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Buying a home or condo is probably the biggest investment you'll ever make, so finding out how to save money on home insurance or buy renters insurance -- should be at the top of any homeowner's list on the best ways to properly protect it without breakng the bank ...

How much home insurance should I get?

What's your home worth?

The first step in planning for equitable coverage is finding how much your home is worth on the current market. You can obtain this information by hiring a professional appraiser. The second most important step is to make an insurance inventory checklist of all your property and belongings inside your home. This is all-important to working with your insurance company in the event you need to make a claim.

Who should I buy home insurance from?

Like any product or service on offer, it always pays to shop around for the best home insurance at the best price. Call or go online to get a variety of quotes from reputable (and financially stable) insurance companies for available quotes, then read every detail of the policy to be sure that everything you want covered is covered.

Homeowner's insurance 101

A common mistake among first-time home insurance purchasers is not reading the fine print. While companies may want to offer you a cheaper policy just to make the sale it may cost you later in significatn losses, like personal property, that aren't covered.

Basic coverage usually includes damages caused by fire, smoke and lightning, hail and windstorms, vehicle or aircraft collisions, window breakage, explosions, vandalism, theft and personal property loss.

"Broad form" coverage also typically covers water damage, frozen pipes, ice, snow, falling objects, building collapse, and personal injury from electrical appliances, and wiring. Depending on your situation or location, you may also want to look into separate policies for hurricane insurance, earthquake insurance, or flood insurance.

More information about buying homeowner's insurance around the Web:

Around the Web, check out the FAQ's along with guides and tips to choosing the appropriate coverage, what to watch for, tools and calculators for comparison shopping, safety tips, advice on home security and liability insurance, how to's on filing insurance claims, and related topics from online home insurance experts...

Insurance Information Institute - The complete FAQ for homeowners insurance with answers to policy types, liability issues, filing a claim, settlements, choosing an insurer, pool safety, home security and lots more.

InsWeb: Learning Center - Tools, articles, FAQ, checklists glossaries and insurance quote comparisons for a complete education on home insurance policies.

Home Insurance - More extensive info from MetLife, with articles and FAQ's on home, mobile home and renter's insurance, claims, premiums, property and liability coverage.

SmartMoney.com - How to Insure Your House - Tips on how to save on home insurance, when to ask for discounts, what to do if you're denied coverage, and ways to determine how much you need.

Home Insurance Buyers Guide - Information & fact sheets on cost savings, umbrella policies, home warranties, flood insurance and related tips.