Time running out to update insurance coverage ahead of wildfire season
May 1, 2014, 5:00 AM | Updated: 5:00 am
PHOENIX — Thousands of people in the Valley own summer homes in the high country and property insurers are telling people to update their coverage as soon as possible.
John Kennedy with Allstate said homeowners need to cover the current costs of rebuilding. Concrete, wood and other building materials get more expensive with each passing year, and he urged residents to meet with their insurance agent soon.
“Most property reviews take about 5 to 10 minutes, if they’re done properly,” Kennedy said. “People get caught up in the mindset that it’s never going to happen to (them). If you live in a wooded area, you need to take preventative measures.”
Nicole Ganley with Property Casualty Insurers Association of America said homeowners can take steps to protect their homes before the sparks fly.
“Arizona has very competitive homeowners insurance rates,” she said. “For about $60 a month, you can cover that home with insurance.
She also advised homeowners to make cosmetic changes to their property.
“Clear debris around the home — about 100 feet of defensible space,” Ganley said. “Trim trees and get stacked wood away from the home.”
Ganley said renters should also prepare by considering renters insurance and also doing home inventories.
