Disaster news reminds us that early action is needed to ensure adequate protection of homes and property. Purchasing insurance or reviewing existing insurance is one of the most important tasks for a homeowner. In the event of a future insurance claim, a clear and proper insurance policy will help to quickly and accurately assess the damage to the home.
The basic steps for homeowners to obtain proper insurance are as follows
1. Make an inventory of the home:
Categorize and list valuable items, with videos and photos to clearly show their value. This list can be used to develop a list of items the homeowner wants to replace in the event of an insurance claim. Ask your insurance agent, as insurers often offer digital cloud storage for important homeowner data. Perform and update your inventory once a year or with each major purchase.
2. Indication of insurance coverage:
Complete and sufficient information in the insurance statement helps ensure that the homeowner has adequate insurance coverage in the event of a claim. While compiling this list may seem daunting at first, don’t put it off. By closely examining the furnishings, insurance claims can be handled more easily and quickly.
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3. Prove ownership clearly and in a timely manner:
Make sure you can identify a family member in each photo to prove ownership. Make sure videotapes, slides, and photos are. Legibly dated. This avoids the argument that they no longer exist or that time has passed since their creation. The Oklahoma Insurance Authority stresses the importance of recording personal belongings and protecting household inventory in order to make specific insurance claims.
4. Backup copies of documents showing proper home insurance:
Keep copies of important homes and insurance documents in a place where they will be easily accessible and not lost. It’s a good idea to scan documents and store them in the cloud, but don’t forget to keep hard copies in another location as well.
5. Don’t forget to buy insurance:
Many homeowners put savings first and may not have enough insurance coverage to keep premiums low. But the stakes are high: If a natural disaster strikes an uninhabited area, it will cost you more. What is not covered by insurance must be paid by the homeowner out of their own pocket, usually at a much higher rate. That’s why the most important home insurance advice is to purchase a policy that covers at least 80% of the value of the homes and the furnishings in it.
Natural disasters happen quickly and often catch homeowners off guard. With forethought and preparation, families can best weather disasters. Proper household insurance is never necessary, but can be very helpful if a disaster strikes.
Author Bio:
Lily Poole is a Property and Home Insurance officer by profession. She is pretty well experienced in the Homeowner Insurance NY and accounting field and has an impressive profile in the training and development industry.
