Any good business is prepared for the worst to happen. They run fire drills, tornado drills, verification tests: being prepared is imperative. That’s why companies have insurance. A backup plan means being a little bit more at ease, knowing that even if the worst outcome is the one that comes to pass, things will be okay. Being a landlord means you need to be prepared too. To help you prepare for the worst, consider these insurances that can help put your mind at ease.
Tenant Default Insurance
Ah, yes! A landlord’s worst nightmare. When a tenant defaults on their rent, you face a direct loss of income. No matter how it happens, if a tenant is suddenly unable to pay and you cannot make up for the past due income, tenant default insurance can help cover your lost rents for a specified period of time. If your portfolio includes C, or even B, class properties then a little added protection can be significant for keeping your cash flow positive. After you’ve completed your ApplyConnect background check and feel well-informed about the type of applicant you’re considering renting to, an option like tenant default insurance can give you that final nudge of confidence to finalize the approval.
As Eric Jarvis, Founder of ReassureRent, says
"Tenant default insurance has long been used in the UK and Australia to protect a landlord's income when the tenant doesn't pay the rent. We are glad to see it now available domestically where it also manages the eviction and pays for legal fees."
Property Insurance
A broad category, property insurance covers significant types of damage that can cover property protection or liability. This can include things like homeowners’ insurance, flooding, tornados, and other weather-related events. It can even include damages from vandalism or theft. Property insurance can consist of renters’ insurance. With such a broad scope, be sure to speak to an experienced insurance professional to figure out what types are right for your personal property. In some states different types of property insurance are a requirement so considering beneficial options beyond these can potentially save your investment.
General Liability Insurance
When preparing for your property tour, efficiency is key. Small mishaps throughout the day may ruin chances with a prospective renter.
A good real estate agent should be knowledgeable about the surrounding area and what it has to offer prospective tenants. Or better yet, find out what aspects of a neighborhood are important to them beforehand and include that on the tour.
Be sure to have contact information for the landlord or their representative. If there is sincere interest, they’ll need this information once they sign the lease.
Anyone who has people coming in to and out of their property needs general liability insurance. People trip, fall, get their hands stuck in places that they shouldn’t be, and so many other daily problems that happen because humans are weird, clumsy beings. Bad things happen. If you are at fault, then you have to pay up and it can end up costing some big bucks. General liability insurance is designed to help cover the costs of legal defense and compensation to those injured on your property.
Since accidents can at times seem random and unpreventable, this makes general liability insurance a vital thing to have.
Renters Insurance
Requiring your tenants, future and current, to have renters’ insurance can provide a great deal of comfort to an overwhelmed landlord. Renters Insurance will help cover costs when renters suffer loss or damages but also helps reduce landlord responsibility and expenses. In the face of a fire or other damages, the rental insurance will help relocate the tenant and the landlord will not have to pay. In addition, tenants with renters insurance are less likely to sue their landlords in cases of damage or theft, as renters insurance will cover the costs instead. It can also help mitigate costs due to pet damage as well.
These are just some of the many, many types of insurances out there. It is always a good idea to conduct your own research to find out what is right for your personal property. What insurances do you have to keep you covered?
Subscribe for More Updates!
