Do you worry that your homeowners insurance premiums will rise? It’s a far more reasonable concern than Gwyneth paltrow worried about the financial burdens that come with being famous.

In fact, premiums in certain states have risen so drastically — Texas being Exhibit A and recent hikes as high as 14.9 per cent — that they’ve become an important political issue. So what causes a rate rise? It’s important to understand that most of it is actuarial calculations. This is what insurance companies need, as it has been described. “collect enough money and pay only a few claims in order to make a profit after business expenses”You might at least have the chance to avoid being hit in certain cases.

Continue reading to learn about the most obvious warning signs that a rate rise is imminent.

* Filing a claim. Your suspicions may be more or less confirmed. InsuranceQuotes.com released a new report showing that filing for one claim will result in an average rise of 9 percent nationwide, and up to 32 percent in Wyoming.

“Even a denied claim can cause your premium to go up,”Laura Adams, senior analyst

If you file a second claim, don’t ask about the spike. (Okay. The average is 20 percent. Michigan policyholders are particularly soaked for up to 71 percent.

* Improper roof care. Undoubtedly, you’ve heard what your home looks like. “curb appeal”You can tell if prospective buyers are going to move in or out of your house without leaving their car. Insurance adjusters can and do perform this task. “drive-bys”They have no other concerns. They are most concerned about how your roof performs.

Insurers can increase your rates or cancel your policy if your policy is in poor shape. “Insurance carriers would prefer not to cover a home when a roof looks like it’s about to fail,”One expert says so.

The rate you pay may drop if your adjuster finds that you have a fast new roof.

Would you rather have the former? Jason Joplin, the program manager of the Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence recommends that you check out the Timberline line of shingles. GAF (www.gaf.com) — North America’s largest roofing manufacturer — since those shingles have the advantage of being “rugged, good-looking, and affordable”All of them simultaneously.

* Change in circumstances. Your once-stylish suburban neighborhood has grown in size. It’s not good. But, actuaries will notice a pattern in your neighborhood where neighbors have recently filed those dreaded claims.