A Quick Guide To Home Insurance Terms And Jargon

By Amanda Fain

Listening to an expert talk about anything can be incredibly daunting and baffling these days. There are specialist terms for everything in the financial industry, even for the most simple of things, and that routinely means that a consumer rarely understands exactly what he or she is signing or getting into. This is unfair because most jargon could easily be phrased in layman’s terms for everybody to understand. However, help is now at hand with homeowners insurance explained below. With this jargon buster, you’ll beat the home insurance companies by understanding every word they say:

1. Accidental damage – Visible or internal damage to property that home insurance companies deem to be created accidentally. For example, ripping sofa upholstery is covered, but pet damage is not.

2. Buildings – A policy offered by home insurance companies that covers the structure and fittings of your house, any outbuildings, swimming pools and so on.

3. Claim – A claim is made when you report lost, stolen or damaged items and seek a settlement in order to replace them.

4. Condition – The part of the policy printed by the home insurance companies that stipulates the rules that have to be adhered to in order for you to keep the policy in force.

5. Contents – A policy that covers your belongings and non-structural property against loss, theft and damage.

6. Excess – The amount of money that you will need to cover in order to make a successful claim from the home insurance companies.

7. Exclusion – All home insurance companies will specify property and occurrences that a policyholder cannot claim on. These are the exclusions.

8. High-risk items – Belongings that are of a high monetary value and are more likely to get stolen. This includes televisions, jewellery, art, computers and so on.

9. Household – Home insurance companies define household as everyone living under the one roof, from adults to children to pets.

10. Liability – Accepting liability is taking responsibility for damage to your or someone else’s person or property.

11. Loss Adjuster – This is an individual employed on an independent basis by a home insurance company to assess a claim and determine the amount that will settle it. He or she will negotiate with both the home insurance company and the policyholder who has claimed.

12. Sum Insured – This is the figure or amount that your property is actually insured for. However, if there are limits imposed by the home insurance companies, it is also the maximum that will be paid out for each individual claim.

13. Underwriter – This is the individual or individuals within the home insurance companies that actively assess your application against the risk they would be taking by insuring you. That assessment is then how much your premium, or payment for cover, will be.

14. Unoccupied – This is a term used to describe your home if is left standing empty for more than 30 consecutive days out of the year.

I hope this is effectively home insurance explained! There is more jargon involved, but these are the main terms that home insurance companies will discuss with you. Now you will know exactly what they mean! For more info see http://www.homeowners-insurance-help.com/Home_Insurance_Adjusters/

About the Author: You can also find more information at Home Insurance Quote Online and Home Owner Flood Insurance.