By Liz Pulliam Weston
After each natural disaster, too many people discover an awful truth: They don't have enough insurance to rebuild their homes.
Nationwide, 68% of homeowners are underinsured. That means someone whose house cost $200,000 to replace would find herself short by $36,000. Bach recommends Accucoverage, an MSB site that charges $7.95
Source: MSN Money
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourHome/IsYourHomeUnderInsured8KeyTests.aspx?page=all
By Mark Walker
One year after devastating wildfires destroyed 1,046 homes in unincorporated San Diego County, only 88 have been rebuilt, mirroring a trend seen in the wake of the 2003 conflagrations.
Source: North County Times
http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2008/10/21/news/sandiego/zb82b842670650748882574e10057a9c5.txt
By Terri Cullen
Accucoverage.com can help you determine the replacement cost of your home as you update your information. Give your life insurance policies a second look if ...
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/homes-insured-enough/story.aspx?guid=%7B2297E29F-1D7F-4C73-8332-9D3A17279FBD%7D
By Alison St John
A group of families who lost their homes in last year’s fires but have still not reached a settlement with their insurance companies. They ‘re calling on California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner to push for legislation to reduce the problem of underinsurance.
Source: KPBS Radio
http://www.kpbs.org/news/local;id=13045
By Associated Press
2,000 people, primarily in Galveston and East Texas, are expected to move into federal government-supplied mobile homes while they rebuild from Ike, the Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday in its online edition.
Source: Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6073780.html
MSB's AccuCoverage, the consumers’ on-line resource for calculating insurable value of their homes, was named a "top site" for consumers
Source: Kiplinger's Personal Finance
http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2006/11/bestinsurance.html
By Nedalee Thomas-Ruiz
Ask an insurance agent, a mortgage broker, and a realtor "How much insurance should I have on my new home?" I will guarantee you will get three different answers. The mortgage broker might say the loan amount, the realtor might say the market value, and the insurance agent, if he or she is doing their job correctly, will say the replacement cost of the home. So who's correct?
Source: Nedalee Thomas-Ruiz
http://dynamiteruesults.blogspot.com/2008/03/insuring-home-properly.html
By Gerri Willis
After Hurricane Katrina, many homeowners in the Gulf region are learning the hard way that their homes were underinsured.
Source: CNN/Money
http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/22/pf/saving/willis_tips/
By Vanessa Richardson
Hurricanes serve as reminder to check policy limits, rebuilding costs
Source: MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9410763/
By Kate Ashford
Magazine staff reporter 4 questions to ask: Make sure you're prepared for any disaster. What would it cost to rebuild? Likely more than you're insured for, even if you have an inflation rider. A local builder might give you an idea, but the Web will do the job as well: You can fill in your home's location, square footage, the year it was built and so on -- and get a construction estimate for $7.95 -- at accucoverage.com and insuretovalue.net.
Source: CNN Money.com
http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/13/pf/insurance/insurance_money_0602/
THE HEARTBREAKING PHOTOS of underwater neighborhoods in New Orleans pose a wrenching question for every homeowner in America. If your house were destroyed, would your insurance pay enough to rebuild it? Never mind the thorny issue of flood insurance. This question is more basic: Is your home simply underinsured?
Source: Kiplinger Retirement Report (online and print)
http://www.kiplinger.com/retirementreport/features/Cover_Oct2005_01.html
By Jillian Mincer
The destruction on the Gulf Coast has persuaded many consumers to update their homeowners insurance -- something everyone should do regularly. But many find their homeowners insurance may be inadequate in a disaster.
Source: RealEstateJournal.com (The Wall Street Journal Guide to Property)
http://www.realestatejournal.com/buysell/taxesandinsurance/20050916-mincer.html
By M.P. DunLeavey
Updating a home insurance policy is one of those chores that many people secretly hope the insurance elves will handle. At least I did…
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/13/business/13instincts.html
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many homeowners in Louisiana and the Gulf region are finding out the hard way that their homes are underinsured and often covered by the wrong kind of policies. Financial adviser Ray Martin takes on a painful topic in his regular appearance on The Early Show.
Source: CBS News
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/31/earlyshow/contributors/raymartin/main808188.shtml
Marshall & Swift/Boeckh launched a new online tool to help people determine how much insurance they need to cover replacement costs, in the event their home is damaged.
Source: The Business Journal Phoenix
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2005/08/08/daily42.html
By Jason Stein
When a tornado ripped off the ground floor of Wayne Weis' ranch home near Stoughton, in seconds the small business owner lost his house, home office, cars, even a golf cart.
Source: Wisconsin State Journal
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/index.php?ntid=52055&ntpid=1
What's your biggest investment? It's probably your home. But, most of us fall short when it comes to insurance. In fact, a new survey shows nearly 60% of American homes remain underinsured by an average of 22%!
Source: CBS2Chicago
http://cbs2chicago.com/consumer/local_story_234155231.html
Now is the time for consumers living in states threatened by hurricanes or their aftermath to ensure that their homeowners' insurance policies provide sufficient coverage. The American Insurance Association (AIA) has developed a brochure for consumers to use in conducting an annual insurance check-up.
Source: Insurance Journal
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2005/09/09/59335.htm
By Michael Finney
For most people, your biggest investment is probably your home. Yet most don't really have adequate insurance in case of a disaster like a hurricane or earthquake.
Source: ABC News
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=7on_your_side&id=3422734