The question of medical conditions that makes you more at risk for homeowners insurance can fall under liability. There is no actual medical condition that you can have that will exclude you from a policy but there are things that you can purchase for your home or additional family members such as pets that warrant extra coverage because your policy can be affected by them due to the medical conditions they can cause.

If you own a Pitt Bull, Rottweiler, Wolf Hybrid, Malamute, Doberman, German Shepard or Husky, you would need to negotiate additional coverage or insure that your policy will protect you because these are high risk animals that are known for biting. Insurers will also increase rates or add exclusions to policies due to owning a swimming pool, a spa, or a trampoline because these are all high risk items that cause serious injuries and high medical bills and are considered a detriment to your insurance company.

Homeowners insurance is put in place to protect you from the unexpected. Only 1 percent of homes across the United States have ever been denied coverage due to being “uninsurable”. If you are denied insurance the first step is getting to the root of the problem and asking the insurance company why you were denied and the second step is fixing it. IF you are ever denied coverage due to a medical condition, you have grounds for a law suit. Personal health has no bearings on protecting your property.

Typically, insurance would cover the loss of the contents up to your limit as well as damage to the house that occurred during a burglary. Damage could include a broken-in door, damage to locks, a broken window, etc. In some instances, burglars have vandalized as well as burgled, that too, is sometimes covered, depending on the policy purchased. For specific dollar amounts, you should check your policy coverage for the amounts covered and required deductibles. There are some items typically not covered, such as documents and currency for example.

Also, keep in mind that most insurance policies will cover the market value of the item at the time of the loss. This does not mean the market value at the time you purchased an item. In some instances, you can request and pay for insurance to cover the replacement value of an item as opposed to the current market value. It all depends on the type of insurance policy you want to purchase.

The key is that if your home is damaged during a burglary, you can have peace of mind over what is covered and what is not. When buying your policy, think over how much deductible you can afford, then make sure and make a list of valuable property. Keep receipts so you can show how much you paid for an item and when. All of this record-keeping makes it much easier when filing a claim in case you do have damage to your home because of a burglary. Above all, if you have questions about your specific policy, take the time to read it over and then call or email your insurance representative.

Over 20,000 home fires per year are caused by smoking. You could lose your life, and thousands of dollars worth of damages, which the insurance company is responsible for. In which could raise smokers homeowners insurance premiums to some extent. Therefore, it is common sense that the insurer would prefer you and your family not to smoke. Insurance companies offer deductions in premiums for health insurance and life insurance for those who do not smoke, it makes sense to lower the premiums for a non-smoking household.

It is in the interest of both parties for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is health related, if the members of the household do not smoke. Visitors should also be encouraged to smoke outdoors. In addition smoking can affect neighboring homes if they are close. A fire can spread quickly and jump across open areas quickly. Imagine the extra premiums the people in California pay to protect their homes from the constant wildfires breaking out. A good percentage of these wildfires are caused by careless smoker not disposing of their cigarettes properly.

First, document your property. Take pictures of any expensive jewelry, furs, antiques, or electronics. Take a video tour of your house, documenting room by room any furniture, collectibles, or valuables. Write down the serial numbers for your electronics, especially expensive items. Don’t forget the garage, as power tools and sports equipment can also be expensive to replace.

Keep the pictures and videos in a safe location, either in a fire-proof safe or safety deposit box, as well as receipts for any expensive items. Pictures and receipts can make filing a claim with your insurance company much easier in the long run.

Taking inventory of your items also helps you determine the replacement value and how much insurance you need. For example, if your television is destroyed, you might have to spend more than the original purchase price to replace it. A good homeowners policy will provide replacement value, not just the original cost.

If you have expensive jewelry, have it appraised by a professional and keep the appraisal with your other documents. Ask your insurance agent whether these items should be insured separately, or if you need to increase your overall coverage. Some homeowners policies have a maximum coverage for certain categories, either as an overall dollar amount or a percentage of your total premium value.

If you do experience a loss, whether it’s to theft, fire, or other cause, contact your homeowners insurance company right away. The sooner you contact them, the sooner they can begin the appraisal and claims process, which means you could get your payment more quickly. One thing to keep in mind is your deductible and the impact a claim could have on future premiums. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible and your loss is only $1,500 total, consider whether the $500 that insurance will cover is worth the potentially increased premiums for filing a claim.

Prior to your move, call your insurance representative to let them know when you are moving and the new address. It is likely they will make every effort to provide a seamless transition. If that particular company is local versus national and cannot provide coverage in another state, they will be able to refer you to a new insurance company and effectively bridge that information gap for you. Your new lender will require a homeowners insurance policy be in place prior to close of escrow. If you are paying cash or getting a home equity loan for that new property, it may not come up. Check with your current insurer for a seamless transition into your new location.

Homeowners insurance serves many purposes, the premiums and coverage are negotiable and it covers more than most realize. Talk with your provider to find out how you can adjust a policy to suit your financial needs, what has changed in your new location and lifestyle, especially if you have moved to a different state. Your coverage will change depending on the type of home and its precise location. Other riders may be required that you do not have now, like a flood or fire amendment.

If you can keep the insurance you have, find out what coverage is available for your relocation. The representative will also have a list of questions about changes to your personal property (boats, atvs), expectations in the new home (alarm system, swimming pool) and its surroundings such as fire hydrants and street lights. Your homeowners insurance can travel with you 90% of the time or a seamless transition can be organized by your existing company to a new one.

Usually, replacement cost coverage is standard. What that means is that a set amount (what you were covered for) is what they will pay out. The insurance company will use the information that you gave them about the house to estimate how much it would cost to replace it in case of a fire. But that cost was calculated on adjusted numbers used at the time, or its appraised value which could be somewhat skewed years later.

Other factors will weigh into what the appraised value was at the time and what it is now, like building costs, natural or man-caused disasters (i.e., California wildfires), or even the fact that you may had remodeled or made additions to the home since you were covered and did not update your policy. If the house is an older home that has the character of being a “historic” home, some things are simply not replaceable or can’t be reproduced.

Check to see if your policy uses the words “guaranteed” replacement coverage. For a higher premium payment, there are policies out there that guarantee to pay 100% (all) of your repair or rebuilding costs without limits.

If your policy coverage term says it will pay out “actual cash value,” maybe you could keep looking for better coverage. The actual cash value will likely be nothing close to the market value of the home or the cost of repair, especially when they take off for the cost of depreciation or wear and tear.

The appraised value (what your home was worth at the time of coverage) will never be the same later on, whether disaster strikes or not; so better safe than sorry. So the best case scenario would be to get a policy that takes care of all repair and/or rebuilding expenses.

Pools are thought of in the insurance world as a attractive nuisance. We all love a good dip in the pool, although most of us can not afford a pool of our own. Now if there was a pool in the neighborhood then all of us would try to use it. An attractive nuisance means it would bring more changes of high risk exposure to the homeowners. Pools attract people and unfortunately some people can get hurt in pools.

Also if the addition to the home was to store items like guns that would increase your homeowners insurance. The high risk of guns in general in the home is not good, but to build an extra room for a large gun collection would cause additional danger for your home and possibly family. You run the risk of drawing thieves to your home. Also you will put anyone who will come into your home in danger, since everyone will not have the necessary training and safety rules in dealing with guns.

Adding an extra room for a new baby would not increase or negatively affect your homeowners insurance because this is would add extra value to your room. When you have more rooms and bathrooms in your house than you have a better chance of increasing the value of your home. So remember this before you add an addition to your home, first think will this improve my home? Will this make my home more attractive to potential buyers? And will this addition actually improve my family lives in anyway? So please think twice before you decide to add an addition to your home, because in some cases it could cost you more to insure.

Homeowners insurance covers repair costs for damage to your home. It also can cover replacement costs for loss of your home. Certain cases may be excluded, like flooding, some natural disasters and political disturbances. In addition, damages or loss due to lack of maintenance are not covered.

If your possessions are damaged or lost (including theft) they are covered by your homeowner’s insurance. It also includes coverage of your possessions when they are not on your property. However, injury and medical costs for you or your family resulting from damage or loss of your possessions is not covered by your homeowners insurance.

Homeowner’s insurance does cover medical costs for anyone except the household residents in the event there is a problem at your home or property. For example, if someone falls on your sidewalk or a child gets hurt while playing in your backyard, the medical costs for their injuries would be covered. This coverage extends injuries to others caused by you (or your household members on or off your property). For example, your dog may bite someone. The medical costs for that person’s injuries would be covered. If your own dog bites you, your homeowners insurance would not pay for your medical costs. The insurance also often covers any lawsuits brought to you as a result of someone’s injuries or damage to their property.

Unfortunately, if you or your family members become injured in an incident caused by you on or off your property, your medical costs are not covered by your homeowner’s insurance.

On the other hand, if you live in a relative’s home and some of your belongings are damaged during a burglary or natural disaster, whether you are covered depends on the type of policy your relative owns. If you are living in a home with the relative who owns it, you generally will need to have them add you to the insurance, unless the policy has a clause covering live-in roommates.

There is one situation in which your claim is very likely to be denied. If you own the home in question and the homeowner’s insurance is in the relative’s name, most companies will not pay your claim. This depends on the policy, but it is very rare that a claim of this nature would be paid. Many insurance companies look very negatively upon this type of situation and may even consider it fraud.

The best way to handle this situation is to prevent it in the first place. Whenever a home is bought or otherwise transferred to another person’s name, the homeowner’s insurance policy should also be transferred to that person’s name. If you are living with a relative and adding you to the policy is too difficult or too expensive, you can at least protect your belongings by buying renter’s insurance. Nothing is worse than finding out you are under-insured after a fire or major disaster.

It’s important to be insured, but just as important to make sure you have followed all of the insurance company’s rules. If you have any questions about your policy, contact your insurance agent today.

A ‘green’ home will typically save you money on items like heating, water, and electrical bills. When a consumer becomes more aware of the environmental aspects in their home, insurance companies start to add discounts to their policies. An example would be maybe a 5% discount on their homeowners insurance.

It is estimated that space cooling and heating makes up 47% of the total energy usage in the home and experts believe that energy-efficient technology could possibly reduce utility bills by 30% each month. There are some companies who extend their coverage to those homeowners who generate the energy use in their homes through wind, solar, and other natural means.

When a homeowner chooses ‘green’ energy options, it ensures that their home functions properly, is good for the environment, and at the same time saves you some money. There are two different types of ‘green’ insurance policies for homeowners. The first is for those properties that already meet and sustain the standards of being eco friendly. The second is for those properties that are not currently meeting standards for being green, but are provided with the choice to replace losses or damages with better sustainable and eco-friendly materials.

There are many insurance providers today who have taken the ‘green’ route and have started to lower insurance premiums for those policy holders who maintain their eco-friendly homes. The reason is because those homeowners who are cautious enough about the environment are likely to be more responsible and careful when it comes to their homes.

Just a few of the many ‘Green’ options that are available to homeowners today:

1. Solar heating systems or solar panels. Either of these can be installed and placed on a home’s roof or put in a back yard. Solar panels can be added to a policy for just a few extra dollars, but will save more money in future home expenses.

2. Natural materials. By using more natural materials in your home, you have a more environmentally-friendly home.

3. Sky lights. These lights will not only light up a home, but also save money on electric bills.