Renter’s insurance helps take the pain out of a disaster

By Amber Lester   amber@rocktownmail.com Living alone for the first time can be scary. You’re expected to kill the spiders. It’s up to you to take out the stinky trash. And scariest of all, if lightning strikes your apartment and you lose everything, your landlord doesn’t pay for your property. First-time renters often find out the hard way that when disaster strikes, a landlord’s insurance only covers the building — not your possessions. When Harrisonburg Fire Marshal Arthur Miller speaks to renters who lose everything in a fire, he often hears the same thing: “I don’t have renter’s insurance.” “It’s rare to find that someone has renter’s insurance,” he says. “One thing we’ve tried to do in our locality is make sure people understand how incredibly cheap it is. It’s like, $200 a year for $20,000 in coverage.” Renter’s insurance covers damages from accidental and natural disasters. It also protects against liability lawsuits in the event of injury to another person or damage to another person’s property, according to the Web site for State Farm. The price varies by company, how much coverage you buy and the deductibles. Renter’s insurance covers personal property kept in your home and property you carry while traveling. Your property can be covered for losses caused by anything from lightning to airplane crashes to riots. The insurance also covers additional living expenses, according to State Farm. The money typically spent on food, shelter and other items is supplied for up to 24 months. Renter’s insurance does not cover damages caused by flood, earthquakes or landslides, and nuclear hazard. Property that cannot be replaced is also only covered for its market value. As with any insurance, policies will vary for each renter. The most important step to replacing your lost items, according to Miller, is taking an inventory of belongings. Renters should document purchase dates, serial numbers, and appraisals, along with a picture of every item. When finished, keep the inventory in a safe place away from the home. Miller emphasizes documenting every item, not just the more expensive tools and gadgets. “In the event of a catastrophic loss, there is nothing left,” he says. “The only thing left is what you remember having. Most kids remember their computer and their iPod, but forget the rest.” Fire Prevention Officer Wanda Willis presents information at local apartment complexes about using caution when partying, but says that many apartment fires are brush fires. “A lot of people put their cigarettes out in the mulch out front and then that fire just goes right up to the apartment,” she says. When she did a presentation at the Hunter’s Ridge complex where a fire occurred last year, several students told her they had recently stomped out brush fires. “In a dry season, we’re finding there will be a lot of apartment fires,” she says. “It’s the biggest problem we encounter with off-campus housing.” Alex Adjei, Off-Campus Life education coordinator at JMU, says he reminds students that renter’s insurance is necessary for more than the occasional brush fire. “The main thing that comes up is fire,” he says. “But we tell them it’s more than fire. You need renter’s insurance for theft, windstorms, hail, smoke damage. You need additional coverage for floods.” Adjei says most students are curious about what coverage renter’s insurance offers, but many don’t realize its importance. “It is necessary to be protected for the things that are mentioned,” he says. “They are most concerned about finding a place to live, and they think, ‘If I find a place to live, everything will be taken care of.’ ” So far, Adjei’s students have been lucky. “We haven’t really had an incident where everything was lost,” he says. “But we want to make them aware that this is something that is needed.” In case of a disaster on or off campus, students should have their parents check their homeowner’s policies, which provide coverage for their property, Adjei says. This month, Off-Campus Living will hold informational sessions in the residence halls to help students make educated decisions. “We think it [renter’s insurance] is necessary and that’s why we include that information in other things that we tell them before they live off campus,” he adds. Miller emphasizes that renter’s insurance is a wise investment for people living on their own for the first time. “In many cases people who are out on the first time are prone to those mistakes that adults learn from over time,” he says. “It’s some of the best money you’ll ever spend for your personal belongings.”

Amber Lester