Home insurance is an essential protection for anyone who owns a residential property, but buying a home on the Gulf Coast brings its own complications. The prevalence of heavy storms in the region practically necessitates hurricane insurance, but getting the proper insurance for your home doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. There are a few steps you can take to minimize the cost of your home insurance and ensure you’re fully protected if the worst happens.

Seek Out Online Resources

After the double whammy of Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, many homeowners along the Gulf Coast saw insurance rates skyrocket. That’s because the increased publicity around the dangers of storms brought a flood of new insurance companies to the coastal states. As a result, some of these insurance companies are predatory in their services, and pricing can fluctuate wildly. Lars Powell, head of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research warns that many of these companies charge as much as double for the same rates you’ll find through other providers. That’s why it’s imperative that you make the most of the online resources at your disposal. There are a number of sites that can help you comparison shop for insurance.

Be Sure to Ask the Important Questions

Not all insurance is created equally, and it can be easy to not recognize the kind of coverage you need until it’s too late. There are a number of important questions you should ask when considering an insurance policy. Consider how well your insurance covers attached properties like garages or sheds as well as your personal belongings. Look for coverage that helps you in the case of sewer damage or flooding, and make sure that you’re prepared for any ordinance or law coverage that may put you at risk due to storm damage.

Don’t Hold Out For the Best Deal

While you’ll want to take the time to avoid predatory insurance companies, you shouldn’t wait on signing up for insurance are cut any corners in expectations of a new deal, and you shouldn’t expect rates to drop anytime soon. The increased prevalence of storms along the Gulf Coast means that the currently raised pricing is here to stay. And insurance companies don’t sign new policies when there’s named storm in the region, so planning to buy in right before the worst happens could spell disaster.

Home Insurance Isn’t Enough

A home insurance policy typically doesn’t cover any damage you’ll suffer in a storm, so you’ll want to be sure to pick up a hurricane insurance policy if your property is at any risk. Many of these can be packaged with an existing home insurance policy. But you’ll want to be aware that hurricane insurance typically only covers damage suffered from wind damage. That means that you’re going to want to get a flood insurance policy as well. Flood insurance needs to be bought independently through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is overseen by FEMA.