As home prices claw their way back to prerecession levels, you may be wondering if you need to increase the limits of your homeowners insurance to cover the increased value of your home. Unfortunately, the answer to that question will vary, and it depends on many factors. One of the biggest questions you need to […]
Homeowner’s insurance will protect you from a variety of losses and damage. Everything from fire, theft, storm damage and injuries on your property will be covered by your policy. In order to provide this protection, insurers rely on an accurate assessment of your home. They have to take into account all risks associated with your […]
A recent report by Enservio Inc, a company that helps insurers settle contents claims on homeowners policies, found that claimants often report a value for their damaged or stolen belongings that is almost double the retail price. While the report does not provide proof that customers are lying about the value of their contents to […]
Home automation can quickly turn your humble homestead into a “smart home” that can warn you, or your insurer that your alarm system has not been turned on or the front door has been left open. As houses become smarter, insurers are considering the opportunities that home based telemetric devices offer for accessing and monitoring […]
The last thing any homeowner wants to hear is that they have mold in their home. It instantly brings to mind terrifying stories of toxic mold poisoning you and your family. Even if the mold proves not to be toxic, you can expect a long, difficult and very expensive cleanup before your house is back […]
The day that you close on a new house is unforgettable. It’s always exciting and a bit nerve wracking. At the end of the day you will get the keys to your dream house, but before that happens there are tons of papers to initial and sign as well as dozens of things to arrange. […]
The recent and tragic mudslide in Washington has served as a stark reminder that Mother Nature is powerful force. Unfortunately, it is also a reminder that not all natural disasters are covered by your homeowners policy. While the typical homeowners policy provides protection against a large number of issues both big and small, it doesn’t […]
This week is National Termite Awareness Week so we thought we would have a look at what type of damage these nasty, voracious little creatures can do to your home and if it is covered by your homeowners insurance. Termites can be found in dozens of states but Southern California has a heavy concentration of […]
It has been quite a winter so far. Bitterly cold temperatures and record snowfalls have left much of the country in a deep freeze and buried in snow. Winter weather can take its toll on your house and can often lead to expensive claims on your homeowners policy. According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) […]
Imagine this: You come home one day from work to find a large portion of your living room ceiling lying on the floor. After an inspection from a contractor you learn that a very important structural beam has collapsed bringing down the ceiling supports that were attached to it. Now the bad news, all of […]