Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Home Insurance-Protecting the American Dream in Chandler, AZ

Home ownership is at the very heart of the American Dream. We all have visions of soaring gables, brick fireplaces, cobblestone walkways, and picket fences dancing in our heads. While owning your home is an absolute honor, it is not until you move into your residence that you suddenly realize there is a lot of responsibility and worry that comes with that joy. The questions come fast and furious. What happens if someone breaks into my home and steals my grandma's silver? How much will it cost to refinish the hardwood floors if a pipe breaks in the basement? Has this neighborhood ever experienced golf ball sized hail?
So that you can once again enjoy your home, you need the peace of mind that you are only going to find with Home Insurance in Chandler, AZ. Because home insurance policies vary, you need to have an open line of communication with your insurance agent so that you know precisely what is covered. For instance, many people wrongly assume that their home insurance policy will naturally protect them against a flood or an earthquake. Now, you are probably thinking that you don't live in an area of Arizona that could offer your property any damage by either such misfortune. The truth of the matter, however, is that you just don't know what Mother Nature might throw at you. The worst case scenario is that a fluke disaster occurs, destroys your house, and your insurance does not cover that type of event. In such an instance, safer would have been much better than sorry, and your insurance agent has the expertise to tell you just exactly how much risk your residence has for either of these mishaps. Both flood and earthquake insurance can be very affordable when purchased as separate policies depending on the location of your home, so check into at.
AARP presented the five most unusual claims that will test the bounds of your policy. These are other unforseen circumstances that may or may not be covered by your own policy, so you need to address them with your agent so you are appropriately covered:
  1. Dog Bites--According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 4.7 million people bitten by dogs every year. Of that number, approximately 800,000 victims must seek medical attention and 50% of the time these bites occurred on the dog owner's property. Guess who is responsible for that bill?
  2. Mold--No one ever used to discuss mold unless you were in science lab. Now, it is literally everywhere, spreading its sickness and costing exorbitant amounts of money to mitigate.
  3. Terrorism--while most home policies will protect you from acts of war, acts of terrorism are not covered. Even though insurance companies paid to fix the structural damage suffered during the 9/11 attacks, this is such new ground that you need to make certain you are under the company's umbrella.
  4. Objects Falling from the Sky--whether it is a tree limb, a piece of an airplane, or a meteor, there will be damage to your roof. Make certain that your policy protects you from the ramifications of that damage, just as if it were hail.
  5. Accidents Outside of the Home--while home policies will cover the cost for an injury that someone suffers at your property, that protection might also follow you off the premises. For instance, if you accidentally run a shopping cart into someone's car, you may be covered.

The key to finding the policy that offers you the peace of mind you deserve is dialogue with your agent. As homeowners we should know exactly what our policies include, but too many of do not until it's too late. Allow the experts to help us protect the safety and security of our homes.

If you have any questions contact us we are Arizona Insurance Agents that are ready to help.