[TowerTalk] Attach tower to house?

[thayes]

Alan:

Such a decision could be that of a local company underwriter (a fairly low position in an insurance company), a branch office or a company policy. Homeowners policies differ between companies and states. One company may consider a tower a separate structure and want to cover it with an endorsement with an appropriate charge per hundred dollars of value while others may consider it as part of the covered property as long as it is attached to the house. The company that didn't want it attached to the house may have had  one huge claim of a house that burned after a lightning strike so they avoid any more situations like that. Another company that hasn't had any problems might not think anything of it. Insurance underwriters are just humans that make decisions, and many times are uninformed about what they have to make judgements about. They get no help from competent people as there are so few that really know. The best thing is just to ask your agent what the company policy is concerning towers and go with it. That's his job and he should be happy to help you before a claim occurs and not have to make excuses after a loss. I read all sorts of garbage on this reflector concerning insurance and most of it is worthless info. Steve, K7LXC usually gives good advice, and there are a few insurance folks on here (I've worked in property and casualty insurance for 23 years) that will give you good advice. Some folks on here will state that a company may not pay a claim if a tower wasn't permitted by the county and other bilge, but if you read your policy, it says nothing about that. The best thing you can do is read the policy, as it is a contract, and discuss your questions with a good, professional agent.

73,
Tim, K5TH