I was having coffee the other day with a friend of mine let’s call him Ziad.
Ziad is smart. He runs his own business, manages his finances well, and generally makes good decisions.
He told me proudly, “I finally bought home insurance yesterday. Found a policy that was $50 cheaper than the others.”
He looked pleased. I felt a pit in my stomach.
I asked him one simple question: “Did you check the Average Clause?”
He stared at me blankly. “The what?”
That blank stare is exactly why I’m writing this.
In Lebanon, we have a habit of looking at the final price first and the coverage details later usually when it’s already too late.
If you’re shopping for
home insurance in Lebanon,
put your credit card down for five minutes and read this. It might save you thousands.
1. The “Cheaper” Policy Is Usually a Trap
Here’s an uncomfortable truth about insurance: it’s very easy to make a policy cheaper.
I can lower your premium instantly by removing coverage you didn’t realize was essential.
If a quote is significantly cheaper than the market average, ask yourself one question:
What’s missing?
- Is water damage excluded? (A burst pipe alone can cost thousands.)
- Is the deductible unusually high?
- Is Third-Party Liability included?
(If a fire starts in your apartment and damages your neighbor’s home, you are legally responsible.
Many cheap policies leave you exposed.)
Cheap insurance doesn’t eliminate risk it quietly transfers it back to you.
2. “What Exactly Is Insured?” (Most People Get This Wrong)
Many homeowners believe they insured their “home,” but what does that actually mean?
- Is the policy covering only the structure, or also the contents?
- Are fixtures included (kitchens, built-in wardrobes, bathrooms)?
- Is the insured value based on today’s rebuilding costs or an outdated estimate?
I’ve seen claims reduced or rejected because of assumptions like:
- “The walls are covered, but not the kitchen.”
- “The apartment is insured, but the contents are not.”
Insurance doesn’t fail at claim time. Assumptions do.
3. The Under-Insurance Nightmare (Ziad’s Mistake)
Ziad’s apartment is worth $200,000.
To save on premium, he insured it for $100,000.
He thought, “If something happens, $100,000 is more than enough to fix it.”
That is not how insurance works.
There is a rule called the Average Clause.
If you insure your home for only 50% of its real value, the insurer pays only 50% of any claim even small ones.
A kitchen fire causes $10,000 in damage.
You think: “They will pay the full amount.”
Reality: Because the property is insured for only 50% of its value, the insurer pays $5,000.
You pay the rest.
The lesson: Under-insuring to save a few dollars defeats the entire purpose of insurance.
4. Stop Ignoring the “Earthquake” Box
Lebanon sits on a fault line. This is not theoretical.
Most standard home insurance policies exclude earthquakes unless you specifically add the extension.
When filling out your policy, don’t skip “Natural Disasters” just to reduce the premium.
If the ground shakes, that policy needs to rebuild your home not disappoint you.
The Bottom Line
Buying home insurance in Lebanon isn’t like subscribing to Netflix.
It’s a legal contract designed to protect your life’s savings.
Don’t be like Ziad before someone explained it to him.
Don’t chase the cheapest number.
Choose the partner who explains what you are actually buying.
Want a policy that actually makes sense?
I’m happy to review your current policy or quote even if it’s from another insurer and tell you honestly whether you’re protected or exposed.
