How Do I know If I Have Enough Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage?

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If you are like most homeowners, your home is your biggest investment and largest asset. As a first-time home buyer, it can be difficult to understand your homeowner’s insurance coverage needs. How much coverage is enough? If you are under-insured you can be left dangerously exposed in the event of a fire, theft or personal injury. Here are some questions to ask that will help you determine how much coverage you need.

Do I Need Flood Insurance?

Flood insurance protects your home and property against damage caused by water. Does your house sit next to a storm drain channel or creek? Is it at the bottom of a hill or at the low point of a road?. This indicates that getting flood insurance is a good idea because homeowners insurance doesn’t offer protection for water-related events. If your home is located in a flood zone, your mortgage lender will typically require you to carry flood insurance.

Do I Have Enough Coverage For All My Personal Property?

When you get homeowners insurance for your Austin, TX home, it will not only provide financial reimbursement for any damage or loss to your home, it also protects the value of your personal property, including clothing, electronics, furnishings, and collectibles. More coverage may be needed for jewelry, art or antiques. If you are unsure of the value of your household belongings, an appraisal will help you determine how much insurance you will need.

Am I Covered For Liability?

If someone is hurt or suffers an injury while inside your home or yard, you may be liable for damages such as medical expenses and lost income, even if the injury didn’t involve purposeful negligence on your part. Make sure you are fully covered against liabilities to ensure you don’t have to worry about having people on your property.

How Do I Determine How Much Coverage I Need?

Every homeowner’s insurance policy is different and may have different events and incidents that are covered or not covered by that policy. To figure out how much coverage you require, and to learn what types of incidents you can insure, contact our office today. At Southwest Insurance Center, we’ll customize your homeowner’s insurance to your individual needs.

Top Homeowners Insurance Claims in Austin and Texas

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Are you an Austin, TX homeowner with full homeowners insurance coverage? If you haven’t visited a firm like the Southwest Insurance Center and established your homeowners insurance policy, you may be placing your home and your finances at great risk. Without good homeowners insurance, many homeowners in Austin would be, so to speak, up a creek without a paddle.

The most common homeowners insurance claims in Austin, TX remain common at the national level as well. However, it’s important to see what affects the homes near you so you see why you need insurance. A home is an investment and one that can easily be taken away from you in a disaster if you’re not careful.

Nationwide, the most common type of homeowners insurance claim is wind damage on the outside of the house. Wind damage largely occurs during storms like tornadoes, but less violent storms can carry straight line winds and or winds at high enough speeds to rip off shingles. Other high-frequency claims include hail damage and theft.

In Austin, claims aren’t that much different from the rest of the country. Roof damage is the most common insurance claim for homes in Texas, often caused by high winds. Roof damage can also be caused by hail or water. Other common claims made by Texas homeowners include dog bites, water damage (like burst pipes), and fire damage. If you own a home in Austin or elsewhere in Texas, it’s important to ensure you have complete home insurance coverage by visiting a firm like Southwest Insurance Center. You never know when rainfall, which happens most often in the spring and fall in Austin, is going to add up to enough damage that you need some insurance coverage. 

How to Get Insurance After You Are Convicted of Drunk Driving?

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In a perfect world, no one would drink and drive. However, we are humans and make mistakes. Maybe you thought you were fine to drive or did not realize how much you had to drink. Regardless, once you are charged with and convicted of a DUI, your life changes. You may lose your license, be forced to pay fines, take driving education and DUI courses and then obtain SR-22 insurance, rather than standard auto insurance. After you have been convicted of drunk driving, here are the steps you will want to follow in order to get insurance again.

Get Proof You Can Drive Again

In order to get insurance after a DUI, you will need to have proof from the court that you can drive again. Some courts will let you have a conditional license, that allows you to drive to and from work. Others will suspend your license for a period of time and only reinstate it after your fines have been paid and you have participated in the required classes. Getting a paper from the courts that states whether you can drive is the first step to getting insurance.

Get SR-22 Insurance

After you have been convicted of a DUI, you will need to get SR-22 auto insurance. This is basically high risk insurance and is required for those convicted of a DUI, those who may have had their license suspended for some time because of unsafe driving or those who were in an accident without having insurance in the past. Not every insurance company offers this type of insurance policy, so you have to find one that does.

If you were convicted of a DUI and now need SR-22 auto insurance, let Southwest Insurance Center, serving the greater Austin, TX area help. Not every company will insure drivers with a DUI on their record, but we realize everyone deserves a second chance. Stop by our office today for a price quote or to get started on signing up for a new policy.

Avoid Driving Distractions

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It can be very expensive to pay for an auto accident that is your fault. Help yourself by avoiding distractions while you are driving. Distractions can endanger the lives of you, your passengers, and other motorists. The Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX lists several ways to keep your attention on the road, so you can keep your money in your wallet.

Put Your Cell Phone Away

Unless there is an emergency, your cell phone should be kept out of sight. Your destination is not too far away and you will be able to answer that text or phone call shortly. Pull over if you need to chat or if it is an emergency call. In Austin, TX, it is against the law to talk or text while driving. You are able to use a hands-free device, such as a Bluetooth or a headset. If you get caught with a handheld device, you could receive a fined up to $500.

Sleep is for Beds

You work hard and sometimes you cannot avoid being tired after a long day. You should not drive while you are drowsy, especially if you are going to be on the road for a long time. Pull over and take a quick nap or find a roadside motel. Avoid getting behind the wheel. If you nod off or fall asleep, you could easily injure yourself and others.

Avoid Eating in the Car

Taking that quick trip to a fast food place is easy, but eating in the car is messy. When you spill something hot or ice cold, you could jump, lose control, and crash into the vehicle in front of you. Leave a few minutes earlier and wait until you get to your destination before enjoying that burger and fries.

Stop by the Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX. Their independent insurance agents can offer you advice on creating a policy for your new or used vehicle.

Rules About Homeowner’s Insurance in Texas

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No laws require Texas residents to invest in homeowner’s insurance. You may still need to seek out an indemnity plan as legislation allows for a bank or mortgage company to require assurance that protects their assets during repayment terms. With the ball being in their court, some financial institutions may take full advantage by asking for more coverage than necessary. Here, then are four elements of law concerning homeowner’s insurance that applies to Austin, TX, residents and others living in the Lone Star state. 

Banks cannot force you to cover the loan’s amount.

While it would be ideal to obtain insurance that pays off the mortgage in addition to funding damages, it is not necessary to have such excess. A mortgage company can only ask that you have indemnity that pays for property damage and personal possessions when tragedy strikes. 

Lenders may not factor in the home’s fair market value when determining the home’s replacement cost.

Some financial institutions use such tactic to raise the overall coverage requirement so that you end up paying through the nose for premiums. You as the consumer have the right to research quotes before agreeing to pay them, which may include getting a second opinion. Homes in Austin, TX, are relatively economical. You should, therefore, not find yourself paying tens of thousands in premiums for insurance coverage. 

"Special flood areas" may require additional coverage

Your lender has the legal right to require flood insurance if you reside in an area that has one percent higher chance of flooding. Individuals living near the Gulf Coast and in Zones V, VE, or V1-V30 are usually mandated to solicit to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Those residing in areas prone to hurricanes may also be required to enlist in NFIP before acquiring additional insurance from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). 

Insurance is available for all

Austin, TX, residents who do not qualify for traditional indemnity can take heart in the Texas FAIR measure. Under the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plans, individuals living in high-risk areas can still qualify for primary insurance even if they were previously denied. Such measure is good news for those Texans living in older homes that may not come up to par with standard requirements. 

Hit-And-Run Drivers and Uninsured Motorist Insurance

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All you need to drive in Texas is a valid driver’s license and mandatory minimum liability insurance, but that isn’t going to help you if you’re in a crash that was the fault of a hit-and-run driver. You might not know it, but if you have uninsured motorist insurance, it’s likely that you’re covered when a hit-and-run driver causes an accident. Uninsured motorist insurance is optional.  Here at Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX were always going to recommend it to you. It generally operates to cover you, any members of your family and your passengers for the following types of damages if you’re in an accident that was the fault of an uninsured driver:

  • Medical and funeral expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost earnings
  • Permanent disability or disfigurement
  • Vehicle repairs and rental
  • Replacement of damaged contents

You’re covered up to the amount of the policy limits that you purchased, and most insurance companies even provide coverage in the event that you or an additional insured person under your policy is injured as a pedestrian or bicyclist through the fault of a hit-and-run driver. If you’re riding on minimum liability coverage, you can buy uninsured motorist insurance with a limit of $25,000. If you’re at a higher liability limit, you should buy it at that amount.

The other advantage of uninsured motorist coverage is that it almost always includes underinsured motorist coverage. If  you’re riding on $50,000 of uninsured motorist insurance, and you’re hit by a driver with minimum coverage, you can make a claim for excess damages.

About one out of every nine drivers around you is uninsured, and many others are underinsured.  Protect yourself and your family. For uninsured motorist coverage in or around Austin, TX  contact Southwest Insurance Center at 512-280-6100.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Safety Checklist

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Here at Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX, we want to make sure that you will be ready for the worst winter can throw at you so that you will be able to head off those costly repairs by performing some small preventative tasks. 

  • Stow your lawn mower and make sure that you drain the fuel out of it first.  If you aren’t going to drain the fuel from it, use a fuel stabilizer to keep the fuel from deteriorating over the winter.
  • Turn outdoor water sources off and drain then store your hoses.  Leaving the hoses in place could lead to water staying and then freezing in them or the pipes and ultimately busting your pipes.
  • Drain your irrigation or sprinkler system and turn it off.
  • Clean your gutters and when you have them cleaned out, check them for any damage.  Replace or repair as necessary.  Also clean and flush out your down spouts.
  • Check door and window frames for drafts.  If you find any, seal the with caulk or weather stripping.  Also check for cracks between the siding and the trim and seal these as well.
  • Inspect your roof for missing, loose, or damaged shingles.  Remember that it is easier to fix a leak now than it will be when it is freezing outside.
  • If there is any drainage in your yard, direct it away from your home.
  • Whether you use a furnace r a central HVAC system, get it serviced before turning it on for the first time.
  • If you have any bushes or plants in your yard, prune them before the first frost.
  • If you happen to have a fireplace, hire a chimney sweep to clean any soot or creosote out of your chimney before you use it.  While he is there, also get him to make sure that your damper is in working order.

3 Benefits of Umbrella Insurance

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Umbrella insurance has the rainy-day connotation, and that’s exactly what it was made for: an extremely rainy day. Most events you’ll see in your lifetime will fall into certain categories. For example, if you get into a car accident, you’re not going to say that you need to make a call to your umbrella insurance carrier. However, there are times when you really will need this type of extra consideration in your life for things that can’t be predicted, and it’s better to be on the right side of the line than the unprepared side. 

1. You Can Relax 

What have you invested in during your lifetime? If your home were to be involved in a catastrophe that wasn’t a part of your insurance coverage, could you afford the damage? Would you have to file bankruptcy? Is that loss going to come anywhere close to what umbrella insurance will cost you? Making the right moves now is a necessity for a better tomorrow. 

2. No More Questions, No Explanations

When you sign a car insurance policy, you’re probably used to asking lots of questions (and if you’re not, you really should be.) Umbrella insurance takes care of all the little events that no one could have prepared for or anticipated. There will be no explanations or justifications or long arguments about how you deserve this or that. That’s exactly what you don’t have time for. 

3. You Have Options 

Southwest Insurance Center has policies that can help you determine which type of coverage is best for you. Our agents can take your information, get you a quote and steer you towards a policy that can protect all you’ve managed to build. Give us a call today for more information if you live in Austin, TX. 

3 Reasons To Have RV Insurance

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When you decide to invest in an RV, you want to make sure that you purchase insurance. Regardless of whether you plan on using it in Austin or throughout Texas and beyond, it needs to be insured – and finding the right policy is critical.

It’s Required

One of the first reasons you need to have RV insurance is because it is required. It is a recreational vehicle, and all vehicles need to be insured in the state of Texas. You are going to be driving on the roads, and therefore you need to have at least the minimum level of insurance. There are various other levels of coverage that should be explored as well.

It Offers Protection

RV insurance in Texas is going to offer you a significant amount of protection. You want to do everything you can to protect your finances. You get into any accident you don’t want to be responsible for paying out-of-pocket. This could be something as simple as property damage or something that involves multiple people or vehicles. It is going to be much easier to file a claim with an insurance company than to drain your bank account.

It Gives You Peace of Mind

Having RV insurance is also going to provide you with peace of mind. You will feel more confident when you are driving around on the road knowing that you have sufficient coverage. As far as what that coverage is, it can vary significantly from company to company. This is why it is advantageous to talk with an independent insurance agent who can explain the various levels of coverage and help you to decide what it is that you need for your vehicle.

Contact us at Southwest Insurance Center now to learn more about RV insurance. Our agents look forward to helping you every step of the way.

 

Boat Safety Tips For First Time Boat Owners

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While you may be excited about being a new boat owner, there are still some areas concerning your safety  and the safety of others that is important.  Regardless of how many years of experience you may have, or the type of boat you may have, adding boat insurance can add coverage to reduce financial losses, whereas good safety habits will help you remain as safe as possible while on the water.

Common Boat Safety Tips

In general, everyone boarding the boat should have a basic understanding of general safety rules prior to departing.  Below are five basic boating safety tips:

1. Weather

Check the weather forecast prior to departing.  If while on the boat you notice a sudden change in the weather, such as dark clouds or high winds, that’s a good sign to head back before the weather conditions worsen.

2. Lifejackets

Make sure that everyone on board has access to a life jacket and knows how to properly wear one. Many drowning victims were not wearing lifejackets.

3. Checklist

Be prepared by making a check list of all the safety items that need to take place prior to heading out to make sure nothing is overlooked

4. Experience

Make sure you or someone traveling with you has the training and experience to properly operate a boat, are mindful of other boats, monitor’s their speed  and the speed of others and steers clear of other watercraft and larger vessels. Also be sure to have a means of communication with others outside of your boat.

5. Float Plan

Make sure that you alert someone to your proposed itinerary –  where you’re planning to go and how long you plan to be  gone so others will know if you become missing.

For more information and other boat safety tips, please contact Southwest Insurance Center online.