When you purchase a house, it is important to assess all the possible risks that could damage your asset. For instance, some homeowners live in places where there are several thunderstorms. That’s why most of them decide to purchase an add-on to their policy to cover floodings. But, if you live in a city with warm weather, you might have to worry about other issues, such as wildfires. To help you understand what your policy covers, in this regard, we are going to talk about forest fire insurance.
Overall, when you get homeowner’s insurance, you will have coverage for any damage to your home or belongings that was caused by wildfires. However, not all policies are the same. That’s why it is crucial to talk to your insurance agent about this. Keep in mind that protection against fires is not the same. This one refers to a peril that was a result of a faulty appliance or electrical wiring inside your home.
You should know that when it comes to forest fire insurance, many companies are denying coverage to homes located in high-risk places. This is happening because, in those regions, the damage to the house structures is enormous. To find out if this is your case, read your policy and talk to your provider. Also, keep in mind that other conditions apply to tenant insurance. To learn more about this visit, the following link https://www.surex.com/insurance/tenant/toronto.
Does insurance cover forest fire?
It depends, as we explained above, homeowner’s insurance offers coverage depending on the location of your property. If after you read the policy, you are certain that it protects you in case of wildfire, here we are going to explain how it works.
1. Dwelling coverage
When you ask your insurance agent, “does house insurance cover forest fire?” you should expect more than a yes or no answer. It is also vital to understand how each part of the policy will help you repair your house. Dwelling coverage is what will protect your home, including any other detached structures such as garages.
There are a couple of things you should keep in mind before getting forest firehouse insurance with your policy. First, if you live in a high-risk area, it is important to have a high limit of coverage. That way, you will be able to reconstruct your home in case it gets destroyed. Further, if your entire neighborhood suffers the same damages, labor costs might rise.
2. Personal Property
If you have forest fire insurance in your policy, after you file a claim, you will get a reimbursement that will allow you to replace all belongings. All providers offer different limits regarding this protection, but usually, it is 50% of your dwelling coverage. To make sure you get enough money, the best thing you can do is make a list of your personal property. Here, include electronics, furniture and even sports equipment. Plus, you should write down any valuable items such as jewelry or art pieces.
3. Additional Living Expenses
One thing that you should remember, is that the house insurance for forest fire must cover additional living expenses. This is a crucial part of your policy in case you can’t live at home while it’s being repaired. When you file the claim, you will receive a determined amount you can use to pay a hotel, meals, laundry and pet boarding fees.
There are sometimes in which the wildfire would affect you even without reaching your home. In that instance, local authorities might advise you to evacuate while it is contained. The good news is that in this case, you can also get covered for additional living expenses.
The additional living expenses coverage you receive will depend on the percentage you choose when getting the policy. You can also increase this limit after.
4. Landscaping coverage
If you ask your provider “does house insurance cover forest fires?” Don’t forget to inquire if you’ll also get coverage for any landscaping expenses. In case you get this protection, you’ll be able to pay for any lawns, trees and plants that the fire destroyed.
Before you purchase a homeowner’s policy, you should check your deductible and the limit of each coverage. Remember that if the damage is lower than the deductible, you won’t receive anything from your provider.
How to know if your location is at risk of wildfire
After you find out if you have house insurance for a forest fire. There are a couple of additional questions you should ask. First, find out if you are in a high-risk location. This rating is determined by other institutions. But, some variables they consider include the number of fire trucks, firefighters, equipment, response time and distance to fire hydrant, among others.
Also, inquire if it would be better to get a standalone fire. This is especially important if you live in a location where there are several wildfires. These policies will cover you in case of fire, smoke, explosions and even wind damage. Keep in mind that your fees might be higher due to the risk.
How to take advantage of house insurance for forest fire
Preparing for a fire claim is not something fun to do, but is necessary. One of the main things you should do is keep track of all your personal property. This might be a long process, but we promise that in the end, it will be worth it. There are several apps that you can download which can help you with this task. Here you should store a list of all your belongings with their value and a photo.
If you want to be prepared for wildfires, there are a couple of preventive measures you can apply. Choose fireproof material for the structure of your house. That way, you can minimize the damage. Also, perform regular landscaping maintenance. If you are planning to plant any trees, we would recommend doing this away from the property. This will help you to prevent any further destruction in case of a wildfire.