We get it. Insurance isn’t always the most exciting thing to research and read about, but what if you learned some new facts about renter’s insurance that you never knew? Whether you are moving to a new rental home or just want to increase your coverage, we are happy to present you with four things to know about renter’s insurance.
With a term like renter’s insurance, you would think that the policy only provides replacement value for personal property located inside of the place you live. However, we live in a portable world. You don’t always keep everything you own inside of your apartment.
For example, maybe you grabbed your grandmother’s heirloom necklace to wear to work one day only to see it break when someone bumps against you on the bus. You ride your bike to work another day and someone steals it. The good news in these bad situations is that your renter’s insurance policy will likely cover the partial or full replacement value of personal items lost or damaged outside of your rental unit.
You worked hard and saved money for months so you could buy a MacBook laptop computer without having to finance the balance on a credit card and pay interest. On your way to the coffee shop to work on your new MacBook and enjoy an espresso, you decide to stop at the library to see if the novel you put on hold is available yet.
Although you faithfully lock your car doors every time you park it, someone was intent enough on stealing your laptop that they used a crowbar to break your windshield. Now you have a damaged car and no more laptop, which feels utterly devastating. Then the team at Arnold Insurance puts a smile back on your face by reassuring you that you have coverage for your stolen computer and recommending that you call your auto insurance company to see how it can help with the broken window.
This one really surprises people because they assume that renter’s insurance only covers things. While your policy certainly does offer replacement value for things, in some cases it covers you and other people too. Who could have predicted that your aunt would trip over your cat and break her foot? If her health insurance company decides that you are liable for the medical expenses and not them, your renter’s insurance policy could save the day.
Most states enforce strict liability on pet owners if their cute little kitty or friendly dog suddenly decides to bite or attack someone. If that happens to someone visiting you in the place you rent, your renter’s insurance policy may cover some or all of your visitor’s medical expenses. Now if only it would cover your veterinary bills too.
We would be willing to bet that you didn’t know renter’s insurance provided coverage for at least some of these things. Many of our customers are surprised to learn just how robust their renter’s insurance policy really is. If you have additional questions about coverage or want to start a new policy, feel free to call Arnold Insurance directly, send us an email, or even reach out to us through Twitter (Yes, we mean it!)