GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

There's no room for an apple to fall, especially in Indian cities. Cities are buzzing with a huge population of students and working professionals. We often see our family and friends move out of their hometowns to turn over a new leaf. Some flee to pursue their dreams, and some to live independently.

This appears like a window of opportunity for the apartment owners to give their flats as paying guest accommodation. This way, they can earn well and gain the confidence to drive a small business. Being a highly rewarding sector, some individuals have already started to build their brands on PG accommodations. Their presence gives us a clear hint about the opportunities and profitability of this sector.

All in all, it's a booming industry. This fear of missing out in the market makes people convert their apartments to paying guest accommodations. But isn't it essential to know the risks and rewards before deep diving into this sector? Don't worry. We have got you covered.

Risks:

1. Legalities:
Converting your residence into a PG accommodation states that you are renting it for commercial purposes. Commercial properties require compliance with certain formalities and permission from municipal authorities, police, fire department, etc.

2. Security:
To prioritise the tenants' safety, ensure the installation of CCTV cameras and appoint a guard for additional security, and maintain the records of visitors.

3. Background check:
It is crucial to know your paying guests before closing the deal. So, verify their official documents, such as Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, or authorised identity card, and keep additional photocopies of these with you for records and future reference.

4. Agreement:
The rent agreement serves as an official document of mutual understanding between the occupant and the landlord. You need to mention all the terms in the contract. Once the contract is signed, you can move to the next step of closing the deal.

5. Damage to property:
The tenant should be responsible for maintaining the original condition of the PG except for everyday wear and tear. In case of any damage, it should immediately be brought to the landlord's notice.
As a landlord, you can insure your apartment with home insurance which would safeguard your property in case of any burglary, fire, or natural calamity.

Rewards:

1. Greater monetary benefits:
PG business can be a money-spinner for you. On average, a PG accommodates 5-6 individuals. So, a PG can earn you up to 10x of what you could make by renting out the apartment. Paying guest accommodations in metropolitan cities can earn you between 6,000 to 50,000; for other cities, it can range from 3000 to 20,000 per head per month. This can be an excellent source of side income that can be a significant financial benefit, especially for the middle class.

2. Passive income source:
PG can be a great passive income source for you while you can continue your own job/business. Converting your apartment into paying guest accommodation would be an excellent decision. However, complete all the necessary procedures and legal issues before converting it to a PG.
Don't forget to undertake the safety of your apartment by investing in home insurance, which would protect your belongings and your apartment from damages that mostly occur due to natural disasters and/or manmade misadventures.

If you have a good living space that is not occupied, then PG renting is a good decision you can make to get monetary benefits from your asset. But it is important to be clear on the terms before dealing with tenants. Never trap yourself in a problematic situation by making rash decisions.

Do your best research and background check of the desired tenant and stay updated on your home insurance renewal. Follow these basic yet vital steps, and you are all set to rent your apartment.

Click HERE to buy the best home insurance policy for your PG accommodation.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

In the unfortunate event that someone breaks into your establishment and steals your belongings, the experience can be devastating on a psychological and economic level. Forcible intrusion into a residence or commercial establishment to commit theft is the definition of burglary. If someone tries to break into your home or place, you may be able to recoup some of your losses with burglary insurance.

Why do you need Burglary Insurance?

Under the Home Burglary Insurance policy, you also have the option to purchase additional coverage for high-value items such as diamonds, jewellery, and other valuables.

If a criminal were to break into your place of business and steal valuable items like computers, printers, and other office equipment, you would be protected by burglary insurance. These policies are designed to reimburse you for the loss due to the actions of evil minds. It provides the best possible financial assistance and helps you adjust to such circumstances to recover from the damages.

If thefts from homes and businesses are common in your neighbourhood, you should consider purchasing insurance against theft and burglary.

Essential points to identify needs for burglary insurance.

The primary motivation for purchasing theft protection is to prevent significant financial loss so that your home or business can be secured against the possibility of a break-in.

Crimes like burglaries, thefts, and other similar occurrences frequently make the front pages of newspapers. In today's world, it's irresponsible to abandon your house alone for too long. For this reason, having burglary insurance may be a great relief and a source of pride.

Let's take a look at the scenario when you must protect the homes with a burglary insurance:

● If you must keep the residence unattended for a long time, and there's nobody to look after.

● For those who must depart their homes or businesses for extended periods.

● Anyone running a business with a steady stream of customers coming in and out of the building daily.

● Corporation owners who attend to numerous clients each day.

Following are the types of burglary insurance available under the general insurance India category.

1. Full value insurance:
This type of insurance gives complete coverage to the property.

2. First loss insurance:
Under this plan, a certain percentage of the property gets insured rather than total protection. The policyholder must opt for this when there is less probability of total loss.

3. Stock declaration insurance:
Under this plan, the policyholder must estimate the highest stock value during a financial year. And the said amount will be the sum assured. In the case of stock fluctuations, this plan is beneficial.

Burglary and theft insurance are not the same. Illegal possession of assets, intending to infiltrate closed establishments forcibly (armed robbery), and theft by violence/ persuasive/ vicious entry are covered under burglary insurance.

On the other hand, theft insurance includes comprehensive coverage of stealing activities. Most types of insurance, including those for automobiles, homes, and even health insurance, provide coverage against burglary, which widely falls under general insurance India. Crime insurance endorsements can also be added to your policy to increase your protection against theft and burglary. Get acquainted with all the necessary information about a burglary insurance policy for your home or workplace safety. The criminal act of a few minutes can adversely affect your hard-earned happiness. Don’t let this happen, and buy reliable burglary insurance today!

Click HERE to know more about general insurance India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Who doesn’t love a private swimming pool? People of all ages have the time of their lives in the pool. You can go swimming, have floating meals, spend quality time with your loved ones, organise pool parties, and so much more. Building a swimming pool on your own house’s premises is an alluring deal. But as amazing as it sounds, there are multiple things you need to consider before you start constructing your pool.

What factors need to be considered before and during the pool construction process? Are there different types of pools? If so, which would be the best fit for your house? This blog will discuss all the answers to the above questions and much more.

1. Be thoroughly educated about the local laws and regulations:
You need to make sure that you are aware of the local municipal corporation laws and the rules of such types of construction, as many cities and states have different sets of rules that you need to comply with. You need to check in with the authorities and the designated officials to ensure that you do not violate the terms and end up in trouble for the same.

2. Determine the reason for the construction of the pool:
You need to make sure that you are clear about the reason behind building the swimming pool. Is it for exercise or pleasure? Which set of people would use the pool more- children or adults? Suppose it is children that you are focusing on while constructing the pool. In that case, you have to ensure that the depth is not more than 1.5 ft, and if it is for adults, then not more than 4 ft (the guidelines regarding these measurements might vary), according to the safety purposes.

3. Types of pools and which one do you want:
Fibreglass, vinyl-lined, and concrete are the three significant categories of in-ground swimming pools can be classified into. Fibreglass pools have fewer varieties in shapes and sizes, which can be difficult in case you want to construct a pool in your backyard or some area within your premises that would require multiple customisations. In cooler regions, fibreglass and vinyl-lined pools are preferred over concrete pools due to their flexibility.

4. What would be the ideal location for a pool:
It would be best to consider multiple factors before finalising where to construct the pool. These include more sun exposure and fewer trees to avoid getting leaves into the pool and eliminate contamination risks. Otherwise, you will have to spend the entire day cleaning and filling up the pool due to dirt and debris in case of heavy rains or winds. Steer clear of any electrical pipeline, wires, sewers, etc., above or underneath the pool to avoid any risks of shocks. Lastly, the pool must be in the visible range within your premises so you can quickly check on the people in the pool or if there are any other potentially dangerous factors.

Other factors that you need to take care of are filtration techniques that would suit your pool and fit your budget optimally, pool sanitisers, the budget, and the type of workers you might need for the process safety gears and protocols, etc.

Know how you can build a swimming pool in your house? Well, now you do. Beautifying your house and upgrading it by installing various entertainment sources helps you create the home you have always dreamt of. It is a massive part of building memories. But apart from the entire up-gradation and decoration process, you must ensure that your sweet abode stays secure against any damages. Apart from investing in pool construction, it would be best if you also considered buying home insurance. Buy best home insurance online India to make the purchase hassle-free. You can get instant solutions for all your queries and good customer satisfaction while making claims or paying premiums through the online portal.

Click HERE to learn more about how you can buy home insurance online India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Every legitimate and eligible citizen of India is supposed to pay Income Tax regularly within the specified time limit as per the government regulations and norms. The taxable amount is based on an individual’s annual earnings. There are different tax and income slabs defined respectively by the Indian government. One must consider their earnings and calculate their taxes accordingly. These taxes are righteously used for the benefit and progress of the country.

But amidst all these details, were you aware that insurance, apart from protecting you and your assets against various risks, also is a substantial tax-saving benefit? This important question may give you a broader perspective on the insurance and tax-paying correlation. We have all the information you will need to understand the perks of insurance and how it can be a tax-saving choice. Let’s dive deeper into the facts!

Which policies help you fetch tax benefits?

Insurance options that will help you avail of full benefits along with tax-saving options include:
● Retirement plans and policies
● Health insurance policies
● ULIPs-Unit Linked Insurance Policies

All these insurance policies can be categorised under similar yet slightly different sections of the Income Tax Act regulated by the Government of India.

Understanding the tax deductions.

Various types of deductions can influence the tax benefits you can get on your health insurance. Let’s understand what 80C and 80D tax deductions are. Tax deduction can be claimed on your taxable income on premiums valuing around Rs. 1.5 lacs.

These premiums are supposed to be paid for insurance policies in your name, spouse’s name, or your children’s/child’s name/names. If you are someone who has paid their premiums, you can avail of 80C and 80D tax deductions annually.

The 80D deduction.

The 80D deduction dictates that if you have a health insurance policy in your name or the names of your spouse and children, the tax-deductible income can be Rs 25,000 on the insurance premiums.

According to section 80D, there are various other prospects for this deduction, but we will now consider this information to discuss the tax benefits further.

The 80C deduction.

According to section 80C of the Income Tax Act, the tax-deductible you can claim is worth Rs 1.5 lacs of insurance premiums. If you purchase a single premium policy, you can only claim the tax benefits under section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

Under section 80D, if you have a health insurance policy under your name along with a dependent with the minimum age of 60, you can claim a tax deductible on the dependent’s health insurance.

Protecting your financial assets against unprecedented situations and getting compensation for your financial losses is essential. Times can be very unpredictable, and you might never know when you will need a lot of money. Exhausting your savings is not a wise option here. You need to think beyond and try to avoid burning a hole in your pocket.

While being mindful of your expenses and determining a budget is one of the top solutions here, insurance is another way you can stay secure about your assets. It is vital to purchase the right general insurance after exploring the market and determining the one that can cater to your needs in the best way possible.

Click HERE to know more about general insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Carrying out activities such as phone recharges, bill payments, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, etc. has become very common. All the activities are getting digitalized now, and so is the case with general insurance policies. There are various platforms where you can generate an instant general insurance online quote as well as purchase a new policy.

In present times, a lot of people prefer to buy insurance policy online. Although the online purchase of insurance policies may not be everyone’s cup of tea, yet there are some significant advantages of buying an insurance policy online after generating a general insurance online quote.

In case you are wondering why people buy insurance policy online, here are the reasons which encourage them to do so: -

•Time-saving: - You do not have to go through the hectic processes of going to the company’s office and get the process completed. The offline process lasts several days whereas, through the online process, everything is just a few clicks away.

•Lower premiums: - The premiums to be paid are quite higher for the insurance policies purchased offline than the policies that are purchased online. Thus, the online method is pocket-friendly as well.

•Easy comparison: - When looking for an insurance policy online, comparing becomes easier. You can compare general insurance online quote from all the companies at once without having to go through any trouble. You can look for yourself and choose the company that suits you the most.

•Freedom to decide: - Everything is done on your own, so you are the one making the decisions. There is no manipulation or pressure from the company when you purchase an insurance policy online. You are the sole decision-maker without any external influence.

•Less paperwork: -Purchasing an insurance policy online reduces the amount of paperwork to be completed. The offline method involves a lot of paperwork which can be quite troublesome. The online saves you from it, and the entire experience becomes hassle-free.

•Informed decision making: - You can also view the customer reviews for the policy that you are going to buy. Before finally buying the policy, you can search for the reviews of other customers to check if you can trust the company and the policy.

•Fewer chances of rejection: - The chance of rejection due to incorrect or incomplete details becomes negligible under the online mode. This is probably where the offline method becomes troublesome, where the forms can be rejected multiple times for some trivial issues.

•Easy and convenient: - The processes of purchasing a new policy and paying the premiums can be completed with just a few clicks in case of the online mode. In the older times, buying policies was all about personal interaction and a buildup of trust following the interaction. The customer was convinced by the representative of the insurance

•Informed decision making: - You can also view the customer reviews for the policy that you are going to buy. Before finally buying the policy, you can search for the reviews of other customers to check if you can trust the company and the policy.

company and after various processes, the final buying of the insurance policy took place. However, in the online purchase procedure, everything is digitalized and available on your device with an internet connection.

Though, the digitalized ways of selling and buying insurances policies online lack the old ways of building up a sense of trust in the customer. The customers do everything on their own in such cases through the online portals of insurance companies, based on their brand image and terms and conditions.

The new method is not appreciated by all sections of the public, and many of them still prefer traditional methods. So, if you are looking to buy insurance policy then you should weigh all the pros and cons of both the methods and choose the one which suits you and your ideas the most.

Almost everyone today owns a car, which means they would most probably either already have a car insurance policy or would be looking to buy one soon.

For those who plan to buy one, there are many things to consider. Since the policy would provide financial cover in the event of an accident, either for the repairs/ any bodily harm, or both, hence, you must do all the necessary research. One should choose an insurance policy that not only suits your needs the best but also offers maximum coverage.

Here are five mistakes that most people tend to make when buying car insurance: -

• Opting for a low premium: The premium is the amount you regularly pay to the insurance company towards the policy, and often, many people choose a policy that comes with a lower premium.
• Comparing policies only based on price: Car insurance prices in India vary from company to company, and while paying a low premium might seem easy on the pocket, but you may not get a lot of benefits or the needed coverage out of it. Before you pay any amount, make sure to go over different policies, compare them, and then choose the one which offers maximum coverage.
• Not registering the vehicle: As a car owner, you must register the car or transfer the ownership to yourself since that is the only way to make the insurance claims when needed. While many forget to do so, others purposefully avoid it, to not pay the taxes, and end up not benefiting from the insurance policy.
• Not doing enough research: While asking friends and family or the car dealership about suitable car insurance is always a good idea, it would be stupid not to do the research yourself. You must make sure to go over different car insurance policies and compare their terms and benefits before you choose the one that suits you best. If you do not do so, you might end up paying higher than necessary or might opt for a policy that does not offer optimum coverage.
• Not reading the policy: Whether you are yet to select a car insurance policy or are about to sign on one, one of the worst mistake that you can commit is not reading the terms, conditions, and coverage of the policy. Unless you read it thoroughly, you will not know what it does and doesn’t cover, how much you need to pay, when and how much you would need to pay out of your pocket in some cases, etc.
• Not updating the policy: There are always changes in your everyday life, which in turn influence the kind of car insurance you would need (it could be related to where you live or work, where you drive most often, the rate of theft around your area, etc.). When you choose an insurance policy, you will go with the one whose terms and coverage align with your lifestyle, and thus, it makes sense to update your policy if there are any changes in your everyday life.

Keep in mind that the car insurance prices in India will differ everywhere, as will the terms, thus making it very important to research thoroughly before buying such a policy.

When truth and transparency are the core of a general insurance company, you know you are in trustworthy hands. This is the way of life at Magma HDI, and the fundamental reason it has been able to sell 1 million policies in FY19, as on February 21, 2019.

Having started operations only in 2012, Magma HDI has managed to build a strong reputation as a key player in the Indian insurance industry in a short span of time. It has steadily climbed growth charts with close to 1,000 employees, 135+ branches and 5,000-plus partners from about 180 employees, 46 branches and 500 partners back in the year of its commencement.

So, what have been the key differentiators responsible for this success?

The foremost reason is the company's utmost focus on honesty and transparency. When you choose Magma HDI, you get exactly what you have signed up for.

What's more, your struggle with endless, incomprehensible TnCs is over. Magma HDI believes in minimal TnCs that have important clauses highlighted. There are no hidden charges, and all costs are revealed to you upfront.

The company has a wide range of retail and commercial products on offer that suit requirements of all kinds of buyers. It has over 50 products across categories to choose from and has issued more than 24 lakh general insurance policies till date.

The foundation on which Magma HDI has been able to build its standing is its high claim- settlement ratio. Magma HDI has settled 94.1% of claims generated in FY 17-18 compared to the industry average of 87.2%. Owing to this, Magma HDI has successfully settled more than 1.25 lakh general insurance claims till date.

Additionally, the claim settlement process is absolutely hassle-free. Almost 87.17% claims made in FY 17-18 were settled in less than 30 days compared to the industry average of 62.1%.

A good insurance provider must not only assure you and your loved ones of a safety net in times of need, but also offer you the much-needed peace of mind that the promises made to you will be kept. To check both these parameters off your list, go ahead with a trusted partner such as Magma HDI.

Health insurance is something that every single person should have at all times, so they are protected from any unnecessary or substantial expenses in case there is any harm to life or threat to health. However, before you go with a particular health insurance policy, you need to have all the necessary information about it, such as the premium to be paid, the coverage, the validity, exceptions, etc.

You need to make sure to choose only the best health insurance policy in India, not just for yourself but also your family. Here are five reliable sources to learn about health insurance; you end up making the right choice: -

• A Health Insurance Agent: One of the best sources to learn about health insurance is an agent. A health insurance agent is well aware of all the terms and conditions of the different policies and can provide you with all the information you need. Whether it is about the premium you need to pay, find out about all that it covers, and doesn’t, what fees you need to pay, what some other benefits are, etc. Agents know about the policies of their own company and can also give you some vital information about health insurance in general.
• Your doctor: Your general physician, or the doctor you have been going to for years and who has all your health records, is another excellent source of information when it comes to health insurance. Since they are quite involved in the health industry, they would be able to advise you on what the insurance policy must cover depending upon the condition of your health.
• Your place of work: It might not seem as if your employer would have information about health insurance, but that is not true. Many companies provide their employees with health insurance or pay for a significant part of it, and thus have a lot of information about health insurance in general. If you are seeking information about health insurance, your employer might be able to help, especially since companies keep detailed records of such policies. If you work in the healthcare industry, you have an added advantage.
• The Internet: With almost everything available on the internet, it is not difficult to find the best health insurance policy in India online, given the number of insurance company websites as well as general websites that compare different policies. You have the option of going through the websites of different health insurance companies and collecting information about the various policies, or you can read different articles that compare health insurance policies, and then find out more about some particular ones. The internet is an excellent source of information for everything, including health insurance.
• Your Family: Believe it or not, your family members can help you choose the best policy for you and your family. Since they have been through the process of finding a good insurance policy numerous times, they can help you understand the terms and conditions and can help you find one which suits your needs the best. However, be sure to verify it with an agent.

Having Health insurance is extremely important, and so, you must only consult with the most reliable sources when finding out about it; having inadequate or incorrect information can prove to be detrimental in the future.