Do Renters Need Insurance?
I have seen several stories on the news, and heard personal stories from people I know, that reinforced my belief that renters should have proper coverage on their personal property. They should also be covered in case they cannot live in their rented homes in case of damage.
- Several renters were affected by a recent storm. Many sections of their apartment complex were damaged by a recent storm, and the landlord had no vacant apartments to relocate these people. A good renters insurance policy would have provide them with money and even advice to find a place to stay while their apartments were being repaired.
- These people also lost furniture, clothes and appliances because of the storm damage. Renters insurance would have helped them replace their personal property. The contents of their home would have been covered.
- I have a good friend who lived in an apartment. After a break in, she lost her stereo and thousands of dollars worth of recordings that she had accumulated over the last few decades. If she had been covered, she could have made a claim to replace her valuables. But since she did not have a home contents insurance policy, she had to suffer the loss. You might argue that this collection was not essential, and her situation was not as bad as the people who had lost their homes and clothes, but she did lose a great source of enjoyment.
The Importance of Covering Home Contents
The contents of our homes can be worth many thousands of dollars. Sometimes we do not think about it because we built it up over a period of years. You probably did not buy your sofa and your engagement ring on the same day. But over a period of years, and even decades, you probably have accumulated some property that would cost a fortune to replace!
The Importance of Relocation
Have you ever thought about your emergency plan in case you could not live in your home. I have known many people who had to find temporary housing because their home was damaged. Even if you rent, you would have to pay a mover, put down a deposit, or pay for a motel room. In my own experience, this can add up to thousands of dollars.
Relocation will probably cause other disruption too. Will your kids have to change schools? Will it be harder for you to get to work? Could you lose some supplies or equipment you need to do your job. These losses can be financial disasters..
Renters Insurance Policies
A good policy should be an affordable way to protect yourself.
- Home Contents Insurance – Protect your valuables, furniture, clothes, electronics, and appliances. Just take a moment to think about how much money you would need to replace your tv, computer, microwave, and wedding ring.
- Relocation – If you lost your house or apartment, where would you go? How much money would it cost to move?
- Liability – In today’s society, you must consider the potential for a lawsuit. If somebody claims they are injured, their property is damaged, or the home is damaged, because of you, how would you defend yourself?
These type of policies are actually very inexpensive. Of course the cost will depend upon how much coverage you think you need and where you live. But many people are surprised because they can find really cheap renters insurance.
In fact, I heard a comment from my friend who lost her music and stereo. Later, she mentioned that she could have been covered for the price of one restaurant meal a month. It would have been a very small price to pay for the security of a good policy.
How to Find Renters Insurance. We want to help you find affordable home contents insurance. Find the top rated home insurance companies in your city or town.
Filed under Home Insurance by on Jun 8th, 2010. Comment. 
Homeowners insurance is one of those annoying things that you have to have, even though you will probably never need it. A typical policy covers your home as well as the basic contents such as furniture and fittings. However, most standard homeowners insurance policies don’t include coverage for expensive or luxury items, such as jewelry, antiques or works of art. To insure these items, you generally have to take out a separate policy, sometimes called a rider.
You can easily get homeowners insurance quote simply by picking up the phone; you can also compare policies, costs and features on line. Some websites will compare companies and offer you several different quotes, so you only have to supply your information once. Your mortgage company may recommend an insurance company although you aren’t required to use that company. And you should also take out a homeowner’s insurance policy as soon as you have had an offer accepted on a house – rather than leaving it until later.
Try to obtain at least three quotes for your homeowners insurance from three different companies before deciding which one to take. You may be eligible for a discount if you have certain anti-theft or safety features in your home, such as smoke detectors, burglar alarms or dead-bolt locks; and you may also get a further discount if you have your auto and homeowners insurance on the same policy.
When shopping around for a quote, consider not only the amount of your monthly payment but exactly the amount of coverage that the policy provides. And the amount of your deductible is also something to consider when shopping around for homeowners insurance – the average deductible is around $250. Don’t be persuaded to take out more homeowners insurance than you actually need – a common error is to include the value of your land when estimating the value of your home.
If the amount of your homeowners insurance quote seems a little high, you may be what the insurance companies describe as high-risk. People who live in areas that are more prone to natural disasters – flooding, fires, hurricanes and earthquakes – are considered high risk. And if you live in a mobile home, you will probably pay more for your homeowner’s policy.
Unfortunately you have to have homeowners insurance – with a little bit of research and shopping around, you can be sure of getting the best policy.
Emeka Ezidiegwu is a Webmaster and Internet marketer. For homeowners insurance online, search Omegafind Directory Search
Filed under Home Insurance by on May 17th, 2010. Comment.
If you need to transfer money to China quickly, using banks can often be the best idea. You will find that mail can take weeks, as can waiting for a check to clear, so that is usually the slowest option. As long as you do some research to pick the bank options that are the most budget-conscious, you will ensure that your recipient gets the money you need to send as soon as possible, with little expense or hassle for you. Consider some of the top options.
First, you should know that China’s currency is called the renminbi, or RMB. The yuan is the main unit of money, and 1 U.S. dollar equals about 6.82632 Yuan. Remember that the exchange rate changes frequently, so check just before you transfer money to China. Also, be sure to budget for any fees you will be charged for this service so that your recipient can get the full amount of money that you intend to send.
The Bank of China is one of the first banks that comes to many people’s minds, as there are locations both in the United States and China. If the one in New York is close to you, consider going to that location with cash and sending it. If you can only do it online, you can print out the form at their website, fill in the blanks, and send it to the Bank of China. This will take a bit longer than in person, since you will likely wait over a week for them to cash your check, and then a few more days to transfer funds electronically. Most transfers are $10 to $20; note that the more expensive price is for electronic transfers since it is faster.
If your intended recipients have a bank account at any Chinese bank, and you have one at an American bank, you can usually transfer money to China through that way. Some of the most popular banks include the Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of East Asia, China Merchants Bank, International Bank of Asia, Wing Lung Bank, and Bank of China. Banks that are also in the United States include Bank of America and Citibank Hong Kong. If you decide to transfer money to one of these or other banks, you would just need your friend or relative’s bank account number and the SWIFT code for their bank. The fees depend on the banking institution. Wells Fargo charges $5 to send money to a bank account, while Citibank charges $12. Other banks, such as HSBC, typically charge around $30 for wires, so be sure to shop around first.
If you find that dealing with banks is too expensive or inconvenient for you, there are other options. Some people do not like having to go to the bank and then pay large fees every time they need to transfer money to China. If you can relate, consider using a prepaid debit card instead. It carries the same benefits as a bank debit card, except you can add funds to it whenever you need to. Once your relatives or friends receive the card in the mail, you can add as much money as you need to for $5 each time, no matter the amount you add. They can then use it as a debit card at most stores, or withdraw cash in yuan at ATMs throughout China.
In the end, you are the one sending money, so you should choose what is convenient for you. Additionally, the more money you save on fees, the more you can send to your friends or family in China. For this reason, be sure to compare bank services before you transfer money to China.
For more information visit sending money to China or visit the https://www.atmcash.com/ home page for information on sending money almost anywhere in the world.
Filed under Home Insurance by on May 12th, 2010. Comment.