Thursday, February 14, 2008

FIRE INSURANCE

FIRE INSURANCE

Most homeowners insurance policies and renters insurance policies include fire protection Several insurance companies however offer separate policies to cover additional expenses resulting from a fire

Fire Damage
Fires have the potential to cause minimal damage or to devastate an entire residence Not only can fires destroy a home or apartment but all the contents of the home can be lost in a major fire as well Other related damages can occur from small fires some of which many people do not even think about beforehand

Structures can collapse
Water from firefighters may flood the residence
Explosions may occur if highly combustible materials are reached by the fire
Nearby landscaping may be ruined
Extinguished fires leave more than blackened walls and a lingering smell of smoke Extra fire protection can help pay for all the damage caused by a fire direct or not

Discounts for Fire Protection
Just like auto insurance certain safety features throughout the home may result in less costly insurance rates

Homes and apartments that have smoke detectors throughout the residence are usually eligible for discounted fire protection insurance
Having an alarm system which features fire detection and automatic connection to emergency services or the alarm system company may also yield a nice discount in insurance coverage premiums
Sometimes the home or apartments proximity to a fire station can bring the cost of insurance down If it takes less time for firefighters to arrive on scene they may be able to save the residence
Because some roofing is less liable to burn quickly than other types of roofing certain types of roofing might also cause the cost of the policy to be reduced
Causes of Home Fires
The single largest cause of home fires is unattended food cooking on the stove Other common causes include

Candles and other open flame items being left unattended or getting knocked over
Clothes dryers catching a spark and bursting into flames
Cigarettes smoldering in a flammable trash can or on bedding
Fire experts recommend people take as many precautions as possible to avoid fires Lowering the risk of fires by not leaving cooking candles and cigarettes unattended will help as will making sure that smoke detectors are in place and functioning It is also suggested that families create a fire escape plan in the event of a fire

Fire Protection Beyond Primary Policies
It is important to check with your to find out exactly what your fire protection coverage is Find out what level of protection you have and also ask what sort of deductible you will need to pay in the event of a claim It may be that your current policy is sufficient for your needs but in some cases you will want to add a fire protection rider to your policy

You may also want to ask how much money the insurance company estimates it would take to completely rebuild your home in the event of a devastating fire If the companys numbers are lower than what they should be you need to give them a more accurate number Your monthly premiums may go up in price but it will certainly be worth it if a fire does occur It would be unfortunate to say the least to have insufficient fire coverage and not realize it until after a fire

Not all insurance companies offer fire insurance in every state You should check with your insurance company to find out what sort of coverage they offer If you do decide to purchase fire protection be sure to shop around to get the best policy at the best price

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