Selecting Homeowner’s Insurance
Kachi Realty
Selecting Homeowner’s Insurance
Selecting Homeowner’s Insurance
One of the many things you will have to think about while you are in the process of buying a new home is the insurance you will need to protect it. Homeowner’s insurance is more than just a good idea—it is required by your lender as part of your mortgage contract. You will not be able to close escrow on your home if you do not have an appropriate homeowner’s policy in place.
Homeowner’s insurance protects your home against multiple possible risks, from fire to burglary. A comprehensive homeowner’s insurance policy will provide coverage for your home as well as everything inside it. You will need to make sure you have the right level of coverage for your needs.
Where To Find An Agent
A good place to start shopping for homeowner’s insurance is with your current insurance agent. There is likely to be a discount if you insure both your home and your car with the same company, so it is well worth considering the company that insures your car. If your car insurance company does not handle homeowner’s insurance policies, you can instead ask for referrals from your REALTOR® or your mortgage broker.
The Coverage You Need
A good homeowner’s insurance policy provides enough coverage to rebuild your home from the ground up if necessary, as well as coverage for all of the property inside your home. You should not confuse the replacement cost of your home with the market value; these are two different things, as market value includes the value of the land. Insurance does not cover your land, only the structures on it and the contents of those structures. You insurance company will use the appraisal of your home to determine all of the structural factors that go into determining replacement cost.
The contents coverage is usually a percentage of the replacement cost of the home. You should be aware that certain high value items such as jewelry may require a special coverage called a “floater” added onto the policy in order to cover them for their full value, as there are usually limits on such items in the standard policy. Be prepared to provide an appraisal on high value items.
A good insurance agent can guide you through the process of selecting the right homeowner’s insurance policy for your needs and ensuring your new home is protected properly. Finding someone you can trust is important—after all, this is the biggest purchase you will ever make!
Useful Information from Kachi Realty LLC
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WAYS TO GO GREEN IN THE KITCHEN Start a garden. Whether you opt for a full-out vegetable garden or a small window of fresh herbs, the taste of freshness will be unmistakable! Shop locally! Visit local farmers markets or choose locally produced produce whenever possible. Bring your own bags when you visit the grocery store. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. Save time and energy by cooking a double portion and setting half aside in the freezer for a quick meal at a later date. Get energized and leave the appliances alone. Whenever possible, mix and beat ingredients by hand, cook multiple items at the same time, and avoid washing dishes unnecessarily. Use energy-efficient appliances such as the slow cooker or toaster oven, which can use up to 30% less energy. Be aware of energy wasters such as excessive pre-heating or simmering. Ditch the wraps (such as saran wrap or foil) and make the switch to reusable containers for lunches and leftovers. Put a lid on it! Did you know that cooking with lids could save up to three times the energy? Keep all that steam inside the pot for a more energy-efficient (and faster!) meal. Go fresh—say goodbye to excessively packaged foods, which are often produced using processes that are harmful to the environment. Cooking meals from scratch using fresh ingredients is not only healthier, it’s often less expensive and better for the environment. Decide what you are looking for before you open the fridge, and never keep the door open longer than absolutely necessary.
Water Features For Your Yard A water feature can make a major change in your yard, and there are plenty of different ways to go about adding one. From a simple and small fountain to a koi pond or waterfall, you can use water to create a peaceful sense of a real escape from life in your yard. Small Water Features For small yards or for those looking to add something simple, a basic fountain is easy to add. They come in a variety of types, shapes, and sizes and can fit into any landscaping. Your fountain can be a centerpiece for the yard or can be placed near the patio. You can even get a small tabletop fountain for the patio table. Most fountains are easy enough to install by yourself. They use a pump system that circulates the water and keeps the fountain running. Follow all of the instructions for set-up, use, and care that come with the fountain and you can enjoy the sound of trickling water for many years to come. Adding A Pond A pond is a really eye-catching and special addition to any yard. You will need some space for it, but even smaller yards can manage one. Koi ponds are a very popular choice, as the fish are lovely and create an ambience in the yard. They fit in well with any sort of Japanese or other Asian landscape design, but really extend into other styles as well. Make sure your pond has a system for keeping the water circulating and clean; standing water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and it can get quite dirty over time. It’s best to have a professional install the water system for your pond. Waterfalls You may not be able to have Niagara Falls in your yard to enjoy, but you can get a waterfall added as a feature of your yard. These can be falls that descend over a rock wall, a small stream that runs over consecutive drops in a sloped yard, or something in a corner where water falls down into a small pond. A waterfall adds the sound of moving water to the air all the time. Be sure you have proper drainage for the water system. Water features are a beautiful addition to any yard, and your imagination is really the only limit. Many professionals can help you to design the water feature that is right for your yard and your needs.