Homeowners Insurance in Idaho
Everyone knows that Idaho grows the best potatoes, but there’s so much more to the Gem State than tasty root crops. You can go rafting down the Salmon River in the summer and ski down Bald Mountain in the winter. It’s also not called the Gem State for nothing! Idaho is one of two places in the world where you can find the beautiful star garnet. In fact, 240 total minerals have been identified in Idaho alone.
Not convinced by the shiny stones or picturesque scenery? How about job satisfaction? Idaho is the number one state for job satisfaction in the country and the top state for economic growth. With all of these perks, it’s no wonder so many people call this state home. Before you start packing your bags for the Gem State, you should get familiar with how you’ll budget for homeowners insurance. Read on to learn about homeowners insurance in Idaho.
What is the average cost of homeowners insurance in Idaho?
Homeowners insurance in Idaho costs $820 per year on average, well below the Boise home insurance average of $1,215 or the $1,299 average of Wyoming premiums, making Idaho one of the cheapest states for home insurance costs in the country. With $820, you can buy about 4,824 Idaho® potatoes.
What factors influence my home insurance rate?
Your actual homeowners insurance cost varies based on many things like your home’s size and condition. Your credit and claims history can also influence your premium. Filing a home insurance claim may cause your premium to jump, but it depends on the type of claim.
Idaho Home Insurance Premiums
Is home insurance required in Idaho?
The state of Idaho does not require homeowners insurance, but your mortgage lender will likely call for it. Homeowners insurance protects their investment and covers you both in case of damage.
What does homeowners insurance in Idaho cover?
Most Idaho homeowners insurance policies cover your home’s contents, your liability, additional structures on your property and your home’s structure. Homeowner's insurance also covers your home’s foundation from sudden or accidental damage. When living in Idaho, you can expect to experience all of the seasons — this includes a decent amount of snow and sunshine.
Fresh snowfall looks magical, but it can cause damage if it’s not taken care of right away. Snow-specific issues like ice dams and frozen pipes can damage your home. Luckily, homeowners insurance typically covers this type of damage as long as you’re doing all you can to prevent it.
Wildfires are another danger to keep an eye on when living in the Gem State due to the dense and dry vegetation found in forests throughout the state. Idaho wildfires cost the state $20 million in 2018. Fortunately, homeowners insurance normally covers fire damage, so your home is protected in case of a fire.
Idaho Insurance Coverage Options
Traditional coverage
Physical Structure
Living Expenses
Liability Protection
Additional Structures
Personal Possessions
Supplemental coverage
Fire
Earthquake
Flood
Tips for lowering your home insurance premium
Although Idaho home insurance is already low, what’s the harm in saving a little more money? Simple additions like smart home devices can increase your home’s safety and lower your premium. Raising your deductible is another strategy to knock down your premium’s cost.
Preparing your home for extreme weather and natural disasters are other ways to keep your costs down. To prep your home for wildfires, install fire and carbon monoxide detectors and keep fire extinguishers in multiple locations around your property. To prepare your home for winter weather damage, insulate your pipes, let faucets drip and leave the heat running throughout the winter to keep your pipes from freezing.
Keeping your roof and gutters clean helps keep your home safe year-round by lowering the risk of fire and ice damage. It’s also important to inspect your furnace, fireplaces and chimneys a few times a year.
Idaho homeowners insurance resources
Although Idaho has lots of great resources for homeowners, like the Idaho Department of Insurance, it’s one of the few states without a Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan. However, this shouldn’t be a cause for alarm.
The state’s department of insurance should be your first stop for home insurance questions. They can point you in the right direction when diving into your home insurance options. They can also give you tips to protect your home. The National Flood Insurance Program is another program that specifically protects your home from floods.
National Flood Insurance Program
Idaho can experience flooding and flash floods in the spring when snowmelt comes down from the mountains. Other factors like heavy rain and levee failures also cause flooding in Idaho. Several major floods have occurred in Idaho over the years that resulted in significant damage. For example, the 1976 Teton Dam failure caused 11 deaths and nearly $2 billion in damages.
Flood damage costs a lot if you aren’t covered. One inch of water can cause $25,000 of damage to your home. Idaho’s flood awareness guide gives residents much more background and tips for protecting themselves, their loved ones and their homes from floods.
Floods aren’t generally covered by homeowners insurance, so you’ll need to get additional flood insurance to protect your home. The National Flood Insurance Program offers flood insurance coverage through many insurance providers.
Natural beauty is hard to miss in the Gem State. From potatoes to gemstones, Idaho has plenty to offer its residents, and it’s a gorgeous place to put down some roots and buy homeowners insurance. Give us a call to learn more about what we do.
