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Monday, July 1, 2019

By Michelle Olson


Making sure you protect the things you own is especially important in multifamily domiciles. The options that are available are plenty and you need to make sure you have the best selections for your personal situation. Choosing the right renters insurance Orlando includes checking on deductibles, coverage limitations, and options for liability.

Most landlords have policies that cover the building. Many renters wonder if this will cover the things in their apartment. The answer is generally no, and most rental contracts specifically state this. The best way to make sure your own stuff is covered is by having your own coverage. Even if the damage is done by a leaky pipe or something a neighbor did, you will not be covered by their policy. You are responsible for your own protections.

There are limits and deductibles that you need to consider. Deductibles are the amount that you pay before you receive money for your things. If you claim losing a $300 mattress due to a water leak and your deductible is for $300, you won't get any money to help replace the mattress. Many policies also have limits on high dollar items such as jewelry. For instance, an expensive ring might only be covered for the first $1000 of value. This is common but you can purchase a rider to cover more on specialty items.

There are a couple of different types of ways to be paid. The first type is cash value payment. This is where they pay the value of the item today. Not the purchase price since items devalue over time. The other is replacement value. With this one, they will pay the full cost to replace the item. A computer is a good example of something that loses value over time. If you spent $1000 on one five years ago it wouldn't be worth much today. So you wouldn't get enough to buy a new one. However, with the replacement value type of policy, they would provide what is needed to buy a new comparable computer.

You really need an inventory. For personal belongings, this may seem like overkill, but it is not. The insurance company will need this to be able to prove what the value of your possessions is. This should include photos of everything, including serial numbers and receipts to be sure you can prove what you paid for it and when you bought it. Not having a concise inventory is the best way to lose out on a claim. Just saying you own something isn't enough to get it replaced, you have to prove you owned it. File one copy with the insurance company and one away from your property, like in a safe deposit box.

Hotel costs can be covered. In the event of damage to your dwelling, you may have to stay in a hotel. Some states require landlords to provide this cost, but many do not. Ask your provider if this is included in your policy and consider adding it if it is not. Moving or paying for temporary residences is very expensive if your apartment or home becomes uninhabitable. Many families are displaced because a neighbor caused a fire and end up on the street.

Liability is often included. The liability, though, is usually for things like personal injury if someone falls on your steps or your apartment causes damage to a neighbor's belongings. This area can be fairly tricky so you want to be sure you understand what your coverage provides.

Having the right type of protection needs to be arranged prior to any disaster events. Check your current policy or ask questions about what your new policy will cover and be sure you have enough. Absolutely perform an inventory to make sure there is documentation of everything you own.




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