Whether you just bought a home or are a current La Mesa homeowner, you may want to make sure you understand what is and what isn’t covered in your policy. All policies are different, but here are a few points that are typically NOT covered.
1. Home renovations
A lot of La Mesa homeowners don't realize they need to take out a specific renovation policy if they're doing major work, even if the contractor has a builder's risk policy.
The builder’s insurance only covers what is ‘new’ not what ‘already exists’.
It's OK if you're just doing cosmetic updates; but if you're taking the roof off, that's more than a standard homeowners policy is designed to protect.
If you’re tearing most of the home down to renovate, you are liable if someone wanders onto the lot and gets hurt. Say, if the neighbor’s annoying kids play in the lot and get injured. That’s on you….
2. Earthquake damage
If you live on a major fault line, it's probably wise to invest in earthquake insurance since it's not usually included in homeowner’s coverage—even in the places that need it the most, like La Mesa California for example. If we get a REAL shaker and you have any kind of damage to the home, it’s not covered. Just hope you home doesn’t get swallowed up by the Earth.
3. Slow leaks
Damaged caused by slow leaks—technically ‘seepage and leakage’—can be denied coverage. Water damage has to be ‘sudden and accidental.’
What if you doing a little DIY project in the home and you bumped a water pipe connection and didn’t realize it started to drip in some area of the house that doesn’t get much attention. 5 months later you notice that the floor boards are all warped. Not covered.
4. Sewer and drain backups
If the sewer backs up and fills your house with raw sewage, you might have to clean up the mess yourself—and on your own dime.
Here in La Mesa we don’t get much rain, but when we do sometimes it comes down in buckets. Our sewer system isn’t the best at channeling water. I see backups on the street all the time from debris.
5. Meth labs that you had no idea were there
If your rental property has unsavory tenants who created a Meth Lab you could be in trouble. When they blow the place up, it’s not covered due to the exclusion for illegal activity and pollution exposure.
6. Smell damage
Smells that stick around your home and possessions aren't covered by most policies.
If the ‘newest and greatest’ BBQ joint opens up shop right next door to you, you might have some problems. That smoke they use can really be potent. Smoking a brisket smells fantastic, but 5 straight days of it is annoying. Now your clothes, couch and mattress smell like a campfire.
CHECK YOUR POLICY! $$$
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