Having the right kinds of insurance — including good medical, disability, automobile, homeowner, long-term care, life, and even travel insurance — is key to good financial planning. This page about insurance gives you the lowdown on how to successfully navigate the often perplexing world of insurance coverage.
What happens if my neighbor’s tree falls?
What happens if my neighbor's tree falls and there is damage? Who pays for the damage caused when trees or tree branches fall? With the increase of wild weather this Spring, we're getting an influx of questions from readers whose trees fall and cause damage to their own property and to their neighbors. They're also [...]
What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
What does homeowners insurance cover? What typical policies cover and how to adjust premiums and deductibles to get the right coverage for you. Homeowners insurance can shield families from devastating losses if they have the right amount of coverage but it turns out many are unclear what that looks like for their home. Nearly half [...]
How to Insure a House in a Living Trust
How to insure a house in a living trust. This reader wants to know how insurance coverage works if policies are titled in the name of a living trust. Q: My insurance agent said the insurance company wants my policies (fire, wind and umbrella) titled in the name of my living trust. While doing some [...]
Who Is Responsible for Condo Repairs?
Who is responsible for condo repairs? This reader wants to know why they have to pay for painting their unit after damage from association work. Q: Last year my condo association had a company replace the roof in many of our buildings. I live on the top floor of my building. When the new roof [...]
Peak Hurricane Season 2019: Are You Prepared?
Peak hurricane season 2019: are you prepared? As Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Fernand bare down Gabrielle strengthens over the Atlantic. Peak Hurricane Season 2019: Are You Prepared? Most hurricane seasons to date have had six hurricanes, but this year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts five to nine hurricanes in the Atlantic [...]
HOA Insurance: What Coverage Do You Need to Insure Your Unit?
HOA insurance: What coverage do you need to insure your unit? This is what homeowners association insurance covers and why you need insurance for your unit. Q: Our homeowner’s association (HOA) is requiring that each owner buy insurance to insure that owner against damage caused by their unit to the common areas of the association [...]
Natural Disaster: What to Do Before You Make Home Repairs
Natural disaster: what to do before you make home repairs. Consider these three things before repairing damage from Hurricane Dorian. The First Major Hurricane of the Season is Here with Hurricane Dorian UPDATED SEPTEMBER 5, 2019: The National Hurricane Center reports Hurricane Dorian is bringing life-threatening storm surge, winds, heavy rainfall and tornadoes to the [...]
2 Moving Tips to Make Your Big Move Easier
Moving tips to make your big move easier. These tips will help you plan a less stressful move, whether you're doing it DIY or hiring professional movers. An estimated 20 million Americans will pack up their lives and move into a new home this summer, according to InsuranceQuotes.com. No matter how organized you are (or [...]
Trees, Neighbors and Insurance Coverage: What You Need to Know
Trees, neighbors and insurance coverage: What you need to know when nature strikes and your homeowner's insurance gives you the runaround. Over the past few weeks, we’ve received a number of letters on our recent column about trees, neighbors and insurance coverage. A reader wrote in that a tree fell on his neighbor’s garage and [...]
What Is the Purpose of a Home Inventory?
What is the purpose of a home inventory? A home inventory list can make filing an insurance claim in the event of a major loss much easier. Seventy percent of Americans have gone through a natural disaster at some point in their lives, according to research by Farmers Insurance. With that in mind, it’s surprising [...]