Homeowner's Insurance: Are You Covered?

Will you be prepared if disaster strikes your area? Follow these tips to make sure.

Thousands escaped the October 2003 Southern California wildfires alive only to see their homes burned to the ground. For the 3,600 families to suffer this way, one critical question leapt to mind immediately once the smoke cleared: Will my insurance cover my loss? Too often, sadly, the answer was "not entirely."

So said California insurance commissioner John Garamendi, who described complaints about inadequate coverage as a recurring theme at a series of November workshops his agency staged for fire victims. As time passed, Garamendi predicted, the number of gripes would swell. "Many will be underinsured," he said.

There are a variety of factors that determine whether your homeowner's coverage is sufficient once catastrophe strikes, but Garamendi and other experts agree that it's your responsibility to make sure your bases are covered -- by doing your homework before buying a policy and by periodically reviewing that policy and other relevant factors once you've got it.

"Ultimately, it's your property," said P. J. Crowley, vice president of public affairs at the Insurance Information Institute, a trade group. "You have to decide what kind of product you want."

True, says Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a California-based consumer group. And, Bach adds, that's what makes the October fires an effective "wake-up call" for homeowners: "Anytime you hear about something like this, that's a good time to call your insurance agent and ask, 'Am I covered?'"

Here are some ways to make sure you are:

BEFORE BUYING A POLICY
Penny Foolish: Don't just shop for the lowest-priced policy. It may come back to haunt you if you suffer a total loss.

The Best Policy: Ask your agent: Is this the best coverage you've got? You might find out that it's not.

Raise the Bottom Line: If you increase your deductible, you're likely to lower your premiums. You'll also ensure that your policy is geared toward what you really need: protection against accidents and catastrophes.

Extend Yourself: Guaranteed-replacement-cost policies are mostly a thing of the past, so the best you can probably do now is an extended-replacement-cost policy. In exchange for higher premiums, you can buy yourself coverage for more than 100 percent of the value of your home.

REVIEWING YOUR POLICY
Value Added: If the value of your home climbs or if you make major renovations, discuss whether your policy adequately accounts for these changes.

The Fine Print: Read any notices you receive from your insurer carefully; these can spell out significant changes in coverage.

Make a Movie: When it comes to possessions, go through your home with a videocamera to create a visual record of your stuff. Make two copies and ask a relative or friend to hold on to one.

Rider in a Storm: The loss of especially valuable possessions (jewelry or antiques, for instance) may not be adequately covered by your policy. Make a detailed list of these items on a separate rider and pay a bit more to cover any potential loss.

What Goes Up: Don't assume you've got sufficient inflation protection built into your policy. Have your agent show you exactly what's there.

Code Red: Would rebuilding after a total loss require you to meet any new building, zoning or other codes? Check with your local building department, then review what your policy covers.

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• Insurance Information Institute
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• United Policyholders
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