Keeping Up with Your Home’s Rising Property Value by Reviewing Insurance Coverage

Property values are rising in Southlake, TX, and in many other parts of the state. As homeowners throughout the country have discovered, however, the insurance implications of increased home values can require additional planning. At Kimble Brown Insurance Agency, we’re ready to help. You may have heard that, in areas where homes have been damaged or destroyed by fire or flood, repairs or replacement costs have risen even if coverage amounts have not. Also, homeowners need to take action to purchase the type of home insurance that meets their needs. Two common choices in Texas are actual cash value, which may cost less but cover the depreciated value of your home, or replacement and repair cost coverage, which restores your home’s condition.

Roof Repair Home Insurance Claims As Examples

Roof repairs are common events where homeowners will discover what their insurance covers. This is a critical situation because you’re restoring the look of your home and possibly the structure and the seal that protects your family from the elements. If a roofing contractor does an excellent job identifying repairs or replacement needed, the cost and complexity can be significant.

Tracking Your Home’s Value And Updating Coverage

At Kimble Brown Insurance Agency, we’re familiar with real estate in Southlake, TX, and ready to help with coverage adjustments to reflect rising property values and repair costs. The construction industry has faced labor and material shortages, reflected in rising repair and replacement costs. Our experts can help you keep your coverage up to date so that unexpected damage to your home or other concerns doesn’t leave you making up the difference to restore your property to its original condition. Call us and see!

Does Home Insurance Cover the Garage and Attached Structures?

At Kimble Brown Insurance Agency in Southlake, TX, we ensure that every part of your home eligible for coverage is protected under our insurance policies. If your home has attached structures like a deck or garage, it can be confusing to determine whether your policy covers those structures. While each home insurance policy lists specialized terms and limits unique to that policy, we can offer some general ideas about whether a home insurance policy might cover those structures.

Does Home Insurance Cover the Garage and Attached Structures?

When your home has an attached garage or deck, discussing how this may affect your home insurance policy is a good idea. Since these structures are attached to your home, damage to them could also affect your home. Without a plan for covering emergency expenses in case of qualifying damage, you could find yourself facing not only a disaster in your living environment but also a financial disaster.

The good news is that most home insurance policies provide some coverage for attached structures. Unattached garages and storage sheds may also be eligible for coverage under specific sections of your policy. Home insurance is unlikely to provide coverage and protection for structures that aren’t attached to the home, such as a guest house, trailer, or RV. Nevertheless, you can consult with one of our agents to explore how you can cover important items that don’t qualify for coverage under your home insurance policy, such as vehicles, valuables, and secondary dwellings.

To discover how our policies can meet your home coverage needs, contact Kimble Brown Insurance Agency in Southlake, TX today!

Tips to prepare your house for a storm

No one likes to experience a storm, but taking the proper precautions can ensure that when one does hit the Southlake, TX area, you are ready. Here are some tips from us at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency on how to prepare your house for a storm: 

  1. Check for any damage outside your home and repair it as soon as possible. Ensure all windows and doors are properly sealed, and there are no weak points where water may enter.
  2. Clear away any nearby debris or items that could become airborne during a storm. This includes power lines, tree branches, outdoor furniture, and other items that should not be left outdoors during bad weather conditions. 
  3. Have an emergency kit handy if you must evacuate your home quickly due to flooding or high winds. This kit should include basic necessities such as food, water, batteries, flashlights, blankets, and first aid supplies. 
  4. Be sure to secure all outdoor objects such as grills, bicycles, and outdoor furniture by either moving them inside or tying them down with rope or bungee cords to prevent them from becoming projectiles during high winds or hail storms. 
  5. Install surge protectors throughout your home so that electrical appliances do not sustain any damage from power surges caused by distant lightning strikes or downed power lines near your residence. 

Following these safety tips before a storm hits, you’ll be better prepared for anything nature throws at you! For more information, or if you’d like to explore your house’s insurance policy, give us a Kimble Brown Insurance Agency a call today. We are proud to serve the Southlake, TX area.

Essential Tips for Choosing the Right Home Insurance in Southlake, TX

Are you a homeowner in Southlake, TX, looking for the right home insurance? Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced homeowner, it’s essential to understand the different coverage options and what they mean for your home. 

Know Your Needs 

The first step in choosing the right home insurance policy is understanding your needs. Make sure you assess all of your current needs and potential future needs before selecting a policy. Think about what kind of coverage you need now and what risks may arise in the future that require more comprehensive coverage. For example, additional coverage should be considered if you live in an area prone to extreme weather or earthquakes. 

Choose an Experienced Provider 

When selecting an insurance provider, finding one with experience and expertise in both residential and commercial policies is essential. The provider should be able to explain all the features and benefits of their policies so that you can make an informed decision about which one best meets your needs. Kimble Brown Insurance Agency has years of experience providing personalized policies for homeowners throughout Southlake, TX.  

Understand Your Coverage Options 

Once you have chosen a provider, it’s time to consider your coverage options. Make sure that whatever policy you select offers enough coverage for current and potential future risks associated with owning a home. It’s also essential to read through the fine print and ask questions if there is anything that isn’t clear or if something doesn’t sound right.

Choosing the right home insurance policy is not always easy, but following these essential tips can help you get the most out of your policy without sacrificing quality or affordability. Remember that having proper coverage can save you from costly repairs or medical bills down the road, so do your research before deciding! For all your home insurance needs, contact Kimble Brown Insurance Agency today!

Ways in Which Home Insurance Protects You

Do you have a home in Southlake, TX? Have you thought about home insurance? If you haven’t, this is the time to invest in homeowners insurance. Home insurance can save you significant financial losses when disasters occur.

Kimble Brown Insurance Agency is the preferred insurance agent in Southlake, TX, and today we share ways in which home insurance protects you.

Protects your building structure

Home insurance compensates you when covered perils damage your home. For instance, if a fire ravages your dwelling structure, home insurance pays for the damage up to the coverage limit. This happens for every loss caused by a covered peril.

Covers your personal belongings

Home insurance isn’t about your structure only — it covers the contents inside, too. If you have clothing, electronics, furniture, etc., you don’t have to worry about their safety if you have home insurance. Like dwelling coverage, contents coverage compensates you for the loss or damage to your assets up to the coverage limit.

Liability protection

Suppose you are accused of causing bodily injury or property damage to others. Without insurance, this can be pretty expensive. Luckily, liability coverage covers the cost of liability claims, including lawsuits. For instance, if someone breaks their leg after falling on your stairs, liability coverage covers the medical expenses, including the loss of wages, if they prove their income has been affected due to the injury.

Loss of use

Home insurance covers additional living expenses if a covered peril renders your home unlivable. Home insurance covers expenses like hotel accommodation and food until your home is repaired.

Ready to invest in home insurance in Southlake, TX? Please get in touch with Kimble Brown Insurance Agency for an affordable quote. We also help you choose the coverage that satisfies your current needs.

Five Common Risks Not Covered By Home Insurance

Your home insurance covers many perils, but it may fall short in covering certain risks. However, you can purchase additional coverage for these exclusions to safeguard your house entirely. In that case, you need to understand what’s not covered by your standard home insurance to identify the gaps and buy additional coverage. Kimble Brown Insurance Agency has prepared for you the common risks your home insurance doesn’t cover.

Floods

Your standard home insurance doesn’t cover damage or loss caused by floods. If you live in an area prone to floods, you must consider a separate flood insurance policy. Flood damage can be very costly. It would be best if you planned for such uncertainty.

Earth movements

Your typical home insurance policy does not cover damage caused by landslides, earthquakes, and mudflows. And just like floods, damage caused by earthquakes can be very expensive, thus the need to buy a separate policy to cover the same.

Infestations

Protecting your home from infestations is essential as your home insurance excludes damage through infestations. Some infestations include termites, bedbugs, mice, and other vermin. You, therefore, have to cater for remediation and eradication costs brought by infestations.

Wear and tear

Your home insurance covers accidental occurrences such as fire, theft, and storms but not general wear and tear. As a homeowner, you should perform maintenance to prevent your home from slipping into bad shape. You can avoid this by maintaining roofs, replacing worn-out floors, and repairing leaking pipes.

Act of war and government action

Your home insurance won’t pay for damages caused by civil, nuclear, declared, or undeclared war. Likewise, if the government destroys your home or belongings, your home insurance is not liable.

Home Insurance in Southlake, TX

Knowing and planning for these exclusions might protect your finances when a disaster strikes. Ready to purchase your home insurance in Southlake, TX, and its surroundings? Contact us at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency for an affordable quote.

How to Find Out Your Home’s Flood Risk in Three Simple Steps

Whether your home is protected by a high bank, a flood wall, or a soggy basement, you’re probably aware that natural disasters can wreak havoc on your property. Once you realize that flooding is a constant risk, taking action is essential. The sooner you know about your Southlake, TX home’s potential to be damaged by rising waters, the better your chance of protecting yourself and your loved ones from future financial losses. Kimble Brown Insurance Agency has three easy steps for you to follow:

Step One: Go To The FEMA Flood Map Service Center

You’ll want to start by visiting the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) website at https://msc.fema.gov/. The MSC was established to give accurate data about flood zones to support the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Established in 1968, the NFIP is a federal program that offers flood insurance to homes and businesses, as most insurance companies at the time did not show such policies due to the high cost of flood damage.

Step Two: Search For Your Property

Enter your address in the search bar. You can also search by city or GPS coordinates if you prefer. This will take you to the "products" for your area. (Don’t worry, all of this info is free.) Here you can see the basic flood risk map and links to download it. If you need help reading the map, check out FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) tutorial at: https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps/tutorials#other.

Step Three: Show ALL Products

To see an in-depth flood study on your region, click the "Show ALL Products" button on the right-hand side of the search results. You’ll want to select this page’s "Flood Risk Products" folder. This will let you download many risk maps, reports, and databases.

Conclusion

Finding out that your home is at risk from flooding is crucial in protecting your property. The next step is getting flood insurance that fits that risk. That’s where Kimble Brown Insurance Agency comes in. We’re here to help all Southlake, TX residents understand their flood insurance needs!

Home Insurance FAQ

Your home is more than just a house. It is your home, sanctuary, and place for you and your family to grow together. Making sure that your home is adequately insured protects the financial investment you have made in your home and provides a special peace of mind. At Kimble Brown Insurance Agency, serving Southlake, TX, and the surrounding areas, we want to help you make the best insurance choices. Please keep reading our home insurance FAQ. 

Why Do I Need Home Insurance?

If your home is under a mortgage, your mortgage company will require that you carry insurance. This protects the assets they are financing. 

Even if you are not required to keep insurance currently, a solid home insurance policy is essential to your family’s financial and emotional security. If your home is damaged or lost for some reason, it will be your financial responsibility to provide housing for your family. If you must pay out of pocket for repairs or replacing your home, it could leave you and your family vulnerable. This will affect your family financially, but the emotional stress of displacement can put a toll on a family. Home insurance protects you from these risks. 

What About Flood Insurance?

Most home insurance policies will provide coverage for property damage and liability. However, you should know that home insurance does not usually provide flood coverage. Flood insurance is a separate type of insurance policy. You can talk with an insurance agent about how to have this vital type of coverage added to your policy. 

If you would like to learn more about home insurance or any other services, don’t hesitate to contact us at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency, serving Southlake, TX, and the surrounding areas. 

Home Insurance FAQ

Your home is more than just a house. It is your home, sanctuary, and place for you and your family to grow together. Making sure that your home is adequately insured protects the financial investment you have made in your home and provides a special peace of mind. At Kimble Brown Insurance Agency, serving Southlake, TX, and the surrounding areas, we want to help you make the best insurance choices. Please keep reading our home insurance FAQ. 

Why Do I Need Home Insurance?

If your home is under a mortgage, your mortgage company will require that you carry insurance. This protects the assets they are financing. 

Even if you are not required to keep insurance currently, a solid home insurance policy is essential to your family’s financial and emotional security. If your home is damaged or lost for some reason, it will be your financial responsibility to provide housing for your family. If you must pay out of pocket for repairs or replacing your home, it could leave you and your family vulnerable. This will affect your family financially, but the emotional stress of displacement can put a toll on a family. Home insurance protects you from these risks. 

What About Flood Insurance?

Most home insurance policies will provide coverage for property damage and liability. However, you should know that home insurance does not usually provide flood coverage. Flood insurance is a separate type of insurance policy. You can talk with an insurance agent about how to have this vital type of coverage added to your policy. 

If you would like to learn more about home insurance or any other services, don’t hesitate to contact us at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency, serving Southlake, TX, and the surrounding areas. 

How Much Home Insurance Do I Really Need?

For many people in Southlake, TX, the biggest investment that they will ever make is their home. For this reason, you must have the right amount of home insurance in place to protect you if disaster strikes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of just how much coverage is enough. At Kimble Brown Insurance Agency, we will walk you through all of the coverage included in a standard home insurance policy as well as provide you with options for additional coverage that you may need.

Dwelling Coverage

Obtaining the right amount of coverage starts with dwelling coverage. This is the amount that you will be paid if your home requires repairs following an insured incident or is declared a total loss. You will only be paid in an amount up to the limits of your policy. This means if you do not have enough coverage, you will not have the financial support to rebuild.

Start with the cost to rebuild your house in your area based on current material costs and local construction fees. You can use an online calculator, get an estimate from a professional contractor, or ask your insurance provider for an estimate. Once you know the amount that it would take to rebuild your home, you will know how much to include in your home insurance policy.

Other Coverages to Consider

In addition to dwelling coverage, you will also need to consider additional coverage options. For example, a standard policy does not include things like floods and earthquakes, you will have to purchase additional policies for that. In addition, some valuable items such as firearms and jewelry have limited coverage in a standard policy, so you may want to consider additional coverage there as well.

If you live in the Southlake, TX area and you have questions about your home insurance, contact Kimble Brown Insurance Agency. Call today.