Occasionally they get this bad information from insurance agents themselves! (It’s true!)

Other times it’s a lack of knowledge or understanding about what is, and more importantly what is not covered by insurance.

Personally I have been in the insurance business for more than 20 years. I have worked with a number of agents who were more salesmen versus a knowledge based professional insurance agent, so the question that you need to consider is this:

Is my personal insurance agent merely a good salesman/saleswoman, or is he/she a professional knowledgeable insurance agent who has keen insight and experienced in insurance matters?

That’s a very important question for you to consider because it could mean the difference between complete financial ruin and being made whole again if you have a devastating loss.

To give you an example a few years ago a gentleman by the name of Tom was referred to us for a home insurance quote.

In the process of preparing the home quotes we completed a replacement cost analysis to determine how much coverage he would need to replace his home in the event of a devastating loss.  We discovered that he was underinsured by more than $90,000.  I asked Tom how he arrived at his coverage amount?

He told me that his insurance agent recomended that he insure his home for what he paid for it.  

By the way that’s almost always wrong advice when an insurance agent tells you to insure your building for what you paid for it if you wish to properly cover your home.

I then explained to Tom why he was underinsured and why he needed to increase his coverage immediately without any delay.

Tom is a pretty smart guy so after listening to my explanation he agreed that it would be best to increase his coverage immediately.  Less than six months later his home was completely destroyed in a devastating house fire.

Tom was able to get his house back because we discovered a problem with his coverage and offered an immediate solution. 

The advice Tom was given by that other local insurance agent in Cincinnati would have put Tom and his family in a huge financial quagmire.  So as you can see it’s very important for you to understand whether your agent is merely a good salesman/saleswoman or they are a knowledgeable professional insurance agent who offers advice and not just a price. ™

While it is true that no agency or individual agent is perfect, we firmly believe here at Pathway Insurance that educating our Cincinnati clients is more important than a cheap insurance price with no advice.™

That is why on our web site we have a substantial base of articles that are educational in nature about insurance matters.  If truth be told you will not find one single insurance agency in this area who has invested the time or financial resources to make such a library available to even those who are not clients of our agency! (In fact this article base is so extensive we may be the first agency in the entire United States that has compiled it in such a way)

Would it not be better for you to have your insurance needs cared for by an agency who believe more in education verses selling insurance policies?

Why not take the time to consider allowing our local Cincinnati-based insurance agency to care for your insurance needs?  Click Here to start that process. Or feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net

In addition the inexperienced insurance agent may not counsel or advise you of the exclusions or restrictions that all insurance policies have built into the fine print.  If you were to unwittingly violate a restriction on your policy the insurance company may refuse to pay your claim even if it’s apparent an error occurred by the agent, did you know that?

Please note an additional personal disclaimer in reference to my previous statement: 

You also can’t assume that an agent, agency, or their staff employees with many years working in the insurance business has the needed knowledge and understanding as well.

Why do I make such a statement?

I have personally worked with other local Cincinnati insurance agents in the past having decades of experience in our industry, yet did not have a complete understanding of what their policies covered, or more importantly what the policies did not cover that they sold to unsuspecting customers. (I’m not making this up its completely true) 

Read this true experience on how wrong information given by one veteran insurance agent proved to be 100% false which could have led our client (if he followed that advice) to make a very unwise insurance decision.

While it is true that no agency or individual agent is perfect, Pathway Insurance is firmly committed to publicizing enlightening information for our Cincinnati clients.  We believe that good old fashion educational guidance is more important than agents who only quote a price and give no advice. ™

The various articles available on our web site demonstrate how much we are interested in educating even those whom we have no business relationship with.  Insurance is an important aspect of our financial well being, but it’s also a very complicated financial instrument. Never assume something is covered, take time to read and understand your insurance policies and work with a professional experienced independent agency who takes time to break down insurance in a way that is clear and easy to understand.

Insurance is complicated, we make it simple. ™

Why not take the time to consider allowing our local Cincinnati-based insurance agency to care for your insurance needs?  Click Here to start that process. Or feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net

If your insurance agent did not invest any time in explaining these coverage scenarios to you, other than “read your policy” why is he/she your insurance agent?

Insurance is no mere commodity like a loaf of bread.  Insurance is a complex contract between you and your insurance company and if you violate a condition of your contract the insurance company may very well refuse to pay your claim. 

The most obvious reason why insurance companies can refuse to pay claims is when you are committing insurance fraud by turning in a claim that is based on deception.

Do you know the 230 additional reasons  why your insurance company can legally refuse to pay your claim?

Notice four additional reasons why your insurance company may refuse to pay a claim:

A son or daughter no longer is a member of your household but remains on your car insurance policy.

You use your vehicle to deliver pizzas.

You conceal information from your insurance company.

You give permission for someone to drive your vehicle whom has a suspended driver’s license.

There are 225 other reasons why your insurance company might refuse to pay your claim and it’s not because they are trying to cheat you.  If your claim was turned down it’s because you violated the terms and conditions of your policy.

As I have emphasized in many articles on this web site.  There are many restrictions of coverage on your Cincinnati car and home insurance policies that some unsuspecting insurance buyers may not be aware of until a claim happens and the insurance company doesn’t pay.

If you do not take time to read and understand your insurance policy or if your agent does not take the time to explain the 231 reasons why your insurance company can refuse to pay claims, perhaps you have the wrong insurance agent taking care of your insurance?

Doesn’t it make more sense to purchase your insurance from an agency that takes time to explain the coverage gaps and pitfalls of your insurance policy?

While it is true that no agency or individual agent is perfect, we firmly believe that educating our Cincinnati clients is more important than a cheap insurance price with no advice.™

We are available at any time to discuss individual coverage needs or restrictions of coverage with existing clients of Pathway Insurance or if you are not an existing client of Pathway Insurance why not take the time to consider allowing our local Cincinnati-based insurance agency to care for your insurance needs? 

Click Here to start that process. Or feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net

The underwriter in turn notified our agency that she was canceling his automobile insurance policy. I called our client to enquire if he was using his vehicle for business. He explained that his employer paid him to advertise his business on his personal vehicle.

I explained to our client that his car insurance policy has a specific exclusion for this type of activity and that his policy would be cancelled unless he agreed to remove the advertising, or remove the vehicle from his policy and a commercial auto insurance policy be purchased to cover this vehicle.

Initially he seemed reluctant so he spoke with a co-worker who also happened (coincidentally) to be insured with the same company as our client and also displayed advertising on his personal vehicle.  

The co- worker in turn calls his insurance agent because he was concerned that he didn’t have the proper coverage after my conversation with our client.

Incredibly the co-workers insurance agent told him that as long as he had business usage added to his policy he would be okay to use his vehicle for business and that it did not matter that advertisements were plastered all over his vehicle. 

Additionally this agent stated that our agency was giving out wrong information. 

Naturally our client calls back because he’s getting conflicting information. His question specifically to me is why it is not ok with your agency for me to use my truck for business, but ok with another agency?  (A great question!)

I explained that under no circumstances would coverage apply under your personal auto policy in the manner in which you are using your vehicle, and to prove this to him I connected us directly with the insurance company so that he could hear this directly from a company representative.

The insurance underwriter explained to my client that under no circumstances would his insurance company pay a claim if you were involved in an accident using your vehicle in the manner in which you are using it and that is why the claims adjuster notified us so your policy would be cancelled. The underwriter told him directly that he needs to purchase a commercial auto policy.

Our client again speaks with his co-worker, explaining that he had talked to the company underwriter and that it’s pretty obvious by this time who is providing the correct information and who is not.

The co-worker calls the agent back and unbelievably this agent continued to insist that coverage would extend. (How stupid can an insurance agent be?)

If you have ever watched the Jim Carrey movie Dumb and Dumber this insurance agent would be a good stand in.  It’s somewhat like the scene from the movie when Jim Carrey’s character’s best friend Harry wonders whether or not his tongue would stick to a metal pole in the dead of winter.  So naturally he licks the pole and his tongue is firmly stuck to the chairlift pole! He struggles mightily to get his tongue unstuck and after great effort and a whole lot of obvious pain his tongue is released.  It was an absolutely hilarious scene.

Do you have to do something really stupid to find out if it’s stupid? 

The bottom line is that you can’t assume your agent, whether new in the business or a seasoned “veteran” knows their “stuff.”  Insurance agents on a regular basis give out wrong information to their clients that may get them into trouble financially.  

When clients bring lawsuits against insurance agents for bad advice the courts have often sided with the insurance agents under the premise that the client should have read their policy to understand what is covered or more importantly what is not covered.

While it is true that no agency or individual agent is perfect, we firmly believe that educating our Cincinnati clients is more important than a cheap insurance price with no advice.™

We are available at any time to discuss individual coverage needs or restrictions of coverage with existing clients of Pathway Insurance or if you are not an existing client of Pathway Insurance why not take the time to consider allowing our local Cincinnati-based insurance agency to care for your insurance needs? 

Click Here to start that process. Or feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net

The insurance industry is not unlike other industries when it comes to employee turnover. It happens, some people with the best intentions want to become an insurance agent and find out six to twelve months later this is not what they want to be doing as a career and they quit. (Or they get fired because they could not sell enough insurance policies to survive.)

Why is that bad for you as the insurance buyer in Cincinnati? And more importantly why is it important to choose an insurance professional with years of industry experience to care for your insurance needs?

Because of the constant, nonstop advertising we see from companies like GEICO, Progressive Direct, Safeauto, Esurance, Allstate and Nationwide insurance in Cincinnati.  Insurance shoppers in Cincinnati have been programmed or trained to think that the price you pay for your insurance is the most important factor that you should take into consideration when making a buying decision for your insurance needs.

The price you pay for your insurance should only be one factor in your decision making process.

Insurance policies come in a variety of different features, benefits, and coverage enhancements. Insurance policies are extremely complicated financial contracts that sometimes require interpretation from the judicial system (by means of a lawsuit) for understanding.

For instance, if you choose the wrong coverage amount or options you may cause yourself some serious financial harm if you have a claim.  In addition you could violate a coverage restriction on your policy and find yourself (after the claim happens) having absolutely no coverage for something you thought you were covered for.

An insurance agent who is new to the business is not likely to have the knowledge, understanding, or experience to be able to provide real-world practical advice.  Insurance policies are extremely complicated financial contracts between you and the insurance company.  The insurance company will only pay up to what the contract allows for.  They will not modify the restrictions of coverage if you violate terms of your contract even if you did so innocently.    (Read about the 231 ways your insurance company can legally refuse to pay your car insurance claim)

Probably the most important question you need to ask someone before you buy a policy with them is this:

1. How many years of experience do you have offering insurance in my area?

If you were to purchase insurance from an agent with limited experience how can you be absolutely sure what they are telling you is accurate?  How can you be sure they even know what they are selling you?  

Insurance policies are very complicated financial contracts as I mentioned previously so it’s important you choose an agency where knowledge and understanding of policy language is more important than the price you pay for the insurance.  

Would you not feel more comfortable working with an agency that has broad experience in insurance matters, or would you prefer to leave your financial interests with an agent or company who is limited in experience?

While it is true that no agency or individual agent is perfect, we firmly believe here at Pathway Insurance that educating our Cincinnati clients is more important than a cheap insurance price with no advice.™

Why not take the time to consider allowing our local Cincinnati-based insurance agency to care for your insurance needs?  Click Here to start that process. Or feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net

Just for clarification, you probably do not want to assume that if you are working with an agent or agency that has many years of experience that they are an expert on insurance matters.  I will discuss that in our next article.

We all want to pay a fair price on our insurance, but even more importantly we want our claim settled properly without any hassle, isn’t that true?

Because there are so many insurance companies doing business in the Cincinnati area it might be a difficult decision for us to choose which company we want to care for our insurance needs.  Often that decision is based purely on the price we pay for the insurance. 

Why is that such a bad thing?  What’s wrong with insisting we pay the lowest price on car insurance in Cincinnati?

Keep this in mind if you believe the price you pay for your insurance is the only factor you need consider when choosing an agent or company to care for your insurance needs:

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Some agents and or companies are here today and gone tomorrow. If you always insist on paying the lowest insurance rates in Cincinnati eventually you might come to learn (probably the hard way) that it’s better to invest a little more money in the beginning with a good local insurance agency, who will provide you outstanding claims service and advice verses, saving a few dollars here and there. 

Don’t misunderstand my comments. Pathway Insurance has available exceptionally low insurance rates in Cincinnati as our agency has been serving the needs of thousands of clients in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana for many years.

However the most important thing we offer clients is the best claims assistance guarantee of any agency operating in the Tri-State area. (See why that’s important by reading this article.)

If you have not had an opportunity to receive a new quote from our agency, our online quote engine will generate quotes from some of the top insurance companies doing business in Cincinnati in 5 minutes or less, Click Here

If you have already obtained insurance quotes why not give our agency a chance to care for your insurance needs? 

We are positive that you will not be disappointed. Give us a try for the first 6 months, if you are not satisfied you can always go back to your former company isn’t that true?  Please feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net

If you need a rate quote for your Cincinnati rental properties Click here or feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net

We do not cover loss resulting directly or indirectly by any of the following under any Section I – Property Protection coverages. Such loss is excluded regardless of any other cause or event contributing concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.

1. Enforcement of any ordinance or law regulating the construction, repair or demolition of a building or other structure, unless specifically provided under this policy. We do cover loss caused by actions of civil authorities to prevent the spread of a fire caused by a Peril We Insure Against.

2. Earthquake or other earth movement including loss caused by, contributed to or aggravated by landslide, mine subsidence, mudflow, earth sinking, rising or shifting.

 3. Water damage, meaning:

a. flood, surface water, waves, tidal water or overflow of a body of water. We do not cover spray from any of these, whether or not driven by wind;

b. water or water-borne material which backs up through sewers or drains or which overflows or is discharged from a sump, sump pump or related equipment; or

c. water or water-borne material below the surface of the ground. This includes water which exerts pressure on or flows, seeps or leaks through any part of a building or other structure, sidewalk, driveway, foundation or swimming pool; caused by or resulting from human or animal forces or any act of nature.

We do cover direct loss that follows, caused by fire or explosion.

4. Failure or interruption of power or other utility service which occurs away from the insured premises. We will pay for loss caused solely by a Peril We Insure Against that ensues at the insured premises.

5. Neglect of an insured to use all reasonable means to protect covered property at and after the time of loss, or when property is endangered by a Peril We Insured Against under Section I – Property Protection.

6. War (declared or undeclared), civil war, insurrection, rebellion, revolution, warlike act by a military force or military personnel, destruction or seizure or use for a military purpose, and including any consequence of any of these. Discharge of a nuclear weapon will be deemed a warlike act even if accidental.

7. Nuclear action, meaning nuclear reaction, radiation, radioactive contamination or discharge of a nuclear weapon even if accidental, or any consequence of any of these. Loss caused by nuclear action is not considered loss by perils of Fire or Explosion. Direct loss by fire resulting from nuclear action is covered.

8. Intentional acts, meaning loss resulting from an action by or at the direction of any insured, committed with the intent to cause a loss, or where the results of such action are reasonably foreseeable and cause a loss. Intentional acts include criminal acts. In the event of such loss, no insured is entitled to coverage, even an insured who did not commit or conspire to commit the act causing the loss.

9. a. Any actual or alleged failure, malfunction or inadequacy of:

(1) any of the following, whether belonging to any insured or to others;

(a) computer hardware, including microprocessors;

(b) computer application software;

(c) computer operating systems and related software;

(d) computer networks;

(e) microprocessors (computer chips) not part of any computer system;

(f) any other computerized or electronic equipment or components; or

(2) any other products, and any services, data or functions that directly or indirectly use or rely upon, in any manner, any of the items listed in 9. a. (1) (a) through 9. a. (1) (f) of this exclusion:

Due to the inability to correctly recognize, process, distinguish, interpret or accept one or more dates or times.

b. Any advice, consultation, design, evaluation, inspection, installation, maintenance, repair, replacement or supervision provided or done by you or for you to determine, rectify or test for, any potential or actual problems described in 9. a. (1) (a) through (f), and 9. a. (2) of this exclusion.

If an excluded cause of loss as described in 9. a. (1) (a) through (f), and 9. a. (2) of this exclusion results in a Peril We Insure Against we will pay only for the loss or damage caused by the described peril.

We will not pay for repair, replacement or modification of any items, described in 9. a (1) (a) through (f), and 9. a. (2) of this exclusion, to correct any deficiencies or change any features.

10. Fungi, wet or dry rot, or bacteria.

11. Damage to or loss of use of property resulting from the entire process of a volcanic eruption. This includes, but is not limited to, eruption of a volcano, earth movement resulting from the eruption process, or discharge, dispersal or accumulation of lava, rock, soot, ash or any other material from a volcano.

12. An intentionally set fire if the dwelling has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days immediately preceding the loss. A building under construction is not considered vacant.

13. Mismatch of color between undamaged material and new material used to replace faded, weathered or oxidized damaged material.

14. Mismatch between undamaged material and new material used to repair or replace damaged material due to outdated, obsolete or discontinued products.

Additionally do not assume that each DF-3 policy is identical to other companies DF-3 policy form. (READ YOUR INDIVIDUAL POLICY for your company’s specific exclusions, and terms and conditions.)  

If you need a rate quote for your Cincinnati apartment building or single family rental unit Click here or feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net

Let’s review typical DF-3 policy form exclusions of coverage for Cincinnati landlords.

We do not cover loss resulting directly or indirectly by any of the following under any Section I – Property Protection coverages. Such loss is excluded regardless of any other cause or event contributing concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.

1. Enforcement of any ordinance or law regulating the construction, repair or demolition of a building or other structure, unless specifically provided under this policy. We do cover loss caused by actions of civil authorities to prevent the spread of a fire caused by a Peril We Insure Against.

2. Earthquake or other earth movement including loss caused by, contributed to or aggravated by landslide, mine subsidence, mudflow, earth sinking, rising or shifting.

3. Water damage, meaning:

a. flood, surface water, waves, tidal water or overflow of a body of water. We do not cover spray from any of these, whether or not driven by wind;

b. water or water-borne material which backs up through sewers or drains or which overflows or is discharged from a sump, sump pump or related equipment; or

c. water or water-borne material below the surface of the ground. This includes water which exerts pressure on or flows, seeps or leaks through any part of a building or other structure, sidewalk, driveway, foundation or swimming pool; caused by or resulting from human or animal forces or any act of nature. We do cover direct loss that follows, caused by fire or explosion.

4. Failure or interruption of power or other utility service which occurs away from the insured premises. We will pay for loss caused solely by a Peril We Insure Against that ensues at the insured premises.

5. Neglect of an insured to use all reasonable means to protect covered property at and after the time of loss, or when property is endangered by a covered loss under Section I – Property Protection.

6. War (declared or undeclared), civil war, insurrection, rebellion, revolution, warlike act by a military force or military personnel, destruction or seizure or use for a military purpose, and including any consequence of any of these. Discharge of a nuclear weapon will be deemed a warlike act even if accidental.

7. Nuclear action, meaning nuclear reaction, radiation, radioactive contamination or discharge of a nuclear weapon even if accidental, or any consequence of any of these. Loss caused by nuclear action is not considered loss by perils of Fire, Explosion or Smoke. Direct loss by fire resulting from nuclear action is covered.

8. Intentional acts, meaning loss resulting from an action by or at the direction of any insured, committed with the intent to cause a loss, or where the results of such action are reasonably foreseeable and cause a loss. Intentional acts include criminal acts. In the event of such loss, no insured is entitled to coverage, even an insured who did not commit or conspire to commit the act causing the loss.

9. a. Any actual or alleged failure, malfunction or inadequacy of:

(1) any of the following, whether belonging to any insured or to others;

(a) computer hardware, including microprocessors;

(b) computer application software;

(c) computer operating systems and related software;

(d) computer networks;

(e) microprocessors (computer chips) not part of any computer system;

(f) any other computerized or electronic equipment or components; or

(2) any other products, and any services, data or functions that directly or indirectly use or rely upon, in any manner, any of the items listed in 9. a. (1) (a) through 9. a. (1) (f) of this exclusion:

due to the inability to correctly recognize, process, distinguish, interpret or accept one or more dates or times.

b. Any advice, consultation, design, evaluation, inspection, installation, maintenance, repair, replacement or supervision provided or done by you or for you to determine, rectify or test for, any potential or actual problems described in 9. a. (1) (a) through (f), and 9. a. (2) of this exclusion.

If an excluded cause of loss as described in 9. a. (1) (a) through (f), and 9. a. (2) of this exclusion results in a Peril We Insure Against we will pay only for the loss or damage caused by the described peril.

We will not pay for repair, replacement or modification of any items, described in 9. a. (1) (a) through (f), and 9. a. (2) of this exclusion, to correct any deficiencies or change any features.

10. Fungi, wet or dry rot, or bacteria.

11. Damage to or loss of use of property resulting from the entire process of a volcanic eruption. This includes, but is not limited to, eruption of a volcano, earth movement resulting from the eruption process, or discharge, dispersal or accumulation of lava, rock, soot, ash or any other material from a volcano.

12. An intentionally set fire if the dwelling has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days immediately preceding the loss. A building under construction is not considered vacant.

B. In addition to the Section I – Property Protection Exclusions A. 1. through A. 12. above that apply to all Section I coverages, we do not insure for loss to property described in Coverage A – Dwelling and Coverage B – Other Structures caused directly or indirectly by any of the following:

1. a. Wear and tear, marring, or scratching, deterioration;

b. Inherent vice, latent defect, mechanical breakdown;

c. Smog, rust or other corrosion;

d. Smoke from agricultural smudging or industrial operations;

e. Discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants unless the discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape is itself caused by a Peril We Insure Against under Coverage C – Personal Property of this policy. Pollutants means any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste. Waste includes materials to be recycled, reconditioned or reclaimed;

f. Settling, shrinkage, bulging or expansion, including resultant cracking, of pavements, patios, foundations, walls, floors, roofs or ceilings;

g. Birds, vermin, rodents or insects;

h. Animals owned or kept by an insured;

i. Pressure from or presence of tree, shrub or plant roots;

j. Mismatch of color between undamaged material and new material used to replace faded, weathered or oxidized damaged material; or

k. Mismatch between undamaged material and new material used to repair or replace damaged material due to outdated, obsolete or discontinued products.

If water escapes from a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic fire protection sprinkler system, water heater or household appliance because of any loss identified in exclusion B.1.a. through B.1.k., we cover loss caused by the water. We also cover the cost of tearing out and replacing any part of the covered building necessary to repair the system, water heater or household appliance. We do not cover loss to the system, water heater or household appliance from which the water escapes.

2. Theft in or from a dwelling under construction or of construction materials and supplies until completed and occupied.

3. Freezing, thawing, pressure or weight of water or ice, whether driven by wind or not, to a swimming pool, hot tub or spa, including their filtration and circulation systems, fence, pavement, patio, foundation, retaining wall, bulkhead, pier, wharf or dock.

4. Vandalism or malicious mischief, theft or attempted theft, or breakage of glass and safety glazing materials if the dwelling has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days immediately preceding the loss. A building under construction is not considered vacant.

5. Freezing of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic fire protection sprinkler system, water heater, or household appliance, or by discharge, leakage or overflow from the system, water heater or household appliance caused by freezing while the dwelling is vacant, unoccupied or being constructed, unless you have used reasonable care to:

a. maintain heat in the building; or

b. shut off the water supply and drain the systems, water heater and household appliances of water.

6. Weather conditions, if they contribute to produce the loss in any way with a cause or event excluded under Section I – Property Protection Exclusions A. 1 through A. 12.

7. Acts or decisions, or the failure to act or decide, of any person, group, organization or governmental body.

8. Faulty, inadequate or defective:

a. planning, zoning, development, surveying, siting;

b. design, specifications, workmanship, repair, construction, renovation, remodeling, grading, compaction;

c. materials used in repair, construction, renovation or remodeling; or

d. maintenance; of parts or all of any property whether on or off the insured premises.

9. Collapse, other than as provided in Section I – Additional Coverages item 1.

10. Continuous or repeated seepage or leakage of water, steam or moisture, which occurs over a period of weeks, months or years from within a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic fire protection sprinkler system, water heater or household appliance, and results in deterioration, corrosion, rust, or fungi.

11. Theft of property which is not actually part of any covered building or structure.

 12. Wind, hail, ice, snow or sleet to the following when outdoors:

a. radio, or television antennas or aerials, including their head-in wiring, masts or towers;

b. lawns, trees, shrubs or plants; or

c. awnings, canopies and signs.

13. Damage to fences, driveways and walks caused by vehicles owned or operated by you or an occupant of the insured premises.

Under Section I – Property Protection Exclusions B. 1. through B. 9, any ensuing loss to property described in Coverage A – Dwelling and Coverage B – Other Structures not excluded or excepted in this policy is covered.

To find a company offering low-priced premiums for landlord insurance policies in Cincinnati click here.

If you recall the DF-1 and DF-2 policy forms only extend coverage for what is named in the policy.  If something happens to your rental and the peril is not listed in the policy you have no coverage available.

Keep in mind the DF-3 does not provide unlimited coverage for all situations. Exclusions, limitations of coverage and terms and conditions of coverage are listed, read the entire policy carefully.  Additionally do not assume that each DF-3 policy is identical to other companies DF-3 policy form. (READ YOUR INDIVIDUAL POLICY)  Click here to review typical coverage exclusions for the DF-3 policy form in Cincinnati.

Because this coverage is the broadest of the three policy forms it’s also the most expensive. Additionally to obtain the DF-3 policy form requires you to insure your Cincinnati rental property to 80-100% of the replacement cost of the building.  This option may require you to insure your property for an amount much greater than what the market dictates.  This is particularly true with some of the older homes found in the Cincinnati area.

To find a company offering the best premium rates for rental insurance policies in Cincinnati Click here.

Or if you have a question please feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net

In fact, buried within the fine print of your home, condo, or rental insurance policy is a common exclusion of coverage when the property becomes vacant for 30 days or longer:

Vandalism or malicious mischief, including intentionally set fires, if the dwelling has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days immediately preceding the loss. A building under construction is not considered vacant.

So if your home or rental property is vacant more than 30 days and vandals torch your property the insurance company won’t likely pay you a dime! 

Trust me this clause is in most home, condo, or rental policies.

Do not take a chance and ignore this exclusion of coverage.   Keep in mind that Insurance companies will only pay what they are legally obligated to pay on their contract with you. If something is excluded you can’t expect the company to make an exception in your case.

What can you do if your rental property or your personal home will be vacant more than 30 days? In some cases because of inheriting a property or loss of tenants in a rental property extended vacancies  can occur.

There are only a handful of companies in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana that will insure vacant properties and fortunately we have contracts with each of these specialized insurers.

So if your home or rental will be vacant for more than 30 days we offer insurance coverage for vacant rentals in Cincinnati.  Click here for a rate quote, or feel free to contact me directly by calling 513-662-7000 or sending a quick email to jack@pathwayinsurance.net