Topics in Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners Insurance Coverages in Plain English
Who needs insurance industry jargon? Read this to get an explanation of your homeowners insurance coverages in plain English.

What Is Replacement Cost?
Why does your agent have your policy for a different amount than your house is worth? Read this article to learn why the amount of insurance on your homeowners policy is completely unrelated to the value of the house.

How NOT To Lose Your Home-Based Business
You need more protection for your home-based business than you'll get from your plain homeowners policy. But if you have a small business, you don't want the insurance to eat up all of your profits. So what options do you have?

Insuring a Home-Based Business: Why Most Home-Based Businesses Could Go Up in Smoke
About three out of every ten people operate some sort of home business. Their businesses vary widely, and so do their insurance needs. But they have one thing in common: A typical homeowners policy probably does not cover their businesses the way they think it does.

Flood and Water Damage: What Does a Homeowners Policy Cover?
Water damage is tricky on a homeowners policy, because the answer is, "It depends." It depends on where the water comes from, and what it damages. It also depends on your company and your policy. Are you covered for storm damage? Frozen pipes? Flood? Find out here!

So Why Didn't Her Policy Pay the Cost To Satisfy the Building Codes?
Most homeowners policies reimburse you only for the same quality of roof as the one that was damaged. What if building codes have changed since your home was built, and now you are required to meet a higher standard? How can you make your policy pay the difference? Find out here!

Five Ways To Protect Your Home from Winter Storm Dangers
We hope you don't experience a storm-damaged roof, leaking basement, or frozen pipes this winter. Nobody wants to go through that. Here are five very smart ways you can prepare for winter, either to avoid damage, or to be prepared if it happens despite your preparation.

Great Insurance, Easy, for Your Home, Rental, or Other Property

Do you think all home insurance is the same? Well, maybe. But read through your policy and go over the list of things that are not covered. Every policy has them. How much coverage do you have for jewelry? Computer equipment? Water backup? Then you will see the difference between companies.

There are also many other differences. Does your company give you money back if you do not file a claim? Do they raise your rates if you do file a claim? Will they drop your coverage if you file too many?

Your home is one of your biggest assets, so you need to protect it properly. More importantly, it is your dream. If your policy cannot be adjusted to get the coverage you need, consider shopping for a different company. And if your agent cannot answer your questions, consider shopping for a different agent. This type of consultation is the agent's job. It's why you pay him! Don't you deserve to have your home protected?

Michelle was cooking dinner when the phone rang. She left the chicken in the pan for only a couple of minutes, but that was long enough for it to begin to burn. The flames quickly spread to the grease that had spattered on the edge of the stove and the counter. She spread water on the fire, but that only spread it around. By the time she remembered that she should pour flour over a grease fire, it had already spread out of control.

This story has a happy ending, however, because she had renters insurance. Read this article to learn how you can protect yourself and your possessions for only about $100 a year.

Your new engagement and wedding rings are beautiful, and your husband paid dearly for them.

You got a new big-screen plasma television for Christmas, with a home theater system.

You bought a new computer so that you can play the latest games (and maybe use it for your finances, too).

These are all major purchases, and they are things of which you are proud. And you should be! But what if something happened to them? Do you know if your homeowners or renters policy will cover them? Do you know if they will be replaced at the full value, or if the payment will be reduced for depreciation? Do you know if they are covered if they are stolen, lost, or broken?

In this article, we will examine jewelry, electronics, and computer equipment separately. As always, you should check with your agent, because each company's policy is a little bit different.

You have taken care of your home all these years, but now you have moved and the house is vacant. Do you know what changes on your insurance coverage when the house is vacant? More importantly, do you know how to prevent uninsured losses?

No one has to tell you that the real estate market is in turmoil. Homes are taking longer to sell than any time in our memory. Homes that would have had buyers lining up two years ago, now are sitting on the market for six months, a year, or longer.

It is very important that you understand what is not covered by a regular homeowners policy on a vacant home. It is also important to learn what you can do to prevent nightmares with vacant homes like the very real one described in this article.

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