YodZiaN

For first time homeowners or for those who have never really taken a serious look at their Homeowners insurance, determining what Homeowners insurance coverage you need can be a trying time. One of the most important tips to keep in mind when determining what type and how much Homeowners insurance you need is to make this determination before you get started talking with an insurance agent.

It is extremely easy to get sucked into buying extra insurance that you will never use by a sly talking agent on the phone. This doesn?t mean that you shouldn?t take an insurance agent?s advice at all, but just be certain of a ballpark figure for the type of coverage and the amount of coverage you need and want before you get started.

One of the first questions an insurance agent will ask is the value of the home being purchased. This simply means the basic exterior and interior value of the home as it is when you purchase it, without belongings. Remember that an insurance agent should ask specific questions regarding the exterior of the house, such as whether it is brick, vinyl siding, wood or a mixture, as well as questions regarding a porch, deck or sunroom.

Insurance agents should also be asking specific questions regarding the basic appliances on the interior of the house, and will want to know how old the plumbing and electric system are, the air conditioning and heating unit, the appliances and will even ask questions about whether you have expensive countertops or flooring, such as granite or marble.

Keep in mind that while you purchased the home for a certain price, say $100,000, the Homeowners insurance company may want to allot payments for the structure of the house to be anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 over the current appraisal and market value of the house, to deal with inflation. It is up to you to decide if you want to agree to these terms, but remember that the price of repairing these items in the home will increase over the years, and you don?t want to be left with not enough money from the insurance company to cover full replacement of your home at any given time.

If you have purchased a home that will soon be remodeled or reconstructed, you may want to go ahead and add a considerable amount to this portion of the insurance coverage, that way if anything happens in the process of remodeling or as soon as the home is remodeled the total cost of remodeling will be covered without a problem. Of course you can always wait until the remodeling is completed to call and get a new price quote, Read more…

As the water began to drain from New Orleans in 2005, we learned that most of the homeowners in New Orleans did not have flood insurance, since they were supposedly in ?low risk? areas. The over 60% of homeowners will need to depend upon their own savings, and limited federal assistance, to rebuild New Orleans ? at an uncalculated cost for homeowners and taxpayers.

Could that level of disaster, especially that level of uninsured disaster, happen in California? Less than 15% of California homeowners currently carry earthquake insurance, due to its high cost, the ?can?t happen to me or my house? factor, and mortgage providers not requiring coverage. The next big quake will result in billions of uninsured damage ? but is earthquake insurance really worth the high cost?

How Did We Get Here?

The state of California requires that all homeowner?s insurance providers to at least offer earthquake insurance (albeit, at a high cost). Until 1994, it was widely available ? but the high damage costs of the Northridge earthquake resulted in 97% of homeowner?s insurance providers pulling out of the state the California. In response, the California Earthquake Authority was formed by the California legislator to provide earthquake insurance.

What Is the California Earthquake Authority, and How Does It Work?

The California Earthquake Authority provides two-thirds of the earthquake policies in California, sold through their member providers, like Allstate and State Farm. A homeowner purchases the policy through their regular insurance agent, but the policy is actually a CEA policy.

The CEA currently has about $7.2 billion to pay claims, which it states is enough to pay foreseeable damages (Loma Prieta in 1989 had $6 billion in total damages). If the damage claims are more than $7.2 billion, then each claim would be paid a prorated portion of their losses ? unlike a regular insurance company, which promises to pay the actual damages under the insurance policy. The state of California cannot help pay the claims out of general funds.

The policies also have a high deductible ? usually 15% of the value of the dwelling. In other words, your home must be damaged more than 15% of its value before the insurance starts paying. So, this insurance is not for cracks in the driveway ? it is for significant structural damage to your home. The policy also pays for limited contents (starting at $5K) and loss of use (starting at $1500).

Why Is Earthquake Insurance So Expensive?

Insurance policy premiums are calculated based on probabilities ? the probability that a house like yours in a neighborhood like yours will catch fire, or a driver like you will have an accident. With data from millions of homes, these probabilities can be calculated with reasonable accuracy. But, no one can reliably predict the probability that there will be an earthquake strong enough to damage your home.

And, as you can imagine, damages from an earthquake, flood, or hurricane, are widespread, over potentially thousands of square miles ? instead of one or a few dozen homes, as in a fire. As such, the insurer would have to pay either zero claims, or billions of dollars of claims ? too much variance to reasonably plan for or price accurately.

Are We Really At Risk Here in San Jose?

According to the USGS, there is a 62% probability that there will be an earthquake of 6.7 or greater (like the Northridge quake) in the Bay Area in the next 30 years. In my zip code (San Jose 95126), USGS calculates a 80% chance of a 6.0 earthquake and a 20% chance of a 7.0, in the next 30 years. Whether you consider that to be a high risk depends on your risk tolerance for earthquakes ? I consider that a high risk of a moderate earthquake and a somewhat low risk of a terrible earthquake, over the next 30 years.

But like any issue involving real estate ? it is all local. Where your home is actually located significantly affects your risk ? bedrock, reclaimed land from the bay, soil type, nearby streams, actual distance from the epicenter ? all can affect potential damage.

But of course, many earthquakes occur where the USGS was not even aware of a fault line ? and we never know when or where it will happen, until it happens.

Should I Obtain Earthquake Insurance?

Factors to Consider:

Could you afford to pay for the rebuilding your home from your own savings

Your home is generally your greatest asset and one that you can?t afford to loose so make sure you don?t skimp on your homeowners insurance.

Unlike car insurance it is not illegal to own a home without taking out homeowners insurance but if your home is financed in any way by a third party lender then the likelihood is that you will have to take out homeowners insurance at least to cover the building.

Homeowners insurance is normally split into two basic categories, buildings and contents. Some people take the risk and don?t take out any insurance against the contents of their home but they probably have never worked out how much it would cost to replace everything they own.

Others don?t pay much attention to the amount of liability cover that is included in their homeowners insurance. For me this is a big risk. If someone has an accident in your home they will be claiming against your homeowners insurance and if you don?t have the cover they could then be looking to you for compensation!

The element of your homeowners insurance that relates to the building covers you for the cost of rebuilding your home and other buildings (that you own) in the immediate vicinity of your home (such as garages and summer houses) in the event of fire or other disasters. You need to make sure your insurance covers you for the full cost of clearing the site and rebuilding your home. Always check out the insurance policy small print to make sure you are totally clear as to what your basic homeowners insurance doesn?t cover which will generally include damage due to natural disasters such as flooding or earthquakes.

You can purchase flood insurance separately, through your homeowner?s insurance provider, but the policy will be with the Federal Flood Insurance Program.

The contents element of your homeowners insurance will cover you for everything inside your home including carpets, curtains, clothes and furniture (anything that isn?t classed as structural). Your homeowners insurance will also usually cover you for lost or stolen cash and credit costs and loss or damage to your personal belongings while off the premises. It?s really easy to underestimate the amount of homeowners insurance you require, for contents, so the best way is to do a full inventory of everything you own.

As stated previously, never leave yourself exposed Read more…

Judging by the title you would think I am a customer that got ripped off when he made a homeowners claim, right? Well, that is not the case. I work for a major international insurance company. Actually, I work in a sales office for this company. Prior to becoming a manager for this company I used to think insurance was meant to protect you in the event of a loss. I have learned differently.

This may not be the case in all states, although I think it is with my company, but if you make too many homeowners claims or one claim for a large amount of money you will most likely be cancelled. Yes, that is right. If you use your insurance for what it was intended for and for what you pay a premium for you will be cancelled after the claim is paid.

Most people want the insurance in the event of a big loss, like a fire burning the house to the ground. This makes sense. But, some people insist on carrying a low deductible such as $250 or $500. This increases the premium you pay for the policy but you really don?t receive much added benefit because if you make too many claims for a couple hundred dollars you will still be cancelled in most cases.

Personally, I carry the largest deductible I can because it makes my premium as low as possible and I would only be making a claim if it were serious anyway. Where the situation gets even more difficult is when you are cancelled for too many claims or one big claim it is hard to get another company to accept you for insurance. If a new company does take on your ?risk? you will pay and arm and a leg for the policy. Out of desperation some people will try to lie and say they had no losses. The companies combat this by running a loss report on you, where all companies report their losses to. If for some reason you slip through that step and they write the policy you can still be cancelled for misrepresentation if they find out later that you lied to secure the policy. That could be 5 or 10 years down the road after they have taken your money for all those years. And, if you get cancelled for misrepresentation it will happen before any claims are paid.

There is no way to beat the system. Read more…

Are you like me ? do you love talking about insurance? Well, who doesn?t really? So let?s talk home insurance, and what you need to know when you get a home insurance quote.

Do you own a home? Do you plan to? You are not required by law to have insurance on your dwelling, but if you carry a mortgage, your lender will most likely require it. If you don?t have or need a mortgage (please, please, tell me how you did that! I am but a poor scribe), it remains a wise decision to protect your investment with insurance. Gather up your information and get a reliable home insurance quote.

How do I go about getting a home insurance quote?

For those of you who have read my other delightful yet poignant insurance articles, you know that I always recommend using a reputable insurance agent. No, that is not an oxymoron. And no, I am not an insurance agent myself. When you need electrical work, do you not call an electrician? Or plumbing work, a plumber? When you want to know the ins and outs of riders, floaters, and umbrellas, call a pro. Get a professional home insurance quote from someone who can meet with you, and address your specific needs.

So once I find one of these ?shady? insurance agents, what should I tell him?

Now stop it! They?re not all shady. But here are some issues that you might want to discuss with your agent as he prepares your home insurance quote:

1. Coverage for the structure of your home

2. Coverage for your personal belongings

3. Liability protection

4. Additional living expenses in the event you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a fire or other insured disaster (e.g. rivers of blood, plagues of frogs).

Most people are aware of the first issue ? watching the news, we see homes destroyed by things like hurricanes or earthquakes and realize we need to insure the structure itself – but what about the other three? If you live in a home, odds are pretty good that you also own ?stuff? that you keep inside your house. This should be insured as well. Many companies will cover your personal belongings for 50%-70% of the amount of your policy. This means if you have $100,000 worth of insurance on the structure of your home, you would have between $50,000 to $70,000 worth of coverage for your belongings. If you have more expensive stuff, like a Renoir, Monet, or Grandpa?s gold teeth, you may want to purchase a floater to cover the difference.

What do I need liability protection for? Isn?t this just another scam so my agent can produce a larger home insurance quote, and get a bigger commission?

Well, it could appear thus, but remember – insurance is protection against the unforeseen. Liability covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members cause to other people (I didn?t mean to shoot Joey with that BB gun, Dad), and the liability portion of your policy pays for both the cost Read more…

Home owners insurance rates vary widely based on your geographic location. Areas prone to hurricanes, floods, hail, earthquakes, fires and other natural disasters will generally have higher rates. Even the distance to the nearest fire department or fire hydrant can have an impact on your home owners insurance rates.

Knowing Your Policy Is VERY Important

Coverage for Property and Possessions

Liability Coverage

Theft Off Premises

Additional Living Expenses

What Can a Homeowner Do To Be Prepared?

What Can a Homeowner Do To Save Money?

Coverage for Property and Possessions

Damage to the dwelling and the contents could be the biggest unexpected disaster awaiting a homeowner who has less coverage than needed. Most policies provide a stated maximum amount of coverage for the dwelling and another amount for contents.

Generally, dwelling coverage is based on replacement cost, which means that in the event of a total loss, the policy will provide reimbursement, up to the policy limit, to replace the structure. Ideally, a homeowner should buy enough insurance to completely rebuild the home, known as replacement value. This figure may not be the home’s actual market value or what the owner originally paid for the home. This is especially true in a depressed or an inflated market or if the home is simply not replaceable to its condition prior to the loss. Replacement cost policies, which may pay over the policy limit to rebuild the home, may be available from your insurer.

To determine how much insurance to purchase, an accurate appraisal of the home for replacement cost should be made. Working with your insurance company is important in this process. Most insurers recommend or require that a homeowner insure the dwelling for 100 percent of its full replacement value. Some homes, very unique ones such as national register-types or very elaborate ones, cannot be insured for exact replacement since some features are not replaceable in either workmanship, materials or practical costs. The insurer and/or the agent is the best source for these issues.

Coverage for personal property is different. Most policies provide actual cash value coverage for contents which includes depreciation, or full value contents without depreciation. Actual cash value means that if a power surge blows out a 10-year-old television set, the homeowner should know what to expect. Unlike full value contents coverage, which would essentially provide a new television set, actual cash value coverage allows the insurance company to calculate the useful life of the item and then depreciate the item to present value. A depreciated 10-year-old television set would be insured for only a fraction of its original cost. A homeowner may want to consider replacement cost coverage to be sure that the contents are adequately insured.

In addition to making sure that contents are covered for replacement cost rather than actual cash value, homeowners should purchase additional coverage for items that would ordinarily be subject to loss limitations. Virtually all policies cover contents loss up to the policy limit for items that include furniture, clothing, toys, accessories such as lamps and other items which are used for decor. Explicit limitations are set in the policy for high-cost items such as jewelry, fine art, furs, electronics, collectibles, oriental rugs and antiques. If a thief comes in and steals a two-carat engagement ring, it will not be covered well enough without what is commonly known as a personal property rider to cover specific, costly items. For more information on home owners insurance visit our specialist site below.

Home Owners Liability Coverage

Liability insurance is very important to a homeowner’s coverage because it helps protect the owner and the family from financial disaster if someone files a claim against the homeowner’s policy, sues the homeowner or if the courts hold the homeowner legally responsible for someone else’s injury or property damage. The standard liability limit for most policies is $100,000, but many people believe that additional protection is needed , especially if the homeowner has sizable assets.

For a small increase in premium, an additional $300,000 to $500,000 may be obtained. Liability coverage protects in three ways: Personal liability, damage to the property of others, and medical expenses for injury to others.

Another way to protect one’s assets is to consider an Umbrella Policy which usually adds $1 million (or possibly more) in excess liability coverage to the homeowner’s property and automobile insurance policies. It also covers claims excluded from most basic policies such as libel, slander, defamation and mental anguish.

For example, most policies provide liability coverage that covers not only accidents that occur on the insured property but accidents that occur elsewhere. If the family dog bites a neighbor in front of another neighbor’s house, for example, the dog owner’s homeowner’s policy will usually compensate the neighbor for injuries and necessary medical expenses. For more information on home owners insurance visit our specialist site below.

Theft Off Premises

Most policies automatically insure against the loss of personal property even if that property is not on the insured premises when it is lost. If one goes to the airport with several suitcases and they are stolen, this is probably covered. Talk with your agent and/or your insurance company for details.

Additional Living Expenses

Another automatic benefit of which many homeowners are unaware is coverage for living expenses if the covered premises is damaged to the point of being uninhabitable. Not only should the policy pay for the cost to repair the damage to the dwelling, but it should also reimburse the homeowner for the additional expenses of living elsewhere while the repairs are being made. For more information and rates on home owners insurance visit our specialist site below.

What Can A Homeowner Do To Be Prepared?

How does someone find out what is and what is not covered? Read the policy carefully. It’s not likely to be fun reading, but the good news is that if one reads and understands his or her policy before it is needed, this knowledge may save unexpected financial losses should a problem occur. It is always best to talk with one’s insurance agent or the company that issued the policy for details.

Understanding your home owners insurance policy is best handled before a claim is made. In the case of the contents, an inventory of items room by room is important to have with information such as the date purchased, serial number, the original cost of each item and a brief description. Video tape or still photos is very helpful along with the inventory. These items should be stored in a safe place such as a safety deposit box in a bank or savings and loan institution and not in the home because if the home is destroyed, the chances are the inventory and related photos or tape may also be destroyed.

Save Money On Your Read more…

What do you like the most about your home – the bright, sun-filled kitchen, the shiny wood floors or the comfortable bedrooms?

Or is it the fact that your home probably makes up maybe the biggest part – of your total net worth?

Either way, you have to protect what you have, using homeowner’s insurance.

Although there were reports a few years ago of higher prices and limited availability for homeowners insurance, the market has opened up again, according to J. Robert Hunter, insurance director for the Consumer Federation of America. Premiums are expected to rise by no more than the inflation rate this year, he said.

“The market remains a competitive one where homeowners’ insurance shoppers can be selective,” said Marshall McKnight, a spokesman for the state Department of Banking and Insurance.

Here are several ways to save on home insurance:

Shop around. While many homeowners believe that all insurance companies charge the same, that’s an expensive mistake. Use a service such as ours to compare rate quotes from different companies if YOUR area. To get started, just use the form on the right.
“You can go from one company to another and pay twice as much,” said Hunter.

And don’t just call an agent and expect him to do the shopping for you, Hunter advised, because agents don’t represent all companies and might not get you the best deal.

Insure for “replacement cost” rather than “actual cash value.” After all, if your belongings are destroyed, do you want the insurance company to send you enough to buy a new couch – or do you want a $50 check for the actual value of your 11-year-old couch?

Make sure you are covered for at least 80 percent of the cost of replacing your home. If you’re not, it could hurt you even if your home does not need to be completely replaced.

Let’s say your home would cost $200,000 to replace and you’re insured for only $100,000, half of the replacement cost. If you have a $10,000 loss, you would get only half of that amount, or $5,000.

Of course, knowing how much it would cost to replace your home is not always easy. For example, I know how much I paid for my home, and how much I could probably sell it for, but I don’t have a clue how much it would cost to rebuild if it burned down.

The state Department of Banking and Insurance and the Insurance Council of New Jersey recommend that homeowners in this situation should consult their insurer, who will be able to estimate the cost of rebuilding based on the size and location of the home.

Think twice before calling your insurance company with small claims for minor home damage. There have been reports of homeowners facing much higher premiums after putting in only two claims. So if it’s Read more…

1. Safeguard your home

Take action to make your home theft-resistant. “Case” your home as if you were a burglar.

Burglars look for easy targets – make sure your home isn’t one of them.
Install exterior lights that are out of reach and triggered by motion.
Trim trees and shrubs near doors and windows.

Don’t hide house keys outside – burglars know where to look.

Consider investing in a security system. Not only does this make your home safer, it can lower your home insurance premiums.

When you’re on vacation:

Have mail and newspapers picked up.

Leave blinds in normal positions.

Arrange to have your lawn mowed or your driveway shoveled.

Tell police and neighbors that you will be away and ask them to watch your home.

2. Be a responsible dog owner

The numbers speak for themselves: According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 40% of Americans homes have a dog. There are 4 million dog bites per year, and dog bites create 33% of all homeowners liability claims – resulting in more than $1 billion in claims per year. Consider these tips to avoid having a claim brought against you:

Pick a dog breed that’s covered by your home insurance. Ask your insurance agent for details.

Have your dog spayed or neutered.

Train your dog.

Keep your dog on a leash when walking.

3. Protect your home business

Home businesses are generally not covered under your home insurance policy. You may have only limited property coverage and no liability coverage for your business under your homeowners policy. Research the coverage that you have for property and equipment damage or theft, loss of income, and general liability Read more…

Increase Your Deductible

Just like auto insurance, policies have deductibles, and the same rule of thumb applies–carry the highest deductible you can afford. The higher your deductible, the more premium credit you can expect to receive from your insurance company. Your savings could reach 25% by increasing the deductible from $100 to $1000.

Improve Your Home Security

Most insurance companies offer discounts for smoke detectors, burglar alarms, dead bolts, fire extinguishers, and Neighborhood Watch Areas. Homes with a fire and burglar alarm system hooked up to a third-party monitoring company receive higher discounts than homes with local bell alarms.

Consolidate Policies

Insuring two or more vehicles with the same insurance company can save you 10 – 15% on your premiums. If you cover your homeowners insurance and auto insurance together, you can reduce your premiums by another 10 – 15%.

Construction Type

Before buying a home, consider its construction type, such as frame or concrete block and steel (CBS). A wood frame house typically costs more to insure than one built mostly of concrete.

Verify Distance To Fire Stations And Windstorm Areas

If you live in the country, you’ll probably pay higher rates for your insurance than if you lived in town. Why? It?s because of the longer distance to your local fire station. If you live more than 5 miles from the nearest fire station, and more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant, you will most likely pay a higher premium.

Before purchasing your home, you may want to get a quote for both and flood insurance. Insurance companies may not offer you windstorm or flood coverage, depending upon the area in which you live. If your home is in a hurricane prone area and your insurance company offers windstorm coverage, then installing approved hurricane shutters should result in a premium discount.

Claims Free Record And Renewal Discounts

If you have not had a claim under your policy during the past 3 – 5 consecutive years, you could receive up to a 15% discount, depending on the insurance company. Plus, most companies will discount your premium if your policy has been in force for 3 straight years.

Mortgage Free Discounts

Some insurance companies target who have paid off their mortgage and offer them premium discounts of up to 5%.

New And Renovated Home Discounts

A majority of insurance companies offer a discount for new homes, and you may qualify if Read more…

1. Buy the right insurance for you. “You should know what you have, and you should know ahead of time that you are covered,” says Jeanne Salvatore, vice president for consumer affairs with the Insurance Information Institute, a nonprofit industry trade group. She recommends looking at your insurance coverage in four key areas: the structure of your house, your belongings, your liability to others and your living expenses if you’re forced out. “If there’s a disaster, you want to be able to rebuild your house and replace everything in it. And you need enough liability coverage to protect you in case you do get sued.” Living expenses would cover the cost of making the house livable or living elsewhere while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.

2. Get replacement value insurance. Face it, this is an insurance policy, not a garage sale. You don’t really care how much your possessions would fetch on the open market, the so-called “cash value” or “fair market value.” You want to be able to replace everything you lost with similar, new items. And make sure that your policy spells out that both your home and its contents are covered by replacement-value insurance.

When it comes to replacing the house itself, look for extended or guaranteed-replacement-value coverage. Guaranteed replacement, which covers rebuilding no matter what the cost, is not offered much any more, says Don Griffin, assistant vice president of commercial lines for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). Many companies offer extended-replacement-value insurance, which will cover up to 100 percent of the value of the home, plus a certain percentage to cover rebuilding the home in today’s market.

3. Understand the claims process thoroughly. Two policies can promise the same amount of coverage, but they can be vastly different when it comes to covering you and your family after a loss. Have your insurance agent explain exactly how claims are handled, especially when it comes to writing you a check. Do you receive your entire claim upfront, or just a fraction? Does the company pay you for all the things you’ve lost, or only those things that you replace?

Some policies will give you the cash value of your possessions right after a loss, but wait to cover the replacement value until after you’ve replaced your items — and have the receipts to prove it. This could be a problem if you’re wiped out and have no cash reserves.

Equally important is the timetable on replacement. If you go from living in a five-bedroom home to sleeping in a motel room with four kids and a dog, you might not want to go on a shopping spree right away. How long do you have to replace your things?

4. Take a thorough and accurate inventory. Filing a claim involves two steps — proving you owned certain items and verifying their worth. This is a lot easier to do when you still have your things. Go through your entire home with a video camera (rent one if you don’t already have one.) Walk through each room, do a quick sweep and get everything you own on tape. Don’t forget the attic, basement, closets and offsite storage locker, if you have one. Or take the low-tech method: make a list and shoot a few rolls of film. Stash your video or photos in a safety deposit box with a copy of your policy. If you keep your inventory at home, make a second copy to give to a friend or keep at the office.

5. Buy floaters. Many times, homeowners insurance and renter’s insurance policies limit the amount you can collect on some big-ticket items — usually things like computer equipment, jewelry, furs and fine collectibles — to a fraction of the replacement value. If this is the case, you need to pick up a special policy known as a “floater” or “endorsement” for each of those items. A floater will also reimburse you if you simply lose the article. In the case of something new, save the bill of sale with your inventory, and fax a copy to your insurance agent. If the item is older, have an appraisal done. Again, save one copy and send another to your agent. That way, you’ll never have to worry about proving you owned an item, and there will never be a dispute over what it’s really worth.

6. Keep pace with inflation. This is especially important with a homeowners insurance policy. It may have cost Read more…