Home Insurance & Security Systems for Break-Ins
The other day someone was mentioning something that will be happening in April and I found myself thinking that wasn’t that far away. Seems crazy, but I was just factoring in the speed at which November and December fly by. I suppose that is what the holiday season will do to everyone.
The holiday season is quickly approaching and as your prepare your plans, meals, gifts, and more it’s important to think about protecting all of the things most important to you. No matter what holiday you celebrate, this time of year most likely means your home will have guests and you may even have extra possessions being stored (those gifts can add up).
In the spirit of making sure all of people and things are covered; think about your home insurance and home security this holiday season.
Do you have a home security system?
There are a lot of benefits to having a home security system. The number one benefit is knowing your loved ones are protected when they are home. In addition, it can help prevent break-ins. This type of protection can help anyone rest a little easier at night.
In addition to the obvious benefits, having a home security system can get you a discount on your home insurance policy. If you spend all that money installing a security system, be sure to let your agent know. Home insurance is expensive, it’s important to get any discounts that you and your home are eligible for.
What kind of Home Security System is right for you?
The two major types of home security systems are local vs central alarm systems. A local alarm creates a loud noise when someone enters the home. A central alarm system reports an alarm company, who in turn will call the local authorities, police or fire department. Some central alarm systems report directly to the appropriate department, fire or police.
Some central alarm systems will also offer medical alerts which can alert the police, fire or ems in the event of a medical emergency in your home. If you have all three alerts set up with your home security system, it can be a huge factor in preventing many household accidents and issues, case in point why you would receive that home insurance discount.
Aside from the typical way someone thinks of security, there is also low temperature systems that alert you if the heating system has dropped below a pre-determined temperature. This is important for people that have a second or vacant home. It allows you to potentially avoid frozen pipes and other situations caused by cold weather than could cause damages that really add up.
What happens if you have a home security system and have a loss?
The home security system is obviously set up to prevent loss from occurring, but if you are still victim to a break-in, your home insurance will kick in. Most all home insurance policies have coverage for theft on premise or off, like in a hotel. The loss is subject to your deductible and you must file a police report before filing a theft claim.
The coverage is your personal property coverage but there are limits on certain items such as jewelry, silverware, etc. per incident, per item. Those items, if scheduled, would be covered on an individual basis and amount. This is where having a specialty insurance policy or scheduled item for things like antiques, collections or jewelry can be crucial. The same way you would take precautions with home security, also make sure they have the coverage required if they are lost or stolen.
Would home insurance cover other issues, like vandalism?
Most home policies cover vandalism, again subject to your deductible. This coverage would be from your dwelling coverage. If the vandalism happens to occur to another structure such as a garage it would be covered under your “Other structures” coverage.
Questions about your coverage? Give our agents a call at 888.865.1244 and they can help make sure you have the coverage you need for your family this holiday season.
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