The Things No One Tells You About Household Insurance

December 17, 2010 | Author: | Posted in Insurance

A false sense of security in respect of household insurance has been growing across South Africa in recent years and many people are only now beginning to see the light. The plethora of security estates that have been developed at astonishing rates all over the country have lulled many home owners who have settled in these gated communities into a feeling that they and their possession are entirely safe and need no further protection than their ubiquitous panic buttons, electric fencing and personal security guards. A recent proliferation of inside jobs at some of Johannesburg’s top security lifestyle developments has, however, seen these homeowners rushing to take out comprehensive household insurance policies before their neighbours start looking to them as possible sources of replacement revenue for their stolen goods. And no matter how wealthy you are or how much security you have, nothing can protect you from the wholly unforeseen disasters that Mother Nature and simple bad luck may send your way. A pipe will burst when and if it chooses to and if all your carpets are ruined then you had netter have household insurance. In the same vein, lightning may never strike twice but strike it will, and if it is your thatch roof that takes the brunt of it, your household insurance policy will come in very handy indeed.

Household insurance can cover you against loss of or damage to most of your household possessions, but you will need to be very careful about exactly what is insured and for what value if you want to avoid a nasty shock down the road. There are certain items that are more or less automatically covered but with rising crime rates, and concomitant rising household insurance claims, it really is better to take complete responsibility for your policy yourself. One of the best things you can do to help manage your household insurance is to make sure that you have a complete and proper inventory of all the possessions that you register for household insurance. Then you must make sure that you keep this inventory up to date at least annually and send copy of any amendments to the company with whom you have your household insurance. If you want to be extra cautious, and this is never going to disadvantage you so it is worth the time and effort, take photographs of all your possessions as well and link these photographs to your inventory so that you household insurance is truly up to date and accurate. This may seem like overkill but in the aftermath of a burglary it will make it so much easier for you to file your claim and it will make it far less likely that any material dispute will arise between you and your household insurance provider. This means that you will derive maximum befit from your household.

Household insurance really can work for you, just make sure you communicate clearly with your service provider, keep detailed records, and make sure that you specify any additional items in respect of which you may require specific insurance, such expensive items of jewellery, cellular telephones or laptops.

The site http://www.afi.co.za, is for an household insurance company.

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