On 8/29/2011 10:08 PM, David Thompson wrote:
> Recently a fellow showed up at my home to "measure" the outside of the
> house. Two weeks later a representative of my Independent agent called me
> and said they were not going to renew my policy. I have had the same policy
> for 31 years
> and one minor claim on my antennas about 1984.
<snip>
> I finished the repairs and got the Insurance renewed but the picture in the
> inspectors note of my tower and antennas bothers me. The Insurance
> Commissioners office say they have the right to come out and inspect my
> house at any time. The renewal came with a note that I had to send the
> local agent pictures in three years.
>
> Is this a known problem elsewhere?
IT is a growing problem where ever there are increased risks and
particularly in the South where insurance companies have really taken a
beating with hurricane, flood, and tornado claims. However these costs
are getting spread through the industry nation wide and companies are
becoming extremely risk conscious. Many are getting rid of anything they
perceive as an increased risk over what they consider normal. Up here
they might consider falling parts due to ice as an increased risk, or
possibly wind induced damage. This varies with company, location, and
type of risk. This area has "so far" remained relatively low risk. In
my case the antenna *system* is insured with a rider on the home owners
policy for enough it'd cover virtually any damage the tower could cause
even if it went down over the house. BTW We've had ice storms that took
the power line down just to the North of our lot. (we have one square
acre), yet the antennas remained in tact even if the element tips were
pointing nearly straight down. OTOH a group of Cormorants over nighted
on my 30' long 7L 6-meter yagi and broke the boom truss. A 6' to 8'
long piece of that 1/2" Aluminum tube truss hit the ground (in the
Spring) end on and went in nearly a foot.
In my case I have a rider on the policy covering the 100' tower and
antennas for replacement cost including labor...which is not attached to
the house or garage, but only 10' from the NW corner of the garage. In
my case they insisted the tower *not* be attached to the house or garage.
But to reiterate; Insurance companies are becoming far more risk
conscious (sometimes what they see as an increased risk is really
unjustified) and in many areas (particularly coastal, Gulf and Atlantic)
insurance may be difficult or impossible to find.
> We already have so many rules that
> restrict towers and even antennas. The Banks won't lend to developers who
> won't incorporate CC&R's.
I avoid those like the plague anyway. Currently credit is very tight
due to the economy and the banks are holding onto their cash even with
the loss of interest earnings. I think you will find that if the
individual has the collateral they will loan for individual
construction...if they are loaning at all.
> Are Insurance Companies next?
They were leading the way! Remember they are in business to make money,
not save the customer money. They and the customer are playing the odds
plain and simple. In normal times the odds are in favor of only a few
customers needing to take advantage of that insurance while the vast
majority pay their premiums and never collect a dime. But over the last
decade or two the insurance companies have been paying out tremendous
claims. There have been some very expensive hurricanes, floods, and
tornadoes in the past couple of decades that have raised the costs to
the insurance companies to astronomical levels. Hurricane Irene may
cost them 30 Billion dollars or more. They have to recoup that cost
through increased premiums and reduced claims. They can reduce claims
by limiting risk as best they can. OTOH they can only limit policies to
a point before the decrease in revenue hurts them.
In the end this means it'd be a very good idea to check with the
insurance company before installing a large tower any where near the
house and possibly insure the antenna system on a rider.
I've only had a couple claims in nearly 50 years and they were not
large, but they still have detailed records of both. OTOH they were
large enough to call the insurance company rather than eat the cost.
I could have claimed the two antennas I lost due to the Cormorants
breaking the boom truss on the 6-meter yagi and that damaging the
tribander, but chose not to. I was able to take down and repair both
antennas.
73
Roger (K8RI)
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