22 Dec
2020

What To Do After Purchasing a New Home: A New Home Purchase Guide

For those buying a new home, they may feel like they have recently finished a marathon. There is a lot to do if you are looking for a home. Between meeting with real estate agents, securing a home loan, and completing all of the paperwork, new homeowners are usually tired by the time they get the keys to their new home. At the same time, even if you have your keys in hand, there are still other steps you need to take to make sure that your home is ready for new occupants.

Hook Up the Utilities

There is a good chance that your home does not have any utilities hooked up when you move into it. Therefore, it is important to contact local utility companies and get everything turned on. Some of these utilities may require people to come to your home. A few utilities that you need to activate include:

Contact a local electrical company and make sure the electricity is turned on
Give a call to the local water company and make sure your home’s plumbing system is running
If your home has a gas line, you need to get the gas turned on as well
You should research local cable and internet providers to make sure that you have internet, cable, and a landline if you need one

We’re guessing that you probably do not want to live in a house without utilities. Therefore, you need to make sure that these bills are switched over to your name as soon as possible.

Change Your Locks

You do not know if the previous homeowner has made copies of the keys. Therefore, to make sure your home is safe, you may want to change your locks. You also need to make sure that you reset the security code to your garage if you have one. Finally, if your home does not already have an alarm or a security system, you may want to get one installed. This may help you qualify for discounts on home insurance premiums.

Secure Home Insurance

If you did not already get home insurance through your lender, then you need to make sure that you protect this valuable asset. Many people purchase home insurance based on the value of the home they now own; however, this is usually not enough coverage. Remember that home insurance is designed to not only protect the structure of your home but also its contents. Therefore, you may want to schedule a home insurance inspection to make sure that you get enough coverage to protect your house. Remember that your home is a valuable investment. You need to make sure that you protect it with the right home insurance policy.

Say Hi to the New Neighbors

Finally, take a few minutes to say hi to your new neighbors as well. Even though some of your neighbors might swing by and welcome you to the neighborhood, some people might be too busy to do so. Try to take a few minutes and introduce yourself to your neighbors. If you go on vacation one day and want someone to watch your house, you want to make sure you have a positive relationship with the homeowners around you. They might even give you a welcome gift after you buy a new home!

22 Dec
2020

5 Common Mistakes People Make on Homeowner’s Insurance Claims

by InsuranceHub | in Home Insurance

Having home insurance is a must, to protect your most valuable asset, your belongings and your financial future. While most people have home insurance coverage, many make costly errors when it comes to filing claims. Some of the most common home insurance claims mistakes are detailed below — along with some tips for avoiding these expensive errors.

Not understanding your policy

You should know what your policy covers, who your provider is and what your claims process is. Your policy is a long and wordy document, but it is a good idea to read it and understand what is covered.

Failing to get flood coverage: This is an incredibly costly error, and many homeowners don’t discover it until it is too late. Even though your home insurance policy covers “water” damage, it may not cover floods — you need a separate policy for that in most cases. If you live near water, in a storm-prone area or along the coast, you likely need a separate policy for flood damage just in case.

Not updating coverage

If you only looked at your homeowner’s coverage when you purchased your policy, it could be out of date. If you’re paying the bill, the coverage is still in place, but if your family has grown, you’ve made home improvements, purchased expensive items (that would be covered) or made other changes, then your coverage may not be as complete as it should. Unless you review your policy annually, you would only discover a problem after a damaging event, which is too late to add that new artwork, upgraded flooring, or expensive electronics.

Not keeping an inventory

You may be able to name the larger covered items in your home — the electronics, appliances, and other big-ticket things, but do you know their model numbers, value and other specifics? A full home inventory you update annually ensures that any upgrades are included and that you are reimbursed properly in the event of a loss. If the items in question have been destroyed, you may end up relying on your memory to list what you had. In a stressful time, this could result in a far lower claim amount than you are truly entitled to.

Failing to document damage

Extensive damage from a storm or fire could leave your home exposed to the elements – and you’ll naturally want to start cleaning and repairing the damage to your property. You should take photos and document damage before cleanup begins. Saying a tree limb fell on your roof is open to interpretation; images of that same tree in your living room after crashing through the roof clearly shows the issue and extent of the problem.

Familiarizing yourself with your policy, updating it as needed and keeping good records will all help you protect your home, your family and your belongings if you need to make a claim. Choosing the right policy for your needs and covering these details will ensure you are covered when you need it most.

07 Dec
2020

Vacation Home Insurance 101: What It Is and Why You Need It

by InsuranceHub | in Home Insurance

Buying a vacation home is the dream of many, but there’s a lot to consider before signing a contract, and vacation property insurance is a primary one. Because you won’t be in the home full-time, having insurance to protect the property from damages such as wind, fire, and other perils is vital.

It’s unlikely that your primary home insurance policy will cover a second home, which is why you need to learn more about vacation property insurance, why it’s necessary, and the approximate costs. Our InsuranceHub experts will cover that for you right here.

What Is Vacation Home Insurance?

Insurance for vacation homes typically requires a separate policy from your primary residence. Vacation home insurance covers the second home that you don’t plan to live in full time. However it’s different from vacant home insurance, and you might need to acquire even more than a vacation policy should you carry a mortgage on the dwelling, decide to rent it out, or live in a flood zone or near water hazards.

Vacation Home Insurance: What Does It Cover?

Insurance for a vacation home varies from traditional home insurance policies that may cover practically every potential incident. Policies for vacation homes are designed to protect a property that will not be occupied on a full-time basis. Your insurance agent can build a policy to meet special needs, but standard home vacation properties typically cover damages from the following perils only.

Theft
Lightning
Smoke
Fire
Explosions

Some policies may include liability coverage that protects against personal injury claims related to the property. However, this coverage could possibly be covered under certain primary homeowners policies. Be sure to carefully read your vacation home policy’s declarations page carefully to see what is covered, deductibles, coverage limitations, and premiums.

Factoring in the Cost of Insurance for a Vacation Home

Because there will be no full-time occupants, insurance companies consider a second or vacation home to be a higher risk than primary dwellings. Many factors go into determining how much insurance for a vacation home will cost.

Location: Homes located in high-risk areas that are prone to earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, and those near the beach equal higher premiums.

Property Type: A cabin in a secluded area will cost far less than a high rise condo in New York or an oceanside vacation property. Amenities that create greater risks like pools will increase costs.

Condition and Age: Naturally, a well-maintained or newer home will cost less to insure than one that has been neglected and is older.

Typically, you will need to factor in flood insurance for lakeside, beachside, riverside, or in high-risk areas. If you plan to rent your property to some extent, you might need rental coverage. These will cost extra on top of the basic policy.

Need Vacation Home Insurance? Call InsuranceHub Today

Here at InsuranceHub, our team of insurance experts can help you get the vacation home insurance that you need. We take time to explain all of your options and how you can save money on your policy premium. Fill out our online quote form or message us on LiveChat for a fast, free assessment.

10 Nov
2020

Considerations for traveling during Thanksgiving 2020

by Katelyn Betts | in Home Insurance, Insurance

Thanksgiving, of course, is a time that most people want to spend with friends and family. Maybe you have a tradition of gathering at someone’s house with your extended family. However, a lot of people travel for Thanksgiving in order to spend the holiday with loved ones. Since COVID-19 is still such a threat, you might be wondering if you want to travel at all, or whether you’d prefer to stay home and have a small dinner just with your household. We’ll go over some considerations for Thanksgiving 2020 during COVID.

27 Oct
2020

5 considerations for Halloween 2020

by Katelyn Betts | in Home Insurance, Insurance

With COVID-19 still a major threat and cause for concern, you might be wondering about Halloween this year. The CDC presents several examples of alternative Halloween activities so you don’t have to partake in traditional trick-or-treating, but there are other considerations to keep in mind for Halloween 2020. Here are a few things that you need to know about celebrating and having fun on the day of candy, costumes, and ghouls.

05 Oct
2020

5 times your home insurance situation could improve

by Katelyn Betts | in Home Insurance, Insurance

If you’re a homeowner, you know you need to have the right coverage to protect your home. It’s a big investment, after all, but that doesn’t mean you want to clean out your piggy bank paying for your home insurance. What if there were a few occasions that could really help your insurance situation? Everyone loves saving money, especially on insurance, right? We’re going to go over a few different things that could affect your home insurance situation – maybe things that you haven’t thought of before.

09 Jul
2020

Pro tips for taking a home inventory

by Katelyn Betts | in Home Insurance, Insurance

If home insurance has been on your mind, you might be wondering what you can do to help yourself out when it comes to your insurance. You are trying to be proactive and be a responsible homeowner. One thing you can do to get your home insurance in order is taking a home inventory. But that sounds complicated. We’ve got a few tips for taking a home inventory – and naturally, we’ll go over why it’s important to have a home inventory so you know why it’s a worthy use of your time.

18 Jun
2020

Home insurance checklist: Do I have the right home insurance?

by Katelyn Betts | in Home Insurance, Insurance

Home insurance might not be your favorite thing to contemplate. The jargon, the policy, the premium. It’s a lot. The thing is that insurance can be overwhelming, and you might wonder whether you have the “right” home insurance – whatever the “right” home insurance looks like. Insurance is a big deal, and you certainly don’t want to have the wrong home Here are eight questions on our home insurance checklist for you to ask yourself.

23 Apr
2020

Your checklist for choosing a mover

by Katelyn Betts | in Home Insurance, Insurance

If you’re moving in the near future, your mind is probably filled with thoughts of house hunting – not to mention selling your current place. But there’s one part of the whole moving process that it’s important not to leave until the last minute. Unless you have magic powers and can poof your belongings to your new home, you’re going to need to hire a moving company. This is a big decision, as you’ll probably want only the best of the best transporting your possessions. That’s why we’re put together this checklist for choosing a mover.

02 Apr
2020

10 things to pass time (and be productive) during coronavirus quarantine

by Katelyn Betts | in Auto Insurance, Home Insurance, Insurance

Coronavirus has affected pretty much everyone. Businesses have closed, people are working from home, and a lot of people have been ordered to stay at home as the country is encouraged to social distance. Having to stay home in coronavirus quarantine can be hard, and it can be really difficult to feel at all productive or motivated in this uncertain time. If you’ve been left with hours upon hours to fill, here are a few ways you can pass the time while being productive.