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Filing a Water Damage Claim on your Sedona AZ Home For Sale

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Barbara Baker Realty - Sedona's Elite Boutique Real Estate Firm BR543533000

When selling your home in the Sedona AZ Home Marketplace - you had better think twice before filing a water damage claim.  Water damage accounted for about one-fifth of all insurance claims in 2007, says the Insurance Information Institute, with an average amount of $5,531.  But insurers claim  can , which insurers say may reflect poor home maintenance and better odds that you'll eventually file even bigger claims for mold-related expenses. 

Depending on your insurer, filing two water-related claims within a five-year period could earn you a premium hike at renewal time or get you dropped altogether. It could also make it harder to find a new policy because all insurers consult a giant database called the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, or CLUE, which records all claims against a property over a seven-year period. It might be cheaper to write a check from your emergency fund or take a small loan. 

Some water claims aren't covered, anyway. Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover damage from water that comes from the top down, such as rainfall, a burst pipe or an ice dam. But most policies don't cover rising water from any source, including a drain or sewer backup. A rider to cover a sewer backup will cost about $50 annually. If a water problem is covered, your insurer will probably pay for you to hire a restoration company. 

If you're in an area at risk for flooding, you may need flood insurance. The average policy costs $540 a year, according to the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program. 

Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2011 The Kiplinger Washington Editors.

For when selling a Sedona AZ Home make sure you get a clue report so that you know what claims you have filed.  For all your buying and selling needs in Sedona, you can call or text me at 928-301-0669, emailwebsite or become a Fan on Facebook.