Taking out the correct property and casualty insurance cover may not be particularly high on your list of financial priorities and, compared with things like investment decisions and estate planning issues, questions about the language in your homeowners plan could seem hardly worthy of consideration. However, the more successful you are, the more involved your asset-protection requirements are likely to be-and the more you have to lose. Suppose, for example, that in addition to your primary residence-a historic home-you also own a house at the beach and a condo in the city.
For illustration, let us say that you own properties in 3 states, the value of your collection of Old Master paintings has grown quickly and you recently volunteered to serve as a director of of a charitable organization. Almost every aspect of your present situation could cost you dearly.
Insurance laws vary considerably from one state to the next, different kinds of property need specialized coverage and collections of art and other unique items might be hard to protect fully. In The Meantime, serving on the board of a non-profit organization could land you with additional personal liability.
Protecting yourself and your family might mean buying additional coverage, although more insurance isn't necessarily the answer. Instead, it's important to review all of your needs, consider specialized policies or policy options and coordinate your insurance cover with other facets of your financial situation.
Listed below are 6 shortcoming which could turn out to be costly.
1. Leaving gaps in your homeowner's cover.
Any homeowner needs to look at their coverage on a regular basis so that they can keep up with rising replacement costs. But, insuring different kinds of property in different locations poses special challenges. If you buy insurance cover from more than one carrier then you may face contrasting limitations, rules, and plan renewal dates. For instance, the liability limit on the plan for a second home could fall below the minimum on an excess liability plan designed to complement the insurance cover on your primary home and you could wind up being responsible for coming up with the difference.
2. Dismissing your property's unique characteristics.
One of the perks of affluence is having the money to own great homes but one of the drawbacks is that These may be hard to insure adequately. Normal homeowner's coverage is not going to pay for the hard-to-find materials and craftsmanship necessary to rebuild that 19th century property you have lovingly restored. Coastal properties could well be subjected to hurricane damage, while a home in the mountains of California could be subject to wildfires or earthquakes.
3. Under insuring art and collectibles.
Ordinary homeowner's policies limit cover for the loss of hings like antiques, furs, and other valuables. And while you could arrange additional coverage, insuring for the true value of an art collection will usually mean purchasing a specialized plan which addresses several critical issues.
4. Forgetting to organize insurance for household employees.
When somebody works for you as, for example, a nanny, landscaper or personal assistant you may be liable for lost wages and medical expenses if the person is hurt on the job. Several states require household employers to pay into a workers compensation fund while in other states this is optional. However, providing such insurance cover may be obligatory for ensuring your financial health.
5. Neglecting your liability as a member of a board of directors.
Excess liability coverage might help protect you if you're sued as a director of a charity or, if you prefer to have more comprehensive protection, you may want to think about arranging special directors liability insurance.
6. Not getting regular plan reviews and updates.
Your finances are not static and neither are your insurance needs. The value of a collection might increase, home renovations may mean an increase in the value of your home and the re-titling of assets as part of your estate plan or as a result of divorce, a death in the family, or the birth of a child may require changes to your plan. Even lacking any significant events, you will undoubtedly need a comprehensive review of your insurance cover at least every two years.
