Order Renters Insurance in Massachusetts

Why Should I Get Renters Insurance in Massachusetts?

Did you know you can protect your belongings for less than a dollar a day with renters insurance? Simply enter your zip code to see what policies are available in Massachusetts. You can relax and know that no matter what happens, your belongings will be protected.

What Does Renters Insurance Protect You Against in Massachusetts

Many policies cover direct physical loss to your personal property if damaged by the following:

• Fire or lightning
• Windstorm or hail
• Explosion
• Riot or civil commotion
• Smoke
• Vandalism or malicious mischief
• Theft
• Falling objects
• Weight of ice, snow or sleet
• Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam
• Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning or bulging of certain appliances or water heating systems
• Freezing of certain systems or appliances
• Sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electric current

As you can see, renters insurance policies can cover a wide variety of issues — policies can even protect your belongings against volcanic eruption! However, since policies may vary across the nation, you should read through your renters insurance policy thoroughly to see what is offered in Massachusetts.

Some particular disasters that may affect residents in Massachusetts:

Theft

One of the biggest threats to homes in Massachusetts is burglary. The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that rented households were burglarized at rates 79 percent higher than owned households. In 2001, the bureau reported that rented households experienced 210 property crimes per 1,000 households nationwide, while owned households experienced only 146 property crimes per 1,000 households. Unfortunately, your apartment community's insurance policy does not cover your personal belongings lost due to theft. Do not allow fences or gates at your community to mislead you to think it is safer. On most low-crime properties the main purpose of gates or fences at apartment complexes is to provide the sense of privacy and exclusivity.

Fire

Fire is a risk in all states, including Massachusetts. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that direct property loss due to fires was estimated at $9.8 billion in 2004. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, apartment fires accounted for 23 percent of residential fires between 1992 and 2001 as well as accounted for 20 percent of the dollar loss from residential fires during these years. With these kinds of statistics, it is better to be prepared and protect your property from this risk.

Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

Hurricanes and tropical storms are a threat for Massachusetts as well as all states along the U.S. coastline. Hurricane Katrina was the third-most intense hurricane to ever hit the United States since reliable records began in 1851, according to the National Weather Service. Damage from the hurricane is still being assessed, but the expected damage incurred ranges from $40 billion to $60 billion. Hurricane Camille, the most powerful storm in U.S. history, devastated the coast of Mississippi. As the storm moved inland, it flooded areas of Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia.

Wildfires

Wildfires are a threat in Massachusetts, as well as a risk to all of the United States. Wildfires consume thousands of acres of land, threatening the apartments, homes, and lives of many in the vicinity. An average of five million acres burn every year in the United States, causing billions of dollars in damage. According to the National Fire Protection Center, wildfires that occurred in Southern California in October and November of 1993 resulted in an estimated $809 million in property damage.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes are nature's most violent storm and residents of Massachusetts should be aware that they are at particular risk. Although tornadoes affect all states in the nation, they highly impact Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Florida and Nebraska. Surrounding areas of Norman, Oklahoma had over 473 apartments destroyed and damaged 568 apartments. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration reports about 1,000 tornadoes across the United States in an average year. The ‘Tornado Alley’ extends roughly from the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians and from Iowa and Nebraska to the Gulf of Mexico.

Blizzards

Blizzards can severely impact most of the Midwest and Northeast region of the United States, including Massachusetts. In January 1999, a major blizzard struck portions of the Midwest, producing 22 inches of snow in Chicago. The National Weather Service rated the storm the second worst blizzard of the 20th century. The surrounding areas within Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio experienced over 15 inches of snow. In 1996, a blizzard piled on 20 inches of snow in New York City, and damage costs to the New York area were estimated at $1 billion.