Home Insurance: Tips for Choosing an Insurer

When Suzanne Patt went shopping for a home insurance policy, she ran into a problem: her daughter's trampoline. Some carriers refused to issue her a policy as long as the trampoline was in place; others were willing to include it, but at substantially higher rates. "That really limited my choices," says the Cranford, N.J., home owner.

Special features like trampolines and swimming pools are just two of the things that can make shopping for home insurance a challenging task for first-timers. The more prepared you are up front, the better you can compare different providers' offerings and rates.

If you're shopping around for a home insurance policy, here are some tips to help you get started.