The holiday festivities are in full swing! From cooking indulgent foods to hosting large celebrations, and even trimming a live tree, it’s no surprise they call this the “most wonderful time of the year.”
However, what many consumers may not know is that these celebrations could actually cause great calamities if individuals don’t have the right insurance to protect themselves from numerous hazards lurking behind the scenes.
For example, if guests damaged your home during your holiday party, would your property and casualty insurance plan cover the costs? If Uncle Joe’s decision to deep fry the turkey caused a fire, would you be protected?
What if your cute little nieces and nephews flushed a toy truck down the toilet, causing the pipes to back up, and flood the downstairs? You’d probably wish you had added water damage to your protection.
Of course, situations like these make it so important for homeowners to have the proper coverage in place. But regrettably, some homeowners don’t find out until it’s too late that their coverage is insufficient.
Those that purchase plans based on price alone, without understanding the protection they are – and aren’t – gaining, could be out thousands of dollars should the unexpected happen.
However, there are some precautionary steps that homeowners can take to ensure that they have the full coverage they need without added anxiety.
- Sit down with your insurance agent to review all of your potential risks. Then, have them explain the coverage you have, along with coverage amounts, so you can address any gaps.
- Understand your Property and Casualty Coverage.
Many homeowners may not be aware of the two categories to consider, which include…
- Basic peril: ONLY covers the specified perils in the plan, such as incidents from smoke, ice, tree damage, and theft. Anything outside of what’s outlined in writing will not be covered.
- Broad peril: Covers a wider range of risks, such as damage caused by natural disasters, flooding, water incidents, or frozen pipes.
Moreover, when it comes to property and casualty insurance, homeowners should also ensure that they have enough coverage to replace their homes should their entire property be destroyed. This is especially important since the valuation of their home may have recently gone up, along with costs for labor and supplies.
- Understand your Car Insurance Coverage:
It’s important to have car insurance, whether putting extra miles on your own vehicle or driving a rental car. While it’s mandatory for most drivers to purchase the minimum amount of auto liability insurance for their state, other types of policies can provide an extra level of protection, like…
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
- Collision coverage
- Medical payments coverage
- Understand how Umbrella Insurance works:
This type of insurance provides the policyholder with added protection when existing limits have been tapped out on other coverage, like your homeowners and auto policies. Umbrellas can be used for a variety of things, like property damage, slander, or personal/bodily injury.
By following these basic holiday hazard protection tips, you can avoid numerous landmines that come with insufficient coverage. An insurance broker connected to several carriers can provide you with a full breadth of options to meet your specific needs. Remember “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” during this holiday season and beyond.
Craig Eagleson is a Vice President at Incenter Insurance Solutions, a leading national provider of insurance services, licensed in all 50 states. The firm’s partnerships with dozens of carriers enable them to custom-design solutions to meet individuals’ specific needs. Contact Mr. Eagleson at craig.eagleson@incenterms.com or (973) 637-3208, or see incenterinsurance.com.
