Category: Home Insurance

When a hurricane hits, the damage can be devastating. If your home is in the path of a hurricane, it’s essential to know if your home insurance will cover the damage. Here’s everything you need to know about home insurance and hurricane damage in Jasper, AL.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Home insurance typically covers damage caused by fire, wind, hail, lightning, and theft. However, coverage varies from policy to policy, so it’s essential to read your policy carefully and know what is and isn’t covered.

For example, most home insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by flooding, so if you live in an area prone to flooding, you’ll need to purchase separate flood insurance. Your Harris Insurance agent can help you determine your coverage types.

What About Hurricane Damage?

Home insurance if wind typically covers hurricane damage or rain causes the damage. However, as with any other type of natural disaster, it’s important to read your policy carefully to see what is and isn’t covered. A Harris Insurance agent can help you understand your policy and what it covers.

How to Prepare for Hurricane Season

If you live in an area susceptible to hurricanes, there are a few things you can do to prepare.

First, make sure you have an adequate insurance policy in place. Standard home insurance policies cover wind and general storm damage, but in Alabama, you may need a separate policy because the area is prone to hurricanes.

You should also create an emergency kit and have a plan in place in case you need to evacuate. Your emergency kit should include food, water, a first-aid kit, and essential documents.

You should also make sure your home is prepared for a hurricane. This includes trimming trees and shrubs, securing loose items, and reinforcing doors and windows.

Give Us A Call

By taking these steps, you can help protect your home and belongings in the event of a hurricane. To learn more about protecting your home with insurance in Jasper, AL, contact Harris Insurance.

Harris Insurance proudly serves the Jasper, AL community and the surrounding areas. We work closely with multiple carriers throughout the South. This allows us to offer flexible policies designed to meet the evolving needs of our clients. For over 20 years, we have helped residents face life’s challenges knowing that they are protected in any situation.

Home Insurance Misinformation Alabama Locals Should Learn About

Your Jasper, AL home is a significant investment. You’ve likely made a lot of sacrifices to become a homeowner. Home insurance protects your property against potential damages. Your possessions inside your home are also covered if damaged or stolen. Liability coverage is an asset. Accidents may occur at any moment. Liability coverage protects you if one of your guests is injured on your property. You are also covered if you accidentally damage someone else’s property. You can add alternative living coverage to protect you if your home suffers extensive damage and you have to stay somewhere else temporarily. Look over your policy carefully to avoid any errors.

Home insurance differs from flood insurance. If your home suffers flood damage after a natural disaster moving through the area, you are not covered unless you alter your policy. Flood damage differs from water damage, which could occur due to a broken pipe or drainage issues. Your policy also leaves you unprotected if you don’t take care of your home. Perform regular maintenance on your home to avoid long-term problems. If mold develops, this is a common situation where homeowners are left unprotected and may be forced to make tough decisions.

Harris Insurance Will Help You Obtain The Right Coverage

Contact our office to learn more information about home insurance.

People that are in the Jasper, AL area will find this is a great place to own a home. When you are a property owner, it will offer you a consistent place to call home and can be a good long-term investment. When you are shopping for a property, you should also allocate time for going over your insurance needs. A home insurance plan could be needed for a few reasons. 

Coverage is Required by Lenders

A primary reason that you may need to get a home insurance plan here is that it will be required by your lenders. Taking out a mortgage is common for most people that buy a home. If you do take out a mortgage, it will provide you with the opportunity to purchase your home. However, there are rules that come along with it. Any mortgage lender is going to require that you carry a full home insurance plan until your loan is fully repaid.

Coverage is Required by Association

There is also a chance that you could be required to carry home insurance by a home association. Living within a home association can be a good idea as it can come with security and other amenities. If you are part of an association, you will need to meet and understand its rules. This often includes requiring property owners to carry home insurance. 

There are a lot of situations in which having home insurance will be a necessity and requirement. If you want to get a home insurance plan in the Jasper, AL area, speaking with Harris Insurance can be helpful. The team with Harris Insurance can help you identify your particular home insurance needs and help build a plan that will properly cover your home and keep you in compliance with any requirements. 

Are you buying a home in the Jasper, AL area and have never purchased a home insurance policy before? Then, you need to contact us at Harris Insurance after reading this information. Doing so will help to make it easier for you to pick a policy that makes sense for your needs. 

Your Guide to Your First Home Insurance Policy 

The first thing that you need to do is start looking for a suitable policy before your home deal is fully settled. If you wait too long, there’s a good chance that you might end up missing out on an excellent policy opportunity. So instead of waiting, talk to an agent and discuss the value of your home – you’ll need an adjuster who can work with you. 

Then, you need to make sure that you understand a variety of different things that help to dictate what policy that you need. Just a few things to consider here include:

• Total home replacement cost, which an agent can help you figure out 
• The risk of your home getting seriously damaged by various issues 
• Potential bundling options that could make your policies simpler 
• The number of people living in the house with you 
• Complications with your home that could occur due to natural factors 

These factors are critical because they can change and may ultimately undermine your policy if you aren’t safe. Once you’ve figured them out, you can choose a policy premium and deductible that makes sense for your home and your financial situation.

Finding a Suitable Policy 

If you need a great home insurance option that works well for your home, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Harris Insurance to learn more. Our team will give you the high-quality help that your Jasper, AL home needs to stay protected against common insurance problems.

Emergencies come in many forms. Alabama gets hurricanes and flooding quite regularly. Tornadoes also rip through the area. Making sure your home is prepared for one of these emergencies is important. At Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL, we have been helping our customers to deal with covered emergencies for more than 40 years. Surviving an emergency comes first and then filing a claim comes second. 

Protecting your important papers

Protecting your important papers like your will, your passport, your deeds, and your insurance policies, and your home inventory is vital so that when you need them after the emergency they are available to you. Place them in a water and fireproof box or bag and if you leave your home for shelter take them with you. 

Water

Water is one thing you will need after the emergency passes. In some cases there will not be any public services and the water in your tap may either be non-functional or not safe to drink. You need to have at least 3 or 4 days of drinking water available and if you can save water for personal needs like the toilet or for bating, that is even better. 

Flashlights and batteries

If electricity gets knocked out, and it frequently does, you need a way to power your lights. Having plenty of flashlights and extra batteries is a must and a portable charger like a Halo can be a big help at least in the short term. 

Generator

If you live in an area that is prone to losing power, a generator is a must. It can save you from losing all the food in your fridge or freezer. Have a supply of gas on hand to keep it going. 

Emergencies happen, making sure you are prepared can save a lot of heartaches. 

Contact Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL for all your home insurance needs. 

Home insurance is not just one type of coverage; it has multiple protections it offers. None of it is required except by a lender. No state requires you to carry home insurance. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carry it if you don’t have a home loan. Risks to your home and assets are abundant, and making sure you are prepared for anything that might happen is essential. Having a home insurance policy that offers adequate protection is vital to your peace of mind. At Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL, we have served hundreds of customers since 1980.

When accessing your need for liability insurance, several things need to be considered, including your net worth. The more you are worth, the more attractive you are to someone who might want to sue you. If you have a sizable net worth, your liability coverage should reflect it, and you should probably consider an umbrella policy as well. 

Pets are common additions to families, and they are a liability. Make sure your agent knows the number and breed of dogs you have. Some breeds of dogs are considered such high-risk, insurance carriers won’t cover them. 

Having a backyard pool can provide your family with a great entertaining space, but it does add to your liability risks. Be sure to follow all the local safety ordinances and have appropriate fencing installed. Someone injured in your pool does not have to be a guest. 

Trampolines are very popular with children, and they offer a very high injury risk. Making sure they have safety nets can reduce the risk. 

Contact Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL when you are looking for a home insurance policy. As an independent agency, we offer multiple carriers that allow us to shop for the best prices. 

If you plan to buy a home or recently have, the term escrow account should be ingrained in your brain. In its simplest form, an escrow is a legal agreement where a third party takes custody of a large sum of money or property until a predetermined condition has been met, which could be purchasing a new home. For real estate, escrow accounts have two main purposes:

1. Home Buying: Protects both the buyer and the seller by holding a deposit in a separate account in good faith.
2. Taxes & Insurance: May be required by a mortgage lender whereby a portion of your monthly payment for your home is set aside in a separate account out of which your homeowner’s insurance and property taxes are paid.

When you buy a home, your purchase agreement will likely include language around a good faith deposit, otherwise known as earnest money, which protects both the buyer and seller. For instance, if the deal falls through because of the buyer, the seller usually gets to keep the earnest money. In addition to earnest money, your mortgage lender may also establish an escrow account used to pay for homeowner insurance and property taxes. Given that your tax bill and homeowners insurance can either increase or decrease from one year to the next, this amount can change over the lifetime of your loan. 

At Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL, our talented and knowledgeable team of insurance professionals will walk you through every step of the process to find the right homeowner’s insurance policy and answer your questions on escrow accounts. Give us a call today to learn more. 

Investing in quality home insurance is essential for homeowners in Jasper, AL. At Harris Insurance, we’re here to help you meet your home insurance needs in Alabama. 

Unfortunately, Alabama homeowners frequently make home insurance policy mistakes that hurt them financially down the road. The following are three mistakes to avoid when you purchase home insurance in Alabama. 

Failing to invest in flood insurance coverage

Flood insurance is vital for homeowners in any part of Alabama. Alabama homes can be especially susceptible to flood damage. This is especially true for those living in coastal areas or along the shores of any of the state’s many rivers and lakes. 

As a homeowner, you should know that a home insurance policy doesn’t typically include flood coverage. You need to purchase add-on flood insurance coverage for your home insurance policy. 

Purchasing an inadequate amount of coverage

Make sure you have enough coverage to compensate you for the costs of damage to your home. Ideally, you want to have a policy with coverage maximums large enough to compensate you for the full value of your property in the event of catastrophic damage. 

Choosing a deductible amount that’s too high

Because home damage is especially common in Alabama, it’s crucial to anticipate claims on your home insurance policy. This means opting for a lower deductible amount.

If your deductible amount is too high, claims on your policy could create financial hardship for you. It might be better to pay a few dollars more in premiums every month so that the deductible you need to pay in the event of home damage isn’t too much for your budget. 

Find the right home insurance policy to protect your home in Jasper, AL. Get started with our help at Harris Insurance. Contact us with your questions and inquiries.