Back in August we had an in-depth Q&A with Rush-Kent Insurance, a local Arlington insurance agency. It began like this:
There are a lot of unknowns in the world, and while you can't predict a freakish storm that knocks down trees and floods the streets, you can do your best to protect yourself and your home in the 'whats' and the 'ifs' of life.
Freakish storm indeed. Given the clean-up that is underway across much of the region, many people are raising questions regarding their own insurance policies, or the policies of loved ones in harder hit areas.
In the Q&A, Paul Kent broke down some insurance questions for us, including:
· The top three insurance policies every homeowner should have
· When and why to check for gaps in coverage
· How much insurance is too much (or too little?)
We thought we'd revisit some of the more relevant questions from this article for people looking to get a handle on their insurance policies.
In the meantime, you can catch the full article here: Q&A With Local Insurance Agency, Rush-Kent: Ensuring Protection from the 'Whats' and the 'Ifs' of Homeownership.
We have had two damaging microbursts in Arlington within the past two years. Have you seen, or do you expect to see, a rise in requests for homeowners insurance as a result?
While most property owners already have insurance for their home, events like this serve to remind everyone of the importance of their coverage, and why it is important to review it periodically. I urge everyone to read their policy - I know it sounds crazy, but discovering a gap or inadequate coverage is better if it happens before a claim!
Are there any area-specific insurance policies that you recommend for people in town (i.e., flood insurance near Spy Pond? Extra coverage for older homes? Damage from snow-related incidents, etc.)
Many are not aware that flood, for example, is not covered by a homeowners policy. We recommend flood insurance to everyone because we can't predict what will happen. In some areas, flood insurance will be required by a mortgage lender due to a higher potential for flooding. Earthquake is another peril not automatically included in homeowners insurance - though this can be added to a homeowners policy for a small additional cost.
Older homes can present unique coverage issues depending upon the amount of updating they have undergone. Adequate coverage for additional repair or rebuilding costs due to code upgrades is important.
Winter weather can result in costly damage - for example, ice dams. While homeowners policies do normally cover this damage, our agency can provide information about preventing them.
