There’s something about trampolines that is irresistible to kids. And it makes sense – what kid wouldn’t want to touch the sky while bouncing merrily on a spring-loaded surface? But before you give in to the kids’ puppy-dog eyes and begging, you also have to consider your home insurance and how your insurance company will react to a new trampoline.
Unlike kids, home insurance companies typically aren’t crazy about trampolines. There’s a good reason for this: bouncing, while fun, is not without risk – of the broken bone and concussion variety. The chances that someone, perhaps an innocent, unsupervised neighborhood kid, could stumble upon your trampoline and promptly proceed to crash are too high.
So, we’ll go over what you need to do where your home insurance is concerned if your kids really, really want that new trampoline.
First things first: Choose a safe trampoline.
Your new trampoline should, in fact, be new, and it needs to be very safe. You don’t want one that’s going to give up mid-bounce and send a small child careening to the earth. Getting a used one is probably not your best move. Do some research and choose a model that will be fun and safe.
Do I need to tell my insurance company about my trampoline?
The short answer is yes. We’ll explain why in just a second.
If you’re applying for home insurance, chances are the application will ask if you have a trampoline. If you do, you need to be honest about it. (Again, well explain more in a second.)
If the kids finally wore you down and you’re getting a new trampoline, your best bet is to reach out to your agent and tell them about your plans. You need to ask if that trampoline will have an effect on your insurance and how your particular company handles trampolines. Each insurance company is different. Some require homeowners to put certain safety measures in place (netting, a lock on the opening to the netting, and proper anchoring.)
(To be honest, these are safety measures every trampoline owner should take. Netting can keep a child from accidentally cannonballing over the side. A lock can prevent unsupervised little ones from sneaking a turn – just like childproofing your home, you also need to childproof your trampoline. And proper anchoring can keep the contraption from flying away in a big storm and crashing into the neighbor’s house.)
Your insurance company may have an exclusion for trampolines, meaning that they won’t cover any trampoline-related losses (or lawsuits.) If that’s the case, you need to ask your agent for the details and get them to explain it to you thoroughly.
Okay. Let’s sum up by going over a list of questions to ask your agent:
- Do you allow trampolines?
- Will the trampoline itself be covered?
- Do you exclude trampolines?
- Will you cover liability-related claims arising from the trampoline?
- Will I have to put certain safety measures in place?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When it comes to insurance, asking questions can only help you. Anyways, what we’re saying is reach out to your agent before getting your trampoline to find out how they handle the springy entertainment. And if you’re looking to get home insurance quotes and save money on home insurance, we can help!
What if I don’t tell the insurance company about the trampoline?
Okay, that’s just not the best plan.
If you’re applying for insurance and you, ah, omit the truth about having a trampoline, you could be in trouble if you have to file a home insurance claim. The same if you choose to buy one and neglect to tell your insurer about it.
Here’s why:
Let’s say your kid has a friend over. They go outside to jump. The friend goes flying and makes a crash landing. The friend’s parents sue. The claim could very well be denied since the insurance company wasn’t aware of the trampoline. And that could leave you to shoulder the expenses of the accident.
Another thing:
Let’s say your insurance company doesn’t allow trampolines, but you have one anyways. It’s not like they’re going to find out, right? Well, but what if they do? Awkward. That could lead to trouble.
Basically, honesty is the best policy. What your insurance company doesn’t know isn’t going to hurt them, necessarily. It’s going to hurt you.
So, the question of “Will home insurance cover a trampoline?” really depends on your insurance company. That’s why it’s so important to talk to your insurance agent about it ahead of time. You have to find out how your insurance company handles trampolines. So, before you get a trampoline, check it out with your insurance. We don’t want to say that the world revolves around insurance, but…
Anyways, if you’re looking to save money on home insurance, we would be happy to help. We can help you shop your rates and get multiple quotes for your home insurance. All you have to do to get started with your quotes is fill out our online form or giving us a call today.
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