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What Are The Most Common Home Insurance Claims?

October 19, 2021

Everyone wants the protection that personal insurance offers, including; home insurance, auto and motorcycle insurance, renter's insurance, and even RV insurance. Are you, however, properly safeguarded against the most common claims you might face? Let's look at some of the most typical home insurance claims so you can be sure your policy provides adequate coverage in the event of an accident.

So, what are the most common and expensive insurance claims? According to national data from the Insurance Information Institute, these were the incidents that prompted the most insurance claims between 2015 and 2019.

Wind and Hail Claims
Water Damage and freezing
Fire & lightening
Theft
Personal injury to others

Prevention tips
Homeowners do not want loss or damage to their homes since they are costly, stressful, and inconvenient to cope with. Insurance companies likewise do not want bad things to happen since they lose money when bad things happen.

Having a smoke alarm that is operational.
The presence of a fire extinguisher.
Living in close proximity to a fire station.
Maintain your roof
Having a security system installed in your home.
Install a carbon monoxide detector.
Keeping the plumbing and sprinkler systems in good working order.

One thing to keep in mind, though: while safety and security updates are almost always a good idea, not all of them will result in an insurance reduction. If you're thinking of upgrading to a higher-end vehicle to save money on premiums, talk to your insurer first.

Halloween Safety With COVID In Mind

October 6, 2021

As the month of October approaches as families prepare for Halloween, parents are left wondering what Halloween will be like in 2021, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Kids and adults are looking forward to dressing up and going out to trick or treat in the neighborhood. With a little bit of planning, you can ensure your ghouls and goblins have a frightfully fun time this year.

More than twice as many children are killed in pedestrian-car accidents on Halloween between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., compared with the same hours on other days throughout the year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Police will be increasing traffic patrols on Halloween in order to keep our kids safe, and to catch drunk drivers.

Protect The Trick Or Treaters

Instruct your kids to never go into a stranger’s home.
Limit the size of groups
Social distance
When shopping for costumes, wigs, and accessories, look for, and purchase, items with a label clearly indicating that they are flame resistant.
Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
Make sure that any props your kids carry, such as wands or swords, are short and flexible.
Take precautions while prepping goody bags. If you are the one preparing goody bags, wash your hands to soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after prepping bags.
Only go to homes with a porch light on, and never enter a home or car for a treat.
Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision.
Don’t eat homemade candy.
Carry a flash light.
Inspect all wrapped candy. If it has been opened toss it out.
Set a curfew.

Home Safety

Clean up your yard.
Make a clear, well illuminated path to your door.
Remember that a lot of Halloween decorations, like dried flowers, straw, and crepe paper are highly flammable. Make sure to keep your decorations away from all open flames.
If you have a large display, make sure all electric cords are taped or secure to prevent tripping.
Practice indoor fire safety by checking all smoke detectors. Make sure candles are placed in a secure area.

Home Improvements To Add Value To Your Property

September 27, 2021

These Homeowner Tips Brought to You By Brooks Insurance

There are several popular improvements that can add value to your home. With the right improvements, you can enjoy increased comfort and practicality while you are living in the property, you can add to the appearance of your home, and you will find that the value has been boosted considerably if and when you decide to sell your property.

2. Adding an addition.This is another way to add an additional room to the size of your property, so if you have the space, then an extension could prove to be a great idea. You will enjoy a larger property and can increase the amount of room that you have downstairs as well as upstairs. This is another great way to make the most of your homeowner loan by adding value to your property.

3. New kitchen or bathroom.The kitchen and bathroom are rooms that are often scrutinized by potential buyers. They are also rooms in which you spend a great deal of time. Creating the right look and ambiance for both of these rooms can be easy these days, and with a choice of great kitchen and bathroom designs available, you can make these rooms look and feel perfect.

4. Replacement windows.Many people can be put off buying a property if the windows are in need of repair and are old. Not only do they look bad upon first impression, but they also affect the light, heat, and comfort levels in your home. Replacement windows, such as double glazing, can help to increase energy efficiency and can improve the lighting, ambiance, and appearance of your home.

5. Heating & cooling.Having the right heating and cooling system in place is another important factor in the comfort and salability of your home. For most buyers, central heating is a must these days, and by having central heating you can enjoy cozier winters, a warmer home, and a more sellable property.

6. Outdoor spaces.Home value is increased by projects that make your outdoor space more accessible and functional. Decks and patios can have a return on investment of more than 64 percent depending on the materials used, such as wood or composite decking. Stone and brick patios, as well as lower decks, are other possibilities that might be fantastic DIY projects if you're handy.

7. Interior changes.A little interior design may make a big difference. Simple and straightforward design modifications might help you arrange your house for sale for a reasonable price. Consider these simple yet worthwhile home repair tasks to boost the overall value of your home and attract buyers:

Changing out the light fittings.
Light covers and heat registers need to be replaced.
Replacing doorknobs and other hardware.
Custom window coverings, such as shades.
Update the floors
Bringing your paint colors up to date.
Baseboards, ceilings, and inside doors should all be repainted.

Home renovation projects can be tough to prioritize and budget for, and guaranteed to prevent any arguments, which is why it's crucial to pick the ones that will provide you the most value. Focus on remodels and upgrades that will increase rather than decrease the value of your home if you plan to sell it in the future. Stick to a budget and consult with a broker to choose where to begin while preparing your home for sale. And...don't forget to call us at 512-428-6264 if we need to increase your coverage!

RV Insurance — Things You Need To Know

September 22, 2021

RV insurance is a special type of policy that provides coverage for owners of recreational vehicles. While these recreational vehicles are motorized, regular auto insurance can’t provide adequate coverage for their users because it will leave a lot of crucial areas uncovered or inadequately covered. To buttress this point, here are a few differences between a regular auto insurance policy and RV insurance.

1. One Policy For Two
When you buy this policy it provides protection for both your auto and recreational vehicle. Both appear on one policy. This is very convenient, to say the least. And because you are, in effect, buying a policy for two vehicles, you get a multi-vehicle discount of up to 20% from some insurers.

2. Full Replacement Coverage
Many insurers who offer this policy will give you the option of getting full replacement for your RV if it is stolen or totaled within the first five years (for new RVs). This option is either totally unavailable with regular auto policies or just limited to one year.

3. Extensive Coverage For Personal Belongings
While a good auto policy might cover some of your belongings/content in the vehicle, the limit wouldn’t suit someone with an RV. With RV insurance you can choose how extensive coverage for your personal belongings should be.

4. Claims Are Handled By RV Experts
You don’t want to ever find yourself having to deal with people who don’t really understand RVs when you have to file a claim. The better people understand how you feel and what you’ve experienced, the better they can deliver great service.

5. Full-Timer And Campsite Liability Coverage
What happens when your RV is actually your home? Regular auto insurance policies don’t have any provision for that. However, with RV insurance, you can be sure that you’ll get the right type of coverage similar to what you’ll get from a homeowners’ policy — After all, it’s your home.
You are also adequately covered if you decide to use your RV on a vacation. That’s where the campsite liability coverage kicks in.
6. Emergency Expenses
What happens if your RV is unusable for any reason? But remember this isn’t just any vehicle. It is probably your home. This policy reimburses you for lodging, transportation, and feeding.

7. High Liability
The bigger a vehicle, the more extensive the damage it will cause if involved in an accident. This means that you need more extensive liability coverage than you have in a standard auto policy. An RV policy gives you just that.
For those who may want to belittle this aspect, it is important that you appreciate the risk that you are exposed to if you are unable to meet up with your legal obligations. Lawyers will readily target your assets in order to get full compensation for their clients when you are a judge at fault in an accident. This can set you back many years. That is, if it doesn’t render you bankrupt (liability suits are usually expensive). Therefore, this isn’t one area you can afford to joke with.

Conclusion
This is just to give you insight into why anyone with a recreational vehicle will be doing him/herself great injustice by opting for any other type of insurance protection instead of this specialized policy. It’s simply in your best interest.

Personal Umbrella Insurance – A Wise Choice

September 15, 2021

The modern world is filled with risks. From car accidents to slip and fall incidents in the home, the possibility of being sued is a real possibility every person needs to take into account. Nearly everyone accounts for this risk by buying insurance. Personal umbrella insurance takes this concept to a new level.

Insurance is a staple of any financial plan these days. There is an inherent weakness with every policy, however. Let’s consider your car insurance. It covers you in case of a collision with another party. A typical policy might pay out up to $50,000 per claim with a total payout per year of $100,000 regardless of the number of claims.

Let’s assume you are late to work one morning. You try to make it through a yellow light, but it turns red. Traffic proceeds from the cross road and you hit someone. Your car insurance will pay up to $50,000 to make them whole, but what if it is going to cost more than $50,000? What if they sue you for $250,000? Now you have a problem.

Every insurance policy has a limit. This “policy limit” defines the maximum amount the insurance company will pay out on claims made against you and the policy. Claims can often exceed these limits in worse case situations, leaving you on the hook for any additional amounts due.

Personal umbrella policies are designed to address the shortcomings of policy limits. Umbrella policies cover liability claims in excess of the policy limits for your primary insurance. In our car accident example, the umbrella policy would pay any amounts due in excess of the $50,000 covered by your primary car insurance policy.

Umbrella polices let you sleep peacefully at night. It is as simple as that. If you have a child who has just started driving, you can sleep blissfully knowing the umbrella policy will cover any disasters caused by their inexperience behind the wheel. So request a umbrella insurance quote now.

Umbrella policies are typically written in increments of a million dollars of coverage. This means you can purchase one million, two million or more in coverage in addition to your underlying policies. If you purchase a million dollars in coverage, for example, the policy would cover any liability claims in excess of your $50,000 car insurance policy up to $1,050,000.
Umbrella insurance cost: Umbrella insurance policies are surprisingly inexpensive, which makes them a wise choice for most individuals. The premiums are usually shockingly low because your primary insurance policies are usually going to cover any claims. Given this, the insurance company writing the umbrella policy faces a low probability that it will ever have to pay on the policy. In exchange for this low payout risk, the insurance company provides you with low premium costs.

Is purchasing a personal umbrella insurance policy a smart move for you and your family? Absolutely. You gain the peace of mind of knowing you are covered should things go very wrong and at a very low premium cost. Contact us today for a no obligation quote on a personal umbrella policy for your current situation.