Prepare

Homeowner's Insurance

2 out of 3 disaster victims find themselves underinsured. Don’t just shop for the cheapest policy. Insure your home for replacement value.

Insurance Check Up

Prepare yourself and your family by ensuring your homeowner’s insurance policy is current.

Insure your home for its replacement value, not real estate value.

How much would it cost to rebuild from the ground up?
Verify and confirm coverage is adequate.

Consider adding:

Sewer and drain backup coverage.
Building code upgrade coverage.
Replacement, not Actual Cash value
Flood insurance (add endorsement or separate National Flood Insurance Policy)

Shop for quality, then price:

Compare limited and fine print language on roof and water damage, mold, and “matching” (siding, windows, roofing).
Compare different levels of deductibles and liability coverage.

Ask the Right Questions

Will this policy cover a builder’s estimate to rebuild my home after a total loss?
Is my coverage customized for my assets (e.g. sump pump, shed, pool, trampoline)?
What will my annual premium be with different levels of deductibles?
Do you recommend that I buy flood insurance or an umbrella policy?
What discounts do you offer and how do I qualify for them?

What's up with flood insurance?

Generally speaking, damage caused by wind-driven or falling rain that enters your home through an opening is covered under your home policy, but damage from rising water/flood damage is not. You can buy flood insurance to fill that gap.

What should you know?

You can add a flood insurance endorsement to your policy or buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
There is generally a 10-30 day waiting period from the date you buy it to the date it kicks in.
Flood insurance can be very affordable but the cost depends on where your home is located.
To know what your flood risk is, ask an insurance agent or call the NFIP at 877-336-2627.
If you have a mortgage and your home is in a “Special Hazard Flood Zone” your lender will require flood insurance.

National Flood Insurance Program

Provides $250,000 max to repair flood damage to your home.
Provides $100,000 max for belongings but not automatically. You have to ask and pay for this additional coverage.
Policy will NOT cover temporary rent and expenses if you cannot live in your home after a flood.

Questions to ask

How much will it cost to insure my home and belongings for flood damage?
Can you help me compare the cost, coverages, and options in an NFIP versus adding converge to my existing policy through a “flood endorsement”?
Does a “flood endorsement” insure my home for more than $250,000? Will it cover temporary rent expenses? Will it cover temporary rent expenses?