All week, our state’s attention has been focused on Hurricane Matthew. This storm, as well as our memories of last year’s floods, serve as a good reminder to review your home insurance policy. Although you may think your coverage will take care of any damage caused by a natural disaster, you could receive an unpleasant surprise if you have to file a claim.
According to our partners at Trusted Choice and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, almost half of American homeowners aren’t sure if their policies will cover the replacement costs of their structure and belongings—or they don’t have this coverage at all. Seventy-three percent don’t have a separate flood insurance policy.
So what can you do to make sure your home insurance is disaster ready? Here are a few tips to protect your biggest investment:
- Call your insurance agent and ask for a full review of your policy. Ask them to explain your coverage, what the policy will and won’t cover, and what their recommendations are.
- Consider adding flood insurance to your coverage. Regular home insurance does not cover floods, as many Columbia-area residents learned the hard way.
- Start saving. Even if you are able to file a home insurance claim for storm damage, it may take a while to get a check—especially if your entire community is affected by a natural disaster.
- Start a home inventory. This is a catalog of all your belongings. Your insurance company will use this to calculate the value of the contents of your home. Don’t rely on memory alone. Take photos and record details of the things you own. Then store it in a secure location away from your home.
Batesburg Insurance Agency is here to help you with all of your home insurance needs. We’ll make sure you’re prepared for any type of disaster. Request an insurance quote for coverage in the Batesburg-Leesville, Columbia, and Lexington areas of South Carolina.
