| |
Flood Insurance
Did you know that even if you don’t live near water, your chances of experiencing a flood are rising?
|
Homes, office parks and parking lots are springing up in place of forests, meadows, and other open spaces. As a result, the land is losing its natural ability to absorb water and floods are becoming more severe. At Avatar , we want you to have the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is protected.
|
Take steps to protect your home from flood damage
|
Consult your local building official to find the expected flooding level in your immediate area. Depending on where you live, you may pay a fee for this service. The expected flooding level is often referred to as the base flood elevation or BFE. If your home is in an “A” zone—typically near a river, lake or stream—and the lowest floor is below the BFE, be sure to take these precautions:
|
- Use water-resistant building materials.
- Leave the basement or lower floors unfinished.
- Prevent sewer lines from backing up— install backflow valves or standpipes.
- Raise your washer and dryer, water heater, oil tank, furnace or any electrical wiring on concrete blocks, above the BFE. If you can’t raise these items, consider protecting them with a floodwall or shield.
- Install flood shields or built-up barriers for basement windows and doors. The tops of the shields and barriers should extend above the BFE.
- Install and maintain a sump pump system if you have below-grade floors.
- Landscape with native plants and vegetation that resist soil erosion.
|
|
Flood Insurance
Did you know that even if you don’t live near water, your chances of experiencing a flood are rising?
|
Homes, office parks and parking lots are springing up in place of forests, meadows, and other open spaces. As a result, the land is losing its natural ability to absorb water and floods are becoming more severe. At Avatar , we want you to have the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is protected.
|
Take steps to protect your home from flood damage
|
Consult your local building official to find the expected flooding level in your immediate area. Depending on where you live, you may pay a fee for this service. The expected flooding level is often referred to as the base flood elevation or BFE. If your home is in an “A” zone—typically near a river, lake or stream—and the lowest floor is below the BFE, be sure to take these precautions:
|
- Use water-resistant building materials.
- Leave the basement or lower floors unfinished.
- Prevent sewer lines from backing up— install backflow valves or standpipes.
- Raise your washer and dryer, water heater, oil tank, furnace or any electrical wiring on concrete blocks, above the BFE. If you can’t raise these items, consider protecting them with a floodwall or shield.
- Install flood shields or built-up barriers for basement windows and doors. The tops of the shields and barriers should extend above the BFE.
- Install and maintain a sump pump system if you have below-grade floors.
- Landscape with native plants and vegetation that resist soil erosion.
|
|
Condominium Insurance
When you own a condominium, you — not your condo association — are responsible for what's inside your condo. That's why having a personal condominium insurance policy is important.
|
Condo associations have master policies that cover the property, common areas and physical structure of your building. However, these master policies do not cover your personal property or your legal responsibility, and, possibly, improvements or customizations to your unit.
|
| If you're shopping for a condominium insurance policy, you typically will find coverages, up to the amount you select, such as: |
- Personal property protection
- Replacement value of your primary dwelling and specified permanent attachments, up to a specific value
- Bodily injury if someone is hurt on your property
- Liability for property damage and bodily injury
- Damage protection from dangers, such as fire, plumbing freezes, vandalism, glass breakage, etc.
|
|
Renters Insurance
If you rent rather than own your home, having insurance protection for yourself and your possessions is still important. Renters insurance protects you in situations that everyone can face: fire, theft, water damage and other unforeseen circumstances — situations your apartment owner's policy doesn't cover.
|
| Renters insurance provides coverage, up to the limits you select, for specified items and situations, including: |
- Personal possessions (furniture, electronics, computer equipment, clothing, jewelry, etc.)
- Personal liability if someone is hurt, whether in your home or away from it
- Damage to your apartment or home caused by a covered loss
|
|
Home Insurance Glossary? class="link_leftpanel" href="javascript:showhide('5','Home Insurance Glossary?')">A-C -- D-G -- H-K -- L-N -- O-P -- R-Z
| Act of God: An unpreventable accident or event that is the result of natural causes; for example, floods, earthquakes, or lightning. |
| Actual Cash Value: An amount equal to the replacement cost of lost or damaged property at the time of loss, less depreciation. |
| Additional Insurance: Insurance that supplements an already existing policy. It is uncommon that the company or its duly authorized agent allows additional insurance. |
| Additional Living Expense: Any necessary increase in living expenses incurred by the insured, so the household can maintain its normal standard of living. |
| Applicant: A person who fills out and signs a written application for insurance. |
| Application: A written statement by a prospective policyholder that gives the information the company relies upon when evaluating the applicant and issuing the policy. |
| Appraisal: A survey by a Avatar Claims Representative or Claims Appraiser estimating the amount of damage to property and the cost to repair or the determination of a complete loss. |
| Basic Limits: The lowest coverage amount, as prescribed by law or the company, for which an insurance policy can be written. Basic Limits primarily prescribe limits of liability. |
| Cancellation: Termination of an insurance contract before its expiration date by either the insurance company or the policyholder. |
| Catastrophe: A sudden, severe disaster that causes a large loss. |
| Claim: A demand for payment under an insurance contract for the estimated or actual amount of loss. |
| Conditions: Provisions that set forth the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the parties to an insurance contract. Conditions may be found anywhere in the contract. |
| Coinsurance Clause: A clause requiring the insured maintains insurance on the property at least equal to a stipulated percentage of its value in order to collect partial losses in full. |
|
Home Insurance Glossary? A-C -- D-G -- H-K -- L-N -- O-P -- R-Z
| Act of God: An unpreventable accident or event that is the result of natural causes; for example, floods, earthquakes, or lightning. |
| Actual Cash Value: An amount equal to the replacement cost of lost or damaged property at the time of loss, less depreciation. |
| Additional Insurance: Insurance that supplements an already existing policy. It is uncommon that the company or its duly authorized agent allows additional insurance. |
| Additional Living Expense: Any necessary increase in living expenses incurred by the insured, so the household can maintain its normal standard of living. |
| Applicant: A person who fills out and signs a written application for insurance. |
| Application: A written statement by a prospective policyholder that gives the information the company relies upon when evaluating the applicant and issuing the policy. |
| Appraisal: A survey by a Liberty Mutual Claims Representative or Claims Appraiser estimating the amount of damage to property and the cost to repair or the determination of a complete loss. |
| Basic Limits: The lowest coverage amount, as prescribed by law or the company, for which an insurance policy can be written. Basic Limits primarily prescribe limits of liability. |
| Cancellation: Termination of an insurance contract before its expiration date by either the insurance company or the policyholder. |
| Catastrophe: A sudden, severe disaster that causes a large loss. |
| Claim: A demand for payment under an insurance contract for the estimated or actual amount of loss. |
| Conditions: Provisions that set forth the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the parties to an insurance contract. Conditions may be found anywhere in the contract. |
| Coinsurance Clause: A clause requiring the insured maintains insurance on the property at least equal to a stipulated percentage of its value in order to collect partial losses in full. |
|
Home Insurance Glossary? A-C -- D-G -- H-K -- L-N -- O-P -- R-Z
|
Damages: A sum of money that a party is legally obligated to pay to another as compensation for injury.
|
|
Declarations: The part of the policy that provides detailed information about the insured, the insurer, and the coverages.
|
|
Deductible: The amount of a claim that the policyholder has agreed to pay. This amount is deducted from a claims payment.
|
| Depreciation: A decrease in the value of any type of tangible property over time.
|
|
Effective Date: The date the coverage begins on an insurance contract (policy).
|
|
Endorsement: An amendment to your policy written especially to cover unique items just for you. An endorsement is also a change to your policy that is made during the policy's term. An endorsement is attached to your policy to modify the terms of the insurance contract.
|
|
Exclusion: Part of an insurance contract that excludes coverage of certain perils, persons, property, or locations.
|
|
Expiration Date: The ending date of an insurance contract (policy).
|
|
Extended Coverage: A clause in an insurance policy or in an endorsement that provides additional coverage for other hazards or risks than those provided under the basic policy provisions.
|
|
Fire Insurance: Contract prescribed by each state insuring against direct loss by fire, lightning, and other defined causes.
|
|
Flood Insurance: Coverage against damage caused by the rising or overflowing of bodies of water. This is available through a national insurance program and must be bought separately.
|
|
Home Insurance Glossary? A-C -- D-G -- H-K -- L-N -- O-P -- R-Z
| Hazard: Situation or condition that increases the possibility or extent of a loss. |
| Homeowner's Policy: A form of package policy including fire and other perils, theft insurance, and comprehensive personal liability. The premium is stated as one amount. |
| Insurance Department: A state's department that has responsibility for the enforcement of the state's insurance code. It is charged with the supervision and licensing of insurance companies and agents and the general administration of insurance laws of the state. |
| Insurance to Value: The amount of insurance written on property is approximately equal to its value. An insured most always wants to insure all property to value. |
| Insuring Agreements: Part of an insurance policy that states the coverage of the contract. |
| Insured: The person who is protected by the insurance policy. |
| Insurer: The company that issues a policy to a policyholder; the party in the insurance contract that promises to pay losses and render services. |
|
Home Insurance Glossary? A-C -- D-G -- H-K -- L-N -- O-P -- R-Z
| Liability Insurance: Liability insurance pays on behalf of the insured for certain types of injury to others. |
| Limit of Liability: The maximum amount that an insurer agrees to pay in the case of loss under policy contract. |
| Loss: A value reduction in an insured's property caused by an insured peril, the amount sought in a claim, or the amount paid on behalf of an insured under an insurance contract. |
| Loss Payable Clause: A policy condition that enables an insured to direct the company to pay any loss that may be due to a third party. |
| Loss of Use Insurance: Compensation for loss caused because the policyholder has lost the use of his property. |
| Mortgage Clause: A clause in an insurance policy that makes a claim jointly payable to the policyholder and the party that holds a mortgage on the property. |
| Mutual Insurance Company: A company with no capital stock that is owned and controlled by policyholders. |
| Named Insured: The individual or organization with whom an insurance contract is made and who is specifically named as a Named Insured in the policy declarations. Additional individuals or organizations can also be added as named insureds. |
| Natural and Probable Consequences: Consequences of a given act that a reasonable person could foresee. |
| Non-Renewal: A policy that the insurer does not continue after its expiration date. |
|
Home Insurance Glossary? A-C -- D-G -- H-K -- L-N -- O-P -- R-Z
| Occurrence: An accident or loss, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions, that result in bodily injury or property damage. |
| Partial Loss: A loss that does not completely destroy the insured property that is covered by an insurance policy. |
| Payroll Deduction: The policyholder authorizes his or her employer to deduct amounts from the employee's earnings to cover the premium. |
| Peril: The cause of a possible accident, loss, or claim. |
| Personal Inland Marine Insurance: (Personal Articles Floater) Worldwide coverage on an all risk basis for scheduled valuable personal property. |
| Policy: A formal written contract of insurance. |
| Policyholder: The party to whom a policy is issued who agrees to pay a premium to an insurer in consideration of the latter's promise to provide insurance protection. |
| Premium: The amount that a policyholder agrees to pay to the insurance company for an insurance policy. |
| Policy Anniversary: Date on which an insurance policy must be reinstated to remain in force. |
| Protection: Coverage afforded by an insurance contract. |
| Premises: The building insured or containing the insured property. Depending on policy conditions, it may also include an adjacent area. |
| Property Damage: Means physical injury to, destruction of, or loss of use of tangible property. |
| Property Insurance: First party insurance of real and personal property against physical loss or damage. |
|
Home Insurance Glossary? A-C -- D-G -- H-K -- L-N -- O-P -- R-Z
| Rate: The cost of insurance per unit; used as a base for the determination of premiums. |
| Real Property: The earth and all attached land and buildings, also known as real estate. |
| Reinstatement: Returning a lapsed policy to its full value after its termination as if it was never terminated. |
| Renewal: A policy issued to replace one that has expired. |
| Replacement Cost: Coverage for replacing property with new material; depreciation is not taken into consideration. |
| Residence Employee: An employee of an insured whose duties are related to the maintenance or use of the insured residence premises. |
| Residence Premises: Principal residence of the named insured. |
| Scheduled Property: Listing specific personal property for a stated insured value. This is usually considered for valuable items that are subject to limited coverage. |
| Tenants Policy: A form of homeowner policy sold to person(s) who rent their living quarters. |
| Total Loss: Loss to the insured of the entire value of goods or other property insured, or a loss entailing the payment of the full face amount of an insurance contract. |
| Underwriting: A process that evaluates an applicant and their property against pre-established criteria for insurability to determine whether the applicant will be rejected or accepted for coverage and whether at standard or modified rates. |
|
