{"id":27189,"date":"2026-04-28T05:40:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T05:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/didebta.com\/?p=27189"},"modified":"2026-04-28T05:40:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T05:40:26","slug":"how-to-get-renters-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/didebta.com\/?p=27189","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Renters Insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you rent, you\u00a0need\u00a0renters insurance! No ifs, ands or buts about it. Unless you\u2019re a minimalist whose entire life could fit in a suitcase, your belongings are worth a lot more than you realize.\n <\/p>\n

Actually, most people underestimate how much their stuff is worth. But don\u2019t leave yourself exposed. If something happened to your apartment or house, renters insurance is the perfect back-up plan. It\u2019s often required by landlords too. But only 41% of renters say they have it.1<\/sup>\n <\/p>\n

We\u2019ll explain more of why you need it. And we\u2019ll walk you through how to buy renters insurance so you can check it off your to-do list.\n <\/p>\n

Why Do I Need Renters Insurance?<\/h2>\n

Renters insurance\u00a0is a type of protection that will cover the cost of your possessions if they\u2019re damaged, vandalized or stolen while you\u2019re renting. Similar to homeowners insurance, it\u2019s one of the eight types of insurance you can\u2019t go without.\n <\/p>\n

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\u00a0Home and auto insurance aren\u2019t just about low rates\u2014they\u2019re about the right coverage level. Talk to a trusted pro who can help you get both.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Let\u2019s pretend you\u2019re renting and your apartment is broken into. Your laptop, iPad, jewelry, and brand-new flatscreen TV are stolen. Gone with the wind. What can you do?\n <\/p>\n

First, the thief is probably not going to have a change of heart and show up at your doorstep with all your stuff. And even if the police catch them, that\u2019s still no guarantee you\u2019re going to see your things again. But what about your landlord? Well, they\u2019re not going to write you a check out of the generosity of their heart.\n <\/p>\n

Enter renters insurance (that has a nice ring to it). Renters insurance does three main things:\n <\/p>\n

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  1. Covers the cost of replacing your things in the event of a theft, fire, storm, vandalism, electrical malfunctions or plumbing issues.<\/li>\n
  2. Gives you liability coverage<\/em>, meaning if someone is injured while at your place, you\u2019ll be protected from medical bills or legal fees.<\/li>\n
  3. Pays for additional living expenses<\/em> if you need to stay at a hotel while your place is being repaired.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Now that you know you need it, you\u2019re asking, How\u00a0do I get renters insurance?<\/em> Good question! Let\u2019s find out. \u00a0\n <\/p>\n

    How to Get Renters Insurance: 5 Tips<\/h2>\n

    Don\u2019t be overwhelmed. Follow these tips and you\u2019ll soon be a renters insurance Jedi Master (if there is such a thing).\n <\/p>\n

    1. Research what your landlord covers.<\/h3>\n

    The first step is to figure out what kind of insurance your landlord has. They\u2019re required by law to have insurance on their building, but it won\u2019t cover your stuff. It also probably won\u2019t take care of any damage from water backup or appliance-related incidents. Ask your landlord for their renters policy to see what part you\u2019ll need to handle.\n <\/p>\n

    2. Create an inventory.<\/h3>\n

    Next, go through your place and record what you own. Estimate how much coverage you\u2019ll need to replace everything. Group your stuff into things like electronics and appliances, furniture, clothes and shoes, jewelry, soft furnishings and so on. Then, tackle any special items like that fancy exercise machine or expensive bicycle. For higher-end items, you may want to purchase something called floater insurance<\/em>. This protects larger assets like art or antiques. \u00a0\n <\/p>\n

    Take video and pictures of your stuff. Write down brands, models and serial numbers if you know them. Save receipts for big ticket items if you can. Keep all this in a safe place or on a spreadsheet on an external cloud drive. One last tip: The cost to replace your items will probably be based on their current value <\/em>(unless you get replacement cost <\/em>insurance), not what you paid for them at the time (depreciation sucks, we know).\n <\/p>\n

    3. Research renters insurance policies.<\/h3>\n

    No one likes homework. But this kind will pay off if something ever happened to your place. Do your research on renters insurance policies to get a feel for what\u2019s covered and what isn\u2019t. This will help later when it comes time to shop around.\n <\/p>\n

    There are two different kinds of renters insurance: replacement cost<\/em> and actual cash value<\/em>. Replacement cost is a little more expensive since it pays the full amount to replace your belongings. Actual cash value is cheaper because it only covers what your stuff was worth when it was damaged.\n <\/p>\n

    You\u2019ll also want to add some type of flood or earthquake insurance if you live in areas prone to these disasters.\n <\/p>\n

    4. Consider your liabilities.<\/h3>\n

    Think about any extra liability coverage you might need. If you\u2019re a smoker or have pets, you might want to increase your liability. You\u2019ll be asked about these because both can affect your premium. Also, consider how often you have company in your home\u2014whether you host a book club or just plain old parties! These kinds of things could affect your liability needs. This is because the more people you have over, the higher chance there is that there will be an accident. And if you think you\u2019ll need more than the usual amount of liability coverage, check out umbrella insurance for extra protection.\n <\/p>\n

    5. Be ready to provide details.<\/h3>\n

    Depending on where you live, you\u2019ll be asked to answer these questions and more when it comes time to get a quote:\n <\/p>\n