After years of unrelenting increases in homeowner's insurance costs, consumers are ready for relief.

It used to be that auto insurance was far more costly than homeowner's coverage in Massachusetts. But years of regulation have kept auto insurance prices in check. Meantime, homeowner policies have gone through the roof: Premiums rose 9.2 percent last year, on average, and are up 80 percent since 2000, according to the Massachusetts Division of Insurance and the Center for Insurance Research in Cambridge.

"Now it's your homeowner's that is $1,500 and auto is $500. It's changed the dynamic," said Glenn Montgomery, owner of Brownstone Insurance Agency in Boston.

Oddly, it is deregulation of the auto insurance market in Massachusetts that is bringing long-needed relief to homeowners. Insurers now competing for auto coverage are trying to attract new customers by offering breaks on homeowner's insurance for customers who agree to bundle the auto and homeowner's policies under one company.

For homeowners willing to do so, some companies are offering substantial discounts of up to 20 percent off the home policy. However, there may be trade-offs in terms of coverage as a result of being bound to a single insurer.

That means consumers need to be vigilant on a number of fronts. Agents advised customers to always shop around and get multiple quotes, three or even four if possible. And get them from more than one agent.

Massachusetts' property-casualty insurance system is unusual for its heavy reliance on agents, who each represent a fixed number of insurers. Consumers may often maintain a relationship with an agent for decades, but those who shop with a single agent effectively limit the number of insurers bidding for their business.

There are different types of homeowner's policies, from bare-bones coverage that pays for only certain listed damages, to mid-level policies that suit most homeowners. There are higher level policies that provide more extensive coverage and cost more.

Carefully compare the quotes you receive. Richard Powers of C.A. Powers & Sons Insurance in Boston said policyholders should ask agents for the backup documents that spell out the coverage. "Put them side by side to compare. You shouldn't depend on a phoned number of $500," he said.

Compare the types of damages to your home that each policy would cover, and what they exclude from coverage, especially if you live in a coastal area and may be subject to storm damages. See how much the company will provide to cover your living expenses while the house is being repaired. Make sure the personal liability and medical coverages are comparable from policy to policy.

If you're shopping for a home and curious what it would cost to insure, you can find out if the property has had any history of problems or claims that may result in higher premi ums. Choice Point maintains a database of claims called Clue, or Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, and buyers worried about a property might want to request the seller provide such a report before closing.

It's important for homeowners to understand the type of coverage they want for their house. Say for example a home is hit by a devastating fire. The minimal coverage is a cash-value policy, which typically covers less than 80 percent of replacement value of the home. In the simplest terms, the insurer would subtract any depreciation from the value of their replacement coverage since the initial policy was set.

More common replacement value policies require insurers to pay enough to rebuild a rough equivalent of the home. For example, a four-bedroom, 2,500-square foot house would be built to replace the four-bedroom, 2,500-square foot house lost in the fire.

But in Massachusetts it's common for older homes to be chock-full of unique or antique finishes and details, or for expensive homes and condominiums to have imported marble or costly bathroom fixtures. Replacement coverage would not restore those items: Gold bathroom fixtures would be replaced with, say, stainless steel fixtures, and period plaster finishes or molding would not be replaced at all.

A guaranteed replacement policy, which is more expensive coverage, requires the insurer to restore the home and fixtures as they were before the fire. That means replacing the gold fixtures or the ceiling medallions in the formal rooms.

"If the house is insured for $200,000 but costs $300,000 to rebuild, you need $300,000 in guaranteed replacement cost" coverage, said Christopher Gregory, owner of the Gregory Insurance Agency in Ipswich.

Also take a good inventory of the valuables and other personal property in your home, and see how much the policy would cover if they were damaged or stolen. Some insurers require policyholders to buy additional coverage for expensive items such as jewelry, which must be factored into the cost comparisons.

Consumers should also review the level of deductibles on their policies. Homeowner's policies typically have far fewer claims than auto policies, so homeowners may be smart to gamble and raise their deductibles. A $1,500 or $2,000 deductible can result in steep savings over a policy with a $250 or $500 deductible.

"People tend carry lower deductibles than they should," said Frank Mancini, president of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents.

Another tip is to look for quirky price breaks.

Owners of new homes, for example, can find insurers that offer premium discounts for new construction, and they may be substantial. Travelers of Massachusetts, for example, gives a 19 percent credit for homes under a year old, and Liberty Mutual Group's new-home discounts start at 23 percent and decrease as the house ages.

Insurers also offer discounts to homeowners who take steps to make their homes safer. Have a home security system? Live near a fire station? Had fire-resistant materials used in the construction of your house? These all could earn additional discounts.

Indeed, make the agent work for you. Prod agents to look for these or other cost savings, or whether you can save money by changing or limiting coverage, changing other features of the policy, rethinking deductibles, or moving to a new insurer.

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