Will flood insurance cover damage to the foundation of my home?

Posted on May 31, 2022June 9, 2022 by admin

Your house’s foundation is the structural foundation of your home. Your home sits on top of your foundation. However, as time goes on, your foundation may crack and settle. Other things may also happen that affect the structural integrity of your home. Flooding is a natural disaster that can severely compromise your home’s foundation. Our Allen, TX team of licensed and experienced agents at Texas Independent Insurance can help homeowners answer questions regarding their foundation in relation to flood damage.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover?

Flood insurance has the ability to create peace of mind because it covers a broad scope of different things. For example, flood insurance covers damage to your personal belongings, furniture, carpeting, cabinetry, electrical and plumbing systems, and much more. Best yet, flood insurance covers damage to your home’s foundation if the damage resulted from a flood. Homeowners should make a distinction between a foundation that’s been compromised due to flooding and one that’s sustained damage from age, wear and tear, and gradual settling. A flood insurance policy will only cover a foundation that was damaged as a direct result of a flood.

Flood Insurance and Your Foundation

Fortunately, flood insurance will pay for the repair or replacement of your foundation if your foundation sustains significant water damage from a flood. A standard homeowners policy doesn’t provide this type of coverage for damage caused by flooding. This is one reason why people who live in flood zones opt to purchase flood insurance.

Contact Us Today

If you’re a homeowner who has questions about flood damage coverage, give us a call at Texas Independent Insurance. We’d be happy to answer all of your questions. Our Allen, TX team is committed to educating homeowners on the benefits of flood insurance.

ABCs of real estate investment insurance

Posted on April 29, 2022May 10, 2022 by admin

Texas Independent Insurance wants to help the real estate investors in the greater Allen, TX area. If you are concerned about the risk that your real estate investment portfolio presents, it’s time to look for an appropriate insurance policy. Give our office a call today and let us help you find the policy that’s right for you.

Protect your real estate portfolio with investment insurance

When it comes to real estate, investors know just how much risk is involved. And, there is the added complexity of an ever-changing portfolio. Your holdings may vary from month to month, but your need for protection never will.

With the right policy, you will be able to make changes to the pool of covered assets in real-time. You can find protection for:

Vacant land – even if you haven’t begun a development project, you can still protect your investment.
Rehab properties – this may be a lot of risk to take on, but there are policies available that can protect you while you get your property ready for the next tenant.
Occupied properties – perhaps on the lower end of the risk scale, these properties still need protection. And, it is easy to convert vacant properties to occupied within your portfolio.

These policies are available with a variety of different protection levels and you will oftentimes be able to choose your level of deductible. Fully customizable protection is what you need, and fortunately, there are such options available.

Let’s work together

Allen, TX area real estate investors can turn to Texas Independent Insurance for all of their insurance needs. If you would like to learn more about the real estate investment insurance options that are available in our area, call or stop by today. We look forward to working with you!

Is Renters Insurance Needed?

Posted on March 14, 2022February 20, 2022 by admin

Many renters assume that their landlord’s insurance policies will protect their personal belongings, but that is far from the truth. A landlord’s policy will cover the home or apartment that you reside in and any belongings that they own, but not your items. For some, renters insurance may not even be an option with many landlords now requiring a policy within your lease.

It is easy to underestimate how many belongings you own and if you are debating if renters insurance is a must you should take inventory of all your belongings by opening every drawer, closet, nook and cranny to establish the value of all your items. By adding the value of your clothes, electronics, furniture, and everything else you own together you’ll likely be very surprised by the high figure.

Renters insurance does more than just help cover the cost of damaged belongings after a covered incident, it also can pay for housing after a disaster. Otherwise known as “loss of use” or “additional living expenses” coverage, this portion of your policy contributes towards the cost of a hotel or alternative living arrangement should your rental be inhospitable while being repaired. Additionally, renters insurance also includes liability coverage should a third party be injured while at your rental or even off the premises depending on the specifics of the policy.

Most importantly, renters insurance protects your savings and net worth because it safeguards you from having to pay out of pocket to replace belongings when disaster strikes. At Texas Independent Insurance in Allen, TX we can help you determine if renters insurance makes sense for your circumstances. Give us a call today or stop by our conveniently located office to learn more information.

How to Choose the Best Boat Insurance Policies to Meet Your Needs

Posted on February 21, 2022February 20, 2022 by admin

Are you planning on buying a boat or have you purchased one recently? If you plan to operate it, you’ll need at least a basic insurance policy. You’d benefit from talking to an agent from Texas Independent Insurance, which serves Allen, TX and beyond.

Basic Types of Boat Insurance

Two main types of boat insurance exist. You’ll want to know the difference between them before choosing what’s best for your needs.

An agreed value policy covers the value of the boat at the time of writing the policy. There isn’t any depreciation on the value when you experience a total loss.

An actual cash value policy does factor in depreciation. It only pays up to the actual cash value of your boat, determined at the time it’s deemed to be a partial or total loss. Once your boat ages, your insurance agent probably will recommend that you get this type of policy.

Boat Insurance Coverage Types

Boat insurance covers a range of boats and other types of watercraft. You can get a policy for your yacht, sailboat, dinghy, charter or other professional boats, and rentals of boats and watercraft. You also can get coverage for boat clubs, which will cover each member of the club while they’re operating a boat.

All-Risk Policies and Beyond

The type of coverage you should have depends on how and where you use your boat. Since you can’t always predict changes to what you do with your boat, it’s in your best interest to get an all-risk policy.

Even though this tends to offer the best possible protection, it doesn’t cover all loss types. This is why it’s important to ask about extra coverage, typically called an umbrella policy. Some options that may be available to you include uninsured boaters liability, towing and assistance, medical payments, and personal effects. Keep in mind that most policies do cover equipment that’s permanently attached.

The agents at Texas Independent Insurance of the Allen, TX area can assist you with finding the right policy type for your needs. Reach out to us today and discuss your situation and needs to get boat insurance coverage.

Add On Coverage Options That Motorcycle Riders In Texas Should Consider

Posted on January 24, 2022February 3, 2022 by admin

Texas Independent Insurance assists the Allen, TX community. We proudly serve as an independent agency. We offer our clients multiple types of policies so that they can protect their assets. We work closely with multiple carriers throughout the state. This allows us to provide flexible coverage options.

Add On Coverage Options Motorcycle Riders Should Consider

Motorcycle riding is a popular hobby throughout Texas. If you own a motorcycle, insurance provides a safety net as you ride throughout the state and beyond. The policy covers any damage to your motorcycle as a result of a collision. Liability coverage protects you if your motorcycle accidentally damages someone’s property or injures them. Liability coverage also covers your passenger’s medical treatment if they are injured while riding with you. You can also opt for comprehensive coverage, which covers your motorcycle if it is stolen or damaged due to a natural disaster moving through the area. Motorcycle insurance policies are versatile, which gives you the opportunity to add special types of coverage.

Custom Parts Coverage

If you plan to modify your motorcycle, you can add custom parts coverage. Custom parts coverage ensures that the enhancements to your motorcycle are covered if you are a victim of theft or involved in an accident. You can add custom parts coverage to your moped or classic motorcycle as well.

Roadside Assistance

Perhaps you are planning to travel out of Allen, TX on your motorcycle. If your motorcycle breaks down, roadside assistance will ensure that you receive urgent service. This gives you peace of mind during an emergency situation.

Storage Coverage

During lengthy periods where you don’t plan to ride your motorcycle, storage coverage protects your motorcycle while you have it parked. The policy is a safety net if a hurricane moves through the area and damages the storage facility.

Texas Independent Insurance Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about motorcycle insurance.

What is umbrella insurance and why should I have it?

Posted on December 13, 2021December 8, 2021 by admin

The best way to describe umbrella insurance is as protection for your hard-earned assets. It adds an additional layer to the liability insurance that you already have. At Texas Independent Insurance in Allen, TX, we are independent insurance agents and we work for you. With our connection to the finest carriers in the insurance business, we can make sure that you have coverage that is customized to suit you and your needs.

Many people think that you only need umbrella insurance if you are wealthy. Nothing could be farther from the truth. If you have any assets, you need to protect them. It doesn’t matter whether it is thousands of dollars or millions of dollars, they are your assets and they deserve protection.

An umbrella policy is excess liability insurance. What it does is add an additional layer of liability coverage to a policy that you already have. Without a policy with liability coverage, you can’t buy umbrella insurance. Think of umbrella insurance as an umbrella and you are your asset. The rain, hail, or snow are all the things that can go wrong and result in your being involved in legal action. The umbrella protects you from getting wet. The umbrella insurance keeps your assets from being lost to a judgment against you.

Insurance policies that have liability coverage include home, condo, rental, auto, motorcycle, and boat coverage. If you are sued, the first line of defense is the liability coverage you have on one of these policies. If the expenses go beyond this coverage, your umbrella policy will cover up to the limit on that p[policy. Most umbrella policies are for one to five million dollars. Given legal expenses and judgment sizes, this makes good sense.

Contact Texas Independent Insurance in Allen, TX for all your insurance needs.

3 Benefits of Flood Insurance

Posted on November 29, 2021December 8, 2021 by admin

Just because floods haven’t hit your home, it doesn’t mean you won’t encounter floods in the future. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the US. Unfortunately, your typical home or business insurance doesn’t cover floods. For this reason, you need a flood insurance policy from Texas Independent Insurance in Allen, TX. This way, you will reap the below benefits.

Protection of your assets

It has taken you a lot of time and resources to put up your home. Unfortunately, floods can bring down what you have worked so hard to build in a matter of minutes! Thankfully, you can purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to protect your house up to $250,000. However, you can increase your coverage by purchasing flood insurance through private carriers.

Similarly, flood insurance protects your assets like clothing, electronics, and furniture from floods. With flood insurance, you don’t have to start from scratch whenever floods strike in your area.

Protection of your loved ones

Your home is a safe haven for you, your loved ones, and your pets. But can you imagine what would happen if floods destroyed the place your dear ones call home? Your loved ones can be rendered homeless by floods, but when you have flood insurance, your house will be repaired, restoring your home.

It gives peace of mind

Since weather can be unpredictable, floods can strike anywhere and anytime. If you are worried that a storm will come and destroy everything you have worked so hard to build, you need to invest in flood insurance. Flood insurance gives you the comfort that your home will be repaired or rebuilt when floods strike.

Buy flood insurance today in Allen, TX!

You don’t have to live within a coastline to experience floods. If it rains in your area, flash floods can occur anytime. So, instead of doing nothing by hoping that floods won’t strike, you better invest in a flood insurance policy from Texas Independent Insurance to keep you safe from floods.

Do I need real estate investment insurance in Texas?

Posted on October 15, 2021October 5, 2021 by admin

Investing in real estate has been considered a great way to build long-term wealth for a long time. Those that are in the Allen, TX area and want to invest in real estate should make sure they protect their investments as well as possible. A great way to do this is by getting a full real estate investment insurance plan. There are several great reasons to get this type of coverage here.

Coverage Protects Investment Property

A reason to have a real estate investment insurance plan here is so you can protect your property and investment. When you buy investment real estate, you will find there are a lot of risks that could impact your property value. To ensure you are able to recover from fire damage, vandalism, tenant damage, and other risks, getting a proper investment plan is a good idea. A real estate investment insurance plan will give all coverage you need to protect this asset.

Coverage Reduces Liability Risk

As a property owner who leases a unit out to someone else, you are taking on some liability risk on a regular basis. If an accident occurs within your home, you could be found liable in some situations. As there will always be liability risk associated with owning an investment property, you should get a full real estate investment insurance plan to mitigate this risk.

As you are looking for a real estate investment insurance plan in the Allen, TX area, speaking with Texas Independent Insurance would be a good idea. There are some unique complexities with this type of coverage and Texas Independent Insurance can help you properly assess your needs and options. This can help ensure that you and your investment real estate are properly protected by coverage.

What Happens With Renters Insurance if Your Landlord Changes Their Policy?

Posted on September 30, 2021October 5, 2021 by admin

Renters insurance is an excellent option for those who are staying long-term in a rented home. However, this situation may be confusing to some if their landlord suddenly changes their coverage. Does this affect you? Here’s what we at Texas Independent Insurance have to say for Allen, TX renters.

Your Policy Should Be Unaffected

When your landlord changes their homeowner’s insurance policy in any way (either towards more or less coverage), your renter’s policy should remain unaffected. Why is that the case? The two policy options are not connected. A homeowner’s insurance on a rental property covers:

The exterior of the home and its structure
All permanent structures inside the home
Lawn elements and detached garages
Anything else the renter does not own

By contrast, a renters policy is designed to protect anything inside the building that you own. Note that your landlord’s policy WILL cover damage to your vehicle if damaged by trees falling in a storm because of liability coverage. But your renter’s policy covers:

All items you brought to the house
Appliances you installed in the home
Goods and things you put in the house

In a sense, the value of the exterior of your rented home is irrelevant to your interior value, meaning that a change in one does not affect the other. But you may need to talk to your agent to ensure that you are satisfied. In this way, you’ll protect your home and your investment at the same time.

Reach Out to Us Today

By working with our team at Texas Independent Insurance, you can provide your rented home with the protection it needs. So if you live in the Allen TX, area, call today to learn more about how we can help. We’ll do what we can to make sure that you’re satisfied with your needs.

Let’s Talk about Motorcycle Insurance

Posted on August 16, 2021August 1, 2021 by admin

Motorcycles are a great way of getting around in heavy traffic, but when it comes to insurance, motorcycles have the same requirements as cars in Texas (TX). Allen, TX is regularly ranked, nationally, as a great place to live for several reasons, including safety and quality of life. Bearing that in mind, contact Texas Independent Insurance to make sure you and your motorcycle are covered.

Motorcycle insurance is a type of auto insurance. In TX, in addition to being insured, motorcycles need to be registered and titled. Mopeds and motor-driven cycles similarly fall under the category of motorcycle insurance.

Motorcycle insurance has several subcategories of coverage.

Collision Coverage is to cover the repair or replacement of your motorcycle as a result of an accident.
Comprehensive coverage is for vandalism and damage because of things like hail and fire.
Liability Coverage is one of the most important aspects of motorcycle insurance in TX and is subdivided into three. The accident itself, the injuries of another person, and damage sustained to property. Carefully review these amounts to ensure you have enough coverage.
Medical bills coverage is for injuries that you and your passengers may sustain, this can be supplemented with PIP insurance. TX requires all auto insurance policies to include PIP coverage. PIP stands for personal injury protection
A final important category of coverage is for if the other driver is underinsured or uninsured and you need to claim from your insurance. Like PIP, it must be included.

In the interest of safety, before you head off into the sunset with your new wheels and the engine at full throttle, make contact with Texas Independent Insurance serving the city of Allen, TX today.