Do you often ponder how to buy the right home insurance and typhoon damage?
Typhoon Hagibis – which means “speed” in the Philippine language, Tagalog – was the most powerful typhoon to hit Japan in six decades. In fact due to the fast climate change over a few decades, mainly, clear the jungle for human activities. Human greed like the planting of oil palm in Indonesia and the cattle rearing of Brazil and Argentina has deteriorated worsens the Mother Nature. The typhoon occurs too frequently with more severe impact damage to property.
Malaysia by nature typhoon of its location, we never or seldom hear about the typhoon damage to our home. But, lately, the Mini-tornado strikes Kedah villages; 20 houses damaged. Thus, we must on our toe, and not sit on laurel anymore.
Generally speaking, most of us talk about home insurance; what we mean is the basic fire or house owner insurance. Equally important is the home content policy. Usually, we forget about the home content coverage, we either ignored it or have no knowledge about it.
2 Types of Home Insurance cover typhoon damage
Property insurance – Designed to insure the physical components of a building/domestic e.g., walls, roof, flooring, and so on. During the signing of a loan offered by the bank, we have to sign this form of coverage in order to secure a loan. The sum insured depends on the quantum of the loan amount.
Homeowners insurance – It covers the contents of a home e.g., furniture and fitting, electrical appliances, personal objects, and all the home contents items
Uniquely, both the plan will cover storm or typhoon damage. Of course, like some other kind of insurance, there is differencing coverage between these two insurances. Thus, it’s far especially important to examine closely or understanding the contents of the policy coverage.
How do I know if my home insurance covers typhoon damage?
There are a couple of ways you can discover whether the policy covers your property. Either the house itself or its contents damaged by the typhoon or storm tempest that strikes the hazardous area.
Firstly, the detailed schedule you need to fully grasp the actual meaning specified in the policy. This content highlights the detailed coverage in the event of loss and damage to your property or content. Furthermore, any additional excess or deductible with the amount of which the insured has to pay in the event of a claim.
Not only had the schedule closely examined by yourself, but also not to forget the Exclusion Clause. It listed down all the items the insurer is not liable during the loss or damage. If you are feeling that you had to take for a ride by the underwriter, you can renegotiable directly or via an intermediary. Of course, the company would very happy to oblige the request provided you are willing to pay an extra premium to delete the exclusion item. But nevertheless, the removal is done by the improvement of the house. For instance, use concrete slab mixed with steel for the piling the foundation during construction to avoid the typhoon uprooted the whole building.
The second way to discover whether or not your coverage covers typhoon damage to your property and contents is to liaise with both the insurer and dealer directly. For example, use a reputable broker to customize drafting the policy until your satisfaction.
In the final analysis in regard to the policy understanding, the main important factor is to ensure you had the coverage for typhoon damage to property and contents. After all, it is pointless to cry over the split milk after realize you do not have the cover when the typhoon or storm strikes your nest.
5 points for Typhoon damage for home insurance
1. Be aware of your insurance limits
The maximum domestic insurance coverage will cover damage caused by typhoons. As a matter of fact, the insurer will not entertain all your claim submission, it implies that the company pays the entire claim. All insurance plans sold include a set of claims limits.
For example, if your house insurance with a sum insured of US$ 2 million in overall damage. It the typhoon strikes and damages the house amounting to US$2.5 million. The balance of half a million shall be borne by you as if you are acting as your own insurer.
Likewise, it is the same for the coverage of your home contents. There are typically express limits stated in regards to loss from a natural disaster. In light of the technical jargon wording in the insurance policy, it is best to read and analyze all the policy wording that is a crucial factor in the event of a claim. By the same token, pay close attention to the wording of the policy. As some coverage include a separate restriction associated with natural disaster and insurance claim limit.
2. Certain Losses do not cover by typhoons damages
A large quantity of home insurance especially those built in the flood-prone zone with routine flooding. Usually, the insurer will not grant you coverage on the occasion of a flood. Similarly, if you’ve built a house in a flood-susceptible place and coupled with a typhoon causes flooding, no coverage for your home. In most cases, the insurer will bear in mind these claims on a case-by means of-case basis.
Furthermore, the landslip is an exclusion clause. The typhoon often accompanied by heavy rainfall within a span of time. Thus, with water gushing down in volume, there is a greater risk of muddy landslip along the steep slope area. If that occurs the landslip damaged your house and contents, the insurer will deny your claim.
3. Contents in outdoor will not cover
In homeowner insurance, all the contents stored outdoor will exclude. For instance, if you store the BBQ set or washing machine on the deck, porch, rooftop patio. The typhoon blew away all the contents, your loss will not entertain by the insurer.
Likewise, it is also really worth noting here that some property insurance guidelines exclude outside fixtures too. As with everything else here, it is advisable to review your policy files to make certain you realize the exclusion.
4. The insurer, not cover your negligence damages or loss
All in all, your private home has exclusion states that if the damage is resulting from, or attributed due negligence then any claims. If you let your windows open throughout a T10 storm and there may be critical water damage to property or contents, the insurer shall deny your claim.
How to buy the right home insurance and typhoon damage?
5. Other home insurance alternatives
As stated above you can combine with various types of home policies to make up home insurance. If you are intending to buy a policy to protect your home and content, please be sure to contact us in drafting a policy to your heart content.
