What's the big deal about renters insurance?
Even though the residence itself may be temporary, there's nothing temporary about protecting what's yours inside. Here are the top 5 reasons that you need renters insurance, whether you're planning to stay for 6 months or 15 years.
Renters insurance covers many common perils.
Whether your rental home or apartment catches fire, is damaged by an unexpected natural disaster, or is burglarized, a renters insurance policy will help to replace everything lost in the catastrophe--an expense that could be financially devastating if taken on alone. According to esurance.com, the average renter owns about $20,000 in personal property, though many tenants tend to underestimate the total value of their possessions and opt to forego a policy. Even if you assume that the value of your stuff doesn’t warrant a policy, try tallying up the values of your most prized possessions and see if the numbers don’t surprise you!
Your landlord’s policy doesn’t cover your personal property.
Many times tenants incorrectly assume they are covered under their landlord’s policy, only to find out later, after disaster has struck, that this is not the case. While your landlord is responsible for any damage to the structure of the building itself, all of your personal items -- clothes, computers, furniture, etc. -- are your responsibility. Because the average American owns tens of thousands of dollars in personal property, it falls to the tenant (not the landlord) to insure their property against damage and theft.
Your landlord may require it.
For some tenants, foregoing coverage may not be an option, as more and more property owners are choosing to make renters insurance mandatory, even up to a certain coverage limit. Check your lease or ask the property manager about renters insurance prior to signing. Even if renters insurance is not a requirement, it remains a wise investment.
You need liability protection.
Let’s state the obvious: accidents happen. One critical benefit of renters insurance is protection against damages caused by you or members of your family (even a dog, for example). Renters insurance can protect against a wide range of potentially costly accidents, like an electrical fire, an overflowing bathtub, or ruined carpet. In addition, liability protection extends to your guests. If your guest slips and falls in your apartment, they may seek injury compensation from you. Likewise, if your dog decides that the mailman is actually a burglar, you may be facing a substantial lawsuit. Renters insurance can protect against all of these.
It’s incredibly affordable.
On average, renters only pay a few hundred dollars a year for coverage. Because policies are dependent upon a variety of factors, you might be surprised just how affordable your coverage could be. Depending on the total value of one’s property, which can often exceed many thousands of dollars, this minor cash outlay could prove to be a godsend in times of trouble. For potentially less than a dollar per day, renters insurance is able to not only save untold amounts of time, effort, and money in the event that it’s needed, but can provide an inestimable peace of mind to the policyholder throughout their tenancy.
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