How to prepare for a home insurance claim

While we buy home insurance to give us peace of mind, things can sometimes go awry. What’s next? What should you do and not do? Who do you tell first, what are your options or obligations? Do you know how to file a claim? Losses can be stressful, particularly when they involve your home, but worry not because Familia Insurance Agency is here to take you through the claiming process and support you until you have recovered. Here are a few ways you can prepare for a home insurance claim.

Understand your coverage

Make sure you know exactly what is covered and what’s not covered to avoid misunderstandings when filing your claim. Filing a claim for uncovered damage will only raise your premiums, therefore, make sure your claims are approvable.

Update your home inventory

One of the most common headaches about filing a claim is a lack of updated inventory. If you bought a new tv and did not keep the receipt as proof, your insurance provider may find it difficult to believe you. Take photos, videos, and carry receipts for every item you buy. You will need these photos when filing your claim.

Have a reliable contractor in Kissimmee, FL

Some accidents or perils may involve you working on some damages or repairs. If you have places in your home that put your home at risk, like a hole in the roof, a contractor can help you fix them before an accident. Similarly, when filing a claim, you can also use the services of your contractor to repair and fix what can be fixed instead of having your insurance company bring their own contractor.

Don’t wait until there is an emergency to learn how to file a home insurance claim successfully. Insurance experts at Familia Insurance Agency are here to answer any question that you may have. Call us or visit us at our Kissimmee, FL offices, and we will be happy to help.

All you need to know: Home Insurance in Florida

With so many home insurance companies and policies out there, it can be a daunting task to choose the one that is most suited to your needs. You must equip yourself with enough knowledge so you can at least understand the policies, the requirements of the state of Florida and your specific needs. One rather unfortunate but unique aspect of Florida is its vulnerability to floods and storms. This means it is even more important to insure your most valuable asset, your home and to protect you and your family from unexpected financial burdens in case you do not have the correct home insurance.

It makes sense to get home insurance to protect from natural disasters but keep in mind that there are a lot of other more common issues that need to fix too. For example, water leaks, plumbing, and roofs, air-conditioning systems just to name a few. Such issues are also very costly and you don’t want to be paying all out-of-pocket for these. If you have a mortgage, most lenders require home insurance by law.  

Agents at Familia Insurance Agency at the Kissimmee, FL region are experts in the home insurance industry of Florida. They are well-versed in local rules and regulations and are well trained to guide you with the best policy. They will provide competitive pricing for the coverage and also make sure your policy meets the state of Florida requirements. Furthermore, they explain all you need to know regarding best practices in filing a claim and getting the tax deductions you might qualify for.  You can visit their website for more information including their contact information.  Do not let this opportunity to secure your future just slip by. Get in touch with Familia Insurance Agency now.

3 Tips for Buying Home Insurance in Kissimmee, FL

If you are like most people, your home is likely the largest investment you will ever make. As such, you want to ensure it’s protected. The best way to protect your Kissimmee, FL home is by purchasing a quality home insurance policy with the help of Familia Insurance Agency. Read on to learn how to find the right policy and save money doing it.

1. Compare Quotes

One of the first things a person should do when it comes to finding the right homeowner’s insurance policy is to compare quotes. It’s a good idea to get a quote from several insurance providers. This will help ensure that the policy with the most value is found and purchased. Keep in mind, the most value doesn’t always equate to the lowest price.

2. Bundle Policies

If you currently have other insurance coverage through an agency, you should consider bundling your policies. Many insurance agencies offer a discount for customers that have multiple policies with them. It’s a good idea to ask about this prior to trying to buy a policy as not all insurance companies offer this discount.

3. Work with a Reputable Agent

One of the best things you can do when it comes to finding a quality homeowners insurance is to work with a reputable agent. This is the person who will search for the policy you need, on your behalf, and go over the polices in detail with you.

Are you ready to begin looking into homeowners insurance coverage in Kissimmee, FL? If so, be sure to reach out to the professional team at Familia Insurance Agency. Here, you can count on superior service and the policies you need to protect your family, life, and home.  

 

5 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Buying Home Insurance

If you’re new to home ownership, chances are you’re unfamiliar with how to buy home insurance. As a result, you may make quite a few mistakes when buying a policy. With the help of an experienced agent from Familia Insurance Agency, you can avoid common mistakes that can weaken your coverage or raise the cost of your policy. Working with a pro can help you avoid costly mistakes like the following:

Compromising Coverage for Price

Be leery of compromising coverage for the price. A “good deal” on your premium really isn’t all that good if the policy doesn’t provide the protection you need. Your goal should be quality home insurance at a cost you can afford.

Not Reviewing Policy

Many homeowners buy a policy with a “general knowledge” of what it says instead of reading its entirety. As a result, they often misunderstand or even miss important aspects of their coverage. Not knowing your full coverage could work against you when making a claim.

Over-insuring Property

Failure to review your policy could result in your paying extra for non-essential coverage for your Kissimmee, FL home or paying for higher coverage limits than you really need. By taking the time to review your policy, you can avoid mistakes with over-insuring your property.  

Under-insuring Property  

Ideally, your dwelling insurance should cover the cost of replacing your home in the event it’s destroyed in a disaster. Too little coverage could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs out of pocket.

Choosing Actual Cash Value over Replacement Cost Coverage

When insuring personal goods, you have a choice of actual cash value or replacement cost coverage. Actual cash value reimburses you for the current value of an item less depreciation. Replacement cost pays to replace the item you lost, saving you money in the long run.   

To avoid costly mistakes on your home insurance coverage, contact the professionals at Familia Insurance Agency in Kissimmee, FL.

What is a home inventory and why do I need it?

When settling into your Kissimmee, FL home, creating a home inventory might be the last thing on your mind, but it can help you if you need to file an insurance claim. In fact, bringing your home inventory with you to Familia Insurance Agency provides your agent with helpful information to make sure you obtain a policy that provides the coverage you need.

Creating an Inventory

Your home inventory contains three parts: video, photos, and a text description. Store it outside your home in a safety deposit box or in the cloud. The Insurance Information Institute offers an app, "Know Your Stuff," for creating and storing an inventory.

  1. Make a video of the contents of each room of your home. Include close-ups of electronics, bicycles, camera equipment, artwork, and other expensive items.
  2. Photograph each room, capturing close-ups of expensive items like electronics and appliances. Photograph the model number and serial number appearing on each of these items.
  3. Write a textual description of each item, noting its model number and serial number. Update this at least annually.

Using Your Inventory

Your inventory first comes in handy when you obtain homeowners insurance. Take it with you to meet with your agent. They can use it to calculate how much coverage you’ll need to replace your home’s contents in case of a hazard occurring, such as fire or theft.

Its second use occurs when you need to make a claim. Its easier to file a claim when you already have an accurate description of every item damaged or missing.

A home inventory takes some time to make, but it’s worth your time to document your belongings. You’re more likely to end up with appropriate insurance coverage for your Kissimmee, FL home. You’ll also find it easier to file a claim in the event of a loss. Create your inventory and visit Familia Insurance Agency to find the right homeowners police.

Should Your Home Insurance Change This Hurricane Season?

It may be a good idea to review and possibly upgrade your homeowners insurance as hurricane season blows in this year. Although Kissimmee, FL is inland, it is still on a peninsula and is occasionally vulnerable to storm paths. Familia Insurance Agency wants our clients to know that their home is safe all year long.

What You Should know About Home Insurance and Hurricanes

  • Many different types of damage are caused by hurricanes. From flooding, wind, and even occasional hail. There is not a broad coverage that just protects the home for any event. Make sure your homeowners insurance covers the incidents that are likely or possible to occur in your area.
  • Hurricane damage cause by water, is considered flood damage and is covered under the federally managed National Flood Insurance Program. Make sure that you indeed have Flood Insurance before hurricane season rolls around.
  • Fast action is vital to save your home after water damage from a hurricane. Even if you are handy and feel like you can fix damage to your home after a disaster, it is still not worth the risk because water damage spreads fast and should be treated like an emergency to prevent rot and mold.
  • Insurance means that even after a frightening disaster professionals can come in and restore your home and lifestyle back to normal so your family does not have to feel displaced or afraid.
  • Various home insurance policies will not cover the valuables within the home such as jewelry and electronics, consider this when purchasing your policy.

Contact us at Familia Insurance Agency if you would like to review your home insurance in and around Orlando, Saint Cloud, and Kissimmee, FL before disaster heads your way. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of our agents.

Spring Home Maintenance Tips for Your Roof

It is recommended that you have your roof inspected in the fall and spring. This helps to ensure your roof is in great condition, protecting the interior of your home from water damage. If you fail to properly maintain the roof, your home insurance company may be legally allowed to deny any claims you file as a result of your poorly-maintained roof. Familia Insurance Agency in Kissimmee, FL has a few tips on when your home may need maintenance:

The Roof

Your roof needs to be examined to look for signs of damage. This may include cracked or worn shingles, tiles, or missing shingles or tiles. The damaged and missing tiles or shingles should be replaced. An inspection will also let you know when the roof is nearing the end of its lifespan and may need to be replaced.

The Chimney

A chimney is something that should be inspected and maintained when your roof is. If there are cracks in a brick chimney or the bricks are crumbling, brickwork needs to be done to solve the problem. Water can enter through these cracks causing water damage throughout your chimney system.

The Flashing

The last item on your roof that needs to be inspected in the spring is your flashing. Flashing is a metal strip that is placed between a gap and your roofing material. It helps to keep water from entering small gaps. If the flashing is rusted or bent, it may not keep water out which allows it to penetrate your roof. Replace damaged flashing as needed to protect your home from water damage.

If you have questions about your existing home insurance policy or are shopping for a new one, give Familia Insurance Agency, serving the greater Kissimmee, FL area, a call today. Our agents would love to help you with all of your insurance needs. Come by our office or use our online rating tool to get a quote for your home insurance needs.

Spring Home Maintenance Tips for Your Roof

It is recommended that you have your roof inspected in the fall and spring. This helps to ensure your roof is in great condition, protecting the interior of your home from water damage. If you fail to properly maintain the roof, your home insurance company may be legally allowed to deny any claims you file as a result of your poorly-maintained roof failing. Familia Insurance Agency in Kissimmee, FL has a few tips on when your roof  may need maintenance:

The Roof

Your roof needs to be examined to look for signs of damage. This may include cracked or worn shingles, tiles, or missing shingles or tiles. The damaged or missing tiles or shingles should be replaced. An inspection will also let you know when the roof is nearing the end of its lifespan and may need to be replaced.

The Chimney

A chimney is something that should be inspected and maintained when your roof is. If there are cracks in a brick chimney or the bricks are crumbling, brickwork needs to be done to solve the problem. Water can enter through these cracks, causing water damage throughout your chimney system.

The Flashing

The last item on your roof that needs to be inspected in the spring is your flashing. Flashing is a metal strip that is placed between a gap and your roofing material. It helps to keep water from entering small gaps. If the flashing is rusted or bent, it may not keep water out which allows water to penetrate your roof. Replace damaged flashing as needed to protect your home from water damage.

If you have questions about your existing home insurance policy or are shopping for a new one, Give Familia Insurance Agency, serving the greater Kissimmee, FL area, a call today. Our agents would love to help you with all of your insurance needs.

How are Home Insurance Premiums Determined?

Home insurance is something that every homeowner needs even if they have paid for their home in full and are not required to hold a policy. Home insurance can make a huge difference in the recovery process after your home is damaged or destroyed and for those in the Kissimmee, FL area, the agents with Familia Insurance Agency can help you find the coverage that is right for you.

Home insurance does have a monthly or yearly premium depending on how you want to approach the payment process. Your premiums are determined by a few different factors but the main factor is going to be your actual coverage. To determine how much coverage you need, your insurance agent will take rebuild cost of your home, materials that make up your home, and the overall age of your home. These are all going to factor into the cost of your home and the value that will help calculate coverage.

The next thing that an agent will look at is fire protection in your area, how far from your home is a fire department or a fire hydrant, this will help determine how quickly help could get to you in the event of a fire. Still another factor taken into account is how many and what types of pets you have, the claims history of your area, your personal claims history, and your history with the insurance company.

Having a higher deductible can help lower your premium and so can improving your credit score, security devices in your home, bundled policies and more. Your home insurance is important and knowing how premiums are calculated can help you understand a bit more. The agents with Familia Insurance Agency in the Kissimmee, FL area can help you find your coverage.  

Holiday Lighting Safety Tips

Holiday season is upon us in Kissimmee, FL. For many people, this means time to pull out the holiday decorations and lights.  Homes are transformed into majestic displays of holiday spirit.  Unfortunately, some homes do not survive the holiday season. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association states that 860 home fires are caused by holiday decorations every year. Protect your home and your family by following these safety tips when putting up holiday lighting.

Tip #1:  Use Caution When Buying Electrical Decorations

Be careful where you buy lights and decorations. Purchase electrical decorations from reputable stores and vendors. Also, make sure they have a seal of approval from a nationally recognized testing lab such as CSA, Intertek, or UL. 

Tip #2:  Inspect All Equipment Before Use

Before you begin hanging lights and decorations, make sure extension cords are marked for proper use. Check for any damage to lights, cords and electrical decorations. Do not use electrical decorations that have damaged cords or wires. 

Tip #3:  Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets

Plugging too many lights and decorations into one outlet can cause it to overheat and catch fire. Outdoor lighting needs to be plugged into outlets that are protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). And avoid stringing more than three sets of incandescent lights together.

Tip #4:  Be Mindful of Where Lights and Other Electrical Decorations are Placed

If there are power lines nearby, make sure that outdoor lights and decorations are at least 10 feet away from them. Inside the home, electrical decorations need to be kept at least three feet away from an open flame or any heating equipment.

Protect your Kissimmee, FL home this holiday season. By following these simple safety tips, you can avoid unexpected disasters caused by an electrical fire.