Want to know how reliable your insurance policy might be, ask an adjuster – a public adjuster.
Public adjusters document property damage claims and adjust property insurance claims on behalf of the business owner. Hiring a public adjuster is highly recommended for anyone dealing with a property insurance claim.
We are the policyholders’ advocate to ensure your claim is prepared, presented and adjusted so that your best interests are protected. In this article, we will outline several insurance coverages and clauses you need to know about so that you can protect your assets in case the unfortunate happens.
When researching policy options, here is some insurance information that may help you to optimize your policy.
Purchase Replacement Cost
This may seem a little elementary since almost everyone knows to insure at replacement cost. Replacement cost policies pay to replace your old asset at today’s cost for a new asset of like kind and quality. However, this coverage is not without its own set of potential issues.
In many policies, you may be penalized if you insure at replacement cost, but do not carry enough insurance to replace the asset. This brings us to the next topic, Coinsurance.
Avoid Coinsurance Penalties
Many of our insureds are shocked to discover they can be subjected to penalties for underinsuring their properties. It is common for commercial insurance policies to contain a coinsurance clause.
Coinsurance is a form of insurance that in exchange for a favorable premium amount, the insured agrees to always maintain an amount of insurance relative to the value of the assets insured. The amounts required are not stated as a dollar amount, but rather a percentage amount, typically 80% or 90% of the assets value.
If you fail to live up to your end of the bargain (pay the insurance company the desired amount of premiums) and underinsure your assets, you will be penalized for an amount equal to the amount you underinsured yourself. There are numerous complexities in the application of coinsurance and any resulting penalties.
Of course, you can avoid the possibility of such a penalty by always maintaining the proper amount of insurance. But that amount is subjective depending on the person calculating it. With improvements, additions, and fluctuations in material and labor costs, it is a moving target over time. Perhaps the best way to avoid this unpleasant trap is the agreed amount of endorsement.
Consider an Agreed Amount Endorsement
This endorsement may be the greatest value in insurance today. For the extra premium dollars, this can save you tens, thousands, or hundreds of thousands of dollars when faced with an insurance claim. It is a simple endorsement that suspends the coinsurance clause, thereby avoiding any penalties.
Oftentimes a pre-loss appraisal may be necessary to determine your insurable values and the amount of insurance required. Ask your agent if you have coinsurance. If you do, ask them to include an agreed value endorsement.
Protect Your Future with Business Interruption Insurance
Business interruption insurance insures your loss of net income and continuing expenses for the period of time your assets are damaged by an insured loss. Business interruption insurance is more important for some businesses than others.
A retail store might be able to move to another location, apartment owners might be able to move tenants to other properties. However, manufacturers may have long repair or replacement times on equipment, hotels are unable to rent damaged rooms and restaurants might have extensive build-outs, equipment, and location issues.
Business interruption claims are often the most difficult claims to resolve as the recovery is dependent on historical performance, the time required to return to operations, expenses that may or may not continue, and policy conditions such as coinsurance, monthly limitations, and extra expenses, etc.
All of these factors are subjective and the resulting claim amounts can vary greatly depending on the professional preparing the documentation. Since business interruption claims can challenge even the most experienced adjusters, you can expect that the insurance carrier will hire an accountant that specializes in business interruption claims to assist them in this area.
Consider a BOP
Many “main street” small to medium-sized businesses may benefit from purchasing a BOP policy. BOP stands for Business Owners Policy. The advantages of BOP policies include: valuation is typically replacement cost, there is no coinsurance, loss of income coverage is typically included without a limit and because it is a package policy, (including property and liability coverages) its premium is often less than if you purchased these coverage’s individually. Not everyone will qualify for a BOP, and coverages may vary, so consult your agent or broker.
Evaluate Flood Insurance Options
Obviously, the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina brought new awareness to the shortfalls and failings of the needs of insureds and the policies that protect them. There is no more significant evidence of this than the issue of flood insurance. The federal government encourages owners to protect themselves by purchasing flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
However, the policies underwritten by them are basic and undervalued for the needs of many business owners. Some individual insurance companies recognize this and choose to write and service their own flood policies. Called Write Your Own (WYO) insurers, they often provide larger coverage amounts and greater options than the federal program. If you are eligible to purchase flood insurance, especially if your business is in a coastal area, consider discussing your flood coverage with an agent for a WYO insurer.
Be prepared when you consult with an agent on flood insurance. Not all flood policies are alike. Ask questions about the building limits, contents limits, business interruption coverage, and debris removal charges. Ask about coverages and limits for stock, raw materials, decking, fences, walkways, parking lots, outdoor lighting, landscaping, sprinklers, pools, pool equipment, and other business assets.
Consider Wind Insurance Options
For business owners in coastal areas that need wind insurance as a separate policy, consider purchasing policies underwritten by individual companies. Like the issues mentioned for flood insurance, the private market may provide you with greater coverage limits and more options than those underwritten by state “pools.”
Have a checklist of concerns to discuss with your agent, such as exterior painting, wind-driven rain, exterior lighting, fences, decks, pools, etc.
Earthquake Insurance
Standard commercial policies do not cover damages from earthquakes. Depending on your location, earthquake coverage can be provided through a Difference In Conditions (DIC) policy and may be added to your existing policy by endorsement or purchased as a standalone policy.
Check with your agent and inquire about what additional types of losses the policy may cover (some include flood, landslide, mudslide, collapse, sinkhole, and any other earth movement that involves the sinking, rising, or shifting of the earth).
The deductible is typically a percentage of the policy amount. Be aware of how the deductible applies to buildings and contents; some policies will treat buildings and contents separately, meaning the deductible applies to each one.
Tips to Reduce Insurance Premiums
- Shop around. Prices vary from one company to another. Not all policies are alike, so you should compare the differences to get the coverage and price that best suits your needs.
- Purchase a package policy. Policies such as a BOP policy that combine several coverages are typically less expensive than individual coverages.
- Multiple buildings or properties? Consider a blanket policy. A blanket policy combines properties into a single coverage amount. There may be benefits to you in coverages and premiums with a blanket policy. Research this carefully as having a blanket policy offers benefits to some and drawbacks to others.
- Raise the deductible. The higher the deductible, the less you pay for the policy.
- Get credit for actions that prevent losses. Check with your agent to see what you can do to minimize the chance of having a major claim. Policies give credit for smoke detectors, sprinklers, and workplace safety procedures.
Finally, insuring your assets to the best of your ability can benefit you greatly if you have a claim, but it’s only one part of the solution.
The claims process is a complicated and time-consuming process with many trips and traps. Assembling a team of professionals to put your policy to work for you can make all the difference. We encourage you to talk to a professional claims adjuster whenever you have a property insurance claim.