Any insurance people on here?

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197
Location
Northern Lower Michigan/Troll
I am in the process of building a new house, it is roughed in now, and I am looking at what to do with heat.

At my last house I built a U shaped concrete structure under the fireplace in the basement, and in that spot was a woodstove that heated the fireplace from underneath. Four steps away was a concrete room, walls, floor and ceiling, sealed with a steel outside door and a chute on the outside that I could feed the wood into. The room was 14'x21', and would hold a winters wood. I would load it and put in a couple of bug bombs, and never had a problem with critters, and never had to go outside. Once the mass of the real fireplace was heated it held heat for days. Worked great, my ex appreciates it.:doh:

Anyway.... I want to do the same thing with the house I am building now, but am having a hard time getting a straight answer from my insurance agent. Is there anyone here that works as an actuary, or can point me in the right direction?

The house is small, 1180 sq. ft., so an increase in insurance of any size can wipe out any saving I will make. My current house is the same size, and I average 7-800 dollars a year for heat and hot water. The new house will be more efficient, but has taller ceilings[10'8"] and a bit more glass, much of that with a Southern exposure.

It does not make economic sense to spend too much, or there will be no gain, and insurance has to be factored in. Part of it is that I like the idea of independance from the fuel companys in case, or should I say when, they raise their prices significantly. I can heat it with thedead wood on the property indefinately.

Before someone brings it up, an outside wood boiler does not make economic sense for me. There would never be a payback, even not counting my time collecting wood. On a small efficient house they will never pay for themselves before they need replacement, and they lose aprox. 50% of their heat to transfer losses, which means half of the wood I cut would be going into the ground or the atmosphere. Don't like cutting wood that much.

Thanks

The other Larry
 
The biggest question that comes to my mind has to do with the floor and supporting structure under the fireplace. I sure hope it is not wood. :eek: When I was a volunteer fireman we had several calls a year in our small community because of floors under a fireplace catching fire. One layer of brick will not protect the wood.
I would ask a fireman to inspect for you before alerting the insurance company.
 
The biggest question that comes to my mind has to do with the floor and supporting structure under the fireplace. I sure hope it is not wood. :eek: When I was a volunteer fireman we had several calls a year in our small community because of floors under a fireplace catching fire. One layer of brick will not protect the wood.
I would ask a fireman to inspect for you before alerting the insurance company.

There was 14 yards of concrete under the fireplace in the basement under the floor, 12" thick concrete walls holding up an 18" thick concrete slab flush with the first floor.

It was a real fireplace, last one my dad ever built. It weighed aprox. 32 ton, above the first floor. It never moved. 9' ceilings on both upstairs floors and then 14' through the roof.

I don't build junk....
 
Your going to have to get that answer from the insurance company you are dealing with and get it in writing. Ask it in writing for that matter! Trust me on this, our advice is not even worth what it cost you.

I had some not so nice dealings with an Insurance company so I know what I speak of. Get everything in writing and put in a bank safety deposit box or somewhere just as safe. If you ever need it you will be glad you did.

I don't see how a fireplace/woodstove in the basement as well as upstairs would be an issue. Lots of people store wood in their house too. But it's doesn't matter what I or anyone else 'thinks'.
 
Jeff

I don't trust them either, thats why I am doing research ahead of time.

I was hoping there was an insurance type on here because I really do not know where to start. But I will get it in writing as you suggested when I do manage to nail someone down.

I have heard of claims being denyed because of woodstoves, and although I don't expect any problems, I can't afford to start over again at my age, so I will have my butt covered ahead of time.

Waht I am looking for is approval of my setup, BEFORE I build it. I may have to switch companys if I can't get a set of guidelines out of my current carrier.
 
Sometimes it is hard to pin them down and it is important to do that. One bit of advice I learned from my lawyer and this could vary from state to state so this goes back to what I said about how much our advice is worth.

In my case he said that what I understood was covered would over ride the policy. The example he gave was the agent said "you are covered if ____ happens" and the policy says otherwise, the agents words will override the policy. The catch is proving that is what the Agent told you. It is your word against his. So that is why I say put it in writing and save it.
 
Larry,
Find and independent Broker who is not tied to any 1 company. That way he can work for you not the insurance company. That is what I do. I have contracts with several providers so I can get the best coverage for the client. You need to fond someone like that for property insurance.
 
Sometimes it is hard to pin them down and it is important to do that. One bit of advice I learned from my lawyer and this could vary from state to state so this goes back to what I said about how much our advice is worth.

In my case he said that what I understood was covered would over ride the policy. The example he gave was the agent said "you are covered if ____ happens" and the policy says otherwise, the agents words will override the policy. The catch is proving that is what the Agent told you. It is your word against his. So that is why I say put it in writing and save it.

Jeff, in post #5 you emphasized getting it in writing. In #7 you advised that what an agent said overrides.
Really, not so. What is written in the contract is the final word in court. I used to work for a company as their debt collector. I went after folks who had defaulted on contracts to purchase. In court they usually said, "But the sales guy said.....". I showed the signed, written contract and never lost a case. And, no, I'm not a lawyer.
 
Jeff, in post #5 you emphasized getting it in writing. In #7 you advised that what an agent said overrides.
Really, not so. What is written in the contract is the final word in court. I used to work for a company as their debt collector. I went after folks who had defaulted on contracts to purchase. In court they usually said, "But the sales guy said.....". I showed the signed, written contract and never lost a case. And, no, I'm not a lawyer.

Frank is absolutely correct and in a court of law only the typed or printed portion of the contract would be included. If an agent altars the contract in any way he can loose his license.
The NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) is very clear on this and if an agent has done this he/she should be reported to the commissioner in your state.
 
Jeff, in post #5 you emphasized getting it in writing. In #7 you advised that what an agent said overrides.
Really, not so. What is written in the contract is the final word in court. I used to work for a company as their debt collector. I went after folks who had defaulted on contracts to purchase. In court they usually said, "But the sales guy said.....". I showed the signed, written contract and never lost a case. And, no, I'm not a lawyer.

You left out where I said "The catch is proving that is what the Agent told you. It is your word against his."

I am not going to argue with you. Your welcome to discuss it my lawyer if you want though. And I won my case.
 
Thank you for the replys....

Jeff, checked out your site. Very cool! I am a kayaker, but if you saw the bottoms of my Old Towns, you would know I am not a candidate. I do however want to build a lightweight for lakes, just have too much going on at the moment.

You know, setting up a new woodshop, building a new house for my wife and I, and trying to find enough work to pay for it all.... All the normal stuff:rolleyes:

I bookmarked your site, you have everything I need and at very nice prices.

The Other Larry
 
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