How Does Remodeling Affect Home Insurance?

Few things are more exciting than finishing a long-planned home remodeling project, but such changes can increase your risks during and after the work. Since accidents can occur during projects and remodeling work typically increases home values, you should contact your insurance agent before starting. If you live in the Brevard, NC, area, consider getting our Brevard Insurance Agency Inc. team to ensure our home insurance coverage fully protects you and your family.

How Remodeling and Renovating Affect Risk

Although most home insurance policies include minimal protection from accidents during a home remodeling project, some policies require you to notify your agent before beginning the work. The nature of these projects increases the risk of specific hazards and brings potential liabilities for the workers, their equipment, and supplies. We often recommend modifying your coverage during the project or adding an umbrella policy for longer-term coverage.

In addition, most remodeling or renovation projects increase the home’s value due to the increased space, updated fixtures, and new furnishings. A project that adds a pool or hot tub raises your home’s value and new sources of risk. An adjusted home insurance policy should account for these changes.

Some modifications reduce the risk of homeownership by bringing outdated electrical or heating systems up to code, which can result in lower premiums. So, whatever changes you plan, discuss them with your agent in advance so you can ensure you are fully protected.

Working with the Brevard Insurance Agency Inc.

The family home is the most significant investment many of us have, so we must protect ourselves against unforeseen events. Stop in or call the Brevard Insurance Agency Inc. today. We proudly serve the Brevard, NC, area and can help you obtain the protection you need.

Is Siding Damage Covered Under a Home Insurance Policy?

Here at Brevard Insurance Agency Inc., providing home insurance in the greater Brevard, NC area, we are often asked by our customers what may or may not be covered under a home insurance policy. People often ask about surfaces around the home, including the roof, driveway, or siding. Read on to learn more about the exterior siding of your home and whether siding damage is covered by a home insurance policy or not. 

Is Siding Damage Covered Under a Home Insurance Policy?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not a simple yes or no. Siding damage might be covered under your home insurance policy if the event that damaged your home’s siding was a covered peril. For example, if hail damaged your siding, strong wind gusts ripped your siding off or fire destroyed part of your siding, the siding damage is likely covered as these are typically considered to be covered events under a home insurance policy.

On the other hand, if your siding is damaged due to a river flooding its banks and your policy excludes floods, your siding damage will probably not be covered. Additionally, siding that is damaged due to old age or poor maintenance is not covered by home insurance policies. 

Siding damage may or may not be covered by a home insurance policy, depending on what caused the damage to the siding. If your siding is covered, having enough home insurance coverage is important to ensure all of the damage can be repaired.

Reach Out To Us

We at Brevard Insurance Agency Inc, providing insurance in the greater Brevard, NC region, can work with you to help you find the right policy and determine how much coverage you truly need to ensure you are fully protected against the unexpected. Call or email us now if you are in the market for a new home insurance policy. 

4 Things You Didn’t Know About Home Insurance

Most people don’t know a lot about home insurance. It sounds complicated, and it can be hard to find the right company. If you need some help understanding your coverage or choosing a policy, here are four things you didn’t know about home insurance that might help!

1. You Can Get Coverage for More Than Just Your House 

Most policies offer protection for other structures on your property and any personal items inside those structures. Homeowners have been known to insure their cars from damage caused by falling trees in storms. Remember: if it’s on your property and could cause damage or injury if destroyed, it should probably be insured with a homeowner’s policy!

2. Homeowners Insurance Is Not one-size-fits All 

No two homes are the same. And because every house is different, a homeowners insurance policy will be different too. The best way to get a good idea of what you need for coverage is to create an inventory of your belongings and their individual values. That way, you can take the time to shop around and find a policy that has everything you want at a price you can afford.

3. Homeowners Insurance Includes Loss of Use Coverage

Most policies include additional living expenses coverage, which kicks in if you have to temporarily move out of your home due to damage that makes it uninhabitable. This is an important feature because you could be forced to live elsewhere for days or even weeks while your house is being repaired.

4. Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover Flooding

Flooding is often excluded from standard homeowners insurance policies. Instead, most people purchase a separate policy called flood insurance, which the federal government regulates. If you live in a region prone to flooding, it’s one of the best things you can do to protect your home and assets.

Home insurance is one of the most important coverages you can have. If you need any help or advice about what kind of policy to get, Brevard Insurance Agency Inc in Brevard, NC, is here for you. Give us a call today!

Is your new home build protected?

Chad Banner, our Commercial Lines Manager, sits down at Ecusta Brewing to break down helpful and relevant insurance information on builders risk to help you protect what matters.

If you take anything from this episode of Between 2 Claims on builders risk it is this:

🏠Either the builder or the home owner can purchase builders risk insurance. So communication is key.
🏠 One of the main protections this policy offers is protection from theft of building materials.
🏠 It is very easy to roll your builders risk insurance into a homeowners policy when the build is complete.
🏠You can value the policy at several different levels.
🏠 We are here to help you protect what matters. After all: it’s not the house, it’s the home.

Let us know if you’re planning to build a new home – we’d love to be a part of helping you protect what matters!

Is your bike protected?

Have you ever wondered how to make sure your bike is as protected as possible?

Whether it’s a mountain bike, gravel bike, road bike or cross bike…we’ve got you covered. In our first episode of Between 2 Claims, Racheal talks about what you need to know when it comes to insuring your bike (or fleet of bikes). Tune in to this one.

After all: it’s not the bike you’re protecting, it’s the ride. Protect what matters.

Types of Home Insurance Policies.

Irrespective of where your dwelling is located in North Carolina, it’s imperative to protect your hard-earned asset from imminent calamities. A home insurance policy is designed to safeguard one of a family’s massive investments and their home from prevailing perils such as vandalism and fire. At Brevard Insurance Agency Inc. in Brevard, NC, we offer versatile home insurance policies to ensure that you guard your home against imminent disasters such as theft and other covered liabilities. Our knowledgeable agents work closely with our clients in crafting customized quotes that befit their needs and budgetary allocation.

The home insurance policy covers your home against fire, water damage, lawsuits, theft, and other covered losses stated in your policy document. While acquiring a home insurance policy, some factors on determining its premium rates include:

  • Location.
  • Year of construction.
  • Building construction.
  • Credit history.
  • Claims history.
  • The type of coverage chosen.
  • Desired deductibles.

It’s a prudent move to select a home insurance option matching your budget and need. Home insurance is not mandatory in North Carolina. However, if you have constructed your house using a mortgage, your lender may require you to show proof of home insurance. Home insurance combines both casualty and property coverages. This policy is designed to cover a broad spectrum of perils associated with owning a home. Visit us today at Brevard Insurance Agency Inc. and speak to our passionate and charismatic agents. They will assist you in getting a spectacular customized quote for your home insurance.

What is covered under the home insurance policy at Brevard Insurance Agency Inc in North Carolina?

  • Coverage for your dwelling structure: This form of the policy pays for renovating or rebuilding your residence if it is damaged by fire, vandalism, or other disasters.
  • Coverage for your belonging: It protects your items such as sports equipment, furniture, and appliances if they are robbed or damaged by perils covered in your policy.
  • Liability protection: It covers you from lawsuits resulting from bodily injury or property destruction that you and your family members cause to other people.
  • Additional living expenses: It caters to additional costs while living away from your home if it is uninhabitable after damage from a covered peril.
  • Other structures coverage: It protects other structures that are not attached to your houses, such as a detached garage and a gazebo.

Call or visit our offices at Brevard Insurance Agency Inc., located in Brevard, NC, to get a customized quote on a home insurance policy.

When Should I Update My Home Insurance in North Carolina?

Owning a home in Brevard, NC can be a gratifying experience for anyone. Not only do you get the chance to make changes to your property whenever you want (without asking for permission), but you also reap the rewards when your investment goes up. But as your home grows and changes, so too should your home insurance. Brevard Insurance Agency Inc. can tell you more about when to make an official update. 

The Value Changes 

When we say value, we mean the value of the entire property. This can include anything from buying a big-screen TV to repairing the fence to installing new fancy fixtures in the bathroom. If your home has surpassed the limits listed in your policy, you shouldn’t take a chance if something happens to them. 

The Weather Changes 

Some homeowners are willing to take the chance when it comes to certain natural weather events. However, many others simply aren’t aware that certain natural disasters aren’t covered under their policy. For example, flooding is typically not part of the standard policy in Brevard, NC. If you’re starting to see more rain during the springs and summers, it’s worth adding some extra coverage. 

You Want a Different Carrier 

Part of understanding your policy is knowing what it will do for you during real-life situations. If your carrier can’t explain this to you, it may be time to talk to someone with a little more practical experience. Brevard Insurance Agency Inc. is here to help our customers get a handle on when their policy is meeting their needs and when it needs to be adjusted. Give us a call if you need to ask a few questions or if you’re shopping around for a quote in the Brevard, NC area.