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Breaking the Code and the Bank - Ordinance or Law Coverage and Your Property Insurance
The commercial building you own is completely protected by insurance, right? Your insurance limit matches the building's replacement cost, right? You sleep peacefully at night knowing that in the event of a catastrophic fire, the limit you and your agent agreed on will be more than enough to cover a total loss, right? But you have a nagging thought...IS it enough? How can you be sure?
No matter the age of your building, you need to be concerned about Building Ordinance Coverage. This important coverage, which is too often regarded as necessary only for older buildings that might not meet newer building codes, should be a key part of your property insurance. And you should be especially concerned about the insurance-to-value ratio (ITV for you insurance geeks), because inadequate limits and uncovered costs of rebuilding can be catastrophic to your wallet!
Let's discuss the components of Building Ordinance Coverage and how they protect you and your business in three distinct and separate ways:
Coverage A protects the undamaged portion of your building - Your property insurance policy pays only for actual damage, so who pays for the undamaged part of your building when the city or county says it has to come down? You do, unless you have adequate limits for Coverage A. My rule of thumb is that if you can get a limit set at 100% of the value of your building, do it.
Coverage B protects against the cost of demolition - Hey, someone has to pay to demolish a building, right? But oops, it's not covered on your property insurance policy. Your limit for Coverage B should reflect the size and complexity of your building. As a starting point, ask a local contractor what it would cost to demolish the building.
Coverage C anticipates the increased cost of new construction - When you rebuild, what will you have to add or upgrade to meet code? A new sprinkler system? Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms? How about an elevator? None of these items will be covered by your property insurance if they weren't part of the building to start with they are paid for from this coverage. Determining an adequate limit for Coverage C is difficult, but again, a contractor might be able to give you some sound advice.
Remember, just because your building is newer does not mean you are exempt from potential building ordinance problems. County and city building codes change all the time, and when they do, you could be stuck. I've seen it happen. All building owners need to make sure they are adequately protected.
And be careful, don't be lulled by the built-in limits for Building Ordinance that some insurance companies include in their property insurance policies. In most cases, the built-in limit will not be adequate. At a typical sub-limit of $25,000 to $50,000, the built-in amount might not even cover the cost of demolishing your building. Raising the limit to meet your actual exposure is well worth the extra money in premiums.
Are you a building owner? Then take the time to dust off your insurance policy today and look at your property coverage. Do you see Building Ordinance Coverage listed on your declarations page along with a premium amount? That means you have bought and paid for this added protection. If not, call your agent to find out whether Building Ordinance Coverage is built in and, if so, for how much. Then you'll really be able to sleep well at night!
Dan Weedin, CIC is a fee-based insurance consultant. In other words, he's a reformed insurance agent! He helps business owners to save time, money, and frustration on your insurance by providing unbiased solutions to the insurance and risk management challenges you face every day. To learn more how Dan can help you, go to http://www.ToroIc.com You can also read his blog at http://www.wwwtoroic.blogspot.com to get up to date information to help your insurance experience easier and simpler.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Weedin
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If you own a property that you rent or lease out to tenants, you can apply for landlord liability insurance to protect yourself from having to rebuild your building from scratch, should anything go wrong on the premises. If you want to get it at the lowest price possible, you have to consider a few things since the insurance industry can become confusing to anyone who is unfamiliar with it. This article will serve as your introduction to liability insurance and will help you select what insurance policy will be best for you.
A summary of landlord liability insurance
Simply put, landlord liability insurance is insurance on property that protects the owner of the property from having to pay exorbitant costs for repair, due to damage to his or her property from any number of causes. Fire, smoke, airline and automobile impact, and hail are all standard causes of damage to the structural integrity of a building, and generally, insurance policies for landlord liability cover these things.
It is important to note that this sort of policy only covers things the owner actually owns: the fixtures in the rooms, the staircase, the elevator, and other such things are covered by this sort of insurance. The tenants must get renter's insurance in order to protect their possessions inside their apartment. Also, this sort of insurance will not be offered to commercial buildings; if you own a commercial property, you must get a commercial property insurance policy.
Some Tips and Tricks for Lowering Cost
If you would rather not pay an arm and a leg on premiums for your policy, be selective about your tenants. If they keep pets, are still in school, or are self-employed or unemployed, your premiums can become more expensive. Also, consider getting coverage for business interruption. You need all the protection you can get from renters who default on their accounts or who injure themselves in your building. Finally, be sure to shop around before selecting your insurance policy provider. Visit the insurance provider's office and use their quote as a baseline.
Liability Insurance [http://www.e-liabilityinsurance.com] provides detailed information on Liability Insurance, General Liability Insurance, Professional Liability Insurance, Pollution Liability Insurance and more. Liability Insurance is affiliated with Short Term Disability Insurance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Valentino
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