Here, we are always on the lookout for those hints of spring. The birds chirping a bit more, the brighter sunlight, and, soon, the emergence of flowers. It also comes with the need to get out there and clean out those flower beds, wash down the deck, and freshen up the yard. As you do, you may be thinking about making some changes. The thought of adding a beautiful gazebo could be one. Or, you may be ready to build a garage on your property so you can actually get some organization in place. If you are thinking about summer and ready to get the hard work out of the way now, let your home insurance agent know.
What’s the Connection?
Most people don’t call their home insurance company to let them know about the upcoming changes they plan to make. Of course, for things like flowerbeds, perhaps that new tree you were hoping for, or flowers, we don’t really need to know. But, for larger projects, you cannot keep your home safe and protected unless you have ample insurance. And that insurance needs to specifically reflect your home’s value and makeup.
Take a look, for example, at a few of the most common mistakes people make. Doing this can cost you significantly later on.
Their New Shed Wasn’t Covered Under Their Policy
Here’s what can happen. You build a shed. You store equipment in it. And, during a lightning storm, it starts on fire. You lose the shed and what’s in it. If you did not put that shed on your home insurance policy, you may not have coverage for it.
That New Garage Is Very Valuable
A big concern happens with the investment in larger or more valuable structures. This might include a garage, a barn, shed, gazebo, or just any other structure. The problem is, your home insurance policy has a cap on how much it will pay out for these structures. This is usually only about 10 percent of your home’s structural coverage. For example, if you have a $200,000 home, you have about $20,000 worth of coverage for other structures. If your garage burns down and we cover it, but the garage cost $30,000 to build, you may lose out on that $10,000. Here, you just need to let us know. We can verify that you have enough coverage. If not, we can adjust this for you – if you do it in advance.
A New Pool Didn’t Offer Enough Safety
Unfortunately, pools are highly risky structures. Many people have them, and there’s no problem with that. However, we need to document this on your home insurance policy. Without it, there’s no way to know if your claims will have coverage. For example, you could have a visitor suffer drowning or even someone slip and fall and hit their head on the structure. These are high-risk scenarios, but they are not uncommon.
So, What Should You Do?
It is actually quite simple to resolve this concern. Call Integrity Insurance Agency. Let your home insurance agents know about your plans. You’ll want to let us know about changes such as these:
- Pools
- Outdoor Kitchens
- Fire Pits
- Garages of all sizes
- Sheds of all sizes
- Decks
- Fencing
We don’t have to know about retaining walls and landscaping, though. Keep that in mind that these types of investments do not normally have coverage under your policy. Reach out to your agent today. Be sure you have adequate insurance to protect your assets if the worst does occur.
