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Renters Insurance | Five Questions to ask your Agent or Broker

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A renters insurance policy can cover a wide array of risks depending on the individual policy.

Renters insurance can cover your personal possessions as well as help pay for legal fees and manage the potential risk of a monetary legal judgment should you be sued because of an accident causing bodily injury or property damage to others. It’s important to seek the assistance of a knowledgeable risk manager to ensure your renters policy protects what you have worked so hard to accumulate.

Here are some questions to bring up with your agent or broker when choosing the amount of protection that will insure what matters most is properly protected.

renters insurance

  1. What is covered under my renters insurance policy?

Never make any assumptions about what is protected and what is not under any insurance policy, including your renters insurance. Should you need to file a claim, your agent or broker should explain in detail what your policy covers, and for how much money. If you are unsure, or have questions, always ask until you have a clear understanding. A respectable risk manager will always make time to be sure you understand the scope and limitations of your insurance policies.

A renters policy is similar to a homeowners policy in that it will generally cover your losses due to fire, theft, and accidental damage. It will also provide some protection against potential legal fees and financial awards due to accidents should you be found to be liable. A renters insurance policy generally does not cover flood or earthquake damage. You should always know the specific amount of coverage you have by category.

  1. Are my roommates covered under my policy?

Generally, only family members and not roommates are covered under a renters policy. Some providers allow multiple individuals to be covered under one policy, but again, never assume, always ask you agent or broker who is covered by your policy.

  1. Know the difference between current value and replacement cost protection.

There are two ways you can be protected by a renters policy. 1) You can have current value protection or 2) replacement cost. With current value protection, you might receive only $600 for a TV you may have paid $1,200 for due to depreciation, whereas replacement cost would ensure you could replace that exact TV at the current price.

  1. Am I protected if my dog bites a guest or neighbor?

Some policies cover liability created by your dog injuring someone, and some do not. It may also depend on the type of dog you own. You should always discuss this matter with your broker and agent when acquiring your renters insurance.

  1. Are items stolen from my car protected under my renters insurance policy?

Renters policies generally include coverage for items stolen off-premises. That means belongings outside your home have insurance protection similar to the things inside your home. However, off premises coverage may be limited to a percentage of your total coverage amount for personal items. For example, if you have $50,000 in personal items coverage, the amount available for off-premises losses may be 10 percent of that figure, or $5,000. Also, keep in mind, there is generally a deductible that applies.

Conrey Insurance Brokers is dedicated to building strong, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships with our clients and community. The Conrey Team of experienced risk managers can assist you with your personal insurance, commercial insurance, life insurance, and financial services needs.

Conrey Insurance Brokers prides itself on being a one-stop independent insurance broker and financial services boutique that provides unparalleled expertise, professionalism, and service at a tremendous value.

Act today to ensure you are prepared for tomorrow. Contact the Conrey Team at 1-877-450-1872 or go to our website to get started on a free consultation today.

Photo #1 downloaded from Pixabay and is a Public Domain image.

Photo #2 by Architecturist and used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Risk Management Chronicles | The Risks of Renting your Property on Airbnb

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Do you rent rooms, or your home, through online property sharing apps like Airbnb?

If so, you need to be aware of the potential risk management issues you could face when renting your property through these services.

Seen as a less expensive alternative to staying at a hotel, travelers are starting to use these home rental services while on vacation. This is creating a financial attractive opportunity for many property owners to make extra money from renting rooms or rental properties through Airbnb and other property sharing services.

In fact, the lucrative nature of utilizing these services has created such a shortage of standard rental property in San Francisco that the city is starting to regulate and limit its usage. A property owner can make more money renting short-term through these services than on a long-term lease to an individual or family.

While you may think you are covered under your standard homeowners or property owner’s policy, you are creating gaps in coverage and a risk management nightmare. These policies are designed for very specific risk management issues a homeowner or landlord may face in a standard situation.

Risk Management

Frequent renting of a room or home by different individuals requires a vacation rental risk management strategy to ensure you are properly protected against potential liability. While Airbnb does provide two ways for property owners to protect themselves, it is important to note that only one is an insurance policy, and that has a much more limited scope of protection than a vacation rental policy.

Anytime you have a major change in your living situation, or the manner in which you are utilizing a rental property, you need to contact your agent or broker so the proper risk management steps can be taken to ensure you and your property are properly protected.

If you would like more information on the risk management issues of renting a room or a rental property through Airbnb, contact your account manager at Conrey Insurance Brokers. They will gladly email you our document regarding the unique risk management issues concerning Airbnb and other home sharing services.

Since 1969, Conrey Insurance Brokers have been protecting the personal, commercial, and financial interests of our clients throughout Southern California. We are here to provide expert risk management solutions, ensuring your interests, loved ones, and financial future is properly protected.

Conrey Insurance Brokers is dedicated to building strong, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships with our clients and community. The Conrey Team of experienced risk managers can assist you with your personal insurance, commercial insurance, life insurance, and financial services needs.

Conrey Insurance Brokers prides itself on being a one-stop independent insurance broker and financial services boutique that provides unparalleled expertise, professionalism, and service at a tremendous value.

Act today to ensure you are prepared for tomorrow. Contact the Conrey Team at 1-877-450-1872 or go to our website to get started on a free consultation today.

Cover Photo by Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine and is in the Public Domain.

Photo #2 by Valeriesophie and is used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

How Social Media Posts Could Negate Your Insurance Coverage

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Do you post images of your vacation on social media while you are on your trip?

If you personally haven’t done so, you probably have a friend or family member who proudly shared their photos while on vacation. In the past, we have published blog posts that have detailed the risk management issues this could cause for you. It is essentially an announcement to burglars that nobody is home and your house and valuables are ripe for the picking.

Insurers are considering whether to view the posting of real time vacation photos as a violation of the “reasonable care” clause on your homeowners and valuable articles policies. Seeing how more than 2 million residential burglaries occur in the U.S. every year, costing insurers more than $14 billion annually, it is no wonder why insurance providers are spending time seriously analyzing this issue.

social media

Think there is no correlation between social media vacation posts and home burglaries? All you need to do is look at the case of English Premier League professional soccer player John Terry to see that one absolutely exists. Terry was on a ski vacation with his family and posted pictures on his Instagram account of his wife and himself on the slopes. A couple of his 3.4 million followers on Instagram took this as an invitation to break into Terry’s $6,600,000 Surrey, UK mansion. The thieves made off with more than $500,000 worth of the Terry family’s valuables, including hard to replace first edition Harry Potter books valued at more than $23,000.

Police and insurers are alarmed at the increasing correlation between vacation social media posts and residential burglaries. While insurers currently replace the valuables in such a situation, it is increasingly looking as that may not always be the case. An additional consideration is that many have a loved one house-sitting while they are away. Thieves may break into a home expecting it to be empty, only to be surprised by a house-sitter and the consequences of that may not be fixed by any amount of insurance coverage.

Conrey Insurance Brokers urges you and your loved ones not to post pictures of your vacations on social media, especially in real time. While your insurance policy may replace your valuables, it can’t fix the violation you will feel after having your home burglarized.

We want you and your loved ones to enjoy your vacation without getting a dreaded call from your local police or neighbor that your home was burglarized because of an image posted on social media.

For more information on how to secure your home while on vacation follow this link to our blog post on the topic.

Since 1969, Conrey Insurance Brokers have been protecting the personal, commercial, and financial interests of our clients throughout Southern California. We are here to provide expert risk management solutions, ensuring your interests, loved ones, and financial future is properly protected.

Conrey Insurance Brokers is dedicated to building strong, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships with our clients and community. The Conrey Team of experienced risk managers can assist you with your personal insurance, commercial insurance, life insurance, and financial services needs.

Conrey Insurance Brokers prides itself on being a one-stop independent insurance broker and financial services boutique that provides unparalleled expertise, professionalism, and service at a tremendous value.

Act today to ensure you are prepared for tomorrow. Contact the Conrey Team at 1-877-450-1872 or go to our website to get started on a free consultation today.

Cover photo from pexel.com and is used under the CC0 license.

Photo #2 from pexel.com and is used under the CC0 license.

Disaster Preparation for your Household

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Disaster preparation is an essential risk management task for every household. Homeowners throughout the United States face a variety of natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. If you are unprepared for one of these disasters, you and your family could be left without food, electricity, or even shelter.

To prepare your household for a disaster, Conrey Insurance Brokers offers you the following disaster preparation tips:

  • Know the risks. Depending on where you live, your home could be impacted by any number of unique hazards like landslides or hazardous material spills. Familiarize yourself with the risks that are most likely to occur near your home to guide your disaster preparation.
  • Create a phone list. Create a master list of family and emergency contacts. Ensure that every member of your family has a copy of this list and stores it in a safe and easy-to-access area.
  • Pick a meeting place. If you get separated from your loved ones during a disaster, it’s important to have a meeting place set up. This could be a neighbor’s house, library, or community center.
  • Stay informed. Once impacted by a disaster, you will want to know how to receive updates on the situation. You and your family should know how to get this information ahead of time. Contact your local government to learn the best ways to receive alerts.
  • Know how to turn off utilities. If you suspect a leak, knowing how to turn off your home’s gas and electricity can protect your family from fires or explosions. Locate and label your electrical panel as well as your water and gas valves.
  • Store emergency supplies. Above all, in the event of a disaster, you will need access to clean water. You will need at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day. In addition, emergency supplies like first- aid kits, whistles, flashlights, and cell phones will be critical to have on hand. Keep all of these items in a safe area, or create an easy grab-and-go bag for quick access.

Being properly prepared by implementing disaster preparation protocol could be the difference in the survival of you and your loved ones should a disaster happen. We hope you never need to use our disaster preparation tips, but you can sleep easier knowing you are prepared should the need arise.

disaster preparation

Since 1969, Conrey Insurance Brokers have been protecting the personal, commercial, and financial interests of our clients throughout Southern California. We are here to provide expert risk management solutions, ensuring your interests, loved ones, and financial future is properly protected.

Conrey Insurance Brokers is dedicated to building strong, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships with our clients and community. The Conrey Team of experienced risk managers can assist you with your personal insurance, commercial insurance, life insurance, and financial services needs.

Conrey Insurance Brokers prides itself on being a one-stop independent insurance broker and financial services boutique that provides unparalleled expertise, professionalism, and service at a tremendous value.

Act today to ensure you are prepared for tomorrow. Contact the Conrey Team at 1-877-450-1872 or go to our website to get started on a free consultation today.