If your house is destroyed or otherwise unlivable while repairs are being made, you'll be glad you can tap into your "additional living expenses" (ALE) coverage. This type of coverage won't pay your mortgage, but it will cover the cost of an apartment or hotel. If you are displaced from your house, you can make a claim for this coverage by submitting paperwork documenting your living expenses.
The ALE standard for most homeowner insurance policies is a benefit worth 20 percent of your home's replacement value. When you get a home insurance quote, find out if the policy specifies any limitations or exclusions on ALE.
Finally, read the exclusions section of your home insurance policy. Understanding what's not going to be covered is just as important as knowing what is - before you ever have to make a claim.
In the end, Griffin reminds new homeowners that it is important to choose a financially stable insurance company. Financial strength ratings are available from A.M. Best, for example.
"Remember," he says, "you are buying a promise from that insurance company that they will be around when you need to make a claim."
And what about customer satisfaction? J.D. Power and Associates releases annual customer satisfaction rankings of home insurance companies. And state insurance departments generally post their annual "consumer complaint" reports on their Web sites.
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