California Insurance Now

Avoiding Rental Apartment Disasters

2011-12-15T10:26:00.001-08:00

There are many rental and homeowner disasters that can happen during your tenancy. While major incidents in general are rare, there are a few things you can do to lower your chances of something going wrong. You should realize that as a renter, you may be liable for damages if something happens, even if it is not really your fault. And if you are the one suffering the loss related to one of these issues, you might not be able to obtain reimbursement for the costs you have to cover.

Here are some of the potential losses and a few things you can do to help minimize them.

Fire and smoke damage in the premises.

Some of the leading causes of home fires are cigarettes, cooking fires, unattended candles, and children playing with matches, according to this state of California. Other common potential fire hazards are portable space heaters. Portable space heaters, especially as we come into the winter months, should be used carefully. Keep them away from flammable curtains, paper, and trash. And, if you use them with an extension cord, make sure it is not an old worn cord or used under a carpet or other obstacle that could catch fire. In addition, by using common sense measures like blowing out candles when you leave, not smoking cigarettes in bed or when you are tired, and keeping matches out of the reach of children, you reduce your risk of a fire accident.

It is also a good idea, and required in most states, to have smoke alarms in the house. You should test them often to make sure the batteries are in working order. You should also have a fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink and in other places where they are easy to locate and use — just in case. However, always call 911 or the fire department immediately when you sense that you cannot immediately put the fire out yourself.

Flood and water issues in the house.

Man-made floods in the house, like overflowing bathtubs, toilets, or washing machines, can cause major damage. Make sure you always keep an eye on appliances that use water and be careful about what you flush. For example, baby diapers commonly clog pipes, so they should be trashed, not flushed. Big problems can also come from leaky water values or old washing machine hoses. Make sure to change out those rubber or mesh hoses or have the landlord do it every couple of years at a minimum. If any plumbing valves look old, corroded, or will not turn, you should request that your landlord replace them so the valves will be functional in case of a water or flood issue.

Finally, if you see water spots on the ceiling drywall or under a sink, make sure to alert the landlord. These could be coming from a leak in the roof, leaky pipes, or windows that are not properly sealed. It is smart to cure small, inexpensive problems before they become big because the costs can grow significantly.

Theft of your property.

Thefts are more common in some cities, but we are all at risk if we don’t take a little precaution. According to the FBI, there were 2.2 million reported burglaries in 2009. This means that between 2% – 3% of houses are robbed each year. Statistics show that most burglaries occur on weekdays between 11am and 3pm when people are not at home, so whether you're at home or away, lock your doors, close the windows, close the garage door, don’t leave keys under your doormats, and don’t advertise that you have new expensive electronics by showcasing the boxes in your trash. Other precautions you can consider are an alarm system, a big dog, and having lights turn on and off automatically when you're out. And never enter your house if you think an unknown individual is in there — always call the police!

Get Renters Insurance in California

Protecting Your Valuables

2011-12-15T09:03:00.000-08:00

As a renter or a homeowner, you should take some precautions to ensure the security of your personal property and well being. While we all know it is smart to lock your doors and windows when you leave the house, there are a few other things you can do to reduce the risk of theft, trespass, or vandalism. Many of these are common sense; it’s putting these measures into practice that is tougher for most people. But remember that the more preventative measures you adopt, the lower your chances of having to deal with a scary break-in that could result in monetary loss.

Reasons for Renters Insurance

Here are a few tips you can follow:

Mind the garage. In addition to locking the doors and windows as noted above, be careful about leaving the garage door open, as this is an easy area for an intruder to hide in and enter the house. Or they might just steal something from the garage. Additionally, do not leave spare keys where they are easy to find – like under the door mat, in the mailbox, or in a flower pot. Any thief will look in those areas first!

Install a security system. A security system might be a smart move if you live in a high crime area. Search the local police website for information on crime statistics in your area and advice related to security systems and how the police respond to security company calls. Many services have monthly fees, so do some research and shop around. Having anti-theft devices, including dead-bolt locks, fire and smoke alarms, multiple policies, and more, may also decrease your insurance policy premiums.

Don't advertise your new electronics. Don’t forget to carefully conceal the boxes from your flat screen TVs, laptops, game consoles, etc. in the trash. If you just toss those boxes out in plain sight, you could just be asking for problems by advertising what you have inside your home. Make sure to cut up those boxes and place them in the trash (or recycling bin) in a way that doesn’t showcase all the expensive equipment you own.

Don’t showcase valuable items. Many people keep expensive bikes, surfboards, and other equipment on their balcony or exposed in the yard. While space is always a premium and we need to use all available storage, that doesn’t mean that you should not cover the items with non-descript tarps or other covers that will hide your property.

Protect your privacy. You should keep your blinds closed when you are not home and at night. You don’t want people to be able to look in and see what you have. This is especially important at night when it is easy to see inside a lit house.

Light up the night. Put lights around exterior doors, driveways and alleys. If you are in a house or small apartment, motion sensor lights are good to have for when you come home late. It will help to light up the areas by your home and keep others away. There are also dusk-to-dawn lights that go on at night automatically and turn off when the sun rises. Most are inexpensive and easy to install in place of existing lights and are a good safety measure to light up dark places. Make sure to check with your landlord first about making any changes to the unit. You can view all kinds of different lights at Home Depot, Lowes, or any home repair store.

Use timers to vary your schedule. If you are going out of town or often come home late, you might want to consider putting some interior lights or TVs on a timer. They are inexpensive and easy to use, and the timer can be set to go on and off at certain times, simulating activity inside your home. You also don't want to make it obvious to someone watching your place exactly when you are away from home. A little varying of the timer goes a long way.

Plan for vacation maintenance. In this case, timers are especially important and installing a few throughout your home is a smart idea, as is having someone stop by every few days and picking up the mail or newspapers, and maybe even moving around a few plants or items. Leaving a car in the driveway is another great way to simulate activity. Just make sure your place doesn’t look vacant because vacant houses are more likely to get robbed.

Hide the family heirlooms. You might want to hide valuables like jewelry, coins, artwork, etc. if you are going to be out of town. The attic is a good place to put them, or somewhere else that is not a normal place to keep items, like on top of the kitchen cabinets.

Watch the social media posts. We all love social media and posting pictures of our vacation for friends to see, but don’t do it until you are back from your trip. There are many stories of thieves breaking into houses after reading on Twitter or Facebook that the residents are on vacation. Fox example, thieves robbed several homes in Nashua, New Hampshire because they knew the properties were empty based on the owners’ Facebook postings. No need to alert the local criminals that you are not home!

If you do come home and believe your house may have been robbed, leave immediately and call the police. You never know if someone is still there and it isn’t worth the risk to confront them, as you never know how that person may react to your sudden appearance. Call 911 immediately and let the police enter the property first. You need to have a police report done anyway for insurance purposes, so they can do that when they show up. Reporting crime also lets the police accumulate better data about where thieves may strike in the future.

Now you need to work with the insurance company on whether or not you will file a claim on your losses. After obtaining the police report, talk to your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy provider for guidance regarding compensation for the loss. If the total losses are not too high in value, or not much above your deductible, it might not make sense to make a claim. Most carriers will increase policy premiums after an insured person makes a claim, and you want to avoid that. Insurance is best used and is really in place for when you suffer a big loss or liability issue and need the coverage to protect yourself. After discussing the issue with your insurance professional, you will be able to make the right decision for yourself based on your loss situation.

Renters Insurance FAQs in California

A Guide to Renters Insurance in Los Angeles

2011-12-13T13:11:00.001-08:00

By far the most typical forms of insurance policy are vehicle liability and homeowners. A large number of companies vie for the attention in regards to these typical plans. Not every person is a driver or home-owner, nonetheless, and numerous other plans exist for individuals who usually do not simply match into these two central classes. When you are a renter hunting for insurance policy La, there may be some thing called renters insurance policy which is created to offer you liability and home hurt protection available for you.

Renters insurance policy is generally additional basic than homeowners insurance policy and much less expensive. The thinking is ought to a catastrophe befall your rental home, your principal issue might be your belongings and safeguarding yourself towards hurt claims from the proprietor. Put simply, the main focus is not on recouping the appeal in the framework, but on presenting you personal defense. Renters insurance policy also addresses your belongings even if they are not about the premises.

Right here are a couple of basic info about renters insurance policy in LA:

Probably essentially the most appealing factor about renters insurance policy is it addresses your stuff even outside in the residence. Need to your vehicle get broken into or your computer system is stolen about the subway, this insurance policy has you covered. Most companies that market insurance policy La will offer you a person protection for around thirty,000 for amongst $300 and $400 for each 12 months. There are stipulations about home values covered depending about the strategy you get. The advantage to having to pay this a single time yearly cost is yearlong assurance that you simply can recoup the appeal of essential belongings which are stolen or destroyed.

Renters insurance policy will reimburse you for that appeal of stuff you personal which may be destroyed by troubles within your apartment. Your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover your stuff. If there may be leak, a kitchen area fireplace or some other hurt inside your own home, or when the total building burns down, no matter fault, someone without having renters insurance policy may have to switch anything from pocket. Renting usually indicates living alongside several others, making sure that the possibilities of some thing heading on all around you raise.

When you are accountable for an accident or injury within your building, renters insurance policy addresses you. In many cases there may be compensation for legal representation ought to it be required. If hurt helps prevent you from living in your house, insurance policy can provide cash for temporary relocation. Although renting lowers your obligation for that home where by you reside, it also improves the dangers of untoward points happening in your stuff.

As individuals get older, they have a tendency to accumulate belongings which are additional essential and produce additional intricate fiscal images. Those who personal properties might be induced to acquire home-owner insurance policy, thus comprehensively covering their assets. For those who lease, the danger of unforeseen accidents is simply as authentic. Renters insurance policy can offer you import protection making sure that an accident will not leave you significant and dry.

What Are Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Renter?

2011-12-09T11:04:00.001-08:00

As a renter of any property, you have certain rights and responsibilities when occupying someone else’s property. Some of those are governed by the lease agreement you have with the owner, some are governed by local or state law, and all are governed by common sense.

Your Rights Under the Lease

You have the right to “quiet enjoyment” of the unit you are renting as long as you follow the lease terms, rules, regulations, and laws. “Quiet enjoyment,” according to Nolo’s Dictionary, (http://www.nolo.com/dictionary/quiet-enjoyment-term.html) is “the right of a tenant to enjoy his or her property without interference.”

In layman’s terms, this means the landlord in general should not be contacting you, entering your unit, or working on the property unless it is an emergency, there is a potential lease violation, or via a mutually agreed upon schedule by the both of you. In addition, your lease most likely gives the landlord the right to enter the unit with 24 hour notice, to do normal repairs, inspections, or to show the property if your occupancy is ending or the property is for sale. But most landlords have plenty to keep them busy, so they will not stop by the property unless there is some reason they need to come to the unit.

There are, however, a small percentage of landlords who are pesky or nosy, and they will not respect the general rules of common courtesy between a landlord and a tenant. You probably are not going to learn this about your landlord until after you are occupying the place, and you may find yourself feeling uncomfortable about your landlord’s behavior. If that is in fact the case, here are some suggestions on how to proceed.

If you do get aggravated over a pesky landlord or representative of the landlord, you need to handle the situation professionally, document the issues, and perhaps send diplomatic and written notices to your landlord regarding the items that make you uncomfortable. Luckily, you do not own the property and can probably move out within a year, which might be the best solution.

In extreme circumstances where you cannot work things out amicably with your landlord, you may have to contact an attorney to help you get the landlord to change his or her behavior, or work out a mutually agreeable termination to the lease. Try to handle it the best you can and try not to get upset or overly frustrated. After all, life is too short to stress over these types of squabbles. Just make plans to move at the lease end and put it behind you.

However, if the landlord breaches some term of the lease, such as not repairing major issues or handling problem neighbors – especially if they are in attached units that the landlord owns – that is going to become more of a complex situation. Violations of the lease, neighbor noise, or neighbor behavior issues may be governed by the lease or may be governed by local laws, depending on the issue. You need to talk to a knowledgeable real estate professional or lawyer on what course of action you should consider. Ultimately, what you can and should do depends on the severity of the situation and whether you are willing to put up with what will most likely be a time-consuming and tough ordeal, or if you would rather just let it go and make plans to move at the end of the lease.

Fortunately, most tenants do not have major problems with their landlord and the majority of landlords work with their tenants to ensure that everyone is satisfied. But to keep your rights in place, you have to do your part too. You have act respectfully to your landlord, take care of their property, alert them to maintenance issues, and follow the lease terms. Pay attention because the written lease dictates your responsibilities regarding your tenancy, and so does common law and, again, common sense.

(continued in Part 2)

Renters Insurance Quote