The Benefits of Renters Insurance

Even if you don’t own a home, you probably own a great deal more than you think. Consider all of your furniture, electronics, clothing and appliances. Also include any jewelry, collectibles, books or musical instruments you own. Now consider how much it would cost to replace all of these items if you had to do so. Doesn’t seem like such a small number, does it? Imagine you are having a cookout, and a guest trips on the stairs while attending. Could you cover their medical bills if need be? What happens if something leaks in your apartment, and ends up damaging your neighbor’s unit? How would you pay for those damages? The answer is renters insurance.

Renters insurance is very similar to homeowners insurance, in that it helps cover you and your property. The landlord’s insurance policy on the rental unit typically covers the building structure itself, while protecting your property is your responsibility. Renters insurance and what it covers can vary, but in general it covers personal property, personal liability, property damage to others, additional living expenses and medical payments to others. What your policy covers depends on the coverage limits you select.

Here are some of the benefits renters can gain from purchasing renters insurance:

Fire and theft protection

If your apartment or rental home becomes damaged in a fire or other peril named in your policy, your renters policy can help to repair or replace your possessions. Likewise, if your residence is broken into, your renters insurance policy can pay to repair or replace listed items that are damaged or taken. Additionally, renters insurance policies typically provide loss of use coverage, which can help pay your expenses if you have to relocate for repairs. Here’s a tip: Create an inventory of your belongings. Include furniture, clothing, books, electronics, appliances, etc. along with its estimated value. Take photos of your belongings, and keep track of credit card statements — keeping a current list will make it easier should you have to file an insurance claim.

Protection from damage you may cause

Renters insurance covers more than just your property. For example, if you accidentally ride your bike into a parked car, your policy can  cover that, and pay for the losses of people who are injured or suffer property damage because of your actions.

Protection from liability claims

Like to entertain? Ever get a package delivered? Renters insurance can provide liability protection, which covers injury to another person while on your property. So, if you’re sued because someone is injured while at your residence or because you or someone covered under your policy accidentally injure someone, renters insurance can provide liability coverage for legal costs and the settlement of the injury claim up to your limits.

Affordable protection

Many renters assume their belongings will be covered by their landlord’s policy if something should happen. Your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover your losses due to theft or damage. Renters insurance covers your personal property, and even covers you from liability claims while you’re renting. Also, if your rented home ever needs serious repairs, and you’re unable to live there, it also covers the reasonable and necessary increase in living expenses (housing, food, etc.) you may incur from a covered loss. While there’s no law requiring you to purchase a policy when renting, to help protect you now and your future it is important to purchase renters insurance.

Make the call and purchase renters insurance.  It is an inexpensive way to protect your property from damage or loss, and can help you rebuild your life should you experience a loss. Call me today to get the coverage you want to protect both yourself and your belongings. You can reach Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency by calling 913-383-3276 or by emailing us HERE.


Sources: homeproperties.com; realestate.msn.com; smartmoney.com; zillow.com

Bicycling safety and insurance tips

Bicycling is on the rise across the U.S. as people capitalize on the health and economic benefits of ‟active” transportation. And an increasing number of young people are embracing bicycling and forgoing drivers’ licenses to save money.¹

Whether you use your bicycle to commute to work or simply enjoy riding, it’s important to understand how to insure your bike; how to keep your bike safe; and most importantly, how to keep yourself and your family safe.

How to insure your bike

• Property coverage
  Bicycles are typically covered under the personal property section of standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. Minus your deductible, this coverage will reimburse you if your bike is stolen or damaged in a fire or other disaster listed in your policy. I can review your coverage options with you — give me a call.
• Liability protection
  Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies also typically provide liability protection for harm you may cause to someone else or their property. If you injure someone in a bicycle accident and he or she decides to sue, you will be covered up to the limits of your policy. Your homeowners or renters insurance also typically includes no-fault medical coverage in the event you injure someone.

Keep your bike safe²
Avoid theft by keeping your bike safe. Here are some simple rules:

• Always lock up your bike, no matter where it is.
• Lock up your bicycle in a visible, well-lit area.
• Buy the best locking system you can afford. Consider a system that cannot be easily cut, such as a U-shaped lock or a heavy duty lock with a strong wire cable.
• Always try to secure the bicycle’s frame and both wheels to a stationary object, such as a post or a fence.
• Do not lock up your bicycle in the same location all the time. A thief may notice the pattern and target you.
• Protect your investment by recording your bicycle’s serial number; this may help to recover your bicycle if it’s stolen.
• Register your bicycle with your local police department.
• Consider registering your bike with the National Bike Registry.

Keep yourself and your family safe³
It is even more important to keep yourself and your family safe while you are riding. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that cyclists follow these seven rules:

1. Protect Your Head — Wear a properly fitted helmet
2. Assure Bicycle Readiness — Ensure proper size and function of bicycle
3. Ride wisely — Learn and follow “Rules of the Road”
4. Be predictable — Act like a driver of a motor vehicle
5. Be visible — See and be seen at all times
6. Share the road — “Drive with care”
7. Stay focused — Stay alert

Additional information on bicycle safety
Bicycling is a fun activity appreciated by millions. Your safety and that of everyone on the road depends on everyone knowing and following the same rules, however.
For more bicycle safety information download this brochure prepared by Farmers. Some of these tips may prevent damage to, or loss of, your bicycle. Some of these tips may even save your life.

¹http://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/equity_report.pdf
²http://www.farmers.com/pdf/BicycleSafety.pdf
³NHTSA, Seven Smart Routes to Bicycle Safety for Adults, Sept. 2012, http://www.nhtsa.gov

What you need to know about renters insurance

 

Only 37 percent of renters had renters insurance, according to a 2014 Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) poll.¹

If everything you own in your apartment or rental home was destroyed or stolen, would you have the funds to replace what you need to get your life back in order? Take a look around and imagine how much it would cost to replace everything you have — your computer, TV, DVD player, iPod, digital cameras, jewelry, bike, etc. Could you afford to do that? Not many people can, and if you cannot, you may want to consider renters insurance.

Your landlord’s coverage
Most landlords have insurance to cover damage to their building but typically it doesn’t cover your personal property. It won’t pay to replace your belongings and won’t cover your relocation costs should you need to move out while repairs are made.


Cover your property
If your personal belongings are stolen, damaged, or destroyed as a result of a covered loss, renters insurance can help replace them. Start by taking a home inventory to determine an approximate value of your personal property, and help figure out what coverage limits to choose. You can estimate, or use receipts if you have them. To help you create your inventory, the I.I.I. provides free, online software at KnowYourStuff.org.

Cover your assets
What if someone is injured in your home? What if your dog bites someone? The liability coverage that is typically a part of standard renters insurance can help protect you if you are sued by a guest injured in your home and you are found liable. For example, someone comes to your home and falls down your stairs, injuring themselves seriously enough to warrant medical attention. If you are found responsible for the accident, your renters insurance liability coverage can help pay for your legal expenses and their medical bills and other damages. Liability coverage can even pay for damages caused accidentally by you or your family members. For example, if your child accidentally throws a baseball through your neighbor’s living room window, your liability insurance plan could cover the damages.

Make sure you’re covered
Let’s work together so you can determine the amount of coverage you want to purchase. Learn all you can about insurance because the more you know the better you can prepare for the unexpected. Call me today at 913-383-3273 or reach us at www.thewertzbergeragency.com.

¹http://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/renters-insurance

5 insurance “dont's” that could cost you

While it’s attractive to look for ways to lower insurance costs, it’s important to make sure you don’t leave yourself vulnerable in the event of a disaster. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:

1. Don’t insure your home for its real estate value. After a covered total loss, rebuilding your house is your first priority. Many people base coverage on the price they paid for their home or its current market value, instead of considering what a rebuild would actually cost. It’s essential to consider rebuilding costs when selecting your homeowners coverage limits. Make sure you have enough coverage to completely rebuild your home and replace your belongings.
2. Don’t select insurance based on cost alone. It’s important to choose a company that not only offers competitive prices, but also one that is financially sound and provides good customer service. The Farmers Insurance Group is one of the country’s largest insurers of vehicles, homes and small businesses; we also provide a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Our award-winning Claim Department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
3. Don’t drop your sewer/water backup insurance. Just a few inches of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage, and most homeowners policies don’t cover backup damage unless endorsed to do so. Every home with a basement is at risk of a backup. Work with me to cover your property for loss. 
4. Don’t settle for legally required minimum liability coverage for your vehicle. Many simply choose insurance based on cost, and this could be a big mistake. For example, if you are sued, the costs could quickly exceed your coverage and you’d have to pay out-of-pocket because the minimum is unlikely to cover it. To guard against this, the insurance industry and consumer groups generally recommend a minimum of $100,000 of bodily injury protection per person and $300,000 per accident (if not more).¹ 
5. Don’t forget to buy renters insurance. Your landlord’s policy covers only the building; you need a renters insurance policy to cover your possessions and additional living expenses if you have to move out due to a covered loss, such as a fire. Renters insurance provides liability coverage in the event someone is injured in your home and you’re found liable for the injuries as a result of negligence. 

The right balance
Insurance doesn’t have to be a guessing game. I can answer your questions and provide information so you can make sure you have the coverage you want. There’s no need to find yourself underinsured when a disaster occurs. Call me today at 913-383-3276 to get started or find us at www.thewertzbergeragency.com

¹http://www.iii.org

Diamonds are forever … with the right insurance coverage

The holidays are approaching — a time of giving, sharing and caring. While many choose to give or receive jewelry or other valuable gifts, they often are unclear on how to insure these items. Many people think their homeowners insurance covers the full value of all of their belongings. This may not be the case: although your homeowners policy may offer great coverage, it typically has deductibles and coverage limitations. So how can you avoid a gap and make sure you have the coverage you want?

Add a floater to your Home Insurance or Renters Insurance 
Scheduled Items Floater coverage (also called Personal Articles Floater) is designed to cover your valuable property that may be excluded from or have limited coverage under your homeowners or renters policy. Such property may include:

• Jewelry
• Paintings, sculpture, and other works of art
• Cameras, musical instruments and firearms
• Antiques
• Collectibles
• Personal computers and electronics
• Silverware, goldware, and other high value precious metalware

Get prepared; stay prepared
Call me — I can help you review your policy so you know what coverage you have for valuables, whether there are special lower limits and when those special limits may apply. Then you can decide if you have the coverage you want for your belongings. If you don’t have enough insurance for your jewelry, artwork or other unique valuables, you’d rather know now — not after you suffer a loss.


Coverage is not available in all states.

The Wertzberger Agency and Pie Five Pizza Join Forces!

The Wertzberger Agency and Pie Five Pizza Co. have joined forces in an effort to welcome new residents to the Overland Park, KS and surrounding areas!

Currently, The Wertzberger Agency has been authorized to send a coupon for a FREE PIE from Pie Five simply by reviewing an option for your new Renters Insurance or Home Insurance that all new residents need!

We love insurance, but we know that everyone doesn't live and breath it as much as us...but who doesn't love PIZZA?!

At Pie Five, they create custom, personal pizzas with quality ingredients in only five minutes (Pie Five, get it?). Tell them your favorite crust, sauce, and toppings, and they'll create and bake it in under five minutes for one price. Crazy, right? All you have to do is enjoy it.

For your FREE pizza and proposal for renters insurance or home insurance, call The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276

Renters Insurance - Overland Park, KS - Personal Property Coverage

Renters Insurance is commonly referred to as a "contents policy". Although renters insurance provides other types of coverage within the policy (ie; personal liability, loss of use, guest medical), one of the main aspects is coverage for the policy holder's contents in the event of a fire, theft, or other type of covered loss.

If one were to not have renters insurance and there would be an event that caused the damage or loss of one's personal property, the effects would be devastating! Renters Insurance can be THE saving grace to assist in replacing one's personal property if ever damaged, destroyed, or stolen.

If you think it can't happen to you, you're wrong.

A fire can happen in the "good" part of town just as easy as the "bad". Examples of just some local apartment fires are below. This IS meant to scare you. Renters insurance is normally around $20/month. For the peace of mind that it offers, it is well worth it!

• North Kansas City, MO - 3/23/2009 - Eight families homeless after apartment fire
• Blue Springs, MO - 7/4/2012 - Fire destroys more than 24 apartments
• Mission, KS - 3/5/2013 - 8 units destroyed after blaze
• Overland Park, KS - 11/28/2010 - Fire forces 16 units to evacuate
• Overland Park, KS - 6/10/2012 - Overland Park firefighters put out blaze at apartment complex
• Overland Park, KS - 7/1/2012 - 8 apartments destroyed in fire
• Shawnee, KS - 1/3/2011 - Shawnee apartment fire displaces 15 people
• Shawnee, KS - 2/17/2012 - 2 die in Shawnee apartment fire
• Shawnee, KS - 2/23/2012 - 3 alarm fire destroys Shawnee apartment building
• North Kansas City, MO - 8/5/2010 - Cigarette blamed for fire that damaged several apartments
• Overland Park, KS - 8/8/2011 - 2 alarm fire damages Overland Park complex
• Kansas City, MO - 9/29/2009 - Fire brakes out in apartment building
• Overland Park, KS - 11/11/2012 - Overland Park firefighters battle 2 alarm fire at apartments

To review a renters insurance option with The Wertzberger Agency, please contact us at 913-383-3276.