When it comes to harsh weather and natural disasters, the unexpected is becoming more common. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and storms have battered investment property from coast to coast—with no signs of slowing down.
Preparing Investment Properties for Extreme Weather
Topics: Property Management Solutions, Master Real Estate Insurance Policy, Tenant Liability, Rental Property, Investment Property, Hurricane Preparedness
What Investors Can Do about rising Property Insurance Costs
Over the last two years, we have seen insurance costs and the cost to repair or replace increase dramatically.
The cause of these rising costs is two-fold:
- The price of materials has skyrocketed.
- The cost and availability of labor have delayed the completion of repairs.
There has been an increased incidence of losses:
- Property - More time spent at home, more kitchen-related claims like fire.
- Increased weather-related events like wind, hail, falling trees, etc.
- Liability – Many tenants are working from home and spending their leisure time at home giving rise to more liability claims from tenants and guests.
Investor Action Plan
- Now is the time to check the values that your property is insured. If values that are insured have not been updated recently, it is likely that you may be underinsured. This will have a huge impact on how well your insurance program will perform in the event of a loss. It may cause a small increase in insurance premiums due to higher coverage amounts, however, underinsuring properties could be disastrous.
- Make sure appliances, electrical service, and plumbing are in good repair and properly used to minimize claims for all tenant-occupied units.
- Inspect all properties at least quarterly for safety issues. Loose railings, raised sidewalks, depressions or holes in the ground, missing or loose stairs, and clutter are all causes of liability claims that can escalate to many thousands of claim dollars and cause large rate increases or even non-renewal of insurance coverage.
- For property claims make sure there are no “fuels” around the building such as firewood, clutter, and dead or dying brush. Falling trees can cause major damage. Prune or remove trees that pose a hazard to your buildings.
In short, “Best Practices” make for a safe environment for tenants and a stable, profitable investment for Landlords and Real Estate Investors. If you need help determining if your real estate investment portfolio is insured properly, feel free to get in touch.
Topics: credit score, Rental Property, Investment Property
Property Insurance Premiums on the Rise for Investors
It would be logical to blame rising insurance rates on the Covid 19 crisis but the truth is that property insurance rates have been going up for the past few years even before the virus entered our lives. The crisis has created a “new normal” for many people but it is not the only thing responsible for the rise in insurance rates. Natural disasters and social unrest are also to blame. In addition to raising premiums, many insurance companies are responding by restricting some coverages and eliminating some risks that might have been covered in the past. In short, property owners will pay higher premiums to get less coverage.
Topics: Asset Protection, Rental Property, Investment Property, Master Policy
The 5 Hottest Markets for Rental Occupancy Growth?
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the rental market. Before 2020, average occupancy rates for primary multifamily markets were on an upward trajectory. Due to the widespread adoption of remote working arrangements, however, secondary and tertiary rental markets experienced positive net absorption last year.
Topics: Work From Home, Tenant Liability, Rental Property, Investment Property, Master Policy, Insurance Claims, SFR
The New Normal: What to Expect for SFR Investments in 2021
Leading professionals from Marketplace Homes, SVN | SFR Hub Advisors, Unitas Financial Services (formerly Innovative Risk Solutions), and Lima One Capital speak on the future of SFR investments in 2021.
Topics: Asset Protection, Master Real Estate Insurance Policy, Tenant Liability, Rental Property, Investment Property