What Renters Don’t Know About Flood Insurance Coverage
If your clients don't know what their policy covers, they may overpay for coverage they don't need or not have the right coverage when they need it. Help your clients understand more than just their flood risk. Instead, help them see what options they have for protection, because flooding can happen even when people least expect it.
Flood Insurance Policy for Contents-Only
If your clients rent their home or apartment, they may not know that their landlord's insurance won't protect their belongings. In a flood, renters insurance typically doesn't include flood protection. By talking your clients through these incredibly common misconceptions, you can ensure they've got the power to make informed choices about their coverage options.
Talk About What's Covered for Renters
With a contents-only coverage, your clients can protect up to $100,000 of their belongings, which can include:.
- Mattress and bedroom furniture.
- Kitchen furniture, such as a fridge or dining room table.
- Living room contents, such as TVs and other electronics, couches and even books.
Share Resources
The best way to ensure your renter clients have the right protection against flooding is to inform them. The NFIP has its Flood Insurance for Renters brochure available to download for free, which your clients can read and review on their own time
The NFIP offers many of its documents in multiple languages. The Flood Insurance for Renters brochure is available in English, Spanish, Korean and both traditional and simplified Chinese.
Flood Insurance Policy for the Building
If your clients own their house or condo, there's a chance they don't have insurance coverage that'll help them if their property floods. Most homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding, and many people are completely oblivious to that fact. As an insurance agent, you can help with the following.
Talk About What's Covered for Homeowners
Flood insurance for homeowners protects both the inside and outside of the home. This means their structure and some of its most expensive elements are covered, including:
- Framing, walls and electric systems.
- Window frames and panels, as well as central A/C equipment.
- Furnaces, cabinets and water heaters.
- Floors, drywall and permanently-installed carpets or bookshelves.
Talk About Flood Risk
Clients may not believe they're at risk–and thus not want to buy additional insurance. Understanding or visualizing floods that have historically been in their area can be an eye-opening way of getting your clients to buy a policy.
Flooding is not a far-off or abstract risk. It's real and can happen anywhere across America. Use the NFIP’s Historical Claims Map to show them how close to their home flooding may have come.
You can help your clients understand their options. To find other multilingual resources, tools, talking points and marketing materials, visit the NFIP's Resource Library. Stay up to date by signing up for email updates about the latest in flood protection news.
