If you don’t own your own home, you may think you don’t need to worry about insurance. This is a common misconception, though. While you don’t have to pay for insurance on the structure of the home itself, you do need to cover the personal belongings you keep in your apartment or home. As you shop for your renters insurance in Decatur, there are certain things you need to consider.
Estimated Value
Your insurance rates will be based on the estimated value of everything you would need to replace in the event of a disaster. This includes your furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances and everything else you would need to replace. In addition to this estimate, you will need to make a list of everything you own to keep in a safe place, as well as take pictures of items that are more valuable, such as jewelry.
Check on Discounts
Renters insurance in Decatur often takes certain discounts into consideration. For instance, having a smoke detector and a fire extinguisher can give you a discount. Other possible discounts can be obtained for using a deadbolt lock and a security system. You can also lower your rate by choosing to pay a higher deductible.
Natural Disasters
Not all insurance policies cover all types of disasters. Therefore, you need to know if the area in which you will be living is at a higher risk for flooding or earthquakes. If there is a high risk of these or other disasters, you may need additional riders on your insurance to provide coverage for these disasters.
Roommate Policy
If you are sharing your apartment or home with someone else, you may assume his possessions are included in your policy. However, it is important to talk to your agent to find out exactly what is covered. In some cases, your roommate may need to take out his own policy or you may be able to obtain a discount for purchasing your policies together from the same company.
Purchasing renters insurance Decatur is an important element when it comes to protecting your home. Before you buy this insurance, though, you need to know just how to purchase the right amount of insurance to cover your belongings. This includes determining and documenting an estimated value, checking into any discounts your insurance company provides, whether you need additional coverage for certain disasters and whether your roommate’s possessions are included.
ATIInsurance.com offers protection to renters’ insurance from several excellent companies in Decatur. Get a free insurance quote.
