Determine Life Insurance Coverage
May 24, 2020Beauty Salon & Spa Insurance
May 26, 2020 Homeownership is much different now than it was even just a few short years ago. Think of smart-home systems that let homeowners check up on and operate household appliances from their smartphones, no matter where they are. Or how about the advent of the programmable thermostat? With these inventions, the need to get out of the car to manually pull the garage door closed or having to get up in the middle of the night to turn the AC down, all went away. But even with the ease and convenience of technology, there is still the possibility for things to break and to need repair.
More than half the country owns a home, but how many of us really understand what our home insurance covers?
From helping protect your Applicances to helping keep your groceries cool and more, home insurance can come to your aid in some surprising ways – so long as you have the right coverage.
As a homeowner, you have to deal with repairs. But with home repair plans from TotalHome Warranty from HomeServe, you have a safety net to help with the costs associated with covered repairs. Let's look at six common home repair issues and how home warranty coverage options from HomeServe can help:
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Some of the problems that you might encounter with your washer and dryer aren't too hard to solve, like clothes that aren't drying because the machine is overloaded or mold and mildew around the washer's door seals and detergent holders. As for broken seals and gaskets that stop the washer from draining properly, you shouldn't be DIYing that (unless it is part of your actual day job).
Purchasing the Appliances Plan or Combo Plan from TotalHome Warranty can help you with the costs of covered repairs for these appliances. You're covered for up to $1,500 each year in service calls handled by expert technicians.
As illustrated by The Family Handyman, you can fix something like a refrigerator ice maker by clearing out ice that's blocking the inlet tube and unclogging the saddle valve. But motor failure, serious leaks, malfunctioning condenser coils and other fridge problems are much more complicated. Fortunately, an appliance plan from TotalHome Warranty can allow you peace of mind in dealing with covered refrigerator repair issues.
It's always something. Be prepared with a home warranty plan.
In the last 10 years, HomeServe has helped save homeowners over half a billion dollars on expensive emergency repairs.
TotalHome Warranty by HomeServe helps alleviate the stress of dealing with:
Researching multiple repair bids
Paying the bill on covered repairs up to the benefit amount
It’s care and repair for your home. And convenience for you.
While plans from Total Home Warranty don't cover free standing consumer microwaves, it can cover the higher-end microwaves that tend to be built into your cabinetry or kitchen walls. With an appliance plan from HomeServe, you can check that one off your list of worries.
Range life
Your oven and range stove (or cooktop) combination represents the centerpiece of your kitchen, even if you're not that big on cooking an elaborate meal. Heating elements on electric models, finicky valves on gas stoves and similar problems don't just represent obstacles in the path of making dinner – they could be safety risks as well.
Whether your range is free-standing or built in, gas or electric, plans from TotalHome Warranty by HomeServe offer reliable repair and replacement coverage.
When it comes to air conditioners, central AC systems and other HVAC systems recommend having your system serviced once or twice a year – to keep it running efficiently. The Home Depot, for example, recommends changing air filters every three to six months. But sometimes you lose track of household schedules like this, and then before you know it, there's an issue in need of professional attention.
A Systems Plan (or a Combo Plan for systems and appliances) can cover central air units (except those that use natural gas), in addition to related systems including the heater, ductwork and your attic and ceiling fans. Simply put, when you’re prepared with a plan, you'll have the HVAC help if repairs become necessary.
The doorbell is an overlooked household system. But when it doesn't work, you start to appreciate how important it is to everyday home life. When prepared with a plan from TotalHome Warranty, you can call in a pro to fix faulty circuits or whatever else is awry with the bell without being worried about the price tag.
Even Let’s take a look at other five scenarios you may not realize can benefit from having the right policy in place:
One of the worst nightmares for a homeowner is the house burning down. Now imagine, while it’s being rebuilt, the city requiring you to install a modern electrical system. Construction codes change through the years, after all. Your insurance company may offer optional Ordinance or Law coverage to help with the additional expense of bringing the home up to code during such an incident. Why might this be necessary? Remember, your home policy covers the cost to repair what you have or replace what you had, not upgrade it.
When most people think of home insurance, they think of coverage for their actual home. But, what happens when you can’t live in it during construction? Most policies will help you pay for a place to stay if the home is uninhabitable due to a covered incident. Known as Loss of Use, this coverage helps compensate you for the additional expenses of living elsewhere and may cover food as well as lodging.
Something unexpected go wrong with your chill box? Many insurance carriers offer Equipment Breakdown coverage as an option with your home insurance policy. This kicks in when an appliance, such as a refrigerator, has an unexpected mechanical or electrical breakdown and covers the cost to repair or replace it. But, that’s not all. Related costs, such as spoiled food and energy efficiency upgrades, may be covered, too. For only a few dollars a month, it’s a nice alternative to extended warranties for a range of products, including washers and dryers, ovens, electrical service panels, water heaters, computer equipment, heating and A/C systems, and much more.
Without going entirely off the grid, the potential for identity theft is nearly unavoidable. Identity Recovery is offered as an option with most homeowners policies and provides valuable tools to help pick up the pieces after your identity has been stolen. This can include use of a case manager to assist in recovery and reimbursement of some expenses related to your efforts. While anti-virus software and personal firewalls should still be maintained, this coverage can help with peace-of-mind in case security measures fail.
The engagement ring was sitting right on the dresser before you left for the gym, but now it’s nowhere to be found. Many people are shocked to realize that their homeowners policy may limit the payout for certain items, such as jewelry. So, while your engagement ring may be worth $3,500, your personal property coverage may limit payouts for jewelry to $2,500 per loss. However, if you added Scheduled Personal Property specifically to cover the engagement ring, the day will be saved. For high-value items like artwork, jewelry, and more, scheduling them separately is your best bet. Then you know you have coverage for each item, rather than lumping them all together under your standard personal property coverage. Even better, unless otherwise stated, there is no deductible for scheduled items.
As you can see, a homeowners policy can cover a lot more than just the home! To make sure you have the coverage you want, read your policy carefully and contact your local independent agent for help understanding all your options.
