It has become the norm to increase insurance cover for community schemes by 10%, or even 15%, per year. On the other hand, some bodies corporate choose not to increase cover at all. However, how often do bodies corporate consider decreasing cover?
When the new Sectional Title Management Act came into effect in October 2016, the number of valuers that claim to specialise in sectional title valuations increased considerably as this new market presented a lucrative new opportunity for many valuers.
In valuing the contents, most asset management specialists will consult annual guide books to estimate the value of an item or similar item. To achieve a higher degree of accuracy, we (Mirfin) research the open market for the replacement cost of each exact item or its successor. In the case of unique items where we are unable to source a price, we will agree with the insured on a suitable value.
If you ask any homeowner to estimate the current value of their home contents, the chances are that they will underestimate the total value by more than 50%. The insured party need to spend some time creating a detailed list of all their assets and then research its current replacement cost.
Experience has taught us that approximately two thirds of all residential homes and contents are underinsured by between 20 – 50%. The reality is that very few property owners are correctly covered.
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