Winter is here, and many families are cranking up the thermostats to keep warm indoors. Unfortunately, because of the increased use of heating equipment, the winter season tends to show an increase in house fires nationwide. During these chilly months, follow these tips to stay safe and warm in your home.

Have an escape plan – Hold a family meeting and set routes to escape your house in case of fire. Fire may block areas of your house, so plan at least two escape routes and practice them with your family.

Get your heating unit inspected – Because it has been so long since you last used it, you should have your heating unit inspected to make sure it is working properly. Make sure all vents are clear and that all gas lines are fitted properly with no leaks.

Use heat sources with caution – Space heaters are a leading cause of home fires. Follow all package instructions and make sure to keep in well ventilated areas away from curtains, drapes, or other flammable material. If using a fireplace or wood stove, monitor the fire carefully. 

Install and maintain smoke detectors – a large number of fires start while you are asleep. The warnings from a smoke alarm can make all the difference when it comes to a safe escape, so make sure they are installed throughout your home. Afterward, test them every six months to ensure they are working properly and that their batteries are fully charged.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

If you own a condominium, your insurance needs will be different from someone who owns a house. You don’t need homeowner’s insurance, but rather insurance specifically designed for condos. That’s because as a condo owner, you only own your unit, which is part of a larger structure or complex. Through your association dues, you and the other condo owners share ownership in the overall building and responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of common areas. Part of the money each of you pays to the association goes to pay for insurance coverage for these common structures and areas. However, and here’s the important part, that coverage does not protect any of your personal property within the walls of your unit or your liability should someone be injured in your condo.

California condo insurance typically covers your appliances, furniture, wall décor, kitchen and bathroom amenities, your personal possessions and the walls within your own home. Upgrades you’ve made to your place are also covered, such as plush carpet, wood floors, built-in wall units, lighting or ceiling fans. Be sure you have adequate coverage (limit) for those permanently attached items which are your responsibility to insure.  These may be interior walls and attached appliances and cabinetry.

To protect yourself, it is essential that you keep a current inventory of your possessions. The easiest way to do this is to periodically walk through your condo with a video camera. Make sure you store your inventory or video tape in a secure place such as a safe deposit box.

Before you sign up for coverage, you’ll need to check with your association or read through the covenants to see what is and what is not covered.  Ask your agent/representative about “loss assessment coverage” and if the limit provided by your policy is adequate.

You don’t want to fall prey to the common misconception that the insurance that covers your overall building will also cover everything you own. Remember it this way, your association covenants typically cover everything from your wall studs out. The condo insurance you buy will be called upon to cover everything from the wall studs in. And, condominium insurance is usually less expensive than home insurance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Insuring a condominium (condo) is much different than insuring a home.  When insuring a home, you must take into account the structure of the home, contents, lot and any other structures contained therein.  A condo is different because in most cases you do not own the property it is on or in some cases the physical structure.  With most condos, a master policy is set up by your association dues which cover the structures within the community.  Before you decide how much individual coverage you will need, you should review the association’s master policy to see what it covers. There are two main types of master policies.

• Bare walls in. These policies cover all real property from the exterior framing inward, but do not cover fixtures or installations within a condo unit. Features such as countertops, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, and flooring are not covered. If your condo association has this kind of master policy, you’ll probably have a greater need for individual coverage.

• All in. These policies cover fixtures, installations or additions within the interior surfaces of the perimeter walls, floors and ceilings of individual units. Condo owners under an all-in plan will probably have a more limited need for individual coverage.

There are also variations of the two types. These details should be spelled out in a condominium association’s bylaws.

Once you determine the master policy coverage’s, you are ready to figure out how much coverage to purchase.  To determine how much coverage to buy, you will need to figure out the replacement value of structures and fixtures (if not covered by the master policy) and the replacement value of your belongings.  In some cases you may need to determine if you want the cash value or the replacement cost of an item.  Cash value will pay you the current value of the item minus the depreciation costs.  Replacement value will pay you the amount it costs to replace the item.

Other coverage’s you may need to purchase additional to your condo insurance could be wind, flood and earthquake policies, depending on what area of the country you reside in.

For more information about condo insurance coverage, please contact AIS Insurance for a free quote.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.