Home insurance coverage options in Texas

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We know how important a home is for many Texans. It is what we depend on to keep our loved ones and us safe. At StraightEdge Insurance Agency, we know that your home is one of the most important investment and we can help you keep your finances protected through home insurance.

Although home insurance is not a legal requirement in Texas, many mortgage companies request it to be part of the finance agreements with homeowners. Home insurance covers the following:

Personal property coverage

This coverage covers all your contents including clothes, shoes, personal effects, and personal documents. It also includes your furniture, appliances, electronics, or any other personal item. Some personal items like money, jewelry, or firearms are covered under different insurance policies.

Physical structure

The whole house structure including the walls, floor, and the roof is covered under the home insurance policy.

Other structures

Other structures that may not be inside your home but are part of the house are also covered. Such compositions include the fence, the stand-alone garage, and the shed.

Liability coverage

When someone is accidentally injured on your property or your neighbors’ property is destroyed by your children while playing, liability coverage helps you pay for all the costs incurred and any reasonable medical fees.

Loss of use or additional living expenses coverage

This covers living expenses including transport, food, temporary shelter, and any other basic need in case of a fire or house damage that makes your home unlivable.

Feel safe and secure in your own home and leave the insurance part to us. Find the solution to all your insurance needs from StraightEdge Insurance Agency conveniently located in Georgetown, TX today. Visit or call us to get a quote or to discuss new policies.

What is umbrella insurance?

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Imagine yourself outdoors on a rainy day without an umbrella. At a minimum, you will get wet and need to retreat indoors for warmth. At a maximum, you will get soaked and have to take days off from work to recover from illness related to your negligence. Now, apply the scenario to an unexpected event such as fire or inclement weather destroying your possessions while you have insurance coverage that does not pay for everything that you’ve lost in Georgetown, TX, and now you have a financial dilemma on your hands.

It is during those times of under-coverage that you wish you had additional funds to help you pay for what your standard indemnity policy did not fund. Umbrella insurance offered by StraightEdge Insurance Agency may be your saving grace. 

What is umbrella insurance?

As the term implies, umbrella insurance is extra indemnity coverage that pays for the items that your standard assurance plan does not cover. Perhaps your auto insurance only covers $15,000 worth of damage, but your at-fault accident exceeds $20,000 in costs. Your umbrella insurance policy will pay the difference so that you do not have to sell your possessions to remain debt-free. 

Umbrella insurance is not just for automobiles. There are also policies that cover homeowners as well as boaters. This type of added protection may especially be handy during the winter season when high winds rip through Georgetown, TX and destroy parts of your residence. Wouldn’t it be nice to have full confidence that home repairs won’t set you back by thousands this year?

How much coverage is needed?

The amount of umbrella insurance coverage depends on the object being insured as well as personal preferences regarding financial limits. StraightEdge Insurance Agency can help you sort out the details of your umbrella indemnity plan. Call today for a quote!

Getting another driver on your auto policy

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If someone is going to be driving your car regularly, such as if you let your teenager drive it, if you share the car with a friend, or if both you and your wife drive it regularly, then you will want to make sure that you are both covered on your insurance policy. When you call StraightEdge Insurance Agency, you’ll find that it’s not difficult at all to get another driver added to your policy so that you and the other driver can safely navigate the streets of Austin, TX.

To answer a few fundamental questions: Yes, this will cause your rates to go up. However, it’s generally going to be cheaper than buying a whole new policy on a whole new car. Yes, their record will affect the rates. A safe driver is a safe driver, and a dangerous driver is a dangerous driver, whether or not they’re the primary driver of the vehicle. And yes, you can add non-family members to your policy. It’s not really any more difficult than calling StraightEdge Insurance Agency to have a family member added to the policy.

Finally, you may be wondering if it’s worth the effort and cost to have another driver added to your policy, and that comes down to how regularly you’re lending your car out. If you let your cousin drive the car maybe twice a year, then having them covered on your policy might not be necessary, as they will be covered under "permissive use." If everyone in your Austin, TX home drives the car on a semi-regular basis, then having the whole family added to the policy is not a bad idea.

Contact our offices to speak with an agent and have your questions answered. We can work with you to get you the policy you need.

Why Do I Need Flood Insurance Yet I have My Homeowners Insurance?

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We all know that some states and areas are prone to flooding, but what you should keep in mind is that flooding can happen anywhere anytime. Flooding is caused by numerous conditions such as hurricanes, heavy rains, spring thaws, and prompt accumulation of rains. Based on research, floods are the main natural disasters in the United States. It only takes few inches of water for major damage to happen to your home. The question is: are you prepared for this? Apart from taking a family emergency plan and securing your home’s drainage system, being prepared for floods means taking up the right insurance plan. This post outlines the need for flood insurance for your home and possessions.

Limited coverage from homeowners insurance plan

A standard homeowner’s insurance plan does not cover flood damage. Since floods can occur anywhere at any time, you should contemplate on buying a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy. NFIP policies are sold through insurance agents or insurance companies like StraightEdge Insurance Agency.

Very few understand the need of having a separate flood policy. There is always a mutual misunderstanding that homeowner’s insurance policy covers flood impairment, but the truth is: it doesn’t.

When do you need flood insurance policy?

If you are a resident of the Austin area or Georgetown, TX, it vital for you to get a flood insurance policy, especially if you already have a mortgage from a federal or insured lender. Your lender is mandated to ask you to get this policy if they feel that you’re living in a high-risk area. However, this may not be the case for those who live in areas that aren’t prone to floods.

Do you need flood insurance? The key is to get your policy from a reliable insurer in Georgetown, TX. Contact StraightEdge Insurance Agency for more information.

 

 

A Guide to Second Home Insurance

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Buying a second home either as a rental property or a vacation getaway is just like buying a primary residence. For instance, you will have to make sure that your second home has the right amount of home insurance coverage.

Your second home is likely your most valuable asset hence getting the right insurance coverage is critical. StraightEdge Insurance Agency brings you the most client-friendly second home insurance in Austin, TX. Sometimes, finding comprehensive home insurance for your second home can be difficult since most insurance companies consider it a high-risk property since they are left for more extended periods.

Getting a Second Home Insurance

Buying home insurance for your second property isn’t the same as buying insurance for your primary home. Pay attention to the rate of premiums as you shop around for your second home insurance. Keep in mind that the overall cost of insuring your second home can be a little bit higher than what you are currently paying for your primary home.

Consider installing security systems in your residence if you hope to keep the premiums low. Alternatively, talk to your provider and request a discount if you’re combining your second home policy with another insurance coverage.

What is Covered Under Your Second Home Policy

Typically, the amount of money that you will need to insure your second property will depend on how you are going to use the home. Will you rent it or are you planning to use it as a vacation house? For instance, if you are renting it, then you may need to purchase a comprehensive policy that will cater for the entire cost of replacing it if it’s destroyed beyond repair.

You can also consider getting extra coverage for rent loss which will cover the loss of your rental income in case a catastrophe occurs. You may also need to supplement your second home insurance with a separate flood and earthquake insurance.

Do you own a second home in Austin, TX? Talk to StraightEdge Insurance Agency today for insurance on your second home.

What Types of Coverage is Included with Umbrella Insurance?

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Being properly covered by insurance is very important for all people in the Austin, TX area. One type of insurance coverage that is often overlooked is umbrella insurance. However, several situations will be covered under umbrella insurance that can make it a significant investment.

Additional Liability Protection

For those that are in the Austin, TX area, having full home and auto policies is important as these will provide you with liability coverage. However, the amount of coverage that is typically included in many of these policies is somewhat limited and may not cover more severe accidents. Because of this, having an umbrella policy in place could be a perfect option. An umbrella insurance policy will provide you with additional liability insurance protection on top of what is already included in the base home and auto policies. 

Additional Situational Coverage

While the majority of your liability risks will be covered by a home or auto policy, there are other situations in which your liability is not covered under the base policies. For example, if you are sued for slander or libel, you could be found liable in a lawsuit. Unfortunately, this type of risk is not covered under a base home or auto insurance policy. However, if you have an umbrella insurance policy in place, the umbrella coverage will provide coverage for these and other situations in which you are found liable and have to pay damages.

Since picking the right umbrella insurance policy requires a lot of thought and consideration, reaching out to the StraightEdge Insurance Agency could be very beneficial. The StraightEdge Insurance Agency is a leading consumer insurance agency that can provide you with excellent assistance in determining your umbrella insurance needs. Reach out to our agents to learn more.

Can I change my policy at any time?

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If you are a driver in Georgetown, TX, you know that you need to carry automobile insurance at all times to prove you will be financially responsible in case of an accident. The state requires at least 30/60/25 basic coverage, which allows for up to $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. When you investigate your options at StraightEdge Insurance Agency, you will discover that there are many policies with varying rates and different amounts of coverage.

Even if you already have an auto insurance policy, you may see an offer that sounds better or talk to a friend or relative who has much better terms. When you look at your policy, you realize that the policy you already have will not expire for several months, and you wonder if you are trapped.

Fortunately, most insurance companies will let you cancel your policy at any time. Sometimes there is a fee for not finishing your term, but you could save a great deal of money by switching insurance companies, sometimes as much as 50%. StraightEdge Insurance Agency will help you find and compare many options, while making sure that you will still have the needed amount of coverage. 

You may want to consider a new policy when you move, to see if the cost is cheaper because of your location. A new or different vehicle can dramatically change your insurance price. And you should always shop around when it is time to renew, because it will cost you nothing to see if you can improve your situation. It is also important to make sure there is no gap in coverage for your policy, as there is a legal requirement.  

For a no-obligation quote for Georgetown, TX, feel free to call StraightEdge Insurance Agency today. 

4 Crucial Reasons To Have Flood Insurance

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Flooding is among the top natural disasters that lead to massive losses in the United States. The catastrophe has created the need for flood insurance throughout the country, including Austin and its surrounding areas. At StraightEdge Insurance Agency in Georgetown, TX, we strive to cover you from losses should this disaster strike again. But why do you need it in Texas?

Previous Flood Occurrence

Previously, flooding was assumed to affect people living near bodies of water. However, residents of Texas have recently experienced it more frequently than usual. Despite being far from large bodies of water, the number one cause of flooding in the state is substantial rains. Research has shown that a few inches of flash flood water is enough to cause significant damages to your house.

Homeowners Policy Assumption

Most people assume that homeowners coverage protects the house from flooding. It is worth mentioning that this is not true. Whether you live in your own home or are renting it, it is vital that you discuss coverage with the right agent to find the appropriate insurance policy to safeguard you from losses resulting from floods.

Protect your Personal Property

Now that you are aware that the homeowner coverage does not include floods, there is a need to get a flood insurance policy. However, most flood policies only cover the building. This implies the foundation, walls, and the entire structure but not personal property in the home. Therefore, it is prudent to discuss with our agents the options you have to protect your possessions.

Time for Coverage

Unlike most other policies, flood insurance requires 30 days to take effect. Our insurance agent will first assess whether you have been participating in the NFIP. This implies that you may need to plan ahead.

Flooding has caused tremendous destruction in the past, and StraightEdge Insurance Agency recognizes the massive losses. We diligently serve Austin and Georgetown, TX residents with the hope of safeguarding their interests. Please contact us for more information and quotes.

3 Things You Should Know About Home Insurance

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More than three-quarters of people who purchase a homeowners’ insurance policy don’t understand its features or ways they can use it to save money on their insurance premiums. Below are the top three things that you should know about a home insurance policy before you sign that contract.

Your Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover Every Damage That May Occur

Your Texas homeowner’s insurance policy will provide you with a broad range of protections including comprehensive coverage for the structure of your home, loss of use, liability, and loss of personal belongings but it doesn’t cover everything.

Agencies such as StraightEdge Insurance Agency in Georgetown, TX state that they only cover sudden and accidental events. This means that if you have been ignoring a roof leaking for months, then it damages something in the house, such damage won’t be covered. Specific disasters such as floods from groundwater and earthquakes are rarely covered in a standard home policy.

Your Credit Score Can Affect Your Insurance Rates

Your credit score can determine your policy rates which affect your insurance premiums. Having a good credit score saves you a significant amount of money on your home insurance policy in Georgetown, TX. Massachusetts, California, and Maryland are the only states that prohibit policy providers such as StraightEdge Insurance Agency from using your credit score to set your home insurance policy rates and premiums. 

There is Always a Deadline to Making a Claim

Don’t wait too long before you file your claim in the event of damage or disaster. Most of the home insurance policies have a window period of 14 days for reporting an incident and filing your claim. Don’t wait for the damage to worsen hoping that you will get a better compensation.

For more information, reach out to our offices in Georgetown, TX to have your questions answered. Also, try our online rating tool for quotes on home and auto insurance.