Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Vacant Property Insurance Will Help Protect Your Investment


Savvy landlords want to protect their investment as much as possible. This means keeping a constant tenancy in their properties.
But all landlords appreciate that is not always possible. Occupancy rates fluctuate in an unsettled market and will be subject to regional variations.
So for some landlords Vacant Property Insurance is a means of protecting their income by filling in the gaps when a property might otherwise be empty.
There are various reasons why you would take vacant property insurance. They include;
If your property is waiting or is in between tenants this is obviously lost income. So depending on your policy you can claim money to cover lost rent.
Rented properties may need renovation from time to time. This, once again, mean a loss of rent. If this is likely you may want to take a policy that will cover you. Also, consider the period of time that the property is empty waiting for renovations to start.
In between tenancies you will undoubtedly need to redecorate. Depending on the size of the property this could take weeks or days. It's important to understand that having a life-long tenant is unlikely. This means you will need to factor in time to freshen up the property to make it attractive to the next lodger.
The price of the vacant property insurance will be influenced by various factors. The specific area of the property will influence cost of the insurance. Insurers have in-depth knowledge of the UK and will understand what postcodes have higher crimes rates. This information can also be used to check the probability of the property being vandalised or worse still squatters.
Some insurers will offer discounts if the property is furnished and if you place some restrictions to the cover of the policy.
As with all insurance policies you will find clauses or conditions that you need to consider carefully. For instance it is also worth considering the length of time the property has remained unoccupied. Some insurers place restrictions of 30 days other insures may offer times of 3,6,9 or 12 months.
Insurers will expect the property to be secure from theft, vandalism or squatters. This means fitting approved locks to windows and doors.
To improve upon your policy, there are a number of measures that can be taken. This includes securing windows and doors, and carrying out a regular inspection of the property.
Vacant property Insurance can be complex, there are various things to consider. So when it comes to choosing a policy you, it is important to ensure that you select the one most suited to your requirements. Take the take to talk it through.
This type of insurance has different names, which include, empty property insurance, or unoccupied property insurance.



Thursday, May 31, 2012

How Can I Be Sure Cheap iPad Insurance Will Protect Me?


You probably think cheap iPad insurance is like other inexpensive items you buy. Namely not worth the paper it's printed on. While there are some shady companies out there that will take your money and run, by doing a little research you can find great insurance at reasonable prices.
What you want to do first is make a list of companies that provide iPad insurance. This can easily be done by searching on the internet. To make the next steps simpler, bookmark each site so you can quickly come back to it.
Now make a chart with the company names along one or the top, and a list of details or items you desire in an insurance plan along a perpendicular edge. Some items you may want to list would be price, coverage limits, travel clauses, deductibles, replacement time, support guarantee, etc. Anything that you feel is important to you and the way you plan to use your device.
Go back to each site and start filling in the chart with the information you find about each policy. Try to be as detailed as possible. If you see an item you missed but that you want to look for, add another row or column. You are not limited by what you start with. This is going to be an important decision and you want to have as much information as possible. You may need to look in a couple different places to find it, but it's important to be thorough.
Now that you have the details about each plan you can start ordering them by importance. This is where putting the information into a spreadsheet can make things easier.
Do you want the lowest cost policy? Order them by price.
Do you want the policy with the least travel restrictions? Order by that column.
Depending on how you entered the data, sorting can be performed easily and you can quickly find the best insurance policy for your situation.
A couple things you will want to consider closely are travel restrictions and deductibles. If you plan to take your iPad with you on vacation or on business travel, you will want to be sure your policy will protect you. There are some that limit claims to the country where they were purchased. Others have limits on the number of days of coverage outside your home country. If you spend 6 months away from home, you better make sure your policy will extend that long.
The second important item I mentioned is the deductible. This is where you could save on the premium you pay every month. By choosing a higher deductible, the amount you would pay in the event of a claim, you can usually get a lower premium. So if you don't think you will put your iPad in danger but want protection just in case of some strange accident, go with a higher deductible and save some cash.
While all insurances are not the same, cheap iPad insurance is not necessarily a bad thing. By using the method above you can quickly find a policy that will give you the protection you desire while not breaking the bank.


Tuesday, May 22, 2012

6 Things to Look For When Buying Tablet Insurance


When shopping for tablet insurance, you need to keep several things in mind to get the most value for your buck. Some are obvious such as cost and damage types covered. Others you may not think about but are none the less important.
Deductible
The first thing you should look for is how much the deductible is for each claim. If you are new to the insurance game, the deductible is how much you are required to pay before insurance will payout. Say you have a deductible of $100 and you file a claim for $400. Assuming the claim is valid and accepted, the insurance company will pay you $300 on that claim. The first $100 is your responsibility. This is to reduce the number of 'small' claims for cosmetic damage. Keep in mind, the deductible is an area where you may be able to save money on your policy. Typically, if you choose a higher deductible your monthly premium will be less.
Travel Coverage
This is an area that could catch a lot of people off guard. If you bought the extended warranty when you purchased your iPad, you may not be aware that it is only valid in the country of purchase. If you take your tablet on a trip outside the country you may not be covered if any damage occurs. Most third party insurance policies have at least some coverage for travelling. You will need to check the specifics of whatever policy you choose of course. Be sure to note any limits on time as many are limited to 90 days of coverage during travel. Also check the company's definition of 'travel' as it may refer to city, state, or country.
Damage Types Covered
You can usually count on every policy covering physical and liquid damage to your tablet. Be sure to also check if there is coverage for loss and theft as well as any limitations on such claims. I have seen policies that will refuse a claim if the device was stolen from a car but not locked in a compartment of some sort. So be sure to check for any clauses like that.
Are Accessories Covered
A typical user does not JUST have an iPad. You have covers, earphones, and so on. See if the policy you are considering will cover accessories as well, especially in the event of a theft as everything will usually be taken not just the iPad.
How Soon Does It Start
In today's internet age, when you purchase an iPad insurance policy online it will usually take effect immediately after payment. To be on the safe side you will want to confirm that. Murphy is a cunning man!
How Fast Is A Claim Filled
This is where policies can vary greatly. Some will turn around a claim in as little as 48hours while others may take a week or more. Be sure to look into this and make sure you get the service level you need or desire. This is especially important if you travel a lot as you typically will not be in the same place for a long period of time. You don't want to have to wait until you get home to file a claim and lose the use of your device for the rest of your trip.
So there are six items to check while shopping for tablet insurance. Some may be more relevant to you than others, but it is better to know all the details of what you are getting than to find out you are missing it later.



Saturday, May 12, 2012

Is An Extended Warranty Better Than iPad 2 Insurance?


I know a lot of people that would not take iPad 2 insurance even it was offered free. They do trust third party vendors and would rather pay for an extended factory warranty. Here are a few differences that you may not know that could sway your decision one way or the other.
An Extended Warranty Is Not Insurance
At a quick glance, the extended warranty and insurance appear to be the same thing. Do not be fooled though. They are similar and may overlap a little, but they are definitely different beasts.
The factory extended warranty mostly covers manufacturing defects. If your iPad stops working or overheats, this is the type of thing a warranty will cover. If you read the terms and conditions, they also will cover SOME physical or liquid damage but you are required to pay a deductible in that case.
The main perk to the extended warranty is the software support by phone. Third party vendors just cannot touch this type of offering. To me, this is the biggest advantage they have over third party iPad 2 insurance.
Does iPad Insurance Have Any Advantage
On the flip side, third party insurance will provide coverage that a warranty will not such as against theft or loss. Going back to the terms and conditions document, the factory warranty specifically states that they do not cover theft or loss of the device. Basically if you can't send them back something to work on, they won't cover it.
Another advantage of insurance is coverage while traveling. The factory warranty is only valid in the country in which it was purchased. If you plan to travel for business or pleasure and take your iPad with you, you should get some kind of third party insurance to cover your device.
How About Cost
When you compare the cost of the two plans, in most cases I think you will find they are priced very similarly. The extended warranty is only offered as a two year commitment though whereas insurance can be paid for on a month to month basis. Again, it goes back to your individual needs as to which would be better for you.
If you plan to keep your device for a long time and want to make sure you won't get stuck buying a new one due to a defect, I would go with the extended factory warranty. You will get protection from workmanship problems, phone support for your software problems, and even some protection against physical or liquid damage to your device.
If you plan to travel, iPad 2 insurance is really your best option. You don't want something to happen and find out that because you weren't at home that you are now stuck with a broken device and have to buy a new one. The plans are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased on a month to month basis.



Thursday, April 26, 2012

How New iPad Insurance Can Save The Day


Getting new iPad insurance is important to prevent getting stuck with an expensive paperweight or having your iPad stolen. Yes, these new electronic gadgets can do just about anything you want them to do, but they are also susceptible to damage and theft. The last thing you want to do after buying one of these little gems is to have something happen and have to buy it again.
That is where iPad insurance can step in and save the day. If you do not know what insurance is, you pay a monthly premium to a provider who in turn will repair or replace your device if something happens to it. Of course there is more to it than that, but that's the basics.
There are a many factors that can affect how much your monthly premium is. One of the most influential is the deductible amount. This is the amount you are responsible for paying before the insurance company will pay out. This helps prevent a large number of small claims and saves the resources of the insurer for the more expensive issues. By choosing a higher deductible, you are agreeing to pay more in the event of a claim. If you are generally careful with your device and do not expect anything major to happen, this can be a good option to take to save some money. If something catastrophic does happen, you will at least have some protection against having to buy another one at full price.
Many iPad insurance policies will cover your device while traveling. If you do a lot of traveling for business or pleasure and plan to take your iPad with you, this can be an easy way to protect yourself while on the road. While the manufacturer's warranty will sometimes cover damage while traveling, this is not usually the case when outside the country it was purchased. It would be a good idea to double check your warranty before taking your iPad on a trip. You definitely do not want THAT surprise while you are away from home.
While on the subject of traveling, if you do not travel or do not plan to leave the country you might be able to save some money on the premium by opting out of travel insurance. Not all companies will allow this, but it can't hurt to ask. All they can do is say no.
With the portability of the tablets these days, theft is another major concern for owners. The Apple warranty will cover damage of almost any kind to your tablet, but they do not cover theft. If you frequently take your iPad out with you, especially to high traffic public areas, you should seriously consider getting insurance in addition to the warranty coverage. It's a small price to pay for a lot of protection.
Hopefully you have learned why new iPad insurance is important for your peace of mind and for the protection of your wallet. By providing financial protection against theft and damage while traveling or at home, you are free to fully enjoy the use of your tablet.



Thursday, April 19, 2012

Personal Property Insurance - What Counts As Personal Property?


There are many terms people use to describe the items in their home and/or business. Personal property, contents, belongings, chattel and assets are the terms used interchangeably. Investopedia.com provides this definition: "A type of property which, in its most general definition, can include any asset other than real estate. The distinguishing factor... is that personal property is movable. That is, the asset is not fixed permanently to one location as with real property such as land or buildings."
Let's visualize a building, whether it's your house, apartment or business. Imagine cutting the roof off and lifting the building up in the air. Now, turn it upside down and shake it. Everything that falls out is personal property. It's that simple to determine what falls under this category and what will be covered under that section of your insurance policy.
Therefore, all of the items in your home, apartment, or business that are furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, jewelry, toys, tools, decorative items, etc., are all personal property.
This is a common discussion I have with our inventory clients. Often when providing this service, we're asked to make sure we get photos of built-in bookcases, their newly installed granite kitchen counter tops, their closet organizer system or brand-new hardwood floors. We always take the time to explain the turn-your-house-upside-down scenario to our clients. Until this discussion, many didn't realize that all other items - the ones that do not fall out when flipping the building upside down - are considered part of the structure.
In addition to the items listed above, built-in appliances, carpet and other flooring, kitchen cupboards, closet organizers that are built in, light fixtures, fireplace mantles, and other items like these, are not personal property.
Now that we've covered what counts as personal property, why is it important to know this? Your homeowners insurance is divided into two sections. One is the structure insurance and the other is the personal property insurance. (This is also what is covered when you purchase renter's insurance.)
Another key reason to understand how your insurance policy covers your contents is to help determine if you're property insured. When you create your home inventory, it's important to remember what is considered personal property and what is considered part of the structure. If you list the items noted above, it will inflate the value of your contents, thus you might purchase more insurance than is necessary.
Having this knowledge will help ensure you are neither under- or over-insured.



Friday, April 13, 2012