Kansas Homeowners Insurance

While homeowners insurance is not mandatory in the state of Kansas, lending companies may require that you purchase it before they will agree to a mortgage.   Homeowners insurance is also the easiest way to protect not only your home but the personal effects that fill it.  When most people think about homeowners insurance they think about replacing their home or making repairs in the case of fire, flood, or other disaster.  While special flood insurance isn’t a great concern for Kansas residents, there are many others. Homeowners insurance in Kansas is designed to protect those needs.

What Your Kansas Homeowners Insurance Covers

In general the hazard coverage portion of most policies doesn’t including things like business equipment or loss of jewelry over a certain amount.  There is always the possibility that you will need to purchase additional insurance to cover these items.  In Kansas homeowners insurance routinely covers the following:

• Dwelling - This includes your house, detached garage and storage sheds from fire, wind, hail and vandalism.

• Contents – This includes your furniture, clothing, computer, TV, and other personal belongings.

• Additional Living Expenses – If you have to stay in a hotel or rent a temporary apartment while your home is being rebuilt or repaired, your Kansas homeowners insurance will help cover it.

• Liability – This protects you when you or another member of your family (including your dog) unintentionally injures someone or damages their property.

• Medical payments – Medical bills are paid for others injured while on your property.

Shopping For Homeowners Insurance In Kansas

There is some general information that you will need in order to obtain a reliable quote as well as secure homeowners insurance in the state of Kansas.

• Type Of Coverage – You will need to know what kind of coverage you want and how much.  Will standard coverage do or do need extras such as sewer backup coverage?  Working with an insurance agent is typically the best way to decide if you will need any extra coverage.

• Description Of Your Home – This includes information such as when the house was built, number of square feet, and number of floors.  Your coverage amount assumes replacement cost values with wood frame construction.

• Location – Your address.  Seems simple enough, but insurance rates can increase if you are in a high crime area, and are affected by the distance you are from the nearest fire station or hydrant.

• Fire And Security Devices – Having smoke detectors and security devices installed in your home can reduce your premiums.

• Loss History – How many claims have you had to file in the past?  This will also make a difference in your premiums.

Keep An Inventory To Save Money On Kansas Homeowners Insurance

Having an up to date inventory on all household items will help you determine how much coverage you will need.  It will also help if you ever have to file a claim.  When making the inventory, write down everything with a worth over $50.  Take pictures or videos of these items, and if your camera allows you to put a timestamp on everything that’s even better.  This visual record will help insure that all your items are covered.

When it comes time to make a claim the insurance company may not believe that you are a collector of rare antiques and those pictures will be your proof.  Insurance companies are in the business of making money and don’t want to pay out any more than they have to.  Keep a copy of this visual record and inventory in a safe place such as a fireproof box.  Consider keeping a second copy somewhere safe off the premises.

• Description – Record make, model and serial number of any on all items.  In the case of theft this information helps out the police department and it also helps you justify the estimated cost of an item to your insurance agent.  For instance, if you have a $5,000 top of the line gaming computer that is damaged or stolen, you’ll need this data. If you don’t have this information your insurance company will only cover the average cost of a computer, around $1,300.

• Location – This is more for your benefit.  When filing a claim you want to make sure you haven’t overlooked anything.

• Purchase Price, Current Value And Replacement Cost – For most items a best estimate will do.  In the case of things like antiques, stamp or coin collections or jewelry you will probably have to have a professional appraisal done, and the items will probably need to be listed separately on the policy for specific coverage.

• Don’t Forget – to make a record of things like your CD collection, books, and tools.  Also, don’t forget to inventory your basement, attic and garage.

Questions To Ask Your Kansas Homeowners Insurance Agent

Knowing what questions to ask can help you determine if you need extra coverage and where you can save money on your premiums.

• Deductibles.  Ask about deductibles.  Increasing your deductible can help reduce your premium.

• Find out what is not covered.

• Does the policy cover replacement cost or actual cash value?

• Does the policy include water damage or sewage back up?  These are usually extra items that can be added to your policy for an additional cost. Even if you’re not in a flood zone, appliance malfunctions can cause severe water damage.

• What special coverage options are available?

• What kind of proof is needed in case of damage, theft or loss?

• Does the policy cover jewelry, antiques or special collections?  Once again, these are items that you may have to pay extra for.

What If You Can’t Find Kansas Homeowners Insurance Coverage?

The state of Kansas offers something called the FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan, this can be applied for through any private property insurer.  In order to be eligible to apply to the FAIR Plan you have to have been turned down by three different insurance companies.  Someone from FAIR will come out to inspect your property to see if you are eligible.  Just keep in mind that the FAIR Plan is not guaranteed.

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