Are you considering taking out renters insurance? Are you wondering if it is going to be a wasteful expense in addition to the monthly rent you pay? Read this article to know why your tenant insurance is worth every penny.
If you go by statistics in the insurance industry, renters insurance takes a backseat when compared to any other type of home insurance. While studies show home insurance at 95%, only 41% of the tenants opt for renter’s insurance. This form of insurance is often the most overlooked one, even though it is the most affordable option. One can attribute this to the general mindset among people who view it as an additional expenditure with no actual monetary returns insight. If you are a tenant, it is time to think of including this insurance expense as part of your regular budget, because you will need it to safeguard your savings. In case of any untoward incident, it sure saves you from the financial burden of replacing or recovering your essential goods lost in the disaster.
This tutorial will tell you why you need to consider taking this form of coverage and the extent to which you will have to insure.
Is renters insurance worth all the costs?
The answer is a big yes. It protects against unpredictable losses or costs that can occur due to unforeseen events or catastrophes. For instance, if there was a tornado or devastating storm, your landlord will get coverage over his building from the home insurance; however, this will not cover your personal belongings. If you already have renters insurance, you can replace or recover your damaged household stuff without spending from your pocket. It is always better to insure than regret it later.
Here are some more benefits you will get if you have a renter’s insurance
You can make good of the loss on your personal property that was damaged due to a covered accident or peril like fire, theft, or any natural disaster up to the agreed limit.
In case you damaged the rented property or cause bodily harm to the guests while residing in the rented place, you can cover those costs as part of your policy.
Covers your alternate lodging expenses
If your rented home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered peril, you can avail of the costs of your temporary residence.
Dog bite claims
You will be held liable to pay for the injury caused to someone. With a renter’s policy in place, you will find it easier to pay for the expense, as it can be claimed as part of the policy.
Why some tenants choose not to opt for this insurance?
Most tenants think that they are paying to cover for the costs of something highly unlikely to happen. However, market experts believe they are way too optimistic in deciding that nothing unexpected will happen. Though the belief is true to an extent, renter’s insurance is still a smart way to get coverage for all those unforeseen costs if the covered peril occurs. Even if you have the savings to provide for the expenses, insurance acts protection for your hard-earned money.
Consider the fact that you are getting good coverage for a very nominal monthly expense rather than just viewing it as a wasteful expenditure.
How to assess how much renter’s insurance I will need?
Insurance companies will have a multitude of options for you to choose from in terms of coverage, what events it covers, the maximum limit in case of each event, etc. This might make the process of availing insurance more challenging. It is best to start by assessing how much coverage you will need for what you own at the rented accommodation.
The first step to this process is to create a complete and exhaustive list of the items that you think will need coverage. Keep in mind that these are things that might be prone to damage in the event of a covered peril. Compile a list of things that include your valuable personal possessions with their purchase price, their effective life, and current value.
Based on the value of the inventory list you have compiled, check with your insurer if you can get discounts by combining with other policies provided by them. Most insurers allow you to bundle the renter’s insurance with auto, life, and business insurance policies.
Choose the proportion of deductible – Choose how much you will account for the loss from your pocket and how much the company is liable to reimburse. This will decide how much premium you will be paying for the policy.
Hope this article has reduced the ambiguity around the tenant’s insurance on your mind. Happy to answer any queries you have in this regard. Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below.
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