Home Insurance Articles
The Function Of Emergency Services In Home Insurance Quotes
2010-09-01
One of the most important things that any homeowner must consider is their home's distance from an emergency services provider. Just how long will it take first responders to get to the scene should an emergency arise? In the case of a break-in or fire, minutes could be crucial to either preventing damage or catching a criminal, and the more time that a fire truck, police car or ambulance has to spend on route to a home, the greater the possibility of damage to the structure itself or injury to someone inside. For that reason, home insurance providers take the distance and the function of emergency services very seriously when it comes to creating home insurance quotes.
Most importantly, an insurance company will look at just how far away the nearest emergency service stations are as well as where things like fire hydrants and light standards are located in the neighborhood. A provider will likely ask a new client the distance from their house to the police or fire station in terms of miles, and will often provide a list of choices - 5-10, 10-15, etc. Most homeowners do not know the exact distance to their nearest fire house or paramedic location and will estimate. This is typically not a problem until a claim is filed. If a company can show that a homeowner misled the business into believing that services were located closer than they actually are, the company may be able to get out of paying for a certain amount of damages. It is essential to be accurate about what services are in the area and how far they are from a home.
It is also possible that insurance companies will contact emergency personnel that were on scene during a fire or theft to determine if what a homeowner said was stolen or destroyed is consistent with findings made at the home. While emergency departments cannot share specifics with an insurance company, even a shred of doubt may make the claims process with a home insurance provider far longer and drawn out than it needs to be. While nothing can be done to prevent the insurance company checking up on its investment, simply be aware that it will occur and be upfront and honest about any and all losses.
Emergency services play a crucial role in keeping a home and its occupants safe, and their proximity to a home can have a direct effect on the amount that a homeowner pays per month in premiums. These same services can also act as evidence for a company should a homeowner choose to be dishonest about the value or type of their possessions.