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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

6 Often Seen Home Insurance Mistakes Which You May Lose You Everything

By Donald Saunders

Taking out the correct property and casualty insurance cover may not be particularly high on your list of financial priorities and, compared with things like investment decisions and estate planning issues, questions about the language in your homeowners plan could seem hardly worthy of consideration. However, the more successful you are, the more involved your asset-protection requirements are likely to be-and the more you have to lose. Suppose, for example, that in addition to your primary residence-a historic home-you also own a house at the beach and a condo in the city.

For example, let us assume that your properties are in 3 different states, the value of your collection of Abstract Expressionist paintings has risen quickly and you recently volunteered to serve as a director of of a charity. Virtually every aspect of this present situation could cost you dearly.

Insurance laws vary considerably from one state to the next, different kinds of property need specialized coverage and collections of art and other unique items might be hard to protect fully. In The Meantime, serving on the board of a non-profit organization could land you with additional personal liability.

Safeguarding yourself, your family and your property could mean having to buy additional coverage, although additional insurance isn't necessarily the answer. Rather, it's vital to review all of your needs, think about specialized policies and coordinate your coverage with other facets of your financial situation.

Here are 6 different shortcomings that could turn out to be very costly.

1. Leaving gaps in your homeowner's cover.

Any homeowner needs to look at their cover on a regular basis so as to keep up with rising replacement costs. But, insuring different kinds of property in different locales presents special challenges. If you buy insurance from more than one carrier you might be faced with several different limitations, rules, and policy renewal dates. For instance, the liability limit on the policy covering a second home might fall below the minimum on an excess liability plan designed to complement the insurance cover on your primary home and you could end up up being responsible for the difference.

2. Brushing Aside the unique characteristics of your property.

One of the perks of affluence is having the money to own great homes but one of the drawbacks is that These may be hard to insure adequately. Normal homeowner's coverage is not going to pay for the hard-to-find materials and craftsmanship necessary to rebuild that 19th century property you have lovingly restored. Coastal properties could well be subjected to hurricane damage, while a home in the mountains of California could be subject to wildfires or earthquakes.

3. Inadequate insurance for collectibles and art.

Normal homeowner's policies place a limit on coverage for the loss of hings like antiques, furs, and other valuables. And while you could arrange additional cover, insuring the true value of an art collection will usually mean buying a specialized plan which addresses several critical issues.

4. Forgetting to organize insurance for employees.

When an individual works for you or your family as, for instance, a nanny, landscaper or personal assistant you could have a liability for medical expenses and lost wages if that worker is hurt while at work. Various states require household employers to pay into a workers compensation fund while in other states this is optional. However, providing such insurance may be obligatory for ensuring your financial well being.

5. Neglecting your liability as a member of a board of directors.

Some form of excess liability coverage might help protect you if you are sued as a director of a nonprofit's board or, for more comprehensive protection, you may want to consider taking out special directors liability insurance.

6. Failing to get regular plan reviews and updates.

Your finances are not static and neither are your insurance needs. The value of a collection might increase, home renovations may mean an increase in the value of your home and the re-titling of assets as part of your estate plan or as a result of divorce, a death in the family, or the birth of a child may require changes to your plan. Even lacking any significant events, you will undoubtedly need a comprehensive review of your insurance cover at least every two years. - 23211

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