Downsizing Your Home? – Insurance Adjustments You May Need

If you plan on downsizing your living space, consider several things. Read on to learn how downsizing could affect the amount of home insurance coverage you need.

Downsizing Your Home

Downsizing your home may include redesigning your current living space or moving to a different house. A smaller living space may not require you to carry the same amount of insurance coverage that you currently have.

Review your home insurance policy before you make changes to your living space. Performing an overview of your current policy will provide you with coverage details.

Take note of any coverage types that won’t be needed once you change your living space. For instance, if you are moving to a smaller home, you may qualify for a considerable reduction in property insurance.

Personal Property

Assess the personal property that you plan on keeping. Decide if you would like to insure the items that will be used in your new living space. If you plan on donating or selling some of the items you currently own, any items currently insured will need to be removed from your home insurance policy.

Residential Land That You Own

Your updated living space is not the only thing that needs to be insured. Even though you plan on downsizing, you should seek adequate insurance protection for the residential land that you own.

Water features, decor, decking, and other valuable items should be added to your home insurance policy. The coverage may protect against damage and theft.

Contact an Agent Who Serves Kissimmee, FL

Contact one of our agents from Familia Insurance Agency. An agent will inquire about your downsizing project before recommending home insurance products.

Why a Dog Can Impact Your Home Insurance

As a homeowner contemplating getting a dog, numerous considerations come into play. Small or large dogs, indoor or outdoor, and breed choice are among the primary concerns. However, an often overlooked aspect is how pet ownership might influence your home insurance. Residents of Kissimmee, FL are lucky—Familia Insurance Agency is here to clarify this for you.

The Effect of Owning a Dog on Your Home Insurance

Owning a dog can potentially impact your home insurance in several ways. Even the friendliest of dogs can sometimes pose liability hazards, which may lead to increased homeowners’ insurance rates. Dogs sometimes bite, causing injuries to family members, friends, or strangers. Certain insurance companies even impose breed restrictions due to perceived increased risk.

Dogs Can Pose Risks to Visitors

Another scenario that could increase your liability risk stems from a dog startling visitors, causing them to fall or injure themselves. While a barking dog can serve as efficient protection, an injury claim against you could follow if such an incident were to occur.

Familia Insurance Agency: Your Partner in Understanding Policies

At Familia Insurance Agency in Kissimmee, FL, we can provide the guidance you need to understand how a dog might—or might not—affect your homeowners’ insurance. Contact us for an insurance review and price quote. Various factors impact your home insurance and the rates you pay—with dog ownership being one of them. At Familia Insurance Agency of Kissimmee, FL, we can help you become adequately covered. Get in touch with us today.

Tips to make your home more energy efficient

Saving energy at home is a great way to save money and help the environment. There are lots of simple changes you can make that will make your home here in the Kissimmee, FL area more energy efficient, helping to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your monthly bills.

Here are some tips from us at Familia Insurance Agency to get you started:

1. Install Energy-Efficient Lighting: Switching out old lightbulbs with LEDs or CFLs can provide significant energy savings. LEDs also last longer, so you won’t be replacing them as often. 

2. Unplug Appliances When Not in Use: Most appliances use electricity even when they’re off if they’re plugged in, so unplugging them when not in use is an easy way to save energy and money. 

3. Seal Leaks Around Windows and Doors: Sealing any air leaks in your windows and door frames can help keep heated air from escaping during the winter months or cold air from leaking out during the summer months, which saves on heating costs. 

4. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat helps you keep your temperature at comfortable levels while ensuring it’s not running all day (or at night). Set it up to turn off when you’re away from home or asleep so you don’t waste energy on unnecessary cooling or heating cycles. 

5. Wash Clothes in Cold Water: Most loads of laundry can be washed just as well in cold water, so opt for this setting whenever possible—it’ll save energy and protect colors since hot water can fade fabrics faster. For more tips, give us at Familia Insurance Agency a call today. We are proud to serve the Kissimmee, FL area.

What Should You Know About Home Insurance?

Your home is probably the most valuable investment in your life. The second significant investment after purchasing a house is home insurance to protect it. Therefore, before moving into your new home, you need to ensure that you have proper home coverage to protect your dwelling, personal belongings, and yourself.

Here is what you need to know about home insurance: 

What is home insurance?

Home insurance is defined as the type of insurance that provides financial protection if something happens to your house and personal belongings. The standard home insurance policy covers fire, theft, accidental damage, and more. 

Home Insurance Has Some Limits

Like any other type of insurance, home insurance does not cover everything. For example, it typically does not cover flood damage. Thus, if you live in a flood-prone area, getting a special type of insurance known as flood insurance is recommended. Standard home insurance also does not cover damage caused by earthquakes. 

Home Insurance Is Not Required In Florida

Homeowners in the state of Florida are not required to carry home insurance. However, even though it is not mandatory, you should consider purchasing a policy to protect your home and precious belongings from theft, vandalism, fire, lighting, and other unfortunate and unpredictable events. 

Familia Insurance Agency in Kissimmee, FL – Reliable and Trustworthy Insurance Company in Florida

Familia Insurance Agency is a company that has been serving clients in Kissimmee, FL, and other nearby towns for over 14 years. We offer different types of insurance, including home insurance as well. Therefore, if you are a lucky property owner in Florida and shopping for home insurance to protect your precious investment, you can count on us. Feel free to visit our website or give us a call if you want to know more. 

How Home Insurance Protects You

When you buy a home, you also need to get a home insurance policy to protect it. You shouldn’t go even a day without this valuable insurance to protect your largest asset. If you don’t have a home insurance policy, or you want to switch to a different policy, call us today at Familia Insurance Agency in Kissimmee, FL. 

How Home Insurance Protects You

It Protects Your House

Having home insurance is great protection for your house. The policy you get will take into account the value of a house and what it would cost to repair it or to rebuild it completely. When a major incident causes major damage, your home policy will be there for you to pay for the repairs. If you go without this coverage, you risk not being able to pay for repairs after something happens to your home. It’s never a good idea to be in that position. Make sure you have a home insurance policy in place so that you’re well-protected. 

It Protects Your Belongings

Just as your home insurance protects your house, it also protects everything inside it. Your belongings are all protected as long as they are on your property and they get destroyed or damaged in a covered incident. Rather than having to try to come up with enough money to replace everything, your home insurance policy pays for you to replace them. With your home insurance, you don’t have to start over without any belongings after something serious happens. When considering how expensive it would be to do so, it’s easy to see why having home insurance is so important. 

Keep Your Home and Possessions Protected

If you’re about to buy a home, make sure you will have a home insurance policy in place right away. Give us a call at Familia Insurance Agency in Kissimmee, FL.

     

What Doesn’t Homeowners’ Insurance Cover?

When buying a homeowner’s insurance policy, you need to understand that each policy is different. You need to know exactly what is covered by the policy that you have. 

That being said, there are many things that aren’t typically covered with a homeowner’s insurance policy. 

Earthquakes. Though storm damage is covered with standard policies, most of them won’t cover earthquake damage. If you live in an area where earthquakes are common, you may want to add some earthquake insurance to your policy. 

Flood. Water damage is often covered by standard homeowners’ insurance policies. However, flooding isn’t typically covered. Because of this, even if you don’t live in an area where flooding is common, you may want to add some flood insurance to your policy. 

Excessive water damage. Just like floods, most standard homeowners’ insurance policies put a maximum on the amount of damage that they cover when it comes to water damage. They may also not want to cover any damage that may occur if your septic system backups. 

Problems due to neglect. Your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover any damage that may occur if you do not take care of your home. This may include rust, mold, and other problems that may happen due to wear and tear.

The best way to ensure that you have a policy that will cover everything that you need is to talk to a professional. If you live in Kissimmee, FL, don’t hesitate to contact Familia Insurance Agency. They will look through your policy and see if you need to add anything to your policy to be completely protected. They may even be able to find a better policy at a cheaper price!   

Why should I get home insurance for my property?

The Kissimmee, FL area has continued to be a great place to own a property. Anyone that owns a home in this area will benefit from the property growth and good economy in the local area. Anyone that is going to purchase a home here should also get a home insurance policy. There are a number of reasons to get this coverage. 

Insurance Protects Dwelling

A primary reason to get home insurance is that it can protect your dwelling. If you are going to buy a property, you will find that it will be a very significant investment that needs to be protected. If you get proper home insurance in place, it will offer you the coverage that is needed to repair or replace your property if there is damage due to a fire or other form of loss.

Insurance Gives Liability Coverage

You will also want to get a home insurance policy to take advantage of liability coverage. Anyone that is going to own a home could take on liability risk regularly. If there is an accident that occurs and results in injury to another party, you could be held responsible for damages. Also, if your property malfunctions and causes damage to another person’s assets, you will be responsible for repairs. Fortunately, you can mitigate this risk if you get home insurance as it will include liability insurance components. 

As you are looking for a new home insurance policy when you are in the Kissimmee, FL area, it is important that you speak with the team at the Familia Insurance Agency. Those that do call the Familia Insurance Agency are going to learn a lot about their insurance options. The team can then help you build a policy that is ideal for your situation. 

How to flood proof your home

Flood insurance is sold separately from the homeowner’s insurance because of the immense damage that a flood can cause your house if water gets inside. This fact is especially true in our part of the country, prone as it is to hurricanes. However, as Familia Insurance Agency serving Kissimmee, FL suggests, there are ways to flood-proof your home to prevent or at least mitigate the damage if the waters start to rise toward your front door.

The first step you should take before buying a new home is to consult Floodsmart.gov to determine how flood-prone is your prospective new home’s area is. You should also ask the neighbors, especially those who have lived in the neighborhood for a long time, whether the area has ever flooded.

You should also check to see how high the house is relative to the street level. The more elevated the house, the less likely that a severe flood can get inside. If you want to spend some money, you can raise the level of the house a foot or two, which may make all the difference,

Once you buy a house, a number of ways exist to flood-proof it. You can use a sealant to try to make the walls near the ground waterproof. Fit your home with waterproof windows and doors.

You can minimize the damage to your home if flood waters do enter by raising electrical outlets, making sure that electronics and other valuable equipment are elevated, and having some waterproof bags to keep valuables in.

Above all, you should buy flood insurance, which can save you thousands of dollars if the worst happens.

For questions on flood insurance, contact Familia Insurance Agency serving Kissimmee, FL

Do I need a home inventory for my condo

Owning a condo in Kissimmee, FL is a great investment. Whether you plan to live in the condo full time, use it as a winter home or a rental property, having the correct insurance is imperative. In order to answer the question do I need a home inventory for my condo you need to understand what condo insurance covers and exactly what a home inventory is.  At Familia Insurance Agency we offer personalized service to our customers and we will make sure that you have the coverage you need. 

Condo insurance is slightly different than home insurance since the condo association also has a policy on your condo. If something bad happens to your condo, they will cover the actual structure. The contents are your responsibility and that is where your home inventory can make filing and collect on a claim easier and less stressful. 

A home inventory is a listing of your personal possessions. Imagine how much easier it is to record all those items when they are here in front of you rather than scattered to the four winds or a pile of ashes. You can walk around your condo and video all of your rooms and don’t forget to open closets and cupboards. In addition, place all the receipts or bills for items together with the inventory. The more details you include, the more likely you are to be happy with the payment your receive from your carrier. Store the inventory in a safe place, preferably away from your condo. You may want to consider the cloud or another form of online storage. 

If you are ready to take a look at the condo coverage you have, Familia Insurance Agency in Kissimmee, FL is here to help out. Give us a call and let us give you a no-obligation quote. 

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.