Many households receive their home insurance renewal notice and simply accept the price as is, assuming there’s nothing they can do to make things more affordable. But there are, in fact, several things you can try that may lead to cheaper premiums.

The top piece of advice is to shop around. Maybe you don’t want to get coverage estimates every year. But doing so at least every 2-3 years is a smart move, as you might find you can get the same coverage levels for less money, or can get a lot more coverage for the price you’re already paying.

Second, if you’re open to possibly changing companies, get policy estimates at a time when your credit score is as good as it will be for a while. If you’ve recently applied for credit and your score has dipped a bit, perhaps wait a few months to build your score back up again, as insurers consider your credit score when quoting a premium.

If you don’t already have your home and auto insurance with the same company, investigate how bundling the policies might reduce costs. When requesting quotes, also ask how premiums vary with different deductibles. Even if you’re uninterested in changing providers, you can consider raising your deductible at your next renewal to lower your existing premium.

Things you can do to make your home less of a risk for insurers are upgrade old plumbing or electrical, or install security measures like deadbolts and burglar alarms. And when possible, try to avoid filing claims for small issues, as your claim history can cause your rates to rise.

Lastly, you may be able to score a discount by paying your premium in one annual lump sum, or by paying with a check or auto-debit instead of a credit card.