Frequently Asked Questions

Most policies cover losses caused by fire and lightening, explosion, vandalism and malicious mischief, aircraft, riot and civil commotion, theft, vehicles, smoke, windstorm and hail, falling objects, weight of ice and snow, glass breakage, and sudden and accidental water damage. You might also be covered in cases of accidental electrical damage to appliances and damage by freezing. You can purchase endorsements for additional coverage including mold remediation, foundation/slab damage, sewer/drain backup, and continuous or repeated leakage.

Sure! Some of the discounts that you may qualify for include: Home and Car, Monitored Alarms, Deadbolt Locks, Claims Free, Fire Extinguishers, Smoke Detectors, and Age of Construction. For a description of these and other potential discounts, Click Here!

An HO-A policy is a "Named Peril" policy which means that the policy will list out what is covered and that is ALL that is covered. Anything outside of the listed items is automatically NOT covered.

The HO-B policy is an "All Risk" policy meaning that it covers EVERYTHING unless there is a specific exclusion for something. With this type of policy if something unforeseen happens, it is typically covered. The "All Risk" policy also offers some endorsements that are not usually available on a "Named Peril" policy such as foundation coverage, continuous seepage and leakage coverage for water leaks and wind driven rain, and water backup for sewer backups into the home.

No. A homeowners policy does not cover flood damage. Separate flood insurance is needed to protect your property against damage caused by flooding. Depending on where your home is located in relation to the mapped floodplain, you may be required to carry flood insurance.

An MSB (or Marshall Swift/Boeckh) form is utilized by a computer program to determine the reconstruction cost of your home. The program is continually updating its data to provide the most accurate cost estimates.

It truly depends upon what kind of coverage you have. If you have both flood AND a homeowners policy, you are definitely covered. However, if you have only homeowners OR flood insurance, then the answer depends on what destroyed your house. If the damage was caused only by high winds, flying debris, fallen trees or other types of similar damage, then a homeowners policy would be required. If the house was destroyed by flood waters, then only a flood policy would protect you. Any combination of these causes of damage would require both a homeowners and flood policy to ensure that you are fully covered.

Remember, once a hurricane has formed, it is typically too late to protect your home with extra coverage. Make sure to review your policies before hurricane season to make sure that you are adequately protected.

Mold remediation protection can provide for testing, treating and/or disposing of mold beyond that which is necessary in order to repair property.

Average reconstruction costs vary greatly within a range of about $80 - $120 per square foot. Costs depend on several factors including (but not limited to) cost of materials, location of the home, cost of labor, and special features in the home (special tiles, gold-covered sinks, etc...).

Yes, your homeowners policy typically covers personal belongings up to a limit and subject to a deductible. You can purchase additional coverage and schedule your more valuable items individually. A solid home inventory can help you assess the value of your belongings.

If your house happens to be completely destroyed in an accident, a new home would have to be built at today's labor rates and materials costs. These costs are probably much more expensive due to inflation and the fact that your home is probably being constructed outside of a large construction project (it's not being built as one piece of a whole new neighborhood). Insuring at full calculated replacement cost ensures that your home can be properly replaced even with the increases in cost.

Yes. Some of the minimum and maximum coverage limits on personal belongings (subject to deductibles):
Jewelry, guns and cameras -- $1,000 - $5,000
Silverware -- $2,500 - $10,000
Tools -- $1,000 - $4,000
Money -- $200 - $5,000
Securities -- $1,000 - $1,500
Computers -- $3,000 - $10,000
To cover these personal belongings for a value over these limits, consider an inland marine personal property floater. Some advantages of this coverage include no deductible and coverage for theft, burglary and mysterious disappearance. So if you happen to leave an item somewhere and it is gone when you return, it is covered.

No. Homeowners policies typically do not cover damage resulting from construction defects. If your home is a new construction, check your builders warranty to see if the repairs are covered by the builder. When purchasing a home, always be sure to have it completely inspected by a licensed professional. And do not purchase the home until all of the inspector's suggested repairs are made to your satisfaction.

Replacement cost coverage would pay all expenses associated with repairing or replacing the home up to the amount of the policy. Actual cash value would factor in depreciation and deductible amounts in paying for repair or replacement.

Liability coverage can protect you, your spouse, any relatives living with you, and anyone under the age of 21 who lives with you in case someone is accidentally injured or someone else's property is damaged and you are liable. You can receive protection against claims that you are legally obligated to pay including bodily injury, sickness, and death of others, as well as related legal and medical expenses and accidental death benefits.

No. Homeowners policies do not typically cover damage to property caused by animals.

There are many steps that you can take to increase the safety of your home. And some of these steps come with the extra benefit of qualifying you for discounts on your homeowners policy!

Monitored alarms are a great way to deter intruders and provide you with a discount on your homeowners policy. Many monitored alarm systems also call for assistance when they detect smoke in your home. Deadbolt locks on your entry doors are a great source of extra protection. Be sure to install deadbolts on ALL of your exterior entrances including the back door as many would-be intruders attempt to enter from the backyard. Maintaining a solid gate around your backyard and keeping it locked is a good way to keep unwanted visitors out. Keeping the trees and bushes around your home trimmed is another good way to discourage would-be intruders by removing easy hiding places. And don't underestimate the power of exterior lighting. Remember, intruders do not want to be seen. So anything you can do to make them more visible will go a long way towards protecting your home from becoming a target. Always make sure to lock all of your doors and windows and set your alarm before you leave home or go to bed.

To protect your family from the dangers of fire, make sure to stock your home with several fire extinguishers. Make sure that every family member knows where these extinguishers are kept (in different locations around the home and garage) and that everyone who is old enough understands how to use them. Always keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. If your home is not already equipped with smoke detectors, make sure to install them throughout your home including every bedroom, the kitchen and family areas. And make sure to put new batteries in all of your smoke detectors each time there is a time change. Another tip for protecting your home from fire...make sure that all matches, lighters and other flammable items are kept out of reach of children and pets. Do not store flammable materials or chemicals near your water heater and never plug in a damaged power cord! Make sure that the entire family has an emergency plan for getting out of the house should it be necessary.

Yes, when you apply for a homeowners policy, the outside of your home will be inspected.

Mobile homes that do not have wheels and are seated on a permanent foundation or blocks qualify for coverage by a homeowners policy. If your mobile home does not meet these criteria, ask about a mobilowners policy.

A current and complete home inventory can be invaluable in the case of an emergency that includes the loss of your personal property. Click Here to download a home inventory worksheet. Once you have completed your home inventory, be sure to keep it in a safe place (like a safe deposit box) along with receipts and pictures and/or video that you have taken of your rooms and property. If you do not have a safe deposit box, consider keeping a copy of all of your home inventory documents at a friend or relatives home in case damage to your home also destroys your copy of this documentation. When you purchase new items for your home, be sure to add them to your home inventory.

Personal property with value that exceeds your typical personal property coverage should be scheduled. Examples include expensive jewelry, watches, artwork, and furs. Proof of value, such as an appraisal, is required.

Condo insurance has all the benefits of renter's insurance AND covers damage to the condominium unit itself. Coverage includes protection for improvements, additions and alterations that have been made to the structure.

Check to see if your townhome association has a master policy. If the townhome is occupied by its owner and your association does not have a master policy on the building, a homeowners policy would be a good way to protect your individual unit. If the association does have a master policy protecting the structure, a tenet homeowners policy will insure your personal property. Check with your insurance agent to make sure that your coverage fits your unique situation.

As with any home, safety is one of the most important things to consider for your self and your family. It's always a good idea to install deadbolt locks on all exterior entryways, even in a high-rise building featuring 24-hour security. Always be alert when walking between your vehicle and the building (even if you park in a garage within your building). Don't hesitate to report unusual people, items or occurances to building security or the local police.

Make sure that you have functioning smoke detectors in all bedrooms, the kitchen and family rooms with batteries that you replace during each time change. If you are able to install monitored burglary and smoke alarms, consider doing so and always make sure that your home is equipped with functioning fire extinguishers that are easily accessible. Familiarize yourself and the other residents of your home with the rest of the floor on which your reside. Make note of stairways and building exits. Devise an emergency plan for leaving the building quickly (without using the elevators) and make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do should you ever have to put your plan into action.

No. Only flood insurance can protect your property in the event of a flood. Depending on where your condo is located in relation to the mapped floodplain, you may be required to carry flood insurance.

No. Typically property insurance (including condo and homeowners insurance) does not cover damage resulting from wear and tear, maintenance, or deterioration. It's a good idea to try to maintain your property as small signs of wear and tear begin to appear. By addressing the small, seemingly insignificant issues you may be able to avoid or at least minimize the larger bills associated with more complex deterioration that occurs over time.

Typically the answer to this question is "Yes". If you have a current condominium policy which covers wind damage and a healthy tree falls on your condo as a result of a storm, your damages should be covered. However, if the tree is dead or otherwise unstable prior to the storm the damage may be considered to be the result of poor maintenance or neglect and may not be covered. Always be sure to remove dead trees from your property so that they will not become a hazard to you or your neighbors.

Absolutely! Even if your condo is not new, there are several discounts that you may qualify for including monitored alarms, automatic sprinkler systems in the home, fire extinguishers and deadbolt locks. For more information on some of the available discounts for condominium policies, Click Here!

While sharing some of the same characteristics with homeowners insurance regarding protection of your home, farm and ranch insurance offers a number of additional options for protection of other parts of your property including additional buildings, livestock, crops, machinery, etc. There are also additional liability coverages available including pollution and chemical drift.

Depending on what type of coverage you have for your particular policy, you may be covered. One option for covering mobile property such as machinery is through an Inland Marine policy. Check with your agent regarding your exact needs.

You can obtain livestock insurance as part of your farm and ranch policy which will cover your livestock in the case of loss due to an accident such as shooting, drowning, electrocution or attack by animals.

Yes. If you raise crops on your property, consider crop insurance as part of your farm and ranch policy. This insurance covers crops from certain losses, such as hail damage, as defined by your policy.

Farm property includes items that you use in the operation of your farm or ranch. Farm buildings, machinery, and equipment are included.

If you are using your farm or ranch to conduct business, you should probably consider carrying business insurance in addition to farm and ranch coverage. There are additional coverages available through business insurance that may be important for you. Contact your agent to discuss your specific needs so that you can determine the coverage that is best for you.

Farm and ranch coverage offers the option of obtaining coverage for additional buildings on your property. Ask your agent about Farm Property insurance which covers farm buildings as well as machinery and equipment used in the operation of your farm or ranch. Another option may be Other Structure insurance which protects structures on your property that are separated from your home.

We realize that every piece of property is unique. That is why there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to farm and ranch coverage. Your policy will be tailored to fit your exact needs to make sure that you have the proper coverage to protect your family without paying for additional items that you do not need.

No, it does not. Your landlord should have insurance that covers the structure. But you need to have insurance to cover your belongings.

Yes. Some of the minimum and maximum coverage limits on personal belongings (subject to deductibles):
Jewelry, guns and cameras -- $1,000 - $5,000
Silverware -- $2,500 - $10,000
Tools -- $1,000 - $4,000
Money -- $200 - $5,000
Securities -- $1,000 - $1,500
Computers -- $3,000 - $10,000
To cover these belongings for a value over these limits, consider an inland marine personal property floater.

An inland marine personal property floater protects personal property against theft, burglary and mysterious disappearance. If you happen to leave a protected item somewhere and it is gone when you return, you are covered! There is no deductible.

Absolutely! Some of the discounts that you may qualify for include having other insurance policies with us (such as auto insurance), fire extinguishers, and other safety features such as burglar alarms and deadbolt locks. Click Here for more information regarding discounts available on renters policies.

While deadbolt locks can provide a higher level of safety and security, you should be sure to obtain permission from your landlord before making any changes to the property including installing new locks. The good news is some landlords will pay for the installation of deadbolts at the renter's request. And deadbolt locks are one way to qualify for discounts on your renters insurance premiums!

While you are leasing, you should carry renters insurance. Your landlord should have the proper insurance coverage to protect the structure, but you will need to protect your personal property. When you purchase the home you will need homeowners insurance to make sure that the structure is properly protected. When you are ready to make the switch to homeowner, be sure to see our section on homeowners insurance for guidance on the coverage that is correct for you.

Landlords typically carry insurance that covers damage to the structure. You should carry renters insurance to protect your belongings and your family.

Of course a very simple first step is to contact us to make sure that your property and family are properly insured. But there are some other simple things you can do to improve your family's safety.

• Get to kow your neighbors.
• Always be aware of your surroundings
• Check with your landlord about installing deadbolt locks and.or monitored fire and burglary alarms.
• Change the batteries in your smoke detectors at least twice each year (when the time changes).
• Equip your home with fire extinguishers and make sure everyone in the home knows how to use them
• Don't be afriad to report any unusual activity to the police and your landlord.
• Develop an escape plan to get everyone out of your home quickly in case of an emergency such as fire.
• Keep a current inventory of all of your property in a safe place. Click here for an inventory worksheet.