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Homeowners’ insurance and renters’ insurance do not cover any damage that is caused by a flood. Everyone should have flood insurance. It’s especially necessary if you live in a designated flood zone or an area that is prone to flooding. It’s always best to make sure you are properly covered with a flood insurance policy.  

What is Flood Insurance? 

Flood insurance is a separate entity from homeowners’ or renters’ insurance. It covers damage to your property and personal belongings. Floods can be brutal and cause extensive water damage. You don’t have to live in a designated flood area to be susceptible to floods. Floods result from melting snow, heavy rainfall, and overflowing creeks/ponds. You can be more susceptible to flooding if you live at the base of a hill or in an area with lower terrain.  

Because no one knows when a flood will happen, you need a special policy for flood insurance. It is typically offered by the federal government and some private insurers. You don’t want to wait until it’s too late to get flood insurance—it has a 30-day wait period before the coverage even takes effect.  

What Does Flood Insurance Cover? 

Most flood insurance comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of their National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is underwritten by the federal government but is provided by private insurance agencies. This plan covers up to $250,000 in structural damage and up to $100,000 for personal belongings.  

NFIP covers however much (up to $250k) money it costs to rebuild your home to its state before damage. Your personal belongings coverage will cover their actual cash value, which is how much they are “worth.” This means you may not get as much as you paid for them if their value has deteriorated. You can also get less money back on furnishings or other items stored in your basement (because the water will accumulate at the lowest point of your home and cause more damage there).  

Private Market Flood Insurance 

Sometimes the standard flood insurance may not be enough to cover your home or your belongings. You may also need to take out a private market flood insurance plan if you don’t live in an area the NFIP covers. Many of these private insurances are “first-dollar” coverage, meaning they are similar to the coverage provided by the NFIP but it offers higher levels of coverage. This can also be considered excess flood insurance for those who need more coverage.  

Water damage can be severe and long-lasting. Depending on where you live, you may or may not be required to have flood insurance. However, it is always a good idea to carry flood insurance protection just in case. Talk to your local insurance agent to discuss the best options for your flood insurance plan.  

Renting a property comes with advantages that are often overlooked. You don’t have to worry about home improvements or paying property tax. You can move whenever your lease is up, or if you like the property enough you can sign a new lease. Renting offers plenty of flexibility that owning a property doesn’t. However, there are a few things renters should be knowledgeable about before signing the lease.  

Research the Neighborhood 

You don’t want to get stuck somewhere you won’t enjoy living. Make sure you’re knowledgeable about the crime in the area, as well as the local amenities. You want to live somewhere that’s convenient for you. Are there restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, or public transport nearby? Depending on your needs, these are some things you may want to consider.  

If you own a car, does the rental have its own place to park—or does it have public parking? If loud noises bother you and there are frequent sirens or trains passing by, then maybe it’s not the best place to live.  

Read the Terms of Lease  

Before you sign anything, it is absolutely necessary that you read all parts of the lease agreement. If there is anything you’re unsure of, have a realtor or attorney look over the lease to make sure everything is standard. You will want to pay extra attention to specific rules and clauses of the lease, like if there are pet policies, maintenance & upkeep, and information regarding your rent and security deposit. You don’t want any surprises, so make sure everything is clear and ask questions so you understand everything detailed in the lease.  

Inspect Property 

Make sure you inspect the property upon moving in. If there’s anything “off” report it to the landlord. Document and take pictures of all pre-existing damages and the overall condition of the rental. Test all the appliances and make sure they work properly. Turn on faucets and sinks and check to make sure the water pressure is alright. Ask your landlord if there’s an available move-in/move-out checklist, or you can find one online. Don’t make yourself pay for damage you didn’t do.  

Pay on Time 

Set reminders to pay your rent and bills on time. You don’t want to be late on your rent or your landlord can charge a late fee and not allow you to resign your lease. Paying your rent on time also gives you a better reputation, and your landlord might even write a recommendation for you if you plan to move somewhere else.  

Sometimes landlords accept automatic bank transfers as a way to pay your rent. Talk with your future landlord to see if you can set one up so your rent is always on time.  

Purchase Renters Insurance 

You never know when something will happen, so that’s why it’s best to always be prepared and have coverage in place so you don’t have to worry. Renters insurance can protect you from suffering financial loss due to damage and theft. For example, if your upstairs neighbor floods their apartment and your belongings suffer from water damage you would be covered by your renter’s insurance. Or if there’s a fire in the building and your belongings suffer as a result. It covers your personal belongings in case they get damaged in an unfortunate circumstance, disaster, or if someone breaks into your home.  

Renters insurance can also cover additional living expenses if there were ever a period of time where you’re unable to live in your rental—such as natural disasters. It can also provide guests medical protection in case anyone is injured while in your rental.  

Some landlords may require you to have renters’ insurance before signing the lease.  

Contact one of your local insurance agents to discuss the best renter’s insurance plans for your needs.  

 

Are you starting a home-based business or already have a home-based business? You may want to look further into a home-business insurance plan. Your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t always cover your business property (equipment, technology, files/data), so it’s always best to have a home-business insurance plan to make sure you’re covered for anything that might happen.  

If your insurance agency isn’t aware that you run a business from home, it could potentially void personal liability coverage from your homeowner’s insurance. This leaves both your home and your business at risk. Business insurance is essential for any operating business, whether or not it’s from home.  

Why You Need Home-Business Insurance  

With the rising cost of office spaces, more and more people are opting to run their businesses out of their own homes. Not many people realize that you will need separate home-business insurance. Homeowner’s insurance will not cover your business-related needs. You definitely need home-business insurance if you: 

  • Bring customers/clients into your home 
  • Keep inventory/supplies in your home  
  • Would lose income if you had to close your business due to home damage 
  • Have employees working in your home 
  • Keep client/employee records in your home. 

If you don’t have home-business insurance, you could be held responsible for paying for property damage, lawsuits, employee injuries, and any potential data breaches that occur.  

Types of Coverage  

Business property insurance covers any kind of equipment you may use to run your home business. This includes a computer, fax machine, printer, and any furniture you may use for your business space. Your business property insurance may help you cover the loss of any of these items if damaged. 

Liability insurance will cover you in case you have an employee or client injured on your property. Your homeowner’s insurance might have liability coverage, but it will not protect you when someone is at your home for business-related purposes. You will need business liability coverage for this reason.  

Professional liability insurance covers working professionals (like interior designers, photographers, wedding planners) and consultants working out of their homes. Professional liability protects against negligence (failure to take care of something) or failure to deliver claims (product isn’t as advertised).  

Product liability coverage protects your business from damage to a product or if someone was to be hurt by your product. For example, if you’re a baker and someone tries to sue you over food poisoning, you could be protected under this policy. 

Business automobile insurance is another policy you may need if you use a car for your business. If you pick up or make deliveries, visit clients, or use your vehicle for other business-related purposes your personal auto insurance plan will not cover your business-related use.  

Data breach coverage helps cover you in the event your data is compromised. Small businesses are viable targets for cyber-attacks, so it’s important to have the best data breach policy in place to protect you. Data breach insurance helps cover the cost of your business experiencing such an incident. You have to let your consumers know if your information may have been compromised, and sometimes it’s costly. Some policies also pay for an investigation to investigate the breach. In the event you need to temporarily close your business while working on the breach, some policies can cover any income loss suffered.  

If you are or are planning to run a business out of your home, reach out to a local insurance agent to discuss creating a home-business insurance plan.  

What you do in your day-to-day life actively affects your health. The foods you eat and the personal choices you make drastically impact how your body feels and functions. Eating processed foods can leave you feeling groggy and frequently tired, whereas healthy food can leave you feeling energized and refreshed. Smokers and habitual drinkers often run into health problems like cancer or heart disease later in life. Certain choices can damage your health and well-being leading to illnesses and a shorter lifespan.  

Diet  

Most of us know that eating too much sugar is bad. It can cause high blood sugar and health complications from diabetes. Too much sugar can also cause cavities leading to pricey dental visits. Processed food is easy to grab and eat, but taking the extra step and preparing a healthier option like fruits and vegetables is better for you in the long run. 

Not drinking enough water also negatively impacts your health. Keeping yourself hydrated gives you more energy and allows your organs to function properly. Many people opt for sodas or other beverages, but they are often loaded with sugar and other chemical flavors that add empty calories that lack nutritional value.  

If you find water bland, try drinking some tea without additives. Most premade teas on the store shelf are loaded with sugar or other flavorings, so make your own at home with tea bags. You can also add sliced lemons, cucumbers, or other fruits into your water for a tastier and healthier beverage. 

Personal Choices 

Smoking and drinking alcohol can have major health implications. It is well-known that smoking can cause cancer and other diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Smokers are also susceptible to vision loss and blindness. Smoking can also increase feelings of depression and anxiety. Being a smoker can also affect your insurance rates. Smokers’ health insurance rates tend to be higher because they are known to have more medical issues. 

A few drinks a week might not seem like a big deal. But any amount of alcohol can have a negative impact on the body. Shortly after drinking you may notice symptoms of dehydration like headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Frequent alcohol usage can have long-term effects like a weakened immune system, mood changes, memory problems, weight gain, and issues falling asleep. Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to liver disease, pancreatic problems, and heart-related medical problems like high blood pressure and heart disease.  

Smoking and drinking during pregnancy can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, and premature birth. Babies can also be born with medical issues like fetal alcohol syndrome, and are more likely to have learning disabilities.  

Both alcohol and smoking are addictive and can create problems in your personal life. Addicts tend to struggle with friends and family members. If you are dependent on alcohol or smoking, please reach out to a specialist or recovery group for help.  

Physical Activity  

Being active is an important part of keeping up your health. A simple 30-minute walk a few times a week will drastically improve your health. Making decisions like parking further away and walking to your destination can also help.  

A lot of people spend most of the day sitting behind a computer screen. It’s necessary for your body to get the activity that it needs. Consider walking around the office as a short mental break to reset your body. Additionally, too much screen time is bad for our eyes. Studies have shown that blue light from screens negatively impacts our sleep cycle. Too much screen usage before bed can make your brain think that it’s still light outside, and therefore won’t start producing melatonin (the sleep hormone) until the lights are off and you’re ready for sleep. 

Not getting enough sleep is also harmful to your body. Being well-rested gives your body and mind the break they need and helps your brain to process all the information from the day. You may have noticed that when you get less than 6 hours of sleep you are more tired throughout the day and are less efficient with your tasks.  

Caffeine can’t solve all your problems. It’s good for a quick fix but you’ll soon notice that you are having difficulty sleeping more often, aren’t able to focus, have depression, and other health-related problems. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, depression, and a weakened immune system.  

Connect with your local insurance agent to discuss what policies best fit your medical needs. Consult with a doctor to better discuss your individual health needs. 

If you plan on or are already renting out property that you own, you may want to look into purchasing landlord insurance. Landlord insurance is made so that you don’t suffer any financial loss due to property damage or liabilities. Renting property is a good source of steady income, but you never know when something may happen that damages your property. Whether it’s damage from a fire or a burst pipe, it’s always better to be covered under insurance.  

What is Landlord Insurance  

Landlord insurance financially protects you from damages and liabilities that can occur on your property. When you purchase landlord property protection, it generally covers you from damages from fire, wind, hail, and lightning. Liability covers the costs of medical bills in the event someone is injured on your property and also covers. You can purchase extra coverage for the appliances on your property, or if you provide furnishing you can insure those, as well.  

Why You Need Landlord Insurance 

Anyone renting out a property should have landlord insurance. It covers you from property damage and liabilities. View your insurance policy as a financial investment. If you don’t have landlord insurance and something happens to your property, you could suffer financial loss.  

What Landlord Insurance Covers 

Depending on where you live, how many tenants occupy your property, and what you provide for them affects the cost of your landlord insurance and how much the insurance covers.  

Additional landlord insurance coverages include vandalism, burglary, building codes, and if your building is under construction and something happens to it. Depending on your insurance agency, vandalism isn’t typically covered under a traditional landlord insurance policy, so if vandalism is one of your concerns, you should add it to your coverages.  

Landlord insurance will cover the cost of damages from a break-in, but it doesn’t usually cover stolen items. If you are concerned about furniture or other items from your property being stolen, you should add burglary coverage to your insurance policy.  

If you are renovating or repairing your rental you can purchase coverage to protect your property until it’s ready for inhabitants. If your property can no longer support inhabitants, you can potentially receive loss of income coverage for your losses while your property is repaired.  

What Landlord Insurance Doesn’t Cover 

Landlord insurance will not cover maintenance fees. If any appliances in your property break, you will likely have to pay out of your pocket to repair or replace them. If you live on your property and rent out a room you will most likely not be eligible for landlord insurance. Landlord policies are reserved for “non-owner-occupied” property. You can probably add extra coverage to your homeowner’s policy if you need to.  

Your tenants’ belongings will not be covered under your landlord insurance. They will need to have their own renters’ insurance to cover their own belongings. As a landlord, you can require tenants to have a renter’s insurance policy.  

Connect with your local insurance agent to further discuss landlord’s insurance and what coverage is best for your property needs.  

Earthquake damage can be costly. Depending on the severity and amount of damage, your home may need to be repaired or even rebuilt. Standard homeowners’/renters’ insurance does not cover earthquake damage, so earthquake insurance has to be purchased separately. Earthquake insurance is a good investment for those that live in areas frequently affected by earthquakes.  

Why You Need Earthquake Insurance 

Earthquakes can happen anywhere in the world, and the vast majority of people aren’t prepared. If your home is close to an active fault line (where earthquakes are the most likely to occur), then it is even more important to have earthquake insurance.  

How homes are built also factors into how much damage can occur during earthquakes – the layout of the house, the materials, and even what kind of soil the house is built on are contributing factors. Softer soils will shift more during an earthquake, which can cause extensive damage to the foundation of the home. Homes that are too stiff and rigid (brick and mortar) or irregularly shaped are more likely to collapse than those with more flexibility (wood frames).  

You may also want to consider the value of your home and its contents when purchasing an earthquake insurance plan. If you possess valuable China or crystal, you may want to purchase a more extensive plan that can cover the loss of these items. 

What Earthquake Insurance Covers 

Earthquake insurance and the amount of coverage received depends on an individual’s policy. Earthquake insurance typically has three parts consisting of dwelling coverage, personal property coverage, and ALE (additional living expenses)/ loss of use coverage. 

Dwelling Coverage covers your home up to a set amount, also known as “the limit.” This is similar to homeowners’ insurance. This coverage helps pay to repair or rebuild your home in the event an earthquake damages it.  

Personal Property Coverage covers objects in your home like TVs, computers, and furniture that can be damaged during an earthquake and may need to be replaced.  

Additional Living Expenses (ALE), or Loss of Use Coverage covers the cost of living somewhere temporarily while your home is being repaired/rebuilt. It can cover the cost of a rental home, hotels, apartment, moving/storage, restaurant meals, and laundry depending on your personal earthquake insurance plan. This part of the coverage is bound to a set of time that it takes to repair/rebuild your damaged home or the amount of time it takes for you to move to a new, permanent one.  

Consider these coverages when purchasing your earthquake insurance. Each person/family has different needs so it’s better to personalize your insurance plans. 

What Earthquake Insurance Doesn’t Cover 

Earthquakes can cause all different kinds of damage to occur, including fires and flooding. Earthquake insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by fire or flooding from outside your home. Fire damage is covered under homeowners’ insurance. If an earthquake caused a pipe to burst into your home resulting in water damage, homeowners’ insurance would cover this damage. If water from outside of your home were to flood your home as a result of an earthquake, a flood insurance plan would be the coverage you need.  

Earthquake insurance also doesn’t cover any damage that may happen to land after an earthquake occurs, such as sinkholes. It doesn’t cover any damage that may occur to your vehicles – you will need to look at your automobile policy to see if it covers earthquake-related damage. 

Earthquake insurance can cost a pretty penny, and many homeowners choose to forego it. Earthquake damage can be very pricy, so it is better to be prepared and insured than not, as you never know when a devastating earthquake may happen. Reach out to your local independent insurance agent to learn more about earthquake insurance and what plan your home would need. 

If the home is where the heart is, then you should be in love with your homeowner’s insurance. Homeowner’s insurance is an essential part of keeping your home and your most important asset safe. It financially protects your home and your personal belongings in the event they are stolen or damaged.  

Why You Need a Homeowner’s Policy  

While you’re not required to have homeowner’s insurance, it is a good idea to have it. If you’re buying a home, you will not be able to get a mortgage or loan to buy a house without one. Your lender will require you to have a homeowner’s policy until the loan is paid off.  

Even if you own your home outright, you should still have homeowner’s insurance—especially if you don’t have the financial means to start over with nothing. Not having a homeowner’s insurance policy can result in life-altering monetary loss. Your home is probably your most valuable asset, so you should want to protect it.  

What Home Insurance Covers  

Home insurance typically covers four areas: the exterior and interior of your home, your personal property, any other buildings or structures on your property (like sheds or garages), and provides liability if someone were to be injured on your property.  

Your homeowner’s policy should cover damage from fire, storms, vandalism, and smoke. It will not cover any damage from earthquakes or floods, as those are separate from homeowner’s insurance.  

In the event your home is damaged and you need a temporary residence, your homeowner’s insurance could cover it. If additional living expenses (ALE) are part of your policy, your insurance will cover the cost. This includes hotel, rent, and even meals. 

The Best Policy for You 

Everyone’s needs are different, and that’s why a homeowner’s policy is customizable. Depending on your needs, you may need more coverage. Apart from the four areas that a homeowner’s policy can cover, there are three different levels of coverage to choose from. There’s actual cash value, replacement cost, and extended replacement cost. 

Actual cash value covers the cost of your home plus the worth of your possessions. This level doesn’t take into consideration the cost of your personal property when you buy them. Items depreciate over time, so this level of insurance covers how much your items are worth.  

Replacement cost covers the value of your home and your items without factoring in the depreciation. This means you will get the same amount you paid for these items. This plan allows you to repair your home up to its original value, and not just how much it’s currently worth.  

Extended replacement cost covers however much it costs to repair your home. Most policies only cover up to a certain limit (the minimum is typically $100,000). Because of inflation and a market that’s constantly changing, the value of your home and belongings changes day to day. This plan covers more than you actually purchase, so it can cover up to 25% higher than the limit.  

Many homeowners opt to get insurance plans that only cover the cost of their home, but most insurers recommend the extended replacement plan because it covers more than you need. It is more expensive than the other plans, but it provides a comfortable cushion for homeowners to rest easy, knowing that their house and their belongings will be fully covered no matter the state of the market and the price of construction.  

If you’re looking to buy a new home or just need a new homeowner’s policy, talk to your local independent insurance agent to discuss the best plan for your situation.  

If you own a company that has a company car or uses cars for work-related purposes, then you will need to purchase a commercial auto insurance policy. These insurance policies will keep your company covered in the event something happens to your company vehicle(s) or an accident occurs that requires medical coverage.  

What is Commercial Auto Insurance? 

Commercial auto insurance provides coverage for cars that your business owns and any cars that employees may drive while on the job. This includes both company-owned vehicles and personal employee vehicles. It can also include rental cars that are used for business purposes.  

Why Do I Need Commercial Auto Insurance 

Many states require companies to have a commercial auto insurance plan if they use vehicles for their business. Any vehicles that hold a title under your company will be required to be listed under a commercial auto insurance policy. Depending on if your employees travel for business, there are policies that also include rental cars that are used for business purposes.  

Commercial auto insurance can provide coverage for a personal car that is used for work that a personal auto insurance plan won’t cover. It is also needed in the event that an employee gets injured while driving on the job, as it will help cover their medical bills. It will also cover non-employees that may get hurt while in an accident with a car owned or used for your business. If you don’t have this included in your insurance policy, you may be sued.  

Commercial Auto Insurance versus Personal Auto Insurance 

Commercial auto insurance has many similar aspects to personal auto insurance, but the main difference lies in liability risk. There is an increased liability risk driving for work, so the price for liability minimums with commercial auto insurance is higher. The bright side to this is that it can extend the liability coverage to any car that is already owned by the company or any car purchased by the company in the future. 

Different Kinds of Commercial Auto Insurance 

Basic commercial auto insurance usually provides collision coverage, medical/personal injury coverage, liability coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. These policies will cover most of your company’s needs.  

If you need any additional coverage, you can add extra policies to your commercial auto insurance plan. For example, if you’re using a trailer that your company doesn’t own you will need trailer interchange coverage. There is an option to have rental car reimbursement in the event your company car needs repair and you need a rental. Sometimes you may need “hired vehicles” (U-Hauls) and can receive coverage for those, as well. Depending on your company’s needs, you may also require non-owned vehicle coverage, which will cover employees that use their personal cars for work (pizza delivery driver).  

Every company has different goals and needs. Reach out to your local independent insurance agent to discuss the best commercial auto insurance plan that will suit your company’s needs.  

If you’re like most boat owners, you want to do everything possible to protect your investment. And if you’re like most people, you may not know what boating insurance covers. That’s why we’re here to help! In this blog post, we’ll discuss the different types of coverage that are available through boat insurance policies and what each one protects your boat from. We’ll also provide some tips on how to choose the right policy for your needs. So read on to learn more about boating insurance and how it can protect your boat! 

What Is Boating Insurance? 

Boating insurance provides coverage for recreational boats used for fishing, sailing, and other water activities. One thing we’ve learned in our years as an insurance agency: no two boats are alike! That’s why it’s so important for us all to understand what type of policy might best suit each boat owner’s individual circumstances. Let’s take a look at some basic information about boat insurance coverage before moving on with other topics related specifically to those who own boats (or soon hope to). 

What Does Boat Insurance Cover? 

Boating insurance covers damage caused to your boat and its contents, as well as liability coverage in case you’re responsible for damage or injury to another person or their property.  

Types of Coverage:  

-Liability insurance: This provides protection if you are responsible for damage or injury to another person or their property.  

-Property damage insurance: This covers the cost of repairing or replacing your boat and its contents after a covered incident.  

-Personal effects insurance: This reimburses you for any personal belongings that are damaged or lost while on board your boat.  

-Accidental death and dismemberment insurance: If something happens to you while boating, this policy pays out a lump sum benefit.  

How Much Does Boat Insurance Cost? 

If you’re new to the world of boating, one of the first things you’ll want to know is how much coverage will cost. The good news is that there are many different options available when it comes to boat insurance and most policies can be customized according to your needs. The cost of boat insurance will vary depending on the type and value of your boat, as well as the level of coverage you choose. That’s why it’s important to shop around and compare policies to find the best deal for you.  

Tips for Choosing Boat Insurance:  

Be sure to ask about discounts if you have a safety device like a personal flotation device (PFD) or an engine cutoff switch. Consider whether you need liability only coverage or comprehensive coverage that includes property damage, theft, and vandalism protection. Think about how much your boat is worth and make sure the policy has enough limits to cover it in case of a loss. Check to see if there are any additional fees that may apply such as deductibles or taxes on premiums. 

How to Get Boating Insurance? 

If you own a boat, it’s important to make sure you have the proper insurance in place before taking it out on the water. There are several different types of policies available and some cover only certain risks while others offer broader coverage for more protection against potential losses related to your vessel. You’ll need an agent who can help explain what type would be best suited for your needs so you can get started looking at options today! Reach out to your local independent insurance agent today to get started. 

Ice damage can be a major problem for homeowners. Not only is the damage itself costly to repair, but the insurance claims process can be complicated and frustrating. In this blog post, we will answer some of the most common questions about homeowners insurance and ice damage. We will explain what kinds of ice damage are covered by homeowners insurance, and we will also discuss some of the exceptions. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us! 

What Kinds of Ice Damage Does Homeowners Insurance Cover? 

Homeowners insurance generally covers two types of ice damage:  

  • damage caused by an ice dam, and  
  • damage caused by hail. 

An Ice Dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof, usually where the roof meets the gutter. This ridge blocks the flow of water from the roof to the gutter, which can cause water to back up and leak into the home. A severe ice dam can even cause your home’s roof to cave in, an event that is not only dangerous to your family but also can be incredibly costly to remedy. Will your homeowners insurance step in to cover the cost of ice dam removal? In most cases, no. However, most homeowners insurance policies will cover the damage caused by an ice dam, including water damage and repairs to your roof. 

Hail can also cause a lot of damage to your home. Hailstones can be as big as golf balls, and they can easily shatter windows or dent siding. A good homeowners insurance policy will usually cover hail damage, but typically you must meet a deductible first and there also may be some exceptions. For example, if you live in a hurricane-prone area, your policy may not cover hail damage caused by a storm. 

Is There Any Kind of Ice Damage That Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover? 

There are a few exceptions, but in general, homeowners insurance will cover most types of ice damage. One exception is damage caused by an avalanche or mudslide. These events may be covered by separate insurance policies but not by homeowners insurance.  

Another exception is damage caused by the weight of snow or ice on trees or power lines. This type of damage is usually not covered by homeowners insurance, but it may be covered by a separate policy such as property insurance or windstorm coverage. 

What If Someone Slips and Falls on Ice at My Home? 

Slipping and falling on ice can cause serious injuries, and in some cases, a person may even die. If someone slips and falls on ice at your home, you could be held liable for their injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one. This is why it is important to carry liability coverage as part of your homeowners insurance policy.  

If someone slips and falls on ice at your home, you will need to report this incident to your insurance company immediately so that they can ensure that any potential claims get reported in a timely manner. Once the claim has been made against you by the injured party’s attorney, it will go through an evaluation process where both parties’ attorneys try to reach an amicable settlement without having to go through litigation (lawsuits). If the case does go to the courts, your personal liability coverage will take care of legal costs up to your policy’s limits.  

What Should I Do If My Home Has Ice Damage? 

If your home has ice damage, it is important to take action quickly. The first thing you should do is contact your insurance company. They can help you with the process of filing a claim and getting reimbursement for repairs or replacement costs associated with the incident at hand (if applicable). Your insurance agent may also be able to provide information about what kinds of coverage are included in their policies as well as any exclusions that may apply based on where you live. Get in touch with your local independent insurance agent to find out more about how your homeowners coverage covers ice-related incidents.