As the seasons change over before our eyes, and being right in the middle of hurricane season, it’s never too late to prepare. While you may have thought about how to prepare your bug-out bag and how to prepare your home, one of the commonly overlooked areas is insurance coverage. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 5 of the most common insurance mistakes that Houston families make. The goal is to help ensure that you are not among them! Let’s go.
1 Not knowing about flood insurance
This is first for a reason! Many people make the assumption that flood insurance is covered under classic homeowner’s insurance, but this is not the case. You need a separate policy addition specific to flooding; otherwise, damage from flooding will not be covered after the fact.
If you aren’t sure what is considered flooding and what is storm damage, your agent can help you with that.
2 Forgetting about the deductible for storm damage
Did you know that there is a deductible for all storm damage to your home, even with all of the proper protections in place? In most situations, this deductible is a certain percentage of your home’s current value. This can change regularly, as property values fluctuate. So, it’s important to stay up to date on this!
3 Not protecting your vehicle against storms
While homeowner’s insurance covers many traditional things on your property, it doesn’t cover protection for your vehicle specific to a hurricane. You will want to have comprehensive insurance for your vehicles, whether you are keeping them outside in a parking lot, or inside in a garage during hurricane season.
4 Not keeping a copy of your home’s contents up-to-date
While we are all guilty of doing this, hurricane season (or the new year) is the perfect time to make sure your home’s inventory is correct and accurate. This is especially so if you have any large, expensive purchases! Your insurance agent will need a current inventory if you submit a claim!
5 Changing insurance last minute
You can’t get storm-related insurance last-minute, so you’ll want to prepare to adjust your insurance policy right now. Between the waiting period of 30 days for flood coverage and the fact that many insurance companies freeze changes or new policies during a storm, you don’t want to miss the deadline to protect your home and property!
How to avoid these common mistakes
If you are now aware of these mistakes but aren’t entirely sure how to avoid them, reach out to your local Farmers agent, Paula Smith. They will be able to answer all of your questions and ease your mind on the things that you are doing right or that need correcting.
Now that you are familiar with all of these common problem areas, you’ll be all set to look toward hurricane season with determination. Well, maybe not determination, but with the satisfaction of knowing that you, your loved ones, your home, and your vehicles are all as protected as possible. That’s all you can hope for when it comes to preparing for this yearly change in the season.
Contact Paula Smith Insurance at 281-488-8880 with any questions.