Some insurance policies do not cover damage to your home or belongings due to fire. In this type of situation, it is imperative that you buy additional coverage. However, before doing so, you need to consider a few aspects that will help you choose between the different policies you find.

Reimbursement Type

The first aspect to consider is the type of reimbursement the policy offers for damaged items. Most policies have very specific guidelines on how it determines the cost of the items you need to replace.

One reimbursement type is an actual cash value payment. This option reimburses you for the cash value of the damaged items, but it also considers depreciation. This means that if the value of your home or belongings has depreciated due to age or condition, then the company lowers the amount of money you receive for each item.

Replacement cost is your other option that some companies offer as part of their policies. With this option, the insurance company gives you the amount of money you need to replace each item damaged in the fire.

However, if you choose a replacement cost option, you have to spend the money you receive on a similar item. For example, if the fire damaged your TV, you must buy a new TV with the money. With the actual cash value payment, you can use the money to buy alternative items if you desire.

Living Expenses

Once you determine the reimbursement method, you also need to consider living expenses. Sometimes when a fire happens, you need to move out until the damage can be repaired. However, the cost of living somewhere else can make it difficult for some people.

For this reason, you want a policy that offers compensation payments for living expenses. Some policies will help pay for hotel rooms or other short-term housing. This aspect can be especially helpful when you still need to pay a mortgage on the damaged home, even though you cannot live in it.

One important factor to consider when looking into the different policies is the duration in which the company will help pay for temporary housing. Each policy could have different time limits and some companies have separate durations based on the extent of the damage done to your home.

No one wants to think of a time when a fire happens. However, you need to have fire insurance just in case. By gathering additional information about the different policies offered in your area, you can purchase one that will best suit your needs if a fire does occur.

To learn more, contact a company like Scovotti Insurance.