Severe Weather

Make sure your home is ready for the severe weather to come. Spring has been here for a few weeks and we have had a few severe thunderstorms. During these storms, if your home gets damaged the first thing you should do is call your insurance agent to see if the damage actually needs to be filed. If you are just missing a shingle you may want to get someone to repair it without filing a claim. Your agent should be able to help you find someone to repair it for you. Insurance companies are resorting to this because more and more people are filing claims on roof damage. Some insurance companies are trying to remap the way to reimburse homeowners for those repairs.

For example, in the past, if your roof was damaged you would just get a new one. Now some insurance agencies are taking into consideration the actual age of your roof. This means you could have to pay your deductible and part of the new roof costs due to the depreciated value of your old roof. Insurance companies try to keep premiums down but some companies have no choice but the raise rates. This happens when more claims are filed, due to the severe weather; the rates must go up because of the money lost.

Make sure you know what is covered on your policy by your insurance company if there is damage to your home. Give your agent a call and check your policy. If you need homeowners insurance call Gulf Coast Educators Insurance and they will be happy to help you find the insurance that is best for you.