes, and then even cheap homeowners insurance becomes a godsend.

Of course, most people would like to pay as little as possible in the meantime. To help you get the lowest home owner insurance estimates, here’s a few pointers.

1. Shop Around. 

Obviously one of the best strategies to get cheaper insurance is to shop around. Most companies offer free home insurance quotes online, which means that you can quickly compare costs while comfortable at home. Although it seems easy to plug in your information and opt for the lowest price, this might not be in your best interest. When comparing, you need to make sure that the levels of coverage being offered are at least the same as your current policy, if not greater. You’ll naturally pay less if you’re getting less, so don’t get fooled.

2. Raise Your Deductible. 

If you’re willing to raise your deductible, you’ll see the cost of those free home insurance quotes start to fall. Most companies nowadays suggest a deductible of about $500. If you can afford it, raising your deductible to $1,000 can save you as much as 25%.

3. Improve Your Home. 

As you fill out the information to get those free home insurance quotes, you’ll notice questions about renovations, home security, and possibly even the age of your appliances. This is because the companies are calculating your risk factor. The lower your risk, the lower those quotes will be. If you improve your home against threats such as fires, floods, or robberies, or an explosion caused by an old, faulty clothes dryer, you’ll be able to get cheaper insurance.

If you compare free home insurance quotes, raise your deductible, and make home improvements, you’ll eventually find a much more affordable policy. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.