Prices on consumer products in the U.S. rose 3% between June 2023 and June 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. Pair this with the steady recent increase in U.S. housing prices — up nearly 4% year-over-year, Zillow says — and an average home-insurance increase of 19% between 2021 and 2023, and today's insureds may be looking for fresh ideas about how they can save some cash. Savvy insurance shopping is one solution, according to the Insurance Information Institute. If home insurance customers are anything like car insurance customers, then comparison shopping is on their minds in 2024. This is one area where an insurance agent or broker can be especially valuable. Bankrate.com reports that the benefits to consumers of working with an insurance agent include the ability to quickly secure multiple quotes, including quotes from smaller, lesser-known carriers, along with personalize service and the security of knowing that an insurance agent has an ethical duty to put their customers' best interests first. One way agents can do that is by finding hidden savings for customers. The slideshow above illustrates a dozen ways insureds may be able to save money on their homeowners' insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute. See also:

• Summer heatwave leads to higher premiums, stricter underwriting
• 10 Most expensive ZIP codes of 2023
• Record share of U.S. drivers shop for new auto insurance