Habitational insurance is a must for landlords who want to protect themselves from financial loss. When a tenant is injured on your property, their renter's insurance may cover injuries received in their apartment, but outside of their apartment is a different story. Your habitational insurance may come into play at some point. There are many factors that influence how much you pay for this type of coverage.
The type of property you own is one of the biggest factors in terms of paying for your habitational insurance. Older buildings and those that are in areas where specific natural disasters are common may cost more to insure. Properties with specific risks may require a special supplemental policy that may be more expensive. You will need to talk to your insurance agent to determine what type of risks you are dealing with in your area.
Read: A Guide to Property and Casualty Risk Management and InsuranceCurrent trends in the market will also play a role in how much you pay. If a property has incurred considerable losses, deductibles may be increased, and the capacity of the building may be reduced. If the market is down and times are hard, you will more than likely see an increase in the overall cost of your insurance.
Not all policies put all risks under one deductible. In some cases, deductibles are set separately for each type of event. There would be one deductible for theft and vandalism and another one for storm damage. You need to understand your policy and determine how many types of risks have their own deductibles and how much each deductible is.
The process used to determine property values has changed over the years. Due to the amount of loss that has been reported over many years, insurance carriers will not offer the same amount of coverage as they have in the past. It's important to remember this when considering the amount of coverage you need and the cost you will have to pay for it.
The crime rate in an area will determine the insurance premiums for both residential and commercial properties. This is especially true when it comes to habitational insurance. Commercial buildings, including apartment complexes, may pay exorbitant amounts or may not be able to get insurance at all if they are located in specific high-crime areas.
The overall condition of the building will be a huge factor in how high your premiums are. If your building is in good condition and you keep it well-maintained, you may find a quality policy at an affordable price. Buildings in poor or deteriorating condition may not qualify for insurance at all. Buying a building in bad shape and completing renovations will increase your odds of getting a good policy.
Habitational insurance can be confusing and difficult to understand. To get a better understanding of your policy and its overall costs and coverage, contact the agents at Graystone Insurance Group. When it comes to protecting your investment, you want to work with reputable agents who understand the importance of transparency.
