The Home and The People In It Every home is a castle and we think of it that way. But we keep in mind that not everyone (us included) has a treasury set aside to pay for protecting it. That is why we keep a levelheaded approach to doing business with you. We will speak our minds, and make constructive suggestions of where and how to allocate your premium dollar for best overall effect.
A frequent kind of loss is theft or the loss of a ring, or ring stone. These are maddening, and hurtful experiences, particularly when you feel violated by someone's mean-spirited acts. Victims are often afraid and very leery of their personal safety following a burglary. We understand this. It is natural. That is why we take pains in placing your business with Insurance Companies with understanding, empathetic and of course, knowledgeable staff.
Another frequent kind of loss is water damage from things like broken pipes and sewer back up. The costs of cleaning up can be staggering. One poor retired couple returned from a tropical vacation to discover that the tank on their toilet had fractured in their absence and water had been running throughout the house for 4 weeks! It cost over $100,000 and took over 6 months to repair. This is an extreme case but water damage losses are among the most frequent - and inconveniencing.
By far the most devastating kind of property loss is a fire, or an earthquake. There is simply no way to describe how emotionally trying these experiences can be. Most people mercifully never experience such a thing but many do occur. Over the years, we have walked our clients through hundreds of fire losses. We help them understand the process, and guide their next steps. We keep in close contact with the insurance company and the adjusters just to make sure an already dreadful experience does not become worse.
Imagine this!
You have just purchased your first home. It is a bit of a fixer-upper but it is yours - all yours. On a warm summer day you invite some friends over for a barbeque. A number of them are lounging and milling about on the sundeck and a couple of them are leaning against the railing when it gives way. Two friends topple 15 ' to the ground below. One sustains a broken arm, the other a broken back. The arm heals, the back does not.
After the anguish comes the cold, chilling realization that the friend is now a quadriplegic and you have to pay for their care for the next 40 years!
This is a true story and sadly not altogether uncommon. There are many others like them, although they arise from different circumstances. It is not the small loss that scares us. It is the catastrophic loss. That is why personal liability insurance is so important - because it covers these kinds of situations and the responsibilities they create.
Personal Liability
The personal liability portion of home insurance applies at your home or anywhere in the world to bodily injury you may unintentionally inflict on others often referred to as "third parties", or to your accidentally damaging their property. No deductibles apply. Legal defense costs, if there is potential for a liability claim against you, are in addition to policy limits. The choice of lawyer(s) is up to the insurer, however. There is no liability coverage for disease transmission and physical including sexual abuse.
A minimum limit of $1 million is often recommended. Ask your insurance broker about the specific coverage in your policy.
Business activities from Home
A homeowner insurance policy is intended to cover personal pursuits – not business ones. If you are operating a home based business, and more and more people are doing this, you must let your agent know. Business inventory and business liability is simply not covered by the home insurance policy. Contact Nikki Keith - 604-437-6200 |
