Friday, December 29, 2017

Screened Enclosure Claims Aggravation

I want to share a recurring lesson learned as we clean and complete remaining damages caused by Hurricane Irma. South Florida homes are more secure than ever due to increased consciousness of homeowner’s and the 2002 Florida Building Code. Our homes are more sound and stronger than ever. Our screened enclosures, however, remain the single-most area of vulnerability.
Screened enclosures are not usually insured structures. Many people make the mistake of assuming that screened enclosures fall under the policy category of “B- Other Structures.” The definition of “Other Structures” is separate buildings like sheds, detached garages, and guest houses. Screened enclosures are not considered by insurers as “Other Structures” because they are so unique to Florida.
So how do we insure screened enclosures? By including a special endorsement. The endorsement is actually called “Screened Enclosure Endorsement.” If you do not see the Screened Enclosure Endorsement on your policy Declaration Page, then your screened enclosure is probably not insured. Only one Florida insurer (Olympus) includes screened enclosures as part of the “Dwelling A” (Replacement Cost Estimate) coverage. So why not always include the Screened Enclosure Endorsement on every policy? It’s very expensive and there’s a pretty good case to be made for NOT insuring the screened enclosure. Please see the article I’ve included called, Making A Case For NOT Insuring A Screened Enclosure.
I have many informative articles posted on my Facebook page. It’s worth taking a look every now and then to remain as informed as possible about your homeowner’s policy since not every endorsement or suggestion makes sense for every homeowner. Only you can tailor your insurance to meet your needs. As you agent, I can certainly offer advice based on what you tell me about your personal situation. I am always happy to listen and help you optimize your policy to meet your financial needs.

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