Because home insurance contains numerous features and add-ons, you would probably have many questions about home insurance, some of which you may be afraid to ask for one reason or another. Here are seven questions people are afraid to ask about home insurance.
1. Does a Standard Home Insurance Policy Offer Natural Disasters Coverage?
While standard homeowners insurance policies do not entirely exclude natural disasters, they only offer limited coverage. For this reason, you should go through your policy’s fine print with a fine-tooth comb to identify the exclusions on your homeowners insurance policy. Alternatively, you can talk to your insurance agent about it. Once you are aware of the exclusions, you can then purchase supplemental insurance policies for specific natural disasters, if necessary.
2. Will I Pay Lower Insurance Premiums If My House Is Old?
Older homes typically have older structures and fixtures, which means they require regular maintenance mainly due to wear and tear. For instance, an old plumbing system is more likely to develop leaks than a newer plumbing system. On the one hand, if left unattended, such leakages can cause your house to flood, leading to water damage. On the other hand, the cost of these regular repairs can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over time. For these reasons, older homes typically tend to carry higher insurance charges than newer homes.
3. Are My Possessions Covered?
Most homeowners’ insurance policies only cover typical personal belongings, including electronics, furniture, and cloths. This means they exclude valuable items such as expensive jewelry, antiques, and art. Even home insurance policies that cover valuable items only offer limited coverage, meaning you need supplemental insurance coverage for your valuable items.
4. Will a Basic Coverage Meet Most of My Home Insurance Needs?
A basic policy will likely be inadequate to cover all your home insurance needs, especially if you own high-ticket items such as an expensive home theatre system or furniture. If your possession’s value is more than a few thousand dollars, you will need more than just basic coverage.
5. What Is Liability Coverage?
Liability coverage is one of the essential features of a standard homeowners’ insurance policy. In essence, it covers accidental third-party bodily injury and property damage that occur within your property, such as slip and fall and dog-related injuries or property damage.
6. Will Home Insurance Cover My Home While I’m on Vacation?
If you’re planning an extended vacation, you should inform your insurer, who may suggest specific measures that you could take to protect your home while you’re on vacation. For instance, your insurer might recommend you hire a house sitter. Remember, whether you are home or not, your insurer will still hold you responsible for anything that happens in your house.
7. What If I fail to Perform Regular Maintenance?
Typically, your insurer will require you to perform regular maintenance on your house. If you fail to do this, your insurer may use this as a reason to reject your home insurance claim. Every time you perform maintenance, ensure you file the associated records in a safe place. Those will come in handy when you file a claim.
These are just seven questions people often hesitate to ask about home insurance. If you have some more questions about home insurance, contact the experts at Pierce Insurance Group. We are ready to help you with all your coverage needs and questions.