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.

What Are The Most Common Myths About Home Insurance?

Home insurance, also known as homeowners insurance, is a type of personal insurance that pays to rebuild or repair your home if it was damaged or destroyed by a storm, hail, hurricane listed in your policy. It also covers your personal belongings and pays for additional living expenses. 

There are many myths and misconceptions about home insurance, and in this article, Kimble Brown Insurance Agency serving clients in Southlake, TX and other nearby towns, decided to list and debunk some of them: 

Most Common Myths About Home Insurance

Here is a list of common myths:

  • Standard home insurance covers flood damages. Unfortunately, it is not true, and a standard homeowners policy does not include flood coverage. If you want to protect your home from floods, you will have to purchase special separate flood insurance. 
  • Home insurance is too expensive. Yes, home insurance costs money, but there are many insurance companies that offer discounts to make home insurance more affordable. 
  • Home insurance covers everything. It is also a very common myth, but the truth is that home insurance has its limitations. For example, if you have very expensive and valuable items in your home, it is recommended to get a separate policy because your home insurance may not cover them completely. 

If you are a car owner from Southlake, TX or any other nearby area and you are looking for an insurance company to buy auto insurance to protect your car and yourself on the road, Kimble Brown Insurance Agency is the right choice. Our experienced, professional, and qualified insurance agents are always ready to answer your questions and find a great policy for you based on your insurance needs and budget. 

4 Benefits of Home Insurance

If you have a home, it means you’ve put in almost your entire savings into it, making your home a precious asset. You see, a home not only gives you a sense of protection and security but also houses most of your valuables. To that end, your home requires proper protection with home insurance, as one occurrence of a natural calamity can bring down your entire investment in a matter of seconds. 

If you are a homeowner and haven’t given home insurance much attention, perhaps it’s time. Once you consider the benefits of home insurance as prepared by Kimble Brown Insurance Agency, you will be excited to purchase one. 

Offers liability coverage

Liability coverage is one of the reasons home insurance comes in handy. It could cost you thousands of dollars if someone got injured in your compound and require medical attention. Worse still, if you got sued. With liability coverage, all these expenses are your insurer’s headache. 

Protection of the main structure

Where you live, your primary dwelling is the key reason most people buy home insurance. Imagine losing your house due to fire or tornado. The cost of rebuilding another one would cost a fortune. That’s when homeowners insurance comes in when such incidences happen. 

Protection of your home’s contents

Your home contents are indeed costly. Think of your furniture, clothes, electronics, appliances, and any other valuable item you own. If a covered event destroys these items, your home insurance comes to your rescue.

Offers temporary living expenses coverage

Your homeowner’s insurance does more than just repairs. It compensates for the loss of use expenses. If your house becomes inhabitable due to a covered peril, the policy will put you in a temporary place and foot the costs up to the covered limit as your dwelling undergoes repairs.

Home insurance in Southlake, TX

Solid homeowner’s insurance can offer the above benefits and much more. If you are looking for home insurance in Southlake, TX and its environs, look no further than Kimble Brown Insurance Agency. We offer customized policies that suit your needs. Contact us today for an affordable quote.

What every Southlake, TX homeowner needs to know about safety improvement

What every Southlake, TX homeowner needs to know about safety improvement

Your home holds everything you value, and that’s why it’s probably your most significant investment. Therefore, protecting it and ensuring everything is safe comes first. When it comes to safety, break-ins and burglaries are not the only challenges to worry about.  Slips and falls, dog bites, fires, and even water damage are common accidents requiring proper safety measures. At Kimble Brown Insurance Agency, we recommend buying adequate home insurance to protect your property and loved ones. If you are a homeowner in Southlake, TX, here is what you should know about improving safety.

Make sure your home is clean

Apart from potential slips, your trash can also attract thieves. What you throw in the trash, especially paperwork, may contain your personal information, and thieves can use this to commit crimes. Make sure that your papers are thoroughly shredded before they enter the trash. Keep your floors dry all the time, and ensure no fruit peels or vegetables are lying on your kitchen floor.

Inspect and notify your contractor about faults

Many people in Southlake, TX tend to forget or ignore this critical step. Take your time to go through your property and check for cracks on the walls, potential sinking in the basement, falling roof, and other interiors/ exterior faults that could put your life at risk. It also helps protect your visitors from accidental injuries while at your home.

Secure your home

Technology today offers various ways of keeping your home safe whether you’re around or not. You can install home security systems, smart bulbs and lights, motion detectors, and cameras to help you keep your home safe. Change your locks every once in a while and always close your window and doors before going to bed.

Looking for ways to make your home safer? Kimble Brown Insurance Agency can help you protect what matters to you most. Contact us for a comprehensive deal.

4 things to keep in mind when buying home insurance

4 things to keep in mind when buying home insurance

Most homeowners spend a lot of time, energy, and money buying a home that they overlook or give little thought about protecting it with adequate home insurance. A home insurance policy is designed to protect your valuable investment and loved ones. That’s why Kimble Brown Insurance Agency recommends speaking to an insurance expert before making any purchase. If you are in the market for home insurance in Southlake, TX, here are four things to keep in mind when buying home insurance.

Understand Your Policy

If you are buying home insurance for the first time, it is essential to familiarize yourself with insurance jargon and regulations. Learn what is covered, coverage limits, and what is not covered in your policy. You can also discuss every detail with your insurance advisor.

Know the Risks Involved

Understanding the risks involved helps you to equip your home with the right coverages. Consider the perils, neighborhood, and the people living in that home to determine your insurance needs. For instance, if you have children, you may want to consider focusing on liability coverage to protect them from accidental injuries.

Know How Much Insurance You Need

Once you know the risks involved, the next step is determining how much coverage you need. Your insurer can guide you through based on those risks. For instance, if you are moving to a less secure area, your insurer may request you to buy enough coverage for personal belongings based on their value. 

Compare Insurance Rates

If you have been keeping an inventory of your valuables, you can estimate your home insurance rate by adding this to your home’s value. Armed with this information, you can compare home insurance rates from different companies before making a final decision. 

Don’t wait untill a disaster strikes your Southlake, TX  home to buy home insurance. Our insurance agents at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency are dedicated to ensuring that you find a policy that matches your needs. Contact us for more information.

What isn’t covered by my home insurance

Owning a home is something that most people look forward to. It comes with plenty of challenges and worries, but you buy home insurance so that you can feel protected against all the hazards life can throw at you. You may think your home insurance covers everything that could damage your home, but you would be mistaken. You may be quite shocked to find out what is not included. As a homeowner, you should always read your entire home insurance policy, but most people don’t, and that can be a costly mistake. At Kimble Brown Insurance Agency in Southlake, TX, we are a family-owned business, and we think of our clients as extended family. We have been offering stellar service for more than 15 years. 

Flooding causes more damage to homes than any other disaster except tornados. They cause billions of dollars of damage every year, and the damage is not covered on your home insurance. If you think flooding is a possibility, you can purchase a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program. 

Earthquakes and other forms of earth movement, such as sinkholes or mudslides, are all risks excluded from your home insurance. You can purchase an additional policy called an earth movement policy, which will protect you from many different kinds of earth movement. 

Mold is something that takes time to grow and be an issue. For that reason, most insurance companies consider it to be preventable, and therefore they will not cover the damage and remediation. Termites are also not covered. 

If you have luxury items such as antiques, expensive jewelry, or artwork, it will either not be covered or be undercover. You can, however, purchase a rider to give you the amount of coverage you need. 

These are just some of the things that aren’t covered by your home insurance. If you have questions, give Kimble Brown Insurance Agency in Southlake, TX a call and let us help you with a free no-obligation quote.

Three tips for first time home buyers

Most first-time homebuyers across America are millennials from the ages of 23 to 33. While it is a relatively young age for such a vast life choice, it helps individuals to focus on other financial matters like home insurance and family.  With that said, buying a home in Southlake, TX is one of the most exciting yet stressful and time-consuming processes.

However, it doesn’t have to be exhausting because Kimble Brown Insurance Agency is here to help you with a few pointers to help make your homeownership journey less bumpy. Here are three tips to get you on the right track.

Draw your budget and stick to it

Before you start drooling at the beautiful homes online, make sure you have a budget talk with your partner to ensure that both of you are on the same page. Come up with a reasonable budget that also includes your home insurance. You can always determine how much home insurance you need by adding the value of your possessions to the value of the home.

Hammer your priorities

Make your list of non-negotiables by considering your lifestyle, needs, values, and budget. For instance, if you have kids, you may want to live in a neighborhood with kids and various amenities like a school, park, and playground. You should also prioritize the size of the home.

Compare apartments and houses in the area you want to live

This is always an exciting part of home buying. Once you have your ideal area, the next step is to check and compare the prices of apartments and houses.  This will help guide you on where to start and whether your budget is on point or not.

A home is a huge investment; you want to make sure that you leave no stone unturned. Once you have everything figured out, think about home insurance. If you haven’t, Kimble Brown Insurance Agency serving Southlake, TX is here to help. Feel free to call or visit us anytime.

Electrical Safety to Prevent the Risk of a Fire During the Holidays

The holidays are a time of joy and spending time with loved ones. However, this can also be a time when the risk of house fires significantly increases. Electrical fires and neglect of Christmas trees are some of the most common causes of fires in Southlake, TX during the holidays. Kimble Brown Insurance Agency has gathered a few tips for electrical safety to prevent the risk of a fire during the holidays.

Avoid Overloading Electrical Outlets

The holidays often mean the inclusion of extra lights and decorations, many of which require electrical power. Faulty wires and overloaded electrical outlets are common causes of holiday fires, so it’s important to only plug one high-wattage item into each outlet at the same time. Only use extension cords that do not have frayed wires and that are safe for use indoors and stated for outdoor use when using for exterior lights.

Inspect Decorations

Before using any decorations, carefully inspect them. Check for fraying, loose bulbs, and loose wires. Decorations that have been stored since last year may have damages that weren’t there when they were last used. It’s common for age and pests to destroy decorations that were perfect when you put them in storage, so don’t risk a fire by not inspecting each decorative item.

Holiday trees require water to avoid drying out. A dry tree that is adorned with electrical decorations is a disaster waiting to happen. Check the water for the tree every day and refill as needed. Never leave lights and other decorations plugged in while you are away from home or while you are sleeping. To prevent the risk of the tree falling on children or pets, keep them away from the tree or place a smaller tree on a table out of their reach.

Residents of Trophy Club or Southlake, TX interested in learning more information about home insurance should contact Kimble Brown Insurance Agency.

Are Your Roommates’ Belongings Covered Under Your Home Insurance Policy?

If you share a home with other individuals, it may be good to know if their belongings are covered under your homeowners insurance. If you are not a relative or married, chances are that homeowners insurance may not cover any roommates belongings. Kimble Brown Insurance Agency of Southlake, TX specializes in homeowners insurance and can help.

Homeowners Insurance

In general, homeowners insurance covers:

  • The structure of the actuals owners home

  • Property and belongings of the homeowner or relatives inside the home

  • Liability

What his means is if you are the owner, a relative of the owner or are married to the owner, you will have your possessions covered. Friends and non-relatives will not have property and belongings covered in this situation. Your spouse can be added to the homeowners policy if that is the wish of the homeowner. Separate insurance will need to be obtained by renters and friends who reside in the home though. Renters insurance is something that should be considered. 

Renters Insurance

Renters insurance does not cover the actual structure of the home that an individual is renting space in. If there is some type of disaster or theft, renters insurance can help protect and cover your possessions where homeowners will not. As a homeowner, it is good to remind roommates and non-relatives. They will need to know that in order to have their possessions protected, a separate individual policy will need to be obtained. Often this is overlooked as many will assume that the actual homeowners insurance covers everything in the house.

If you need a policy for homeowners or another type insurance, Kimble Brown Insurance Agency of Southlake, TX can help. Our experienced agents can work with you to get the type of coverage you need. Give us a call to schedule an appointment today.