Carson City, NV -
May 01, 2013The 6th
annual Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week (NWAW) occurs from May 4 to May 11 this
year. The theme is a call to action: Reduce
the Fuel — Reduce the Risk. While reducing the fuel will reduce the risk
of fire to your home, it’s also important to have adequate insurance to protect
yourself financially if a fire were to damage your home. The best way to do
this is to conduct a home inventory and an annual policy review.
This
inventory and review will ensure appropriate and adequate coverage is in place
to protect your home and belongings.
The first
step is to make a home inventory. Document all of your belongings, and be sure
to include home improvement items, electronics and other specialty items like
jewelry. It is helpful to take photos or make a video of all your belongings
and set up a file to store receipts for purchased items.
The
Division of Insurance has resources available on its website to help homeowners and renters. This includes a home
inventory checklist for download, as well as a free myHOME Scr.APP.book app for iPhone and Android. The app guides the
user through making an inventory, and storing it electronically for
safekeeping.
Before
calling your insurance agent or insurance company read your insurance policy
and declarations page which shows your coverage levels. When you call, ask for
an “annual policy review.” During the
review disclose the contents of your home inventory, and ask if the current
insurance coverage is adequate.
Other
questions to ask during your policy review:
- Have any
changes been made to the coverage levels since the last renewal; if so, by whom
and why?
- Is the
coverage for replacement cost or actual cash value? Replacement cost is the
amount it would take to repair or replace your home or possessions. Actual cash
value is the amount it would take to repair or replace damage to your home or
possessions after deducting for depreciation.
- Some
valuables require special coverage. Tell your agent about any big ticket items
such as electronics, jewelry, fine art or off highway vehicles and ask if you
need special coverage.
Be aware that
your home insurance does not pay for any damage to your car even if it is
parked in your garage when it sustains damage. Damage to your car will only be
covered by the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy.
If you are a
renter, and you do have renters insurance, you should also conduct a home
inventory and policy review.
However, if
you don’t have renters insurance you should consider purchasing it. Your
landlord's insurance will generally protect the structure but not your
belongings. Renters insurance is inexpensive and typically protects your
possessions from all the perils that traditional home insurance would.
NWAW is a
time to recognize the wildfire threat and to promote action with events taking
place throughout Nevada. The week will kick off May 4 at Mills Park in Carson
City. For a full list of scheduled events throughout Nevada visit http://www.livingwithfire.info/wildfire-awareness-week.
Insurance can
be confusing. To help consumers better understand their coverage, the Nevada
Division of Insurance has written three guides regarding home insurance to
assist consumers: the Nevada Consumer’s
Guide to Home Insurance, Nevada Consumer’s
Guide to Flood Insurance and the Nevada
Consumer’s Guide to Earthquake Insurance. These guides can be found online
at doi.nv.gov/consumer.aspx.
About the Nevada Division of Insurance
The State of
Nevada Division of Insurance is a division of the Nevada Department of Business
and Industry. It is the state agency that protects the rights of Nevada consumers and regulates
Nevada’s $11.2 billion insurance industry. It has offices in Carson
City and Las Vegas. In 2012, the
Division investigated more than 1,900 consumer complaints and recovered nearly $4
million on behalf of consumers. For more information about the Division of
Insurance, visit DOI.NV.GOV.
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