The Sitch on Swimming Pools and Homeowners Insurance
It’s hot. Really hot. So hot that even though it’s technically an impossibility you suspect you probably actually could cook an egg on the sidewalk. Summer’s knocking on your door, and it’s up to you to find a way to beat the heat. Your own backyard swimming pool is the best way to do it-but what’s a swimming pool going to do to your homeowners insurance?
Swimming pools and homeowners insurance have more of an on-again/off-again, uncertain, unpredictable and volatile relationship than most teenagers. How much your swimming pool will affect your homeowners insurance premiums and your ability to get coverage is going to depend strongly on where you live, what type of pool you have and, most importantly, what you’re willing to do to keep the people around you safe.
Why Does It Matter?
It’s easy enough to wonder why your swimming pool would have any impact at all on your homeowners insurance, particularly if you aren’t the parent of small children (or only slightly more sensible teenagers) and therefore aren’t likely to have people in and out of your swimming pool at all hours of the day and night. What most people don’t realize, however, is that they are responsible for any accidents that take place in and around their pool-even if the victim of the accident wasn’t invited, wasn’t wanted and was less welcome than a dead rat at Thanksgiving.
That’s right. If a complete stranger parks on the edge of your lawn, gets out, walks around to the back of your house, hops in your swimming pool and drowns, it’s your fault. It’s all a matter of liability-and since it’s your insurance provider that has to pay the bill for your liability claims they’re going to be extremely careful.
Location, Location, Location
In states like Florida or Texas, where backyard pools are almost as common as joggers by the Gulf, swimming pools aren’t going to have a significant impact on your homeowners insurance. On the other hand, if you happen to live in a northern state where it doesn’t stay warm enough in the summer to justify the expense of a pool and its upkeep you may find yourself paying out a little more each month. After all, your house just became the hottest party house in time!
How You Can Keep Your Homeowners Premiums to a Minimum
Nobody really wants to pay an absurd amount of money for their homeowners insurance, but no one wants to be without it in an emergency either! Lawsuits stemming from drowning, slips, falls and other nonsense that can take place in and around a pool are rarely inexpensive and always messy. Having to stand on your own in that situation is a nightmare. There are things you can do to protect your swimming pool and your bank account from disaster.
1)Build a fence around your pool to keep unwelcome visitors out.
2)Buy a pool cover, and keep it on when you’re not using it.
3)Post signs letting people know you have a pool, especially if it’s an inground.
4)Build your pool in the backyard rather than the front to keep it out of site of the street.
Watch the video related to Homeowners insurance
A PSA showing Florida homeowners how to save money this spring (2008) through a program from the Florida Department of Financial Services. Here’s how it’s done: Apply for a free wind inspections at MySafeFloridaHome.com. (It takes about four minutes). The inspection, which costs you nothing, often uncovers discounts you can get from your insurance — before you even do anything to fix up your house. So far, three quarters of the inspections have found an average of about $200 in discounts. Not …
Help answer the question about Homeowners insurance
About Author
Anthony M. Peck is the Senior Developer, Software Project Manager, and Director of Business Development for QuoteScout.com. For more information about homeowners insurance for swimming pool owners, visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Sitch on Swimming Pools and Homeowners Insurance
Related posts:
- Homeowners Insurance Comparisons – Where to Get the Best Rate Looking for homeowners insurance comparisons? Want to know where...
- Quick Homeowners Insurance Policy Facts When you think of homeowners insurance do you think...
- Cats, Rats, and Brats – Homeowners Insurance Exclusions According to surveys conducted by the National Association of...
- Homeowners Insurance Explained You know you need homeowners insurance to protect your...
- Maryland Homeowners Insurance – How to Get the Best Rate Maryland Homeowners Insurance – How to Get the Best...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Posted by American Car Insurance on September 4th, 2009 filed in homeowners insurance | 18 Comments »
Top incoming search terms for this post
18 Responses to “The Sitch on Swimming Pools and Homeowners Insurance”
Leave a Comment
-
Link Partner
September 4th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
omg its groooooooommmmmmm
September 4th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
GROOOOOOMIEEEEE.
September 5th, 2009 at 12:27 am
groom!
:O
omgggggggggg…………..
September 4th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
They don't ask, but there is a good chance they will find out anyway. My aunt has a trampoline in her back yard, which is prohibited, but she figured no one would ever know. It went unnoticed until some teenager tried to dial a number on his cell and hit the front of her house. Her insurance company (along with his) came out to inspect the damage and saw the trampoline.
They also find out when the dog attacks someone in the neighborhood or gets loose and chases the mailman and a complaint is filed.
There are plenty of incidents that could take place that would cause the insurance company to come out.
September 4th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
It really depends on how it breaks, what type of policy you have and the insurance company?
Some company's can even add riders to your policy to cover it.
Call you insurance company or ask your agent!
September 4th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Go the the taxing authorities homepage for your county (Google it). You can look up the average taxes on the homes for the neighborhoods you are considering.
September 5th, 2009 at 5:55 am
You need to call an insurance company for quotes, start with your auto insurance company & go from there. There are many questions, what does the master policy cover? You would need to read the condo bylaws to find out. Does that policy cover everything attached to the unit or only to the studs? Does it cover anything that you add to or alter in the unit? So, you would purchase a condo policy (HO6 form), you would need to find out from the condo association what you actually need to cover. That would be the dwelling limit you need. Then you need to tell the insurance company how much contents coverage you want (if you had to replace everything you own), then get at least $500,000 liability, $5,000 medical payments & get $50,000 (or the company maximum) loss assessment (this covers if you are assessed for damages to common property – simplified definition – you would need to speak to an agent to explain it to you). You would also need to tell the agent the deductible you want (property coverage).
Good luck in your purchase but no one here can give you a quote.
Homeowners insurance is always an annual policy.
September 5th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I’ve never wanted a haircut more in my life. Wow! and reliable!
September 6th, 2009 at 1:05 am
groooooooooooooooooooom!
September 6th, 2009 at 1:49 am
Hey that’s my sister in law on the right! WAY TO GO SIS!!!
September 6th, 2009 at 12:05 am
If I were you, I'd look into two things in particular:
First is a mortgage disability policy. You would probably want to take out this policy on both you and your husband. This will help to cover mortgage payments if you or your husband are injured and unable to bring in income.
I'd also look into life insurance policies on each of you. If your husband were to pass away, would you be able to continue making mortgage payments on your own? Would you choose to move? If not, life insurance is a must.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Thank you for running into each other instead of an innocent person who is following the rules.
You stand as much chance as your homeowner paying the bills for your accident as there is that your auto insurance would cover your house burning down.
If that's not plain enough, NO.
Which ever of you was at fault in the accident owes the other for all damages.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
That’s my 2nd cousin! We’re all watching you, we’re all proud.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:02 am
The more available you are to potential customers, the more likely you will get to quote them. I know that when I am attempting to buy something, I partly base my decision on how easy it is to get ahold of someone.
September 7th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I have to say, I support the insurance company on this one. They have to manage risk, and part of that risk the dogs people own. Unfortunately, there are quite a few really bad pit owners out there. Don't blame the insurance company, blame the irresponsible owners.
Besides, to make a comparison- a regular doc's malpractice insurance is about a fraction of what it is for a ob- have you ever wondered why there seem to be a larger number of docs getting OUT of the baby business? Used to, all gyns did OB, now, that number keeps dropping. Mostly because they can't afford to pay the insurance AND deliver babies. Are the insurance companies discrminiating against OB's?
September 7th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
tammy was my english teacher! I miss you!
September 8th, 2009 at 12:55 am
Hey Tammy’s my sister in law!! Way to go Chris!
September 7th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Yes very much so. Certain breed's of dogs will void a home owners insurance policy. This is based usually on vicious breeds who tend to generage alot of liability claims. It states this clearly in your policy. If your friends looks at her HO3 policy she will see which specific breeds will cancel her policy. Also many HO3 policies place exclusions against trampolines & swimming pools.
If she chooses to keep the dog – she will have to go through an excess/surplus company to get her homeowners insurance. She will pay about 3x the amount she was paying prior. Its up to her if the dog is worth keeping.