As a homeowner, purchasing homeowners insurance is important to ensure that you are protected financially in the case that your home is damaged or totally lost. Without homeowners insurance, you will have to pay out of pocket to replace your personal belongings and make repairs to your home, which can be nearly impossible if you don't have any savings. This is why it's also important to be sure that when you purchase homeowners insurance, it has enough coverage to keep you as protected as possible. Here are four things to consider when purchasing homeowners insurance:

  1. The Way Claims are Processed: When speaking with a homeowners insurance company, be sure to ask what the claims process is like. This is important if you don't have a savings to replace items in the case of damages. This is because some homeowners insurance companies will process claims by providing you with the replacement value for your items up front while others will only provide you with the replacement amount once the items have been replaced and you can provide receipts. This may be impossible to do if you don't have the resources to replace the items on your own. 
  2. Floaters: Adding floaters to your insurance policy is important because you want to be sure that your personal belongings are fully protected. Some basic homeowners insurance policies won't cover the full replacement value of computers, jewelry, and more. Be sure to ask about this to determine whether or not you need to add floaters to your policy. 
  3. Inspections: Every time your homeowners insurance is up for renewal or when purchasing a new policy, it's important to have an appraiser inspect your home to determine your replacement value. The replacement value of your home is going to change based on inflation, which is why this is so important. You want to be sure that you have the right coverage amount in the case that your home is destroyed completely and you need to rebuild. 
  4. Umbrella Policy: Adding an umbrella policy to your homeowners insurance is definitely something to consider because it adds extra liability coverage. This is important because basic homeowners insurance policy typically only cover liability claims for a certain amount and many times, if someone is hurt on your property, they sue for much more. Adding this policy will protect you further, which is important to consider if your home has certain risks, such as stairs, a swimming pool, and more. 

When you consider these four things when purchasing homeowners insurance, you can be sure that you are adequately covered. Contact an agent, like those at Family Insurance Centers and similar offices, for more information.

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