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

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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!

What is Covered Under Landlord Insurance?

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A standard property insurance policy may not cover damages or liability if you rent a home. We offer landlord insurance at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency in Southlake, TX. 

What is Landlord Insurance? 

Landlord insurance protects you and your property when you rent a home. Landlord coverage typically consists of liability protection and property coverage. 

Liability Protection 

Liability protection will cover you if someone is injured on your rental property. In some cases, the renter may be responsible for any liability. However, if it’s determined that you are responsible for the accident, you are liable for any damages. Liability protection will prevent you from paying these expenses out of pocket up to the coverage limit. 

Property Protection 

Property protection covers the property you are renting. Dwelling coverage covers the home itself. If a covered event damages the house, including fire, wind, or hail, the damages will be covered under the policy. 

Other structure coverage includes any other buildings or structures on the property. This includes sheds and garages. 

Additionally, property protection coverage protects any property you use to service the rental. This includes lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and any other equipment you use for maintenance. 

Extra Coverage 

Some landlord policies include extra coverage. Vandalism coverage will cover any intentional damage to your property. This isn’t typically covered under a standard policy. 

If you are currently renovating the property or building a new home, you may consider rental property under construction coverage. It will provide extra coverage for damages that occur during construction. 

Lastly, you should consider building code coverage, particularly for older homes. If the building codes have changed since it was constructed, you are liable for bringing the building up to code. Building code coverage can cover these expenses. 

Landlord Insurance at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency

If you need landlord insurance in Southlake, TX, contact us at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency. We’ll help you find the right policy to protect your investment. 

Will flood insurance cover damage to anything in my condo?

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As a condo owner, you want to know that your unit and personal belongings are protected in the event of some unfortunate incident. If you live in a flood zone, you have probably purchased flood insurance. Both condo and flood insurance provide protection for condo owners. However, in a flood, it’s still good to know what’s covered. Our team at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency is committed to helping Texas condo owners understand how flood insurance works and what’s covered. 

What is Flood Insurance?

A flood is defined as a build-up of water on land, usually dry. The main purpose of flood insurance is to cover/insure damage to your home or condo unit, car, and personal belongings if a flood damages them. Flood insurance would need to be purchased separately from condo insurance and cover flood damage to your unit. Flood insurance covers any losses caused as a direct result of flooding. 

What Does Flood Insurance Cover?

If a flood damages your condo, your flood insurance will pay to repair or fix the damage and replace damaged or destroyed items. The replacement cost is usually the actual cost of the damaged item or the actual cash value, whichever is less/lower. Specifically, flood insurance provides building coverage and contents coverage. This includes your walls, foundations, fixtures, cabinets, wallboards, and paneling. Flood insurance will also cover repairing and replacing your electrical and plumbing system, furnaces and water heaters, solar equipment, and well/fuel tanks. Your flood insurance policy will also cover your:

  • Garage
  • Refrigerators
  • Stoves
  • Dishwashers
  • Personal belongings
  • Furniture
  • Carpeting
  • Clothing
  • Artwork and Valuables (limitations may apply)

Your flood insurance may also include trash and debris removal. If you have any questions regarding what’s covered under a flood insurance policy, please call us.

Why should you get recreational insurance in Texas?

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When you live in the Southlake, TX area, you will find there are a lot of great recreational activities that you can enjoy and participate in. When you are looking to maximize your experience in this area, having your recreational vehicle or toy can be a great option. No matter what type of recreational asset you purchase, you will want to get the right insurance. There are various reasons for someone to get this coverage here. 

Cover the Asset and Investment

An important reason for anyone to invest in recreational insurance for their asset is to ensure it is covered. There will always be a big investment made when you purchase a recreational asset and having the right coverage for it is crucial. When you get a proper recreational insurance plan, it will ensure you can be covered if it is stolen or damaged. 

Reduce Liability Risk

While a recreational toy can be a lot of fun to drive, it does come with liability risks. If you make a mistake and cause an accident that results in damages, you will have to cover them and pay restitution. Fortunately, you are able to mitigate this risk by getting a recreational plan as it will provide coverage that is specifically designed to reduce your liability risks. 

As you are looking to get a recreational asset in the Southlake, TX area, it will be very important that you speak with someone that you can trust and that understands recreational insurance. Starting your search with the Kimble Brown Insurance Agency is a great option. When you are looking for coverage, the professionals with the Kimble Brown Insurance Agency can provide any guidance you need to choose a plan that will properly protect your recreational asset.

Home Insurance FAQ

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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

Posted on by admin

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. 

Does Flood Insurance Cover Personal Property?

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In the state of Texas, most flood insurance policies are issued by the National Flood Insurance Program. Yet, it is still sold via traditional insurance providers. The experienced agents at Kimble Brown Insurance Agency of Southlake, TX are familiar with NFIP coverage and are happy to help with any questions you may have.

Building Property Flood Insurance vs. Personal Property Flood Insurance

Personal property flood insurance and building property flood insurance must be purchased separately, so it is vital to understand the coverage you have to know that you are fully protected. In general, a building property flood insurance policy will cover the structure, as well as any appliances or permanent equipment attached to that structure. You will need a personal property flood insurance policy to cover any items that are not attached permanently to the structure.

It is important to note that some items may not be covered by building property or personal property flood insurance. This typically includes items that are outside of the building or issues that arise as a consequence of the flooding. It is critical that you know exactly what type of flood insurance coverage you have to determine what is and is not covered.

Making the decision to purchase flood insurance as well as the type of flood insurance to purchase can be stressful. At Kimble Brown Insurance Agency of Southlake, TX, we are here to help relieve that stress.

We will take the time to work with you to make certain that you understand all of the coverage options that are available to you. Then we will help you decide on the best type of coverage to meet your specific needs. You will be able to rest easy knowing that should disaster strike, you and your family will be taken care of and protected with proper coverage.

How Much Home Insurance Do I Really Need?

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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.

Texas Recreational Insurance – Does Recreational Insurance Cover Personal Injury?

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Texas is one of the biggest states in the nation with wide-open spaces and warm weather nearly year-round.  It’s no surprise that Texas is a notable state for recreational vehicle use or RV use.  Much like regular auto insurance, RV insurance covers your RV in the case of an accident or other events that could happen during the life of your RV.  We will cover some of these events further down below.  Kimble Brown Insurance Agency in Southlake, TX offers RV insurance and other types of insurance needs.

RV Insurance

RV Insurance is quite similar to auto insurance in terms of policies offered and coverage limits, except that the coverage limits for RV’s are much greater than automobiles due to the size of RV vehicles.  RVs take up the space of two or sometimes three regular automobiles, so the chances for greater damage in the event of an accident are far greater than just a regular automobile, hence…the higher coverage limits in the policy.

Personal Injury

What if someone gets injured or suffers property damage in an accident that you’ve caused with your recreational vehicle?  The personal liability coverage of the RV insurance policy is a standard coverage offered in practically all RV insurance policies.  This is due to the fact that in most states, personal liability/damage coverage is a required facet of RV insurance and for your RV to operate legally on the road, you must have this coverage.  Personal Liability coverage handles accidents or damage that your RV causes to others and covers their injuries and property damage in these events.  

More Information

You can learn more about recreational insurance coverage by contacting Kimble Brown Insurance Agency in Southlake, TX today!

What Are The Most Common Myths About Home Insurance?

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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.