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KC Home Inventory
Accredited Member
of the
Better Business Bureau
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Chances are, the first time you
purchased Homeowners Insurance
was when you purchased your
first home. The realtor may
have called upon an agent with whom they had a relationship and that
insurance agent provided the title company with a policy that met the
criteria of the
mortgage company.
Do you have the proper coverage? 75%
of all homeowners have inadequate protection because their coverage is
based on mortgage balances or square footage.
A Home Inventory Service will professionally
document your personal property
for you to determine the proper
coverage.
Tips on Buying Homeowner's Insurance
This is an over-view of some typical Homeowner's Insurance
coverage, as well as some exclusions and limitations that
can
impact your recovery when you have a claim.
Coverage Explanations
The following will be based
upon the most common of Homeowner's policies . . . |
All Physical Loss (APL): Property
covered on an APL basis means that property is covered against
damage from Any-and-All perils EXCEPT those perils that are
SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED by the policy (act of war, flood, public
domain, wear and tear, drain backup, earth movement, nuclear hazard,
etc.).
Named Peril (NP): Property covered on an NP
basis means that property is covered against damage ONLY if the
damage is the result of a specifically named peril (wind, rain,
fire, vandalism, falling objects, etc.).
Actual Cash Value
(ACV): The maximum potential payment the Insurance Company
will make for damage to covered property is based upon the ACV (or
depreciated value) of the property at the time of loss. Example:
Two years ago you paid $500.00 for an item. That item had a
reasonable life expectancy of ten years. You have already received
two years (or 20%) use of that item when it was damaged. That item
(or a comparable equivalent if that item is now out of production)
currently sells for $500.00 new. Based upon ACV Coverage, the most
you would collect is $400.00 ($500.00 less 20% depreciation).
Replacement Cost Value (RCV): The maximum potential payment
the Insurance Company will make for damage to covered property is
based upon the current cost to replace the property with NEW
comparable property (no depreciation). Example: Two
years ago you paid $500.00 for an item. That item currently sells
for $500.00. Based upon RCV coverage, the most you would collect is
$500.00 (no depreciation).
Declarations Page (Dec Sheet):
This is the single page form that is attached to the actual policy
on which appears policyholder information such as insured name and
address, mortgage company name, address and loan number, policy
number, inception and expiration dates, overages, premium charges,
endorsement forms, etc.
Endorsement: A separate
written form attached to the basic policy that changes some of the
terms, conditions, limitations or exclusions that appear in the
basic policy contract.
Home Owner's Insurance Policies
Home
Owner's Insurance Policies are "package" policies providing multiple
forms of insurance to protect the Insured against multiple possible
causes of loss. The Home Owner's Insurance Contract package includes
two primary forms of insurance: -
Property Insurance
-
Liability Insurance
INCLUDED
IN THE PROPERTY SECTION of your Home Owner's Policy is coverage to
protect your property against loss or damage, as well as coverage to
protect your household budget against increased expenses that could
be incidental to the insured property having sustained a covered
loss. Coverage with the "property" section of your Home Owner's
Policy are typically referred to as Coverage's) "A", "B", "C", and
"D". These coverage designations breakdown as follows . . . -
Coverage "A": This insurance covers your main dwelling
structure and all permanent attachments thereto. Coverage "A" is
usually All Physical Loss (APL) and is based upon Replacement
Cost Value (RCV).
-
Coverage "B": This insurance
covers other structures on your same property that are NOT
permanently attached to your dwelling (fence, storage shed,
gazebo, pool, etc.), as well as landscape components (trees,
shrubs, grass, sprinklers, decks, etc.). Coverage "B" is usually
All Physical Loss (APL) and is based upon Replacement Cost Value
(RCV), except trees, shrubs, plants and lawns, which would be
covered on a Named Peril (NP) basis. Coverage "B" will NOT
usually cover separate structures on your premises that are
"intended for use" or are actually used "in whole or part" for
business purposes. If this presents a potential problem for you,
ask your agent to "endorse" your policy to extend this coverage.
- Coverage C: This insurance
covers your personal property, which can be loosely defined as "anything you
own which is not a permanent part of your dwelling, out buildings or land
(clothes, furniture, jewelry, paintings, appliances, etc.)". Coverage "C" is
usually Named Peril (NP) and is based upon Actual Cash Value (ACV). Some
insurance companies are now starting to offer All Physical Loss (APL) and
even more are offering Replacement Cost Value (RCV) on Coverage "C" of their
Homeowner's policies.
Whether Coverage "C" on your Homeowner's Policy
is based upon All Physical Loss (APL) or Named Peril (NP), Actual Cash Value
(ACV) or Replacement Cost Value (RCV), most basic Homeowner's policies
include coverage "limitations" that apply to certain classes of personal
property.
Following are listed some types of personal property and
the typical coverage limits that could apply . . .
- Any personal property: while
away from premises - $1,000.00
-
Artwork: varies greatly (low limits to no limits) - check your
policy
- Business property:
(not including electronic data equipment) - $200.00
- Electronic data equipment:
(on premises only) - $5,000.00
- Firearms: $1,000.00
- Jewelry: including furs,
precious and semi-precious stones - $1,000.00 to $2,500.00
- Manuscripts: $1,000.00
- Money: medals, precious
metals - $100.00
- Passports: securities, stamp
collections, tickets - $1,000.00
- Trailers: (not used with
watercraft) - $1,000.00
- Watercraft: (including
equipment, motor and trailer) - $1,000.00
-
Coverage "D": This is the insurance that protects your
household budget. It is typically referred to as Additional
Living Expense (ALE) or Loss-of-Use Coverage. In the event you
should have a covered loss that renders your home uninhabitable,
you would have to incur the expense of relocating to a temporary
substitute residence while your home is being repaired. The
extra expense you would incur for this temporary relocation
would be reimbursed to you under this coverage. This would be a
dollar-for-dollar reimbursement and would not be subject to ACV
or RCV conditions.
Contact us for more
information.
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