Spring may be the traditional time of year for cleaning out closets and drawers and organizing the basement or garage. It is also a great time for a review of your insurance coverages.
As your life changes so do your insurance needs. Instead of just dusting around the corners of your insurance policies this year, take the time to read them over and ask yourself a few questions:
Is my home fully covered?
Review your policy to make sure that you have enough insurance to rebuild your home. If you have made major improvements to your home by adding a new room, enclosing a porch or expanding a kitchen or bathroom it’s possible your home may be underinsured. Be sure to contact your Agent and adjust your homeowners insurance coverage limits.
Do I have enough coverage for expensive items?
Have you bought or received a gift of valuable jewelry since you purchased/renewed your policy? When was the last time you had the items you owned appraised? Standard homeowners insurance has dollar limits for the theft of certain types of expensive items like jewelry, furs and silverware. This means that the company will only pay the amount specified in the policy. To insure these items to their full dollar value, consider a personal property endorsement.
The best way to keep track of your belongings to make sure they are adequately insured is to create a home inventory.
Do I have enough liability insurance to fully protect my assets?
Standard homeowners and auto policies have liability coverage paying for judgments against you and your legal fees up to a limit set in the policy. However, you may want to have additional protection—that’s what an umbrella liability policy provides. An umbrella policy kicks in when you reach the limit on the underlying liability coverage in a homeowners, renters, condo or auto policy. If your assets have increased lately, you’ll have more to lose and may want to consider this extra layer of protection.
Most importantly whether its winter, spring, summer or fall, plan a regular talk with your insurance professional here at Aitken & Ormond so they can help you get the coverage you need.