How to Determine What Type Of Condo Insurance to Buy?

Answer 1

Condo insurance is not the same as insurance on conventional homes or renters. Condo owners need to ensure that their policies cover all their possessions that are not covered by the Condo Association’s insurance policy. By reading the fine print in the purchase agreement and the insurance policy, a condo owner can determine exactly what type of insurance policy will cover what is not covered by the collective insurance already provided.

The condo association will normally collect dues from owners to cover common areas of the complex and sometime installations. The association’s bylaws will state exactly what is covered under the association’s policy. The association’s policy may have a deductible, which is usually divided equally among the unit owners. Collectively, owners may have a “bare walls” policy which covers all real property from the exterior framing inward, but does not cover fixtures or installations within a condo unit. Another type of policy referred to as an “all in” policy covers fixtures and installations, along with the structure and any common areas. The owner needs to know if the policy is cash value, which covers the cost of replacing the items minus depreciation, or if it covers the full replacement cost.

If the association has a bare wall policy, the owner must buy insurance to cover features such as countertops, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, flooring and personal items. With an all in policy, the owner may only need to cover personal items. Most insurance companies offer a special unit owners policy, but to save money and ensure that all items are covered, the condo owner needs to determine what he owns and what is covered by the association’s policy. Condo owners are typically responsible for insuring just their property, but the rules differ from complex to complex, and it's important to ask the right questions to ensure you have proper insurance coverage. Usually, condo owners are not responsible for cutting the grass or shoveling ice from the front walk, but they must insure that the proper condo insurance is in place to protect them from any lawsuits related to these things.