reviewing home insurance policies and flood insurance

[ladykemma2]

i was reviewing and renewing all my policies yesterday. due to hurricane Ike all the cost of my policies increased.

i wanted to stress to everybody the need for flood/water damage coverage. i do not live in a flood plain and rather high up in elevation. but during hurricane IKE the water came up within 10 feet of my front door because the storm sewers either became blocked or couldn't keep up. i could imagine what a cat 5 storm would do.

another thing: update your Homeowners policy annually. it seems that my ex never told or updated them about anything, if something had happened to this home we were underinsured. the insurance company had 15 year old information

he never told them about the porcelain tile throughout the house. my policy was increased.

about the new roof, my policy increased. the irony is two years ago i paid $7000cash for a "galveston building code hurricane roof" in Katy Texas. Having suffered no damage during the hurricane, had no claims and was rewarded by having my policy increase because i installed a spiffy, expensive, new hurricane roof.

and the policy deductibles doubled and rates increased for all due to hurricane IKE.

go figure.

edited to add: dave stresses the importance of having REPLACEMENT value coverage. very important.

edited to add: i feel rather beaten down and very glad for the freedom account

[MRAHoffman]

First of all...PLEASE don't beat me up as I am a dreaded insurance agent/underwriter That is VERY wise of you to review your policy, you wouldn't BELIEVE how many people have changes to their policy and they don't know. Also, yes, insurance language is legal language, PLEEAASSEE, if you don't understand something, talk to your agent about it AND you may want to call your insurance company just to comfirm what the agent says as you don't know HOW many agents are clueless and the ones that suffer are the insured. In addition, in the insurance world, Texas is another country Their rules are the MOST complicated (I WAS licensed in all 50 states when I was still selling, now I'm the "anti agent underwriter"). I also know that after the hurricanes, MY company was the only one who stayed in TX (they were also the ones with the mold claim problems), but I believe that changed. You ALSO may want to check to see if wind is covered on your policy as I know many companies pulled wind off due to the hurricanes (every company is different as to how far inland this was pulled). Yes, replacement cost is VERY important AND make sure your personal property limits are adequate as I hear people say "I don't have anything valuable", BUT when a fire, etc occurs you have to replace EVERYTHING...right down to your unmentionables and if you only KNEW how fast that adds up. Lastly, get a good amount of personal liability coverage, it's one of the CHEAPEST of coverages and it can greatly protect you. THERE!!!! I think that's it Take care and God bless.

[ladykemma2]

First of all...PLEASE don't beat me up as I am a dreaded insurance agent/underwriter That is VERY wise of you to review your policy, you wouldn't BELIEVE how many people have changes to their policy and they don't know. Also, yes, insurance language is legal language, PLEEAASSEE, if you don't understand something, talk to your agent about it AND you may want to call your insurance company just to comfirm what the agent says as you don't know HOW many agents are clueless and the ones that suffer are the insured. In addition, in the insurance world, Texas is another country Their rules are the MOST complicated (I WAS licensed in all 50 states when I was still selling, now I'm the "anti agent underwriter"). I also know that after the hurricanes, MY company was the only one who stayed in TX (they were also the ones with the mold claim problems), but I believe that changed. You ALSO may want to check to see if wind is covered on your policy as I know many companies pulled wind off due to the hurricanes (every company is different as to how far inland this was pulled). Yes, replacement cost is VERY important AND make sure your personal property limits are adequate as I hear people say "I don't have anything valuable", BUT when a fire, etc occurs you have to replace EVERYTHING...right down to your unmentionables and if you only KNEW how fast that adds up. Lastly, get a good amount of personal liability coverage, it's one of the CHEAPEST of coverages and it can greatly protect you. THERE!!!! I think that's it Take care and God bless.

yeah, i spent over an hour on the phone, page by page. I am positive I have replacement value and wind coverage and personal liability. USAA is still covering for wind.

i just thought it was "ironic and pathetic funny" that when we discussed the new roof she increased the fee. i was the only one in my neighborhod that didn't have blue tarps on the roof after IKE.

[MRAHoffman]

MY company Foremost has a roof discount in Texas for the more resistant roofs. Take care and God bless.