Everyone likes to be a smart shopper, but few of us think about ways to save on our homeowner’s insurance. Here are seven insider tips on other ways to get the most bang for a buck.

1. Find your local firefighters:  If you’re shopping for a new home, you may want to include a fire station as one of your neighbors and you definitely want to be able to see a fire hydrant. If you’re more than five miles from a fire station or more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant, you’ll pay several hundred dollars more per year for your policy.
2. Sound the Alarm: A home security system can take 10 to 20 percent off the annual premium of your policy. You save the most if the system links directly to emergency response teams, a good amount if you’re linked to a 24/7 monitoring center and the least if you have just an alarm that makes a loud noise. Deadbolts, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors can save you money as well.
3. Up the deductible: Having a higher deductible policy will always save you money and lower your monthly payments. Just make sure you can afford to pay the higher deductible if something should happen.
4. Keep up on the basics: Did you know, companies can cancel or fail to renew a policy if the property is not well maintained? Cut down dead trees and low hanging branches.
5. Bundle up: Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them.
6. Make your home disaster-resistant: Talk to your insurance agent about what steps you can take to make your home more resistant to natural disasters. You may be able to save on your premiums by adding stronger roofing materials or updating your heating, plumbing and electrical systems to reduce the risk of fire and water damage.
7. Make payments electronically: Some companies now charge up to $5 for mailed payments, so have your payments automatically deducted to shave that cost.