Month: June 2019

If you live in Sandpoint, ID, you have a lot of great housing choices. There are great neighborhoods, with easy access to the rest of the city. You can rent a house or apartment, buy a condo or buy a house. 

It can become confusing when you are trying to decide what kind of insurance to get, and how much coverage you will need. We at The Insurance Shop USA have clients in every kind of housing, and we are always happy to help with any questions.

Condos vs Rentals vs Houses

Your condo has some things in common with a rental property, in that you are only responsible for your own part of the property. You don’t have to insure the walls or outside property if you have a condo.

You do have an interest in the property because you own it, but you will only be expected to insure your own very specific location. Your insurance will protect all your belongings inside your condo, like your clothing, appliances, furniture, and electronics. Your window dressings, flooring, and other inside modifications will also be covered.

Why This Is Good News

Because you only have to insure your inside walls and personal property and belongings, you will be pleasantly surprised how inexpensive it is to get comprehensive coverage at your condo 

There’s no question that it can be confusing when there are so many kinds of insurance to protect your home, especially when there are so many similarities. If you live in Sandpoint, ID and have any questions at all, or if you want to discuss how you could make sure your own home is well enough protected, please don’t hesitate to give The Insurance Shop USA a call or drop in so we can help.

We’ve all been there- from roommate troubles to requesting seemingly endless repairs, landlord troubles are the worst. Luckily, Idaho has laws that protect renters from less-than-attentive landlords. It’s important that you know your rights. At The Insurance Shop USA, serving Sandpoint, ID, we know the troubles landlords can cause, and we know what’s legal and what’s not. 

– You have the right to privacy. Your landlord is required by Idaho law to give you notice before entering your rental unit. 

– You have the right to a safe living environment. Your landlord is required to keep fix smoke detectors, insect problems, crumbling or deteriorating walls and/or ceilings, heating issues, defective plumbing, etc. After you’ve notified your landlord in person (or sent them a certified letter) of a safety issue, the landlord has three days to fix the problem. If they fail to do so, you have the right to take your landlord to court. 

– You have the right to be notified about rent increases. In a month to month rental situation, your landlord must give you at least 15 days notice before a rent increase. 

If you’re dealing with a not so great landlord, we get it. While there are steps that you can take to move towards legal action, you should also protect yourself before things get to that point. At The Insurance Shop USA, serving Sandpoint, ID, we offer renters insurance, which can protect you in the event that your landlord’s lack of attention to their property results in damage to your belongings. It’s important to purchase a renters insurance policy before you actually need it. Call us to talk about your rental situation, and we’ll recommend a renters insurance policy that makes sense for your needs.