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Insurance is a very competitive business, and the price you pay for your homeowners insurance can vary enormously. Companies offer several types of discounts, but they don't all offer the same discount, or the same amount of discount in all states. So, to begin with, ask your agent or company representative about any discounts available to you.

Here are some things to consider when buying homeowners insurance.

Price isn't everything

But just as man does not live by bread alone, you should not consider price alone.

The insurer you select should offer both a fair price and excellent service. Quality service may cost a bit more, but it provides added conveniences, so talk to your insurer to get a feel for the type of service they give. Ask them what they could do to lower your costs. Check the financial ratings of the companies, too.

Raise your deductible

Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay. Deductibles on homeowners policies typically start at $250. By increasing your deductible to $500, you could save up to 12%; $1,000, up to 24%; $2,500, up to 30%; and $5,000, up to 37%, depending on your insurance company.

Buy your home and auto policies from the same insurer

Some companies that sell homeowners, auto, and liability coverage will take 5% to 15% off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them.

When you buy a home...

Consider how much insuring it will cost. Because a new home's electrical, heating, and plumbing systems and overall structure are likely to be in better shape than those of an older house, insurers may offer you a discount of 8% to 15% if your house is new.

Check its construction, too. Brick, because of its resistance to wind damage, is better in the East; frame, because of its resistance to earthquake damage, is better in the West. Choosing wisely could cut your premium by 5% to 15%.

Avoiding areas that are prone to floods can save you $400 or so a year for flood insurance. Homeowners insurance DOES NOT cover flood-related damage. If you do buy a house in a flood-prone area, you'll have to buy a flood insurance policy, too.

Does your town have full-time or volunteer fire service? And is your house close to a hydrant or fire station? Your premium will be lower if your house is within 5 miles of firefighters and their equipment.

Insure your house, not the land

The land under your house isn't at risk from theft, windstorm, fire, and the other perils covered in your homeowners policy. So don't include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you'll pay a higher premium than you should.

Beef up your home security

You can usually get discounts of at least 5% for a smoke detector, burglar alarm, or dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as 20% if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police station or other monitoring facility. These systems aren't cheap and not every system qualifies for the discount. Before you buy such a system, find out what kind your insurer recommends and how much the device would cost and how much you'd save on premiums.

Stop smoking

Smoking accounts for more than 23,000 residential fires a year. That's why some insurers offer to reduce premiums if all the residents in a house don't smoke.

Once you retire...

Retired people stay at home more and spot fires sooner than working people. Retired people have more time for maintaining their homes, too. If you're at least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a discount of up to 22% at some companies.

Stay loyal to your insurer

Sure, that sounds like "Be True To Your School," but there's a practical reason: If you've kept your coverage with a company for several years, you may receive special consideration. Several insurers will reduce their premiums by 5% if you stay with them for three to five years and by 10% if you remain a policyholder for six years or more.

Compare the limits in your policy and the value of your possessions at least once a year

You want your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to your home. But you don't want to spend money for coverage you don't need. If your five-year-old fur coat is no longer worth the $20,000 you paid for it, you'll want to reduce your floater and pocket the difference.