Weather Damage and How It Relates to Your Home Insurance Policy

How Weather Damage Relates to Your Home Insurance Policy

Weather damage can lead to significant home repair costs. If the rising costs of materials and goods needed for such work are unaffordable, having sufficient insurance protection becomes crucial. Learn how weather damage relates to your home insurance policy and the coverage it offers.

Protection

Your existing homeowner’s insurance policy may not offer adequate coverage. Reviewing your insurance documents will allow you to determine what type of coverage is lacking.

Compare the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home with the amount of coverage you have. This initial step will help you decide if you need additional protection.

Weather

Examine the weather patterns in your area. They could indicate that your home is ill-prepared for a natural disaster.Extreme weather conditions such as high winds, heavy rain, and drastic temperature changes could potentially damage the materials your home is constructed from.

Add-Ons

A standard insurance policy may not provide protection against all the weather perils you face. For instance, if you live in a region where flooding is likely, flood protection may not be included in your existing policy, requiring you to obtain it separately.

It is prudent to explore all the add-ons that you qualify for. After researching the available coverage types, select the ones that offer the level of protection your home and property need.

Agent Assistance

Now that you’ve considered how weather affects your home insurance policy, you may be ready to update it. Feel free to contact one of our Old Pueblo Insurance agents. An agent who serves the Oro Valley, AZ region will be more than happy to assist you.

Things home insurance won’t cover

Home insurance provides the financial security you need and provides less worry in your home. It covers many of the dangers that face your house. Like most insurance, however, it does have exclusions, which it won’t cover. In Oro Valley, AZ, Old Pueblo Insurance ensures our customers know the exclusions and how to get the necessary coverage.

Earth movement

When the earth moves under your feet, it can be worrisome. There are reasons for that. It can mean experiencing an earthquake, a sinkhole, a mudslide, or a landslide. It can be scary, but more than that, it is something that home insurance won’t cover. You can get coverage under a separate policy with the required protection. 

Flood

Floods cause a fantastic amount of damage, and if that isn’t bad enough, traditional home insurance does not cover flooding from surface water. The NFIP offers policies to cover both the structure and the content of your home if you live in an area where there is even a remote possibility of flooding. 

Owner neglect

As a homeowner, you are expected to maintain your property. Your insurance may not pay for the resulting damage if you don’t. This means that you must treat your home for termites, animal infestation, and mold before you have a problem. If your roof gets old and water leaks into your home, it’s your fault for not repairing or replacing it. 

Wear and tear

Things get old, and your home insurance does not cover normal wear and tear. It doesn’t cover an old furnace that stops working or an old roof that leaks. 

Contact Old Pueblo Insurance in Oro Valley, AZ, and let our agents help you with all your home insurance needs. 

Is Home Insurance Transferable if I Move?

Your home insurance policy differs from other types of insurance you purchase because it only covers the specific home named in it. The policy contains the address of your Arizona home, and your home policy only applies to your current location.

Moving to A New Home Means a New Insurance Policy

When you move to another address in Arizona or out of state, you must purchase a new policy covering the new home. When you move to a new house, you insure it anew since its construction, value, and amenities differ from the other home.

Determining Your New Home’s Value

Your insurance agent determines the value of your new home based on your purchase price. If you make any alterations after purchase, provide the receipts or invoices for the improvement. That helps your insurance agent add the home improvement to the purchase value.
The insurance on your boat or life continues working to protect you from financial loss. Each time you purchase a new home, you need to buy home insurance for that property.

Advantages of the New Policy

Purchasing a new home policy lets you easily add coverage for your home business, the new playground equipment you bought for the backyard, such as a trampoline or swing set, and added protection for expensive jewelry like an engagement ring.

Contact Old Pueblo Insurance About Your Policy

Contact Old Pueblo Insurance to insure your Arizona, home. Don’t let your coverage lapse because your existing policy does not extend to your new home. Let us help you build a policy that protects your new home and financial security.

The Importance of Keeping All Home Maintenance Receipts

Here at Old Pueblo Insurance, we want to help educate individuals about different topics pertaining to homeowners insurance, an insurance product that we are proud to offer to customers in the greater Oro Valley, AZ area. One of the things that homeowners may not think to do is to keep all of their home maintenance invoices and receipts. This includes yearly roof inspections, home siding cleaning, or routine water heater cleaning and maintenance services. Read on to learn why this is important and how it can help you as a homeowner. 

Keeping Receipts Is Important If You Have to File a Home Insurance Case

The primary benefit of keeping invoices or receipts for home maintenance is that you can use them to show a home insurance company that you adequately maintained your home. For example, suppose you are filing a claim due to roof damage that you believe was sustained during a storm, and the insurance company believes that the damage was caused due to poor maintenance. In that case, you have the receipts to show that your roof was maintained properly and regularly. This type of information is vital, as improper care and maintenance are one of the primary reasons home insurance claims are denied. 

Keeping home maintenance receipts can help if you ever file a home insurance claim. Having the right insurance in the first place is equally important as keeping receipts, and that is something that we at Old Pueblo Insurance, serving the greater Oro Valley, AZ area, can help you with. If you are looking for a new home insurance policy or want to obtain estimates for a new policy, let us help you. Call us today to get started. 

Making your home a safer place

Having the right home insurance is one of the crucial things you can do to provide safety for your home. Bad things happen even to good people, and surviving the bad stuff is vital. In Oro Valley, AZ, the team at Old Pueblo Insurance takes their responsibility to their customers seriously. As independent insurance agents, we can offer more choices and better rates. 

Home maintenance

Maintaining your home is a responsibility you have as a homeowner. Not only does this help to keep the value up, but it also protects you from injuries. An uneven walkway or driveway can cause an injury to someone visiting, which can lead to your being responsible for medical care and even being sued for pain and suffering. 

It is also important to maintain your chimney and your furnace. They should be cleaned yearly to lower the risk of a house fire. Test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to ensure they work properly. It could save your life. 

Home security

Making your home secure makes you feel safer. Home security is important, whether it is a doorbell camera, a monitored security system, or living in a gated community. Using your home door and window locks is the place to start. You want to aim to make it more challenging to break into your home. Having motion-detecting lights and no hiding places near your home is also a good idea. Smart homes today can pretty much let you know if anything out of the ordinary is going on. 

Contact Old Pueblo Insurance in Oro Valley, AZ, when it is time to review your home insurance or if you are a new homeowner. We are here to help. 

Home Insurance & Liability Coverage

When you buy a home, one of the first things you need to do is secure homeowners insurance. Liability coverage is commonly included with a standard home insurance policy. Some people choose to increase liability coverage because the coverage you need depends on a number of factors.

Do you have questions about liability coverage? Old Pueblo Insurance can help you learn what coverage your Oro Valley, AZ home needs.

Injuries at Your Home Can Be Devastating

When somebody is injured or their property is damaged at your home, the results can be serious. You may be held responsible for the financial impact, which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You could be left with serious bills to cover, including medical bills, lost wages, and personal property damage. For many people, an emergency like this would devastate the family.

When you do not have liability coverage, you are on the hook for expenses associated with injuries and property damage. When you do have coverage, your insurance company may be able to handle the issues that arise.

Standard Liability Coverage Doesn’t Take Care of Everything

Many people consider add-on policies to their liability coverage so that they can add more value to their coverage. For example, somebody could experience higher medical bills than your policy covers. Adding more liability coverage to your policy will protect you in the event that this happens.

Pay Attention to Your Homeowners Insurance Policy

Old Pueblo Insurance, which serves Oro Valley, AZ, can help you determine what kind of insurance you need. Reach out for more information about liability coverage and how it impacts your home insurance policy and your responsibility.

Is Home Insurance Required in Arizona?

Home insurance is not a requirement in Arizona, but it is a smart investment for homeowners in the state. A home policy from Old Pueblo Insurance will protect your home and belongings from theft or damage in a disaster. Home insurance can also covers liability issues if someone gets hurt while visiting your property. Here’s why you should consider insuring your property.

Dwelling Protection

You never know when your home will be struck by disaster. If a fire or tornado were to destroy your abode, would you have the finances to rebuild on your own? Home dwelling coverage protects your home in Oro Valley, AZ against disasters like fire, windstorms, rainstorms, lightning strikes and more so you don’t suffer financial ruin. We recommend you purchase sufficient dwelling coverage to replace your home in the event of a total loss.

Protection for Belongings

Home property insurance protects your belongings against theft or disaster damage. If you have expensive goods, you’ll appreciate the protection that property coverage has to offer. If your goods are stolen or destroyed in a covered peril, property insurance will compensate you for your loss.

Liability Protection

Liability insurance protects you financially if someone is accidentally injured on your property. Injuries may range from kitchen burns to slip and falls, dog bites, pool accidents, and more. If you’re held responsible for the accident, liability insurance will cover the victim’s medical costs. Liability insurance will also cover your legal fees if you’re sued for damages. 

If you have a mortgage on your Oro Valley, AZ home, home insurance may be required by your mortgage company. Otherwise, home coverage is optional. Smart homeowners will recognize the importance of home coverage in protecting their valuable investments. To purchase the home insurance you need, call or visit Old Pueblo Insurance.

I Am Selling My Home. Do I Need to Tell the Home Insurance Company?

When you are selling your home, you may find yourself unsure of whether you need to tell your home insurance company and when you need to tell them. Here at Old Pueblo Insurance, serving the greater Oro Valley, AZ area, we want to make home insurance as simple as possible for you. Here is what you need to know about home insurance and selling your home. 

Prior to Selling Your Home

In most cases, you do not need to tell a home insurance company that you are putting your home up for sale. The exception to this is if you are moving out. If you are no longer living in the residence, and have the home up for sale, you should let your home insurance company know. Many insurance policies are designed to protect you when you are living in the home, not after you have moved out. Changes may need to be made to ensure your home is still covered when you are not living there. 

When a Sale is Pending

Once you have an offer on your home, you should notify your home insurance company that you have a sale pending on the home and the date that the sale is scheduled to close. This gives them notice that your policy may need to be canceled soon. If a sale falls through, let the insurance company know. 

When the Sale Goes Through

Once the sale of your home has been completed, contact the home insurance company. Let them know both verbally and in writing. The policy can then be canceled. 

If you are selling your home, you may also be in the market to buy a new home. Here at Old Pueblo Insurance, serving the Oro Valley, AZ area, we can help you transfer your existing policy or begin a new policy when you purchase a new home. Contact us today and let us help you figure out the right move for your home insurance needs. 

Why You Should Review Your Home Insurance At Least Once A Year

You should get in the habit of reviewing your home insurance in Oro Valley, AZ at least once a year. A lot can happen over the course of a year. Plus, you want to make sure that you’re paying what you should. Old Pueblo Insurance has reputable, independent insurance agents who can help you to review your policy.

One of the biggest reasons to look over your home insurance policy is to make sure that it encompasses everything that you own. For example, if you have made any home improvements or added any additional structures to your property, your insurance policy needs to be updated to include those. Otherwise, they may be eliminated from a claim, leaving you to pay for damages on your own.

If you have purchased a lot of expensive jewelry or fine art, it’s a good idea to complete a home inventory in your Oro Valley, AZ home, too. You may want to upgrade your policy to include a high valuables rider. This way, if there is a burglary in your home and these items are stolen, they are covered.

It’s also a good idea to make sure you are getting the most competitive rates. Insurance premiums will go up or down periodically. If yours goes up, you may want to review your policy to see if you’re getting all of the discounts you are privy to. It may also be beneficial to get quotes from a few other companies to see if you can lower your rates.

At Old Pueblo Insurance, we can review your policy to see if it is as comprehensive as it needs to be. We can make recommendations and even get quotes from several insurance companies to help you save money. Our independent insurance agents will work closely with you to ensure you have a home insurance policy you can count on.

 

 

Hidden Termite Terrors and how to prevent them

At Old Pueblo Insurance, serving the Tucson and Oro Valley, AZ areas, we know all about termites and what they can do to your house, value, and insurance.   

Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover termite damage. However, it can cover damage to things, like electronics, covered by homeowners insurance that is caused by a collapsing structure, such as a wall or a roof that had the termite damage.

The good news is termite damage can be prevented with regular maintenance and inspections. Protecting your home can not only keep your family safe, but it can save you thousands of dollars.

  • There are 45 kinds of termites in the U.S.
  • Termites are social insects. So, if you see one, he has friends.
  • Termites live in dark places.
  • In recorded history, termites have never developed resistance to any pesticide.

It’s always advisable to have a professional inspect your house, but there are three main signs you can look for on a monthly walk around your house.

Check for the three top signs of termites moving in with you.

Wood Damage

It seems obvious, but termites are after wood. If you see long tubes in wood near the ground or trees nearby, it might be termites

Mud Tubes and Tunnels

Wherever the land meets your house, you could find mud tubes the size of pencils.

Discarded Wings

Near the ground, if you find a pile of discarded wings, this is a sure sign a swarm has moved in and colonized.

Old Pueblo Insurance, serving Tucson and Oro Valley, AZ, is there to answer any questions you might have about your homeowner’s insurance and what is covered. Give us a friendly call for details