Living near wildlands means higher wildfire risk—and rising insurance costs. We recently attended a webinar on insurance and the wildfire zones. Here are a few ideas on how to protect yourself, your property, and your wallet:

• Document everything: Photograph your entire property—inside and out—and store those photos in the cloud. Receipts aren’t as necessary if you have visual proof.
• Know your insurer: California has 118 admitted insurers, which are backed by the State. Surplus Lines Insurers, which are 138 strong, are not backed by the State—if they fail, there’s no safety net for you as a policy holder. The Fair Plan is the insurer of last resort.
• Understand deductibles: One way to save money is to get a higher deductible. If you have a deductible of $10,000 you don’t need to come up with $10,000 before your insurance kicks in. You also don’t need to meet your deductible to receive evacuation expenses. 
• Review your policy: Check if you’re covered for replacement cost or just actual cash value, and request a full Property Reconstruction Report which should be updated every three years. If your home is in a trust, the trust should be listed on the policy. 
• Ask about discounts: Firewise and Fire Risk Reduction Community List areas (FRRCL) may qualify for savings. One local resident recently received a 6% reduction on their insurance for living in a Firewise community.

Stay informed to stay protected.