Locating the right property insurance cover may not rank high on your list of priorities and, alongside investment decisions and estate planning issues, questions about the language in your homeowners policy may seem barely worth considering. Yet, the more successful you are, the more detailed your asset-protection needs are likely to be-and the more you have to lose. Suppose, for example, that in addition to your primary residence-a historic home-you also own a house at the beach and a condo in the city.
For illustration, let us say that you own properties in 3 states, the value of your collection of Old Master paintings has grown quickly and you recently volunteered to serve as a director of of a charitable organization. Almost every aspect of your present situation could cost you dearly.
Insurance laws vary considerably from one state to the next, different kinds of property need specialized coverage and collections of art and other unique items might be hard to protect fully. In The Meantime, serving on the board of a non-profit organization could land you with additional personal liability.
Protecting yourself and your family might mean buying additional coverage, although more insurance isn't necessarily the answer. Instead, it's important to review all of your needs, consider specialized policies or policy options and coordinate your insurance cover with other facets of your financial situation.
Listed below are 6 shortcoming which could turn out to be costly.
1. Having gaps in your homeowner's cover.
Homeowners need to look at their cover on a regular basis so as to keep up with growing replacement costs. But, insuring different kinds of home in different locations poses additional challenges. If you take insurance cover from more than one carrier then you might be faced with contrary limitations, rules, and policy renewal dates. For instance, the liability limit on the policy for a second home could fall short of the minimum on an excess liability policy intended to complement the insurance on your primary home and you may well wind up being responsible for coming up with the difference.
2. Brushing Aside the unique characteristics of your property.
One of the perks of affluence is having the money to own great homes but one of the drawbacks is that These may be hard to insure adequately. Normal homeowner's coverage is not going to pay for the hard-to-find materials and craftsmanship necessary to rebuild that 19th century property you have lovingly restored. Coastal properties could well be subjected to hurricane damage, while a home in the mountains of California could be subject to wildfires or earthquakes.
3. Under insuring art and collectibles.
Normal homeowner's policies place a limit on coverage for the loss of hings like antiques, furs, and other valuables. And while you could arrange additional cover, insuring the true value of an art collection will usually mean buying a specialized plan which addresses several critical issues.
4. Omitting to insure employees.
When somebody works for you as, for example, a nanny, landscaper or personal assistant you may be liable for lost wages and medical expenses if the person is hurt on the job. Several states require household employers to pay into a workers compensation fund while in other states this is optional. However, providing such insurance cover may be obligatory for ensuring your financial health.
5. Neglecting your liability as a member of a board of directors.
Some form of excess liability coverage might help protect you if you are sued as a director of a nonprofit's board or, for more comprehensive protection, you may want to consider taking out special directors liability insurance.
6. Not getting regular plan reviews and updates.
Your finances aren't static and neither are your requirements for insurance. The value of your art collection may rise, extensive home renovations may mean a sharp rise in the value of your property and the re-titling of assets as part of your estate plan or as a result of divorce, a death in the family, or the birth of a child might necessitate plan changes. Even lacking any major events, you will almost certainly need to carry out a comprehensive review of all your insurance coverage at least every two years.
For illustration, let us say that you own properties in 3 states, the value of your collection of Old Master paintings has grown quickly and you recently volunteered to serve as a director of of a charitable organization. Almost every aspect of your present situation could cost you dearly.
Insurance laws vary considerably from one state to the next, different kinds of property need specialized coverage and collections of art and other unique items might be hard to protect fully. In The Meantime, serving on the board of a non-profit organization could land you with additional personal liability.
Protecting yourself and your family might mean buying additional coverage, although more insurance isn't necessarily the answer. Instead, it's important to review all of your needs, consider specialized policies or policy options and coordinate your insurance cover with other facets of your financial situation.
Listed below are 6 shortcoming which could turn out to be costly.
1. Having gaps in your homeowner's cover.
Homeowners need to look at their cover on a regular basis so as to keep up with growing replacement costs. But, insuring different kinds of home in different locations poses additional challenges. If you take insurance cover from more than one carrier then you might be faced with contrary limitations, rules, and policy renewal dates. For instance, the liability limit on the policy for a second home could fall short of the minimum on an excess liability policy intended to complement the insurance on your primary home and you may well wind up being responsible for coming up with the difference.
2. Brushing Aside the unique characteristics of your property.
One of the perks of affluence is having the money to own great homes but one of the drawbacks is that These may be hard to insure adequately. Normal homeowner's coverage is not going to pay for the hard-to-find materials and craftsmanship necessary to rebuild that 19th century property you have lovingly restored. Coastal properties could well be subjected to hurricane damage, while a home in the mountains of California could be subject to wildfires or earthquakes.
3. Under insuring art and collectibles.
Normal homeowner's policies place a limit on coverage for the loss of hings like antiques, furs, and other valuables. And while you could arrange additional cover, insuring the true value of an art collection will usually mean buying a specialized plan which addresses several critical issues.
4. Omitting to insure employees.
When somebody works for you as, for example, a nanny, landscaper or personal assistant you may be liable for lost wages and medical expenses if the person is hurt on the job. Several states require household employers to pay into a workers compensation fund while in other states this is optional. However, providing such insurance cover may be obligatory for ensuring your financial health.
5. Neglecting your liability as a member of a board of directors.
Some form of excess liability coverage might help protect you if you are sued as a director of a nonprofit's board or, for more comprehensive protection, you may want to consider taking out special directors liability insurance.
6. Not getting regular plan reviews and updates.
Your finances aren't static and neither are your requirements for insurance. The value of your art collection may rise, extensive home renovations may mean a sharp rise in the value of your property and the re-titling of assets as part of your estate plan or as a result of divorce, a death in the family, or the birth of a child might necessitate plan changes. Even lacking any major events, you will almost certainly need to carry out a comprehensive review of all your insurance coverage at least every two years.
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