Saturday, January 16, 2010

The Elements of a Renters Insurance Rate

A renters insurance rate is based on several factors. Everyone considering a purchase of a renters insurance should have a basic understanding of how the premium is arrived at and the various aspects affecting the rate.

The first thing one should ask is whether the insurance company offers coverage for your belongings based on actual cash value or replacement cost value. As the names imply, the actual cash value coverage will reimburse policyholders for the actual cost of the property at the time of the loss, while the replacement cost coverage will pay for the actual replacement cost of the property at the time of loss. A replacement cost renters insurance rate is higher than the actual cash value insurance and it also pays more when an actual claim is made.

A renters insurance will protect a customer's personal property against fire, storm or other natural disasters. It also covers losses due to theft or accidents caused to a third party while within the rented property. Computing for the rate is, of course, based on the actual properties being insured. There is a great risk of under-insuring when renters do not have an inventory of all their personal belongings. An inventory also greatly simplifies the claims process. When drawing up an inventory, it is wise to indicate the prices of each and every item that will be insured. Renters should also take extra note of their high-priced items, such as jewelry. Some insurance companies would deem it fit to ask customers to take out a separate rider policy for high-priced items. The basic rule for claims processors is that if an item, especially a high priced one has not been declared, it is not covered by the policy.

Another standard coverage offered by a renters insurance is for liability. It has a limit of about 30 to 50 percent of the value of the policy. Also called the additional living expenses coverage, this portion of the insurance pays for the customer's living expenses after a loss and the costs incurred when a visitor meets an accident within the premises.

A renters insurance rate is based on several elements including the location of the rented property, the deductible set by the policy-holder, and any additional coverage required by the policy-holder. These elements are used to compute the premium. A high deductible yields a lower premium, but policy-holders should make sure that they can afford whatever deductible they set as this is the amount they will shoulder at the actual time of the loss. Most insurance companies would offer discounts for so-called protective devices, such as fire extinguishers, smoke and fire detectors and burglar alarms. Discounts are also offered to senior citizens and for customers who purchase another line of insurance product from the company, such as a motor insurance policy for their vehicle.

Article Source: http://www.insurancearticle.com

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