Budgetcarinsurance

Mothers house burned to the ground less than two years after she buried her husband. What started as a small warm spot under the cedar paneling developed to a wisp of smoke and within minutes a wall of flame.

There was no time for her to think about possessions, treasured photographs or valued antiques. She had time to call 911, put on boots, coat and vacate the house she had called home for almost thirty years. Mother walked down the driveway during the bitter cold night to a neighbors home across the street. I can only imagine what thoughts were going through her mind during that short walk. They stood inside and watched as flames shot higher than any roof line in the neighborhood reducing her memories to ash.

I didnt hear of the fire until the next morning when I made my usual morning call. She was still in shock. How do you even begin to pick up the pieces of your life when every thing you have loved and cherished has gone up in smoke or is burned beyond recognition? I am so proud of my Mother. She was brave and positive through that awful experience watching her home raging with fire.

You may think this is just another story to make you feel bad and that is not the case. I am telling you about this terrible house fire in hope you will realize the importance of insurance. What would happen to you and your family if there was an electrical problem and fire in your home tonight? Would you find safety from a fire with an escape plan? Do you have insurance to help you replace your house?

I cant say enough good things about the insurance company which handled Mothers claim. I cannot imagine a more frightening experience for a senior than to watch their home in flames. Thankfully, many of her possessions were replaced with the help of her insurance. Because there was no record of value (or photos) for the antiques it was impossible to establish a replacement value.

Mother is approaching the first anniversary of the house fire. Without house insurance she would not be living in a newly-constructed home and beginning to pick up the pieces. Thankfully the Fire Department found her cedar chest containing many pieces of china and amazingly most of the photograph albums were salvageable.

It can happen to you. Dont just buy a homeowners insurance policy but also document your possessions. Take video or Polaroid, or 35 mm. This is particularly important if there are antiques or collectibles in your home. Rather than risk losing them keep important papers in a vault at the bank. Extra keys, vehicle information, birth/death certificates, etc. should be in the vault.

Be prepared for a home fire before it happens.

# posted by taniayegn : 11:07 PM  0 comments

Your motorhome is probably the second most valuable asset you own after your house. But study after study has shown that a large percentage of owners are underinsured. This can have costly consequences if anything should happen to your motorhome.

Follow these Nine Golden Rules when considering insurance for your motorhome or RV to make sure that you have the coverage that you need.

1. Fully consider the risks that relate to when and where you use your motorhome. Motorhomes go to places that automobiles don't always go, such as campsites, river banks, forested areas. For instance, if you often park under trees then make sure you are protected from tree damage.
2. Make sure there are adequate limits within the policy to cover the high costs of repair and towing. Will these be sufficient when you live five states away from the incident?
3. Ensure you have adequate coverage for liability claims related to bodily injury and property damage. Liability claims are spiralling upwards every year. Is the coverage high enough to cover the potential liability? What coverage do you have on existing policies that might be applicable?
4. Check that there is coverage for damage or loss of contents as well as for add-ons such as awnings. Contents and add-ons can be extremely expensive to replace. Check whether the policy is 'new for old' or 'replacement cost only'. With the former you will get the value of item if you were to buy it today while with the latter you will only get its replacement value--or what the item is worth.
5. Investigate limits and conditions related to medical expenses, protection against other drivers and damage to your motorhome. Be sure that there is adequate coverage if you suffer damage caused by an uninsured third party.
6. Choose a reputable insurance company that has a respectable claim-to-payout ratio. A company with a low ratio will probably mean that it is hard for you to make a successful claim. You also want an insurance company that is going to be around when it's time to pay out!
7. Make sure you have flexibility in choosing a repair shop or that you are happy with the insurance company's choice. This will vary by state and county, so make sure you will be well represented if the worst happens.
8. Check what general exclusions the company has in its policies. Compare these exclusions with policies from other companies so you can be confident in the policy you choose.
9. Check for the level of incidental expenses allowed and that there is adequate provision for towing the motorhome back to base or providing alternative transportation.

Follow these Nine Golden Rules to make sure that you have the insurance coverage you need on your motorhome. That way, you can really enjoy the carefree life of motorhoming without the worry of insurance over you!

# posted by taniayegn : 7:11 PM  0 comments