- May 4, 2017

Savings Tips for Property Insurance

Commercial Property Insurance is one of the building blocks of your business protection plan, primarily if you work in an industry with specialty equipment, product inventory, or valuable items (such as computers, electronics, and media devices). And if you own your commercial premises, you have even more incentive to protect your investment with adequate coverage.

But how do you find a business Property policy that fits your needs and budget? Here are some tips for finding an affordable plan:

Some restoration contractors may think their other policies cover their business essentials. But they may not realize how limited Landlord, Renter’s, and Homeowner’s Insurance are regarding business protection. For stance, if you rent commercial property from a landlord, don’t assume that Landlord’s Insurance covers your equipment, furnishings, or products. This policy only covers the rental property and specific structures, such as a deck, garage, or shed. That means all your commercial gear is still exposed if you don’t have coverage for the building’s contents.
Neither Renter’s nor Homeowner’s Insurance can fill this gap. The e only covers personal property, and both typically have exclusions for items used for business. This is especially worth noting if you run a home-based business. Witfind out the appropriate riders to your Homeowner’s policy, you may expose yourself to potential losses.

The answer to these coverage gaps is a Commercial Property Insurance policy. If you don’t own your building and only need to cover its contents (e.g., fixtures, furniture, office equipment, supplies, and inventory), you could save money on your policy by only purchasing building contents or equipment insurance.

Depending on your policy’s stated limits, Property Insurance can pay for…

Repairs to your building (e.g., drywall or roof repair).
Replacing your equipment (e.g., refrigerators, computers, copiers, printers, etc.).
Replacing furnishings and fixtures (e.g., carpets and lighting).
Replacing your inventory (e.g., products you sell).

Understand the Difference Between Replacement-Value or Actual Cash-Value Coverage

You can usually insure your property at its replacement or actual cash value (ACV). The option you decide will affect the premiums you pay for your Property Insurance. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed decision:

Replacement-Value Benefits

Suppose you choose a policy with “replacement-value” coverage. In that case, your provider will compensate you with enough money to replace your insured items with brand-new pieces in case of a covered property claim. This option typically comes with a higher premium because you receive enough compensation to buy new things. However, it’s an option that’s worth exploring if:

You have hard-to-replace / specialty / expensive equipment.
You have a lot of high-tech gear (as these items depreciate quickly).
You have the inventory you need to protect.
You want to replace your damaged items quickly.

Replacement-value coverage will pay with “like kind or quality” up to the stated limit in your policy. So if, for example, your office building had carpeting, the procedure isn’t going to replace the damaged carpet with imported Italian tile.

Actual Cash-Value Benefits

Suppose you choose a policy with “actual cash value” coverage. In that case, you’ll receive compensation that equals the depreciated value of the damaged asset (depreciation is the loss in value of the property due to time, wear, and tear). If you can easily find used replacements for your business items, you may want to choose this coverage to reduce your premium costs.

Know the Real Value of your Property

Say a thief nabs your company laptop. Your first instinct may be to consider the event an expensive nuisance. No one likes shelling out new money to replace the equipment, but you could ostensibly do it. But what if you found out the ordeal could potentially bankrupt your business – especially if you have sensitive information housed on your stolen device?

According to a Ponemon Institute and Intel study that examined 138 lost laptops, businesses spend an average of $49,246 when a computer is lost or stolen. In outlier cases, the number climbed to as high as $975,527.

These costs aren’t about the replacement value of the device. Instead, they reflect the loss of the information contained in them. It’s all the more reason to ensure your property is adequately protected.

Reduce Your Business Property Insurance Rates by Managing Property Risks

Another way to save money on your Property policy is to implement a solid risk management strategy. Some insurance providers offer discounts if you try to reduce your risk exposures. Some cost-saving preventative measures may include: