Berkeley CA Insurance

Berkeley CA Insurance

Berkeley, California is hailed across the world as a vibrant city full of arts, culture, and acceptance. Permanent residents, college students, and tourists alike all enjoy the superb features that the city has to offer. While Berkeley is without a doubt a wonderful place to call home, homeowners must be aware of the special insurance issues that are unique to the area, in order to best protect their home and all of their possessions.

First and foremost, homeowners in the Berkeley, California area should have an earthquake endorsement as part of their homeowners insurance policy. While many homes in Berkeley are built to the highest earthquake safety standards, these features alone will not necessarily prevent damage in the case of a large or particularly intense earthquake, and having an earthquake policy will provide financial protection if damage does occur. Homeowners should be aware that earthquake coverage is not automatically offered with a standard homeowners policy, so they must ask for the endorsement specifically. To ensure that the endorsement provides enough coverage for the value of the home and its contents, homeowners should reevaluate their needs every other year.

Berkeley is not necessarily considered to be at a high risk for floods, but there have been several notable floods in the past. Homeowners should be aware that flood insurance is also not included in a typical homeowners policy, and must be purchased through one of two sources. Policies can be obtained through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which provides government subsidized policies; or through a private insurance agency, which may offer a private program like the National Catastrophe Flood Insurance Program (NCIP).

Landslides are another issue that faces Berkeley, California homeowners and should be addressed. These natural disasters are rarely, if ever, covered under a traditional homeowner’s policy. Homeowners who are at any risk of being affected by a landslide should discuss coverage with their insurance agent. Some flood and earthquake policies may cover damage caused by a landslide, if it was determined that the flood or quake was responsible for the landslide, but again, discussing the situation with an insurance agent will take the “guess work” out of searching for and purchasing the right kind of coverage.

Lastly, homeowners in Berkeley, California should consider whether or not they need coverage for damage caused by wildfires. Wildfires are a very real threat to the Berkeley area, and while some standard homeowner’s policies will cover this type of damage, many others may not. In some cases, an insurance agency may not insure a home at all if it is too close to an area at high risk for wildfires. If there are any questions surrounding policy coverage, the policy should be reviewed with an agent and changes made accordingly.

There are many wonderful features that make Berkeley, California a wonderful place to call home. With a little preparation in regards to choosing the right types and amounts of coverage, any number of insurance policies can be found to meet the unique needs of homeowners in Berkeley, California.

All information is general in nature and is intended to provide guidance only. It is up to you to request specific coverage options, the agency and agent do not bear this responsibility. Always read the policy if there is a questions about coverage or a claim. If any information herein should conflict with your actual policy’s specific language, the policy language will be controlling.