Renters Insurance Coverage
A lot of people want to know how renters insurance work. With most of the questions coming from apartment renters themselves, it makes sense to understand the insurance you are buying and what is actually covered in your policy of choice. The fact remains that the protection for renters is different from the protection of homeowners, but to enjoy quality coverage both policies have to work hand-in-hand.
The homeowner’s insurance covers the building and structure of the rented apartment. It is important that you discuss with your landlord so as to know the protection he or she has on the property already before buying additional protection for your valuables. As an apartment renter, you need to buy insurance to protect your properties inside your apartment against damage by fire, theft, bad weather etc.
This protection will cover your electronics, clothes, pictures and other important items you have in your home. There’s a need for you to understand the types of coverage available to you as a renter so make sure you as your insurer to list out all your options and explain them one after the other. This keeps you in the best position to get the best deal from your insurance provider.
To help you get the right insurance agency to work with, consider working with a reliable insurance agency like The Alexander Insurance Group that will give you the best renters protection at the most affordable price. Their areas of operation cover South Carolina, including West Columbia, Irmo, Lexington, Chapin, and surrounding areas. Contact them and receive an instant online quote with their free quote tool.
Things to Know Before Opting For Renters Insurance Coverage
Do you know what the total value is of the things you own in your apartment or home? What about the replacement cost, do you have even a clue as to what that is? There are many things that you probably do not know and that is why you are here trying to find out if you really need renters insurance coverage or not. Here are some of the things you have to know before you make this decision.
Firstly, your landlord is not responsible for anything other than your apartment or your home. Your belongings are not something that will be covered by your landlord’s insurance and if they are stolen or destroyed you will lose out on all of them. This is something to consider before you make your decision and most people do not know this.
Secondly, renters insurance coverage is a type of insurance that offers protection for each and every possession you own. This will protect you all the way down to the spoons you use to eat your cereal in the morning. You have to understand that when you get renters insurance coverage you are really buying a policy that will replace all your belongings if they are stolen or they are burned up in a fire. This is important.
Lastly, you may not think you own much, but imagine for a minute that you just arrived home and you are told that your home is gone and all your things inside are also gone. What would be your reaction and how would you survive it? You would have to pay to replace everything and that can add up in a hurry.
What Type Of Renters Insurance Coverage Do You Need?
The type of renters insurance coverage you need will depend a lot on your individual circumstances.
Insurance policies are to a certain extent adaptable. One of the benefits of using an expert insurance broker is that the good ones will check your existing plans to see what cover you already have. They won’t duplicate your insurance and you will end up with renters insurance coverage you actually need rather than a one size fits all policy.
You will need to decide what level of protection you want to have on your belongings. Are you going to insure them against damage done by fire, smoke and water? Some people will insure themselves against a fire but not against the damage done by the fire brigade when they put out the flames. Other issues you need to consider protecting yourself against include explosions, flood damage, earthquakes, mold/mildew, sewers or drain back-up, sink holes, termites and any other natural disasters applicable to the area you live in. If you live somewhere that hasn’t seen an earthquake in 100 years you are probably safe leaving this protection out of your policy. But if you live in California, chances are you should include it.
Another issue you need to think about is the level of protection you have on your belongings. Renter’s insurance coverage varies from company to company. You could be insured for actual cost only which is a lot lower than the replacement cost of most items. It pays to check what you are insured for as only then can you make a decision on whether you need to make a change.
Does Renters Insurance Cover All My Possessions?
The answer here depends on the policy limit that your insurance company provides. There are actually theft limits that are being imposed to specific items such as computers, high-tech gadgets, expensive jewelry and others. This is why you should read and understand the entire policy so as not to miss out on anything. Also, there are several limits per category which you should clarify with your agent or from the company. Inquire how much are the category limits if there are any and how will the limit be applied to the items that will be covered. There is also high-value items that may need a rider or an endorsement because they are not included in the policy so do check out for these things.