Things Home Insurance Covers That Aren’t in Your Home

Your home policy from Insurance Solutions of Texas covers much more than just the structure of your Sugar Land, TX home. As this blog explains, home insurance also covers items in other buildings that the homeowner owns or rents. 

Your personal property in your home’s attached or detached garage, a workshop on the property, or an off-site storage unit all receives coverage. 

Knowing that those items also receive coverage can help determine if your home policy includes enough coverage for your personal property. Make a list of the items you store in each location, then meet with your insurance agent online or in person for a consultation. One of our agents can help you determine the amount of personal property coverage needed to replace all of your items.

Your home policy covers everything anywhere in your home and inside its outbuildings, such as utility sheds, barns, workshops, garden houses, greenhouses, garages, gazebos, cabanas, etc.

Typically, a policy includes between 10 to 20 percent of the home’s value in property value. This may not fully cover what you own, though. That’s why the property audit you conduct remains so important. It lets you decide the property value rather than accept a prescribed generic value standard to a policy from a specific underwriter.

At this policy review, have your agent check whether your policy uses the actual or replacement value. If you want to buy a new one of everything in case of damage, request a replacement value in your policy.

Contact Insurance Solutions of Texas to improve your Sugar Land, TX home coverage. Let us help you increase your coverage to protect your personal property.

Making your home a safer place

In what increasingly feels like a dangerous world, it is essential that you feel safe in your home. You can do many things to make sure your home is as safe as possible. At Insurance Solutions of Texas in Sugar Land, TX, we know that having the right home insurance provides a safety net that all homeowners require to feel safe. 

Home security system

Today you have many options when it comes to a home security system. You can choose one that is monitored or monitor it yourself with your smartphone. Installing one yourself is easy and inexpensive, and even with a doorbell camera, you can see anyone approaching your home. Having motion lights on your house’s exterior can help deter anyone from approaching in the dark. 

Door locks

Door locks are a simple way to make your home safer, but to make it safer, you need to use them. Deadbolts are an additional level of safety. Many locks these days can be controlled by your smartphone in the event that you forget to lock them before leaving home. 

Window locks

Never overlook the importance of having your windows locked. If you must open a window, there are security bars that you can place on them that keep them from being opened more than a few inches. 

Keep shrubbery low

Keep the shrubbery around your house low or nonexistent. You don’t want to provide a place for anyone to remain out of sight. 

Contact Insurance Solutions of Texas Sugar Land, TX will be here for all of our customers from the day we sign you on for a policy through any claims you may make. Call us or stop in today to receive a quote. 

How Much Home Insurance Do I Need?

One of the biggest risks in insurance is never buying enough coverage. Imagine filing a claim only to find that you don’t carry adequate insurance. Isn’t that frustrating? Unfortunately, 3 out of 5 homeowners are underinsured in America. The good news is that you don’t have to be part of these statistics since Insurance Solutions of Texas of Sugar Land, TX is guiding you on how to carry the right amount of home insurance.

How much dwelling insurance should I have?

If you have a mortgage, the first step is to satisfy the lender’s insurance requirements. However, this doesn’t mean that’s what you should settle for — it’s only the foundation to build on the amount of insurance needed.

The ultimate guide of how much home insurance is required is the replacement cost of your home. How much will it cost to replace your home from the ground up? That would be the amount of home insurance needed. When computing the replacement cost, consider factors like renovations, current building material costs, and new building codes.

How much contents coverage do I need?

How much will it cost to replace all the stuff you own? That’s the amount of personal contents coverage required. Come up with a home inventory that includes everything you own. This ensures all assets under your possession are insured.

For high-value items like jewelry, you need to look out for "riders" or "endorsements" because typical home insurance provides limited coverage.

How much liability insurance do you need?

This is usually a tricky one because you never know the liability claims to face at any given time. However, to be safe, purchase $300,000 of liability coverage or $500,000 if you can. For higher coverage, consider umbrella insurance.

Still not sure about how much home insurance you need? Don’t worry. We won’t let you walk the journey alone. If you are in Sugar Land, TX, and its environs, please partner with Insurance Solutions of Texas for all your home insurance needs.

Things home insurance won’t cover

Sugar Land, TX is a great place to buy a home. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas and lots of new development there means finding a home is easier than in some other cities. Your home is a major investment no matter where you buy it and making sure it is protected with the right home insurance is important. At Insurance Solutions of Texas, we have been in business since 1993 and we have the knowledge and experience to make sure you get the right insurance for your particular needs. 

Floods

Floods are something Texans are all too familiar with. When a storm or hurricane hits the Gulf Coast, waters rise. Floodwaters cause massive amounts of damage. If you live in a flood zone and have a mortgage, your lender will require you have flood insurance. Your home insurance will not cover flood damage caused by surface water. Busted pipes, yes, rising waters, no. 

Sewer back up

Nothing is more disgusting to think about than a sewer backing up into your home. It is disturbing to understand your home insurance will not pay for any damage that is caused by the sewer backup in your home. 

Land movement

Land movement includes a few different things. It includes earthquakes, mudslides, and sinkholes. All of them are scary to think about and not covered by traditional home insurance. 

Owner neglect

When you live in a warm climate, there are certain things you as an owner must do to protect your home. You must treat it for termites and other pests. You must make sure mold doesn’t grow in your home and you must keep your home in good repair. If you don’t, your home insurance will not foot the bill. 

When you are ready to update your home insurance, give Insurance Solutions of Texas in Sugar Land, TX a call for a no-obligation quote. 

Home Insurance for Peace of Mind

It’s not a question of if, but when. Home insurance is something that every homeowner in Sugar Land, TX should have for peace of mind. But what are the benefits? Insurance Solutions of Texas can give you a few reasons why home insurance is so important.

What Is Home Insurance?

Home insurance is a policy that covers the full replacement cost of your home, less any deductible. You can also get additional coverage for contents inside the house and other structures on your property, like garages or decks. Homeowners usually pay their premiums monthly to protect themselves from unpredictable scenarios such as fire, theft, vandalism, and severe weather events.

Why Have Home Insurance?

It’s not a question of if, but when something unexpected will happen at your place, so it’s important to be prepared with an emergency fund if there are damages when you’re unable to make repairs; this way, you won’t lose everything— including peace of mind!

Home insurance may be required when you have a mortgage. If you don’t have a mortgage, it may be worth looking into to see if the peace of mind is worth the cost.

Home insurance will cover both your building and personal property according to what’s covered by your policy. Your home might need repairs after an accident or natural disaster like flooding; this type of coverage pays for damages up to certain limitations set in the agreement— which could include structural damage and replacement items inside the house such as furniture, appliances, clothing, and more!

If any damages happen—whether they’re intentional (such as vandalism) or accidental — these too can be taken care of because most policies also provide liability protection on anything.

Are You Looking for Home Insurance?

Home insurance will not stop disasters from happening. However, it will give you the peace of mind associated with knowing that you’re financially safe.

Are you in Sugar Land, TX and looking for home insurance? Contact Insurance Solutions of Texas for more information.

What You Need To Know About Home Insurance

Home insurance is designed to protect one of your largest assets, and you want to be sure you’ve got the right policy for your needs. If you’re in or around the Bellaire or  Sugar Land, TX area, Insurance Solutions of Texas can help you find the policy that’s right for your needs. You don’t have to settle for a mediocre policy that you aren’t comfortable with when there are opportunities for you to get the coverage that’s truly right for you. Not all policies work for all people, so finding what’s right for your home and family is the first step.

That step is easier to take when you have knowledgeable agents on your side. You can ask all the questions you have about home coverage and get the answers that will help you make an informed decision. The goal of insurance is protection and peace of mind, but the way to get those things is to have the information you need when looking at different policies. With agents that are committed to helping you find the right coverage for your specific situation, you can feel good about finding a policy that meets your requirements and protects the home you love and care for.

When you’re looking for home insurance in Sugar Land, TX, Insurance Solutions of Texas can help you find it. Reach out to our knowledgeable agents today, and ask them all the questions you have about a home policy that will fit your needs. Then you can enjoy your home even more and do all the things you want. The local area has so much to offer, and it’s more fun to explore those things when you know your house is protected properly. We want to help you with that so you can fully appreciate all the area provides.

Common myths about home insurance that you should know

Home insurance is a standard policy that is generally recommended to protect families and personal possessions. Despite being widely used by many people in Sugar Land, TX and having a good understanding of how it works, home insurance still faces common myths and misconceptions, most of which you may have come across. Insurance Solutions of Texas will help clear the air, so you have a solid understanding of what home insurance is and how it works.

Flood damage is covered.

This is one of the most common myths. Many people fail to understand the type of water damage that home insurance covers. Flood damage is entirely different from general water damage in a home. For instance, if your water pipes burst and cause water damage to your personal belongings, home insurance will come in and repair the damaged pipe and replace the damaged items. However, if it rains heavily and water flooded your home, you will need flood insurance to cover these damages.

Your medical expenses are covered.

Home insurance only covers medical expenses for injured parties who are not family members, such as guests and neighbors.

Your premiums go up every time you file a claim.

Indeed, premiums go up when claims are filed but not after a single claim. Filing a single claim will not raise your premium rates. Premiums only hike when there are too many claims in a specific duration. The same principle applies to any Sugar Land, TX neighborhood with frequent claims, such as burglary prone areas. Insurance providers have to protect their investments with frequent claims by raising premiums, but not single claims.

All valuables are covered.

This is a common untrue statement because home insurance comes with limits and does not cover expensive valuables such as jewelry, arts and carvings, and even furs. All valuables that go beyond your coverage limits are not covered.

We hope that this article helped clear some of the myths about home insurance. For questions, quotes, or policy discussions, contact Insurance Solutions of Texas today.

3 Benefits of Putting Up a Privacy Fence

Residents who live in all 50 states can discuss ways to protect their home and family with the agents of Insurance Solutions. One of the best ways to keep your home and family safe is to install a privacy fence. Properly built fences offer a variety of benefits and will increase the overall value of your home.

Reduced Visibility

A solidly built privacy fence will reduce visibility around your home. While you may be able to see out of the fence, it will be challenging for anyone to see in your yard or inside your home.

Restricted Access

With the right type of fencing, it will be complicated for intruders to gain access to your backyard or your home. Most privacy fences are at least six or seven feet high. In addition to keeping intruders away from your family, a sturdy privacy fence will also keep various types of animals out of your yard as well.

Protects Pets and Children

A good privacy fence also works to keep your children and pets safe. They won’t be able to wander out of your yard and get into mischief in the neighborhood. Your children and pets can play as much as they like without worry or fear that they will wander into the street or away from home.

The agents of Insurance Solutions have years of experience and look forward to working with their clients who live in Sugar Land, TX, and throughout the country. Each agent is dedicated to making sure their clients have all of the information they need before purchasing and installing a privacy fence. Call today and find out how they can help you protect your home and family.

Should You Ever Decrease Your Home Insurance Policy Amount?

Having home insurance is crucial for any homeowner, whether they are financing or own their home. But, insurance coverage needs can change. So, it is vital to understand whether you have the right amount of coverage in place and if you need to increase or decrease coverage amounts over time.

Decreasing Insurance Coverage

The instances where insurance coverage should be decreased is if there is a removal of part of the structure, or the value of the home decreases significantly. Don’t reduce the coverage amount in other instances because it can leave gaps in coverage. The best way to find out if the coverage in place needs to be decreased is to consult with an experienced insurance agent. They can help determine if too much coverage is in place and recommend actions to suit the situation. 

Getting Quality Home Insurance

It is vital to find quality insurance to help prevent losses from a covered event. Get the assistance you need from a top-rated insurance provider like Insurance Solutions of Texas, serving Sugar Land, TX, to give you peace of mind and the protection you need. The insurance agents here are highly skilled and can help homeowners discover policy options that work best for their individual situation. Additionally, we can help with claims that may arise in the future. 

Don’t guess when it comes to lowering insurance coverage. Find out from an agent at Insurance Solutions of Texas if your current plan is the right course of action or if changes need to be made. We can help the people of the lone star state find options that are right for their needs. Call or stop by the office in Sugar Land, TX to get more details. 

Adding a Home Addition

Adding a new room to a home is exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. If you plan to live in the house while the work is being done, be prepared to put up with dust, noise, and inconvenience while the work is in progress. The result is usually worth it; however, it does require patience to get through the process.

Adjust Home Insurance for Adequate Coverage

One thing that may be overlooked is the need to adjust home insurance to take into consideration the changes that are going to be made. Work with your agent at Insurance Solutions of Texas, serving Sugar Land, TX and the surrounding area, during the planning stage for a new home renovation project or room addition.

Check the Contractor’s Insurance

Before committing to a choice of a building contractor, ask for copies of all the contractor’s insurance policies. By law, a contractor must have workers’ compensation coverage for any workers who are injured or killed while on the job. Make sure the workers’ compensation insurance is in good standing and current.

Look For Gaps in Coverage

Ask your insurance agent to conduct a professional review to look for gaps in insurance coverage. For example, if the building materials will be stored on the home’s property while the construction work is in progress, does the contractor’s insurance provide protection if they are stolen? Or, do you need some added protection?

Ask your agent about these things and more, such as replacement cost coverage for enhanced protection. Many homes are underinsured. Find out if your current home insurance provides enough protection.

Contact your agent at Insurance Solutions of Texas in Sugar Land, TX to get a home insurance review. We can help with evaluating the insurance of your building contractor and recommend how to adjust your home insurance to provide adequate coverage while your renovation project is in progress and after the home addition is completed.