Tag Archive for: liability coverage

Last-Minute Moving Tips

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September 1st is finally here, which means that renters will be moving in and moving out all over Boston this week and into the long Labor Day weekend! The city is about to get a whole lot busier — that’s why we have some last minute tips to help your move-in day go smoothly.

1. Read Your Lease

It might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to read your lease so you don’t miss any details. Often times, there is a tenant moving out the day before you move in, which means the landlord or management company may need some time to clean the property. The last thing you want is to show up at your apartment, moving truck and all, at 9 am when your lease specifies that you can’t move in until after 1 o’clock.

2. The Move

If you haven’t reserved parking for your moving truck — do so right now. You can reserve a parking spot through the city of Boston, to make your move a little easier. No one wants to lug your stuff from three streets over, so make sure you plan ahead.

If you have hired movers to haul your stuff for you, don’t forget to tip! If you have somehow convinced your friends to help, handshakes and smiles won’t do. Buying everyone lunch will make sure they’re still your friends after a long day of moving.

3. Don’t Get “Storrowed”

If you’ve rented a moving truck, do not drive on Storrow Drive! Storrow Drive passes under several low bridges and every year, without fail, at least one truck gets stuck. Not only will you block traffic, you’ll also damage your truck and possibly your stuff. You don’t want to be that person. You should also avoid Memorial Drive for the same reason. Plan your route ahead of time to make sure you’re not unknowingly following your GPS through these parts of the city.

4. Allston Christmas

Boston is home to over 35 colleges. With all of these students moving out, there tends to be a lot of stuff that gets left behind. Although this phenomenon has become known as “Allston Christmas,” you can score free stuff all over the city. When it comes to digging through furniture and other items left on the sidewalk, we advise you to be careful with what you take. If you do decide to partake, we recommend avoiding anything with upholstery, as these items can host pests like bed bugs, which you can then bring into your new apartment. And if you take wood furniture, be sure to inspect it for small holes, which could also indicate a pest infestation.

5. Renters Insurance

When moving day is all said and done, make sure your new place and everything that’s in it is covered in case of an accident with renters insurance. It’s often mistakenly understood that if your landlord has insurance, then you do too. However, this is not the case. Renters insurance provides three essential protections:

These three coverages protect your belongings, safeguard you against lawsuits, and help cover costs if you have to temporarily relocate due to a covered loss, like a fire.  

Not sure where to start? A Lighthouse Insurance agent can help you evaluate your property and belongings and find coverage that suits your needs and your budget! Give us a call at 617-464-3777 or visit or website for a new or existing policy.

 

5 Reasons Why Renters Insurance Is Important

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We get it; renting an apartment can be expensive, especially in Boston. With median rent prices over $2000, Boston has one of the most expensive rental markets in the country. And that’s not even factoring in expenses like gas, electricity, cable and internet … or all of those parking tickets! But there’s one expense that renters should not pass up, and that’s renters insurance — especially considering that you could cover the cost of this critical protection by simply skipping a few trips to Starbucks every month.

According to a recent study, nearly 70% of millennials (who make up the majority of renters nationwide) don’t have renters insurance. Over 40% of young people interviewed in the study reported that they opted out of this type of coverage simply because they did not understand how renters insurance worked, which is something Lighthouse wants to change! We’ve put together 5 important reasons why you need renters insurance to help you understand what renters insurance covers and to help you make the right decision when it comes to protecting your possessions.

1. Your home may be protected, but your possessions are not.

Many renters assume that their homes are covered by their landlord’s insurance, which is only partly true. While your landlord’s insurance will cover damages occurring to the physical structure of your home, it will not cover damage done to your possessions or pay for your living expenses while your home is being repaired. Here’s an example: a pipe bursts during the winter and floods your apartment. Your furniture and an expensive rug are ruined beyond repair. Your landlord may only need to cover the losses for the structural damage; any of your personal items that were damaged will be your responsibility to replace or repair. This is one of many reasons why renters should protect themselves by purchasing renters insurance.

2. Renters insurance provides coverage for your personal possessions.

The Personal Property Coverage under your renters insurance policy is critical because, as the name explains, it provides coverage for your personal possessions. Depending on the policy you choose, you can receive up to 100% replacement cost protection for your belongings in the case of fire, smoke damage, vandalism, theft, and some damages due to a storm or natural disaster excluding floods or earthquakes. Renters insurance may even cover lost or stolen items from your gym locker, or if your bike gets stolen while you’re at a bar. And, when you make it home from vacation in one piece, but your luggage does not, yup you are most likely covered for that as well. We recommend taking an inventory of your belongings before purchasing a renters insurance policy to make sure you have enough coverage. Organize your inventory into categories or go room-by-room to make sure you account for everything; and don’t forget about more expensive items like your laptop or jewelry!

3. It protects against certain types of lawsuits.

The Liability Coverage of your renters insurance policy provides protection in case of a lawsuits resulting from bodily injury or property damage caused by you, a family member, or even your pet. This means that if any visitor is injured in your home, the cost of their care and legal proceedings may be covered up to your policy’s liability limits. A personal umbrella policy is always a good idea for an extra layer of coverage, however that is a different blog post. Another common situation that is covered under your liability protection would be if you, a family member, or a pet damaged someone else’s property (say your dog chewed up a friend’s expensive coffee table…).

4. It covers additional living expenses in the case of emergency.

If you are displaced from your apartment due to losses from fire, vandalism, a natural disaster or water damage (as specified by your renters insurance policy), Additional Living Expenses Coverage will help curb some of your expenses. Hotel bills, home rentals, and even restaurant bills can be covered during the period of time when your home is being rebuilt.

5. Renters insurance can help cover your roommate too.

A renters insurance policy can cover up to two unrelated people under a singly policy, which means you can add your roommate to your policy for no extra charge. If, however, you have more than 2 people living in your apartment, your other roommates would need to purchase their own policies. Keep in mind that your renters insurance will not cover theft or intentional damage done to your property by a roommate, regardless of whether or not they are covered under your policy. You should also know that if you ever file a claim, you will receive a check made out to all parties covered under the renters insurance policy. This means you will need your roommate to co-sign the check, even if it is to cover the cost of your belongings only.

 Here are a few more things to keep in mind when deciding on your renters insurance policy. Some landlords will actually require tenants to have insurance while occupying their property. If this is the case, make sure to fully understand what their property insurance does cover before deciding on a renters insurance policy. And never underestimate the benefits of working with an independent agent! Especially in more complex living situations, your insurance agent will be able to answer all of your questions and come up with a policy that fits your unique needs. Some carriers will offer discounts for their renters insurance clients as well. For example, at Lighthouse Insurance, we have relationships with carriers who provide discounts to clients who bundle their auto and renters insurance policies with one carrier. In some cases, for as little as $3 per week, you can protect yourself and your stuff.

Accidents happen, no matter how careful you are. But by having a renters insurance policy, you will also have peace of mind in knowing that the belongings you’ve worked so hard for are protected.

At Lighthouse, we know renters insurance inside and out. We represent many different insurance carriers, which allows our dedicated team to create a renters insurance policy that works specifically for you. Our expertise lies in providing guidance and comparing prices in order to give you the best option on your renters insurance. Give us a call today at (617) 464-3777 or visit our website to learn more about how to get rental insurance!