The Insurance Information Institute estimates the average homeowners policy premium in 2004 will be $615-an average 8% increase (or $46) over 2003. Some areas will experience much higher increases. Here's what a homeowner can do to minimize home insurance premiums:

1. Perform regular home maintenance, and fix things as they break. It's best to take care of small problems before they grow and get expensive to repair.
2. Increase your deductible. Being willing to pay $1,000 out-of-pocket instead of only $500 can drop your premium by as much as 15%. (If you're lucky, and you never need to make a claim, you'll never have to pay the deductible anyway.)
3. Think twice about small claims. The more claims you make, the higher your premium will go. Insurance companies that experience two to four claims in a three-year period from a homeowner may decide not to renew the policy. Keep the numbers down by paying out-of-pocket for smaller problems,
4. Check the home's insurance history before you purchase to find out whether the property or area is prone to problems and therefore higher insurance rates.