Older homes can have a unique charm and beauty, but they can also cost more to insure. Many of the qualities that people love about old houses make them more susceptible to fire, flood, and a variety of other risks, which often translates to higher homeowner’s insurance premiums. Below are a few ways the age of your house affects your coverage costs.

3 Reasons Older Houses May Be More Expensive to Insure

1. Higher Fire Risk

Many of today’s building materials are flame-resistant and are built to modern codes designed to minimize fire risk. Older homes may have outdated wiring, highly flammable insulation, and frames made of old, dry wood that burns quickly. Fires in older homes often spread rapidly and are more difficult to put out, often resulting in higher losses than a similar blaze in a modern building.

2. Aging Plumbing Systems

Many homeowner’s insurance policies cover water damage caused by broken pipes, as long as the issue wasn’t caused by neglect or poor maintenance. Over time, the aluminum and copper pipes used in older homes will eventually corrode and may eventually break, potentially causing thousands of dollars in damages.

3. Unstable Foundations

Soil movements, water erosion, and insect activity may eventually destabilize even the sturdiest foundation. While these structural defects are not directly covered by most homeowner’s insurance policies, they do make a house more susceptible to damage in a hurricane, flood, or other natural disasters.

No matter the age of your home, the experienced agents at Advantage Insurers, Inc. in Demorest, GA, have the cutting-edge technology and expertise to help homeowners throughout the Habersham and White counties protect their most valuable assets. As an independent agency, they work with a variety of nationally recognized carriers and will take the time to find a homeowner’s insurance policy tailored to your needs and budget. Visit their website for an overview of their homeowner’s insurance services, or call (706) 754-1590 to request a quote from their office.