Westworld Alberta

40 W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A | S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 HOME INSURANCE ''I could see the waves of hail all over the street," recalls AMA member Laurie Kelly, describing the severe stor m that swept through her Calgary neighbourhood last August. She wasn't at home at the time, which was lucky; otherwise she might not have noticed, upon pull- ing in and parking, that the roof over her garage was leaking. A telltale water stain, about six inches in diameter, had already for med on a piece of cardboard. Kelly called AMA Insurance right away and was told a contractor would come out to inspect her roof, but that it might take some time, since hundreds of homes had been affected. That week alone, AMA received 400 hail claims. Kelly had never made a home insurance claim, nor had any problems with weather damage, in the 12 years she'd lived in her house. "I was a little bit worried about what was going to happen," she says. But the contractor who inspected her roof answered her questions and let her know what to expect. "He said that he was going to be on my roof for 30 to 35 minutes and that he was going to check everything and take pictures of the damage." After- ward, he went through the photos with her. "ere was some damage that was covered and some that wasn't a result of the hail," says Kelly. He showed her what normal wear and tear – caused by sun oxi- dation, snow, rain and other elements – looked like, and explained that a roof, like a vehicle, depreciates over time. Of course, it's still important to keep your roof in a good state of repair, clearing leaves and snow regularly, and inspecting it from time to time for wear. Before you undertake major home repairs or renovations, AMA recommends speaking Member Laurie Kelly got a crash course in making an insurance claim BY JANET GYENES Weathering the Storm AMA's 24-hour claims service is always here for you – to answer questions and guide you through any claim. 1-888-426-2444 Did you know? Condo association and landlord insurance don't cover your stuff. Condo and renter's insurance do, and they're must-have if you live in a condo or rent an apartment. Homeowners, Rejoice Six costs you never knew were covered by home insurance You're probably aware that a typical home insurance policy covers your house itself – its roof, exterior and interior walls, porches, flooring, kitchen cupboards and bathroom fixtures – as well as your belongings within, and any detached structures like garages, greenhouses or sheds. But many policyholders are pleasantly surprised to learn just how much more home insurance may cover. (Of course, every policy is different, so check your fine print to be sure.) 1 Outdoor trees, shrubs, plants and lawns. As any gardener can attest, a lot of value goes into our homes' green spaces, and home insurance policies may pay out to replace those damaged or destroyed by fire, lightning or vandalism. 2 Fire department charges. We all know damage caused by fire is normally covered, but your home insurance may also cover the cost of firefighting ser- vices, even if the crew successfully douses the blaze, preventing structure or property damage. 3 Identity theft recovery. The best home insurance policies kick in to aid homeowners in restoring their identities post- theft. Covered costs may include credit reports, lost wages result- ing from meetings with law enforcement and legal counsel fees, among others. 4 Food spoilage. If your power supply fails and your fridge or freezer cuts out, you could wind up with a very expensive loss of food (a few steaks can really add up!). Fortunately, many policies cover the price of replacing lost freezer and fridge contents. 5 Lock replacement. If keys to your exterior doors are stolen, home insurance policies may pay to replace or change the locks. Many may cover the replacement of car locks, too, if car keys are stolen from your home. 6 Additional living expenses. If you need to stay elsewhere because your home has been rendered unlivable by an event covered in your policy, such as a fire – or the repair process for same – policies may cover the expense (over and above your normal cost of living).

• Cover