Does Landlord Insurance Cover Me If My Tenant Starts a Fire?

June 25th, 2010

All landlords get that dreaded phone call from their tenant that something is broken or needs to be fixed. Most of these issues can be resolved by calling a plumber or handyman but what if it is more severe. What if your tenant accidentally started a kitchen fire and it spread to the other units in the building? Your first thought is to make sure everyone is safe then you start to think if you are covered for this kind of thing.

The worst case scenario when a fire occurs is someone is injured or even killed. Before something like this happens you need to make sure you have the proper protection in place. Insurance for landlords not only covers the building you own but also your liability in the event something happens at that property. Like I said most of the time it is just a broken water pipe or a leaky faucet but if something more devastating happens there is coverage for you.

Most leading insurance companies offer a type of landlord insurance for your type of property. The most common landlord insurance is for condos because of the sheer number of people who rent condos. If you own a condo and rent the unit out make sure you have a landlord specific policy in place. Most rental property investors start as the homeowner then move and rent that unit out. When they move often times they don't realize they need different insurance or just forget to change it.

Here is a checklist to make sure you are properly covered as a landlord:

  • Get landlord specific insurance policy for your rental unit
  • Include the highest liability limits available, usually $1 million
  • Add sewer and drain backup coverage
  • Add loss assessment coverage of at least $10,000
  • Inquire about umbrella policy to increase the liability coverage if needed

The most important aspect of having insurance is to protect against the big losses. A broken water pipe my cost a couple thousand dollars to repair but if someone gets hurt that could cost you millions. If you have the right protection in place everything else will be easier to handle.

To find affordable landlord insurance get multiple quotes online. Remember to ask about the checklist of coverage available. Make more profit on your rental property by paying less for insurance for landlords.

Posted via email from California Insurance Today

Does Landlord Insurance Cover Me If My Tenant Starts a Fire?

June 25th, 2010

All landlords get that dreaded phone call from their tenant that something is broken or needs to be fixed. Most of these issues can be resolved by calling a plumber or handyman but what if it is more severe. What if your tenant accidentally started a kitchen fire and it spread to the other units in the building? Your first thought is to make sure everyone is safe then you start to think if you are covered for this kind of thing.

The worst case scenario when a fire occurs is someone is injured or even killed. Before something like this happens you need to make sure you have the proper protection in place. Insurance for landlords not only covers the building you own but also your liability in the event something happens at that property. Like I said most of the time it is just a broken water pipe or a leaky faucet but if something more devastating happens there is coverage for you.

Most leading insurance companies offer a type of landlord insurance for your type of property. The most common landlord insurance is for condos because of the sheer number of people who rent condos. If you own a condo and rent the unit out make sure you have a landlord specific policy in place. Most rental property investors start as the homeowner then move and rent that unit out. When they move often times they don't realize they need different insurance or just forget to change it.

Here is a checklist to make sure you are properly covered as a landlord:

  • Get landlord specific insurance policy for your rental unit
  • Include the highest liability limits available, usually $1 million
  • Add sewer and drain backup coverage
  • Add loss assessment coverage of at least $10,000
  • Inquire about umbrella policy to increase the liability coverage if needed

The most important aspect of having insurance is to protect against the big losses. A broken water pipe my cost a couple thousand dollars to repair but if someone gets hurt that could cost you millions. If you have the right protection in place everything else will be easier to handle.

To find affordable landlord insurance get multiple quotes online. Remember to ask about the checklist of coverage available. Make more profit on your rental property by paying less for insurance for landlords.

Posted via email from California Insurance Today

Does Landlord Insurance Cover Me If My Tenant Starts a Fire?

June 25th, 2010

All landlords get that dreaded phone call from their tenant that something is broken or needs to be fixed. Most of these issues can be resolved by calling a plumber or handyman but what if it is more severe. What if your tenant accidentally started a kitchen fire and it spread to the other units in the building? Your first thought is to make sure everyone is safe then you start to think if you are covered for this kind of thing.

The worst case scenario when a fire occurs is someone is injured or even killed. Before something like this happens you need to make sure you have the proper protection in place. Insurance for landlords not only covers the building you own but also your liability in the event something happens at that property. Like I said most of the time it is just a broken water pipe or a leaky faucet but if something more devastating happens there is coverage for you.

Most leading insurance companies offer a type of landlord insurance for your type of property. The most common landlord insurance is for condos because of the sheer number of people who rent condos. If you own a condo and rent the unit out make sure you have a landlord specific policy in place. Most rental property investors start as the homeowner then move and rent that unit out. When they move often times they don't realize they need different insurance or just forget to change it.

Here is a checklist to make sure you are properly covered as a landlord:

  • Get landlord specific insurance policy for your rental unit
  • Include the highest liability limits available, usually $1 million
  • Add sewer and drain backup coverage
  • Add loss assessment coverage of at least $10,000
  • Inquire about umbrella policy to increase the liability coverage if needed

The most important aspect of having insurance is to protect against the big losses. A broken water pipe my cost a couple thousand dollars to repair but if someone gets hurt that could cost you millions. If you have the right protection in place everything else will be easier to handle.

To find affordable landlord insurance get multiple quotes online. Remember to ask about the checklist of coverage available. Make more profit on your rental property by paying less for insurance for landlords.

Posted via email from California Insurance Today

Workers Comp Coverage for the Injured

June 3rd, 2010

Workers compensation is a form of insurance that provides compensation medical care for employees who are injured in the course of employment, in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee’s right to sue his or her employer for the liability of negligence. While plans differ between jurisdictions, provisions can be made for weekly payments in place of wages, reimbursement or payment of medical and like expenses, and benefits payable to the dependents of workers killed during employment. General damages for pain and suffering, and punitive damages for employer negligence, are generally not available in worker compensation plans.

There are a few things that workers compensation includes. The first thing is the medical bill. When you get hurt, you may be in the hospital or getting treatment for long duration of time. Physical therapy sessions may be required to get back to the condition you were in before the accident. With the economy the way it is and with you not working, it may be difficult to come up with all the money needed for the medical bills; and this is where workers comp comes in to assist.

Another thing that workers comp coverage provides is disability pay, which is simply providing you with the money that you would be getting if you were still working. If you have a family and you are a single parent or your wife or husband does not work and stays home with the kids, that income is extremely important. Not having that income can cause major problems and cause your family to lose your home or go bankrupt. Workers comp is a way to help you relax at a time when you are probably very stressed out. It is nice to know that something is taking care of your family’s needs if you cannot.

The last thing provided by the compensation is called vocational rehabilitation. This is available so that when you are able to return to work but you can no longer work at your old job, you can get training for a job that you can perform. Sometimes people get hurt on the job and they want to go back to working because they get bored doing nothing. If working at your old job is not an option anymore but you would like to get a new one that would work with your injuries, that is possible with workers comp.

There is one catch however; you can only get workers compensation under a few circumstances. Most of the time, people who get injured on the job are able to get the compensation, but there are a few instances where they are not liable. If the person injured signed a waiver that said they could potentially get injured and they still take the job, this could cause some issues when trying to get compensation. Also, if there was alcohol involved or if it is your fault, you may not be able to get help.

It would be in your best interest to consult with a Workers Compensation Specialist to answer any inquiries you may have. For free advice and consultation, call 800-448-9243.

Posted via email from California Insurance Today

Dwelling Fire Insurance Coverage for Landlords and Property Owners

May 27th, 2010

In addition, it is also important that research what coverage is available regarding your tenants.  It is also important to provide them with information on obtaining their own Renters’ insurance to protect their personal belongings in case of an accident.  Renters insurance is often optional, but it is a  great perceived value to provide a contact or resource for tenants that haven’t necessarily considered obtaining this protection.

Common dwelling fire policies have clauses that prevent you from being covered from damages that are inflicted by your tenants. Always address these issues when considering insurance. This includes any of those accidental or malicious damages occurred by the tenants. Some normal things that happen when renting to others, such as damages to the interior of the unit, should be included in your policy. Tenants that damage interior structures such as walls, plumbing and appliances that are owned by you should be included in your policy.

You also want to enquire about coverage of theft by tenants on your Landlord Insurance policy.  The best and most reputable insurance carriers provide what is known as Business Income coverage, if you lose any rental income due to having repairs completed. You might also wish to inquire about coverage such as tenants defaulting on rental payments or tenants vacating without paying rent. Also, ensure that the policy includes loss of rental income in case of fire or building repairs.

Also, ensure that your landlord protection insurance covers legal liabilities. This will typically provide you protection in case of injury of a tenant or anyone else visiting the rental units. This will cover those that are performing repairs, construction or other types of work for you. It may help to protect you in case you are sued or incurred any other costs due to an accident. 

These are some important issues that you need to address when you begin looking for landlord protection insurance. Whether you are a new owner or are looking to update your protection, you need to make sure that all of your needs are fully addressed. Protecting the income from renting is essential along with covering assets. Taking into consideration some of these additional options will give you the peace of mind knowing that you are fully insured.

It is always a good idea to consult with an insurance specialist, such as an independent agency or brokerage who has access to several insurance carriers and markets. For immediate inquiry, call ABS Insurance & Financial Services for more information. 650-813-5883

Posted via web from California Insurance Today

Simple Tips on When Getting Contractors Liability Insurance

May 18th, 2010

Contractor liability insurance is intended to protect a contractor against legal claims and to safeguard business owners from financial risks. Other benefits have been thoroughly discussed and we already have a better grasp on the settlements a contractor could get by purchasing liability insurance. In most states, contractors can bid for commercial or residential work without contractor liability insurance though oftentimes contractors cannot perform the job without the liability insurance.

The amount of insurance you will need as a contractor will vary depending on the work you will be doing and the liability coverages one chooses for his policy. Some of the factors that should be considered when shopping for liability insurance are the total revenue of your company and the total payroll expenses of your workers.  Standard liability coverage limits typically ranges from 1 million to 3 million or more based upon the amount of liability needed. Based on the current market, the minimum amount of insurance coverage business owners and general contractors are required to have is a 1 million per each occurrence limit and 2 million aggregate limit.

COST is always a concern for business owners, especially now based on the present situation of the economy. Most Insurance companies require a down payment ranging from 10 to 25% of the annual premium down.  Of course, there is always the option to pay the full premium up front.

If paying the full amount is a bit out of your budget, you can make automated payments directly from you’re your bank account or credit card. Most insurance carriers offer  several payment options to accommodate your businesses budget.

Independent agents and/or brokers have access to the market and can get the best rates that the current market has to offer. With a several insurance companies to choose from, here are some quick and simple tips when choosing your contractors liability insurance:

·         Be certain to research the company’s ratings you are interested in since not all insurance carriers are alike and equal. Ensure that your company has a good history.

·         Also, one of the best strategies is to check out several different insurance companies through various agents and other contractors. Ask other contractors in your industry which insurance carrier’s they are using.

·         Review and understand the terms and conditions as well as exclusions on your policy in order to protect all parties concerned.  Always remember that it is your responsibility as a contractor to ensure that the subcontractors working on site are being sheltered by the general contractor liability insurance as well.

Insurance is a long-term coverage is typically a long-term requirement in the lives of all of us.  It is important to seek an insurance specialist that is interested being your insurance advisor for the long-term.  An insurance advisor is important to handle most if not all of your insurance needs and concers.

Posted via email from California Insurance Today

General Contractor’s Liability Insurance: Is it worth the price?

May 14th, 2010

Accidents can happen at any rate like a magnet to a metal despite the amount of care we take every day.  Professionals have no excuse either regardless of expertise and their years of experience.  With the unstable rise and decline of the economy, people don’t care anymore on how important things are or their needs being met as long as they could save.  Nowadays people are more vocal in saying they don’t need anything that will cost them or having them admit that business is slow and they don’t need a service or they are doing fine just the way they are, not heeding the possible risks. 

One of the occupations or field works that was greatly affected by the dramatic downturn in the economy is contractors. Small scale contractors are now willing to gamble and persist on doing projects without contractors liability insurance or general liability insurance to protect them when problems arise. In another blog about California contractors, it was emphasized that liability insurance or insurance as a whole was the least item they wanted to spend their money on.

The word contractor has a broad meaning but what type of contractors are we talking about here?  A contractor or a general contractor is a group or an individual that enters an agreement with another, two or more parties or with an individual say the owner to construct, renovate or demolish a building, house, road or other structures. They are responsible for the supplies and materials to be used, means and methods to accomplish a project in accordance to the drawn contract.

Because of these responsibilities there are a number of liability concerns that the contractors need to be conscious of.  Property damage, contract liability, the possibility of bodily injury to workers and even people outside of work for example passersby and bystanders who got hurt because there were no caution signs or warnings around the jobsites or simple mistakes such as a hammer dropped on someone’s head are some of the possibilities contractors need to consider. Though, injuries to employees may also be covered by the workers compensation policy

The odds of getting sued are yet another factor a contractor should reflect on. There are so many businesses one could think of that have put business owners out of business.  The professional fees of lawyers alone could get your business on a major setback.  The price for purchasing liability insurance is nothing compared to losing your business for good.

So the question is, are you thinking of putting up a business or becoming a contractor yourself?  Think of these risks, get armed and save yourself from these liabilities and watch your business grow like you wanted it to be.

Posted via email from California Insurance Today

Liability Insurance Details You Should Pay Attention To

May 14th, 2010

General liability insurance cost is one thing, but the hidden cost of a coverage gap can be much more expensive. Analyzing your proposals to ensure there are no holes in the quote proposal will definitely benefit your company’s best interests. Here is one tip to use in your analysis that can plug these holes.

Get all of the named insured’s descriptions listed correctly on your insurance policy or on the certificate of insurance. This entails describing correctly and clearly the names of all owners and partners and all legal entities that need to be insured. This may become an issue if some of the legal entities do not have the same common ownership. In those cases, you need to be clear and concise in listing correctly all of those relationships that have an insurable interest in your business.

The next area that you need to look at carefully is that of your certificate holders. Their names and addresses need to be correctly and clearly spelled out on any certificates of insurance that you are requesting from your insurance company. Most of the time you will have contracts with your certificate holders that specifically lay out the requirements of how their name and address should read and failing to adhere to their requirements can create gaps in coverage for you.

Something as simple as getting the names of the insured spelled correctly and your certificate holders names spelled correctly can protect you from gaps in liability coverage.

Posted via email from California Insurance Today

Online Insurance Quotes | Get Business, Commercial, Liability, Homeowners, and Landlord Insurance in California | ABS Insurance

May 8th, 2010

Great resource for reliable commercial insurance quotes in California!

Posted via web from California Insurance Today

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February 23rd, 2010

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