If you need help deciding if you have the right coverage on your property in SW Florida contact Mark & Teresa Baker at John R. Wood Island Real Estate. We have an in house Insurance agent for all your insurance needs. CLICK HERE to visit Mark & Teresa's website.
DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013
Homeowner's insurance rates
have risen 69 percent over the past decade, now averaging $1,000 a year. But as
rates rise, home owners are finding their coverage hasn’t. In fact, some
insurance companies have added new restrictions or increased deductibles, CNNMoney
reports.
Some home owners are being
faced with tens of thousands of dollars in costs for damages that they
originally thought would be covered by their homeowner's insurance policies.
"It's easy to think you're
covered when you're not," says Amy Bach, executive director of advocacy
group United Policyholders.
For example, coverage most
often falls short in covering flood damage and wind damage, according to the
article. Private insurers mostly stopped covering flood damage, which forced
home owners to be proactive in purchasing coverage through the National Flood
Insurance Plan. Also, special wind deductibles have been introduced in several
states, but home owners need to be proactive in checking their amount of
coverage in case of a windstorm and deciding whether they need additional
coverage.
Another area where homeowner's
insurance policies fall short in coverage, according to experts, is covering
water damage, such as from a cracked pipe, leaky toilet, or clogged drain. Many
insurers have scaled back their coverage in this area. Some experts recommend
home owners should increase their protection by getting a rider that covers
sewer and drain backups, particularly if they have a sump pump. Wireless water
alarms -- which cost about $25 for three -- also can help home owners detect a
leak quickly before significant damage.
No comments:
Post a Comment