How Country Living Impacts Home Insurance

 



Have you always dreamed of having a quiet little place outside of the city limits with just enough land to have a garden and a few chickens?  Since you'll have free eggs and veggies, you can save money on food, but what are the hidden costs of country living? Most people are not aware that home insurance is more expensive for homes in the country, as rates are based on the distance from the central fire station (volunteer fire departments do not count).

How does my local fire department impact my homeowner’s policy?

Each fire protection agency (including your local fire department) is reviewed by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) and ranked based on their fire protection services, such as:

·        Emergency communications and staffing (how well the fire department receives fire alarms)

·        Fire department equipment (number of fire engines vs. amount of water needed to fight fire)

·        Available water supply (fire hydrant distribution)

The ranking is called the Public Protection Class (PPC), with 1 being the best score and 10 being the worst score. Many insurance companies use the PPC rating and the distance your home is from the nearest legally responding fire department to determine whether they will insure your home and how much to charge.  

Some Insurance companies will not take homes in PPC 10, and others will only take them with conditions (examples: home is accessible in all weather, front of home is visible from road, home is primary residence, and home has central station fire and burglar alarm system).

When you're shopping for a new home, contact your insurance agent to get an estimate for home insurance before you commit to the purchase.


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