Questions to Ask an Insurance Agent

Questions to Ask an Insurance Agent

 

Every homebuyer should contact his/her insurance company at least once a year to make sure their insurance is up to date.

 

You should ask your agent the following questions:

 

1. Do I have enough insurance to rebuild my house?

 

You should make sure your policy covers the cost of rebuilding.  The value of your real estate is not the same as what it would cost to rebuild it in case of damage. Most of the standard policies that usually cover disasters, like fire or hurricanes, do not include flood coverage.  You may consider buying additional flood coverage.

 

2. Do I have enough insurance to replace all of my possessions?

 

Most standard insurance policies cover personal possessions for about 50% to 70% of the amount of coverage you have on the house's structure. That may not be enough, thus, you should conduct a house inventory to detail everything you own.  Estimated the cost of replacing these items. Think about buying a cash-value policy  that covers the cost of replacing your belongings minus the depreciation, or a replacement-cost policy that reimburses you for the full current cost of replacing your possessions.

 

3. Do I have enough insurance to protect my assets?

 

Apart from protecting your house and your belongings, your insurance also protects you against lawsuits. Your liability insurance covers your legal fees and any additional damage you may have to pay if somebody, for example, sustains an injury on your property and sues you. Talk to your insurance agent and make sure you have enough liability insurance to protect your assets.

 

If you have any questions or suggestions concerning this article, you are welcome to comment on it below.