When looking for a new home, some of the features that entice you could end up costing you extra in insurance premiums. Homebuyers should try and get an insurance quote before signing a contract on their house to avoid any price shock. Homebuyers should also keep in mind the following home features that can increase insurance costs:
Pools
Pools are wildly popular in Southern California. So if you are considering buying a home with a pool, keep in mind that insurance companies consider swimming pools one of their biggest liabilities due to high rates of drowning and water-related injuries. Most standard homeowners’ insurance policies include a minimum liability coverage limit of $100,000 to protect you financially in the event of a lawsuit. However, if you have a pool, the Insurance Information Institute recommends increasing your limit to at least $300,000. Most insurers will also recommend or even require you to have a self-locking fence around the pool to keep others out (especially children).
Waterfront Property 
Like with pools, waterfront properties are extremely popular in Southern California. If you have the luxury of affording a waterfront property, be prepared to shell out a bit more for a higher insurance premium. Being so close to the water exposes you to a higher risk of flooding and tropical storm/hurricane damage. In addition, the value of a waterfront property is substantially higher than a comparable inland property. So with the combination of these two factors, you’re looking at a pretty high insurance premium. While most standard homeowner insurance policies include coverage against water damage, they exclude any damage resulting from flood/rising water. Therefore, residents living on a waterfront property typically need to invest in separate flood policies.
Vintage Charm
Southern California is filled with older homes, many of which have maintained original features for decades. While discovering a well preserved historical property may be your dream come true, it can also be an insurance nightmare. If the plumbing, electrical, and/or, the roof hasn’t been updated since the house was built, it could pose a real problem. Out of date electrical systems can often lead to devastating fires, old plumbing systems can cause major water damage, and aged roofs are more susceptible to weather damage. Be sure you are aware than your insurance company will charge a higher premium if you want the home to remain in its original state.
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