Homeowners Insurance in The Villages Florida

To Villagers future Villagers and anyone else that might be interested

 

 

 Recently our insurance office has been flooded with calls regarding home insurance in The Villages. The calls have ranged from new buyers in TV to current residents. Not every call has been the same but the majority are concerning Sinkhole Coverage. With the recent news coverage on Sinkholes in The Villages, it has heightened the concern level on the coverage. Insurance laws and definitions can be a bit confusing to the general public, especially when it comes to Sinkholes.

 

 Since The Villages is a melting pot of residents from all over the country, most might not understand the lingo. I would like to first recommend contacting your insurance agent so they may answer your questions and your concerns on your specific policy. Or you may can contact my office where we would be happy to go over your questions, so that you will have a better understanding. I always make it a priority in my office, so that our clients are aware of how and what they are covered for. Nothing is worse than when tragedy strikes and not being sure if you are covered. I would hate that feeling and hope that none of my clients would ever feel that way. 

 

So I would like to go over a few basic things about home insurance in Florida and how it covers what the media covers as Sinkholes. Florida has a mandatory coverage on all home policy's that is called Catastrophic Ground Coverage Collapse or CGCC Coverage which is defend under 627.706 of Florida Statutes. This is the coverage that would cover your home if it is affected by the ground opening a hole either taking your home completely in it, making it unsafe or being condemned. Also if the ground affected your home and had the same results as I stated before. This is standard coverage on all home polices in Florida. This coverage deductible is under your all other peril deductible, the coverage also DOES NOT need to be added it is standard on all polices as of May 2014.

 Confusion on this coverage is a result of many things. Florida chose to name the coverage Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse instead of the common public/media term Sinkhole. Additionally insurance companies were complaining about paying out a large number of claims from fraud or what they considered non major events. So the state changed the law concerning Sinkholes a few years ago to separate the coverage and protect the insurance companies. Before the state changed the law, it did not matter how the state and insurance companies in Florida defined a Sinkhole. Because it was all standard on all polices and the coverage covered all aspects of a Sinkhole. Hence no one cared or questioned that it was called Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse. Now that it is not the same coverage as before it has become an issue.

Another reason the coverage is confusing is that when you watch the news you are not going to hear a report on Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse. The media will use the common term Sinkhole, that is what the public understands it to be. Therefore when you see your policy or ask about Sinkhole coverage and it says or we say CGCC coverage it’s a bit confusing. It is totally understandable to have that confusion, especially if you are coming from a state where it is called sinkhole coverage on your policy.

 When the state recently separated the coverage they reduce the coverage of CGCC and allowed insurance companies to provide an add on. The add on coverage is called Sinkhole coverage, now adding more fuel to the fire of the confusion. As an Insurance agent I do not have the ability to make common sense changes in wording to limit the confusion. I do see how it is confusing to the public. Unfortunately this is how the state and insurance companies have made it in Florida. 

 The add on coverage called Sinkhole coverage might not provide the coverage that you would think the name would provide. Sinkhole coverage is also defined in statute 627.706 as well. This coverage does not cover your home if it falls into a sinkhole. That is covered under the CGCC coverage on your policy. Sinkhole is a comprehensive coverage that in layman terms would cover a possible event not yet opened, a surface event that does not cause the home to be unsafe or condemned. However, it is not a guarantee that those events will be covered. The law gives a little leeway to the insurance company, if they say it is from settling or a non-sinkhole then they do not have to pay a claim. 

This coverage also does have requirements and deductibles that differ from your standard policy. You must pay for a sinkhole inspection upfront before any company will added the coverage. Sadly the turn down rate with the inspection is very high, new homes is a little better but older homes are almost always turned down. If you do get approved for the add on it does have an extra premium, not very much though. The deductible is where the big significance is in the coverage. Sinkhole coverage has a 10% deductible, which means if you have a 300,000 dollar home the insurance company will pay out after your pay 30,000. This is a very high deductible that does come into play when you need to make a claim. That means the repair for damage must be so significant that it is more than you deductible and not significant enough to cause your home to be unsafe or condemned. 

Just remember when you see Sinkholes on the news, like the ones in The Villages 99.9% are significant and are covered under the standard CGCC coverage. Recently in the news a Villager had an issue with her outside air conditioning unit being affected by a ground event. She did have the add on Sinkhole Coverage to her policy. The repair to fix the issue was  also under the deductible amount on the Sinkhole coverage. That means that she had to pay out of pocket the over 27,000 to repair it, despite having the coverage. She is not a client of mine so I am not involved in her claim, but if she made a claim to her company they now recorded her having a possible sinkhole. Once you make a claim of a sinkhole you want it to be a significant claim because now that home will be harder to cover in the future. So not only is she going to pay for the repairs herself but now she might have hurt her financial future without any benefit from the insurance company.

 I am not for or against this or that coverage. I always want to make sure that my clients know what they are getting and what it covers. This is a confusing topic when it comes to insurance. CGCC coverage does cover your home from a significant event that cause your home to be unsafe or condemned. It does not cover the possibility of a sinkhole or damages that do not make it unsafe or condemn it. Sinkhole coverage does provide the possibility of those coverage’s but not are not guaranteed. You must endure and pay for their approval process that produces mostly turn downs on the sinkhole coverage. Understand the fact that you must come out of pocket the 10% deductible. Also realize that for the coverage to be useful the event must be so significant to be more than the 10% and not so significant to be covered under the CGCC coverage. Then weigh if the event is major enough to notify your insurance carrier to make a claim and possibly hurt your financial future. 

I do not make insurance decisions for my clients, I only provide information and my professional opinion. What coverage’s are chosen are up to each individual. Be aware of what you have and if you have any questions please ask your agent or call my office.

Jaime Goldsmith, Insurance Agent

HomeTown Village Insurance

352-751-5454

Home Insurance in Florida

Homeowners Insurance in Florida 

Protecting one of your most valuable assets is important and could be costly if you do not. Your home is not only where you lay your head at night, it is where your life takes place. Our lives are precious and so should be the home we live our lives in. Whether your live in The Villages, Leesburg, Ocala, or any other part of Florida, you must make sure that you are covered the right way. If you are from out of state and are purchasing a home in our beautiful state, you need to be conscious to the insurance world in Florida.  

Home Insurance in Florida is different than most other states. Since we have been hit with some costly Hurricanes over the years, major well known carriers have pulled out of Florida. Even though you still see T.V. ads for State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide and Farmers they no longer write homeowners polices in Florida. When you contact those providers they will either tell you that they do not cover Florida or give you a quote from a non-standard company. I have also come across some insurance offices that are not really telling their clients that they are not going with a State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide or a Farmers. They are not technically lying, but kind of doing a don't ask don't tell policy. That way the client still believes they have the major carrier for their home Insurance policy. So please look over your policy to see who your policy is with and look them up to see how they are rated.

If you contact an insurance office or agent and they offer you a Citizens Insurance policy be aware. Citizens Insurance is a company of last resort for homeowners. This company is what we call a non-admitted carrier in Florida. What that means to you is that They do not guarantee claims payments. If a major catastrophe happens they will only pay out as much as they have. An admitted carrier guarantee's payment and is back up by the state to make sure those payments are made. The also agree to go by Florida law to become an admitted carrier in Florida. Citizens is a low market policy with just the minimal coverages. They do not cover things that we might think they should cover, like pool enclosures or aluminum car ports. Also they do not provide many options to increase coverages like an admitted carrier would. So please make sure that Citizens Insurance is a real Last Resort, do not just take your agents word for it.

If you have questions on Home Insurance in Florida or any Insurance questions any type of Insurance in Florida please contact my office. If you would like a free review of your current policy and coverages, we do that as well.

HomeTown Village Insurance
352-751-5454
jaime.goldsmith@aol.com
www.htvinsurance.com

 

Sinkhole Coverage in Florida

SINKHOLE COVERAGE IN FLORIDA

With sinkholes in the news again, my office have been receiving calls from clients and the public on sinkhole coverage. I do understand that when you see something as frightening as a sinkhole on the news you wonder if you are covered or have enough coverage. First of all, what was on the news recently in The Villages is covered on everyone's standard homeowners policy. It is under Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse on your policy, which is how the state of Florida defines the event that happened on the news. Here is the satatute for this coverage in Florida 627.706 It covers your home if a sinkhole appears and makes your home either unsafe, condemned or uninhabitable.

Insurance company's have an add on to home insurance policy's called Sinkhole Coverage. This confuses most people, it makes them believe that they are not covered unless they have that on their policy. This is because most people do not understand the coverage of catastrophic ground cover collapse. The addition of sinkhole coverage to a policy covers a potential sinkhole. It covers additional things that I would be happy to explain if anyone wanted to contact me. However it has to be approved coverage by the insurance carrier. You must pay for a sinkhole inspection upfront and is nonrefundable even if they deny you the coverage. Most insurance carriers do a radius evolution to see if any sinkholes are in the vicinity, the radius differs from company to company.  If then approved the coverage will have a 10% deductible, which means if your home policy is for 300k the deductible is 30k. If an event happens under the sinkhole coverage and you want to make a claim, the repair must be more than the deductible amount before the insurance company will pay anything. If the repair is more than the deductible the insurance company will only pay the difference in the amount.

I would be happy to go over the Pro's and Con's off these coverage's and all coverage's. You do not even need to be a current client. I enjoy educating the public on insurance in Florida. please contact me at 352-751-5454 or email me at jaime.goldsmith@aol.com. I did not provide the full description of catastrophic ground cover collapse or sinkhole coverage in this blog, I can explain both in detail if you would like. I do not choose for a client what to add or not add on a policy. I only educate and advise my clients what might be best for their situation. That is why it is important to be well informed before you make any decision on a insurance policy in Florida. My office services The Villages, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Ocala, Lake County, Marion County, Sumter County, Central Florida and all of Florida.

Sinkhole in The Villages

 Sinkholes are back in the news again in Florida. Sinkholes have once again attacked the residents in one of the largest and fastest growing retirement community's in the world. That community in the news is the city of The Villages, Florida. The incursion of the sinkhole in The Villages was on or around Saturday April 19th 2014. This disruptive hole in the ground threatened several homes in the area. An offensive has been launched to subdue the sinkhole and protect the homes. The community is concerned about any more possible strikes to its sovereignty. They are now standing guard and watching for any visible signs of movement on the ground.

 This recent invasion of sinkholes in The Villages has sparked a dialogue between Villagers on what protection to have on their homes. Insurance in Florida is very tricky and sometimes hard to understand. Also we have so many snow birds in Florida ( retirees that maintain another residence outside of Florida) that are unfamiliar of our laws or do not realize that the definitions of coverage's might be different. Insurance confuses a lot of residents in Florida, but could you imagine thinking one thing and its another. The Villages has a lot of residents from out of state and even the ones from this state might not be aware of the differences.

 First of all it is okay not know every insurance law and regulation in Florida; to most people its boring and incomprehensible. This is the reason you go to an expert like me, an Independent Insurance Agent. On the other hand I find it enjoyable and entertaining to learn the laws and know them inside and out. Sinkholes (the enemy, as I call them) are under the policy definitions for the event that insurance company's provide coverage for. What I mean is that you have two coverage's in Florida that list Sinkholes and define the manor for which you are covered. Just like Collision and Comprehensive coverage on your policy for your car, if you have that. The car or auto is covered, however Collision covers some acts while Comprehensive covers others. The coverage's on a policy in Florida for sinkholes are Catastrophic Ground Coverage Collapse and Sinkhole Coverage.

 Catastrophic Ground Coverage Collapse is standard on any home policy in Florida. Here is a link to the Florida statue for this coverage on a policy. ( Florida Statute ) That web page provides the definitions set by Florida Law for that coverage. It also gives information on Sinkholes, how they are defined by law and additional coverage under the law. It is kind of confusing and hard to understand for most. That is why you should also seek information from a Florida certified registered insurance agent. They can and should answer all your questions related to insurance in Florida. They are here to help you understand what is and is not covered. I also recommend seeking out more than one agent just to make sure your are getting the right advice and not just a sales pitch. Insurance agents receive commission on what insurance policy's they write. Typically they also draw more commission for adding coverage on to a policy, like "sinkhole coverage".

Being an insurance agent licensed in Florida for over 15 yrs, I have gained a lot of experience and have accumulated a vast knowledge. I actually enjoy educating my clients, family, friends and anyone I can about Insurance. I am a insurance nerd at heart, if there is such a thing. Below I have a post I made to a discussion that villagers were having about The Villages and sinkhole coverage. I stated in the post and I also will state again. I do not make insurance choice's for anyone, other than my family. I advise on insurance and make recommendations on coverage's. Many factors go into making a decision on insurance and it is up to the insured to make those decisions. I go by the law in Florida and help my clients to the best of my abilities. I am not just a sales person or a call center that pushes products or does not have an understanding of what their clients needs. I believe in giving my clients the right price for the best coverage.

      

 Posted in villages-news

 Protecting yourself financially from a sinkhole is a challenging question. I am a local independent insurance agent, my family has been in the insurance industry for decades and I have been an Insurance Agent in Florida for over 15yrs. This coverage in Florida was much easier a few years ago, because it was not a “buy back” or optional coverage, like it is today. Insurance companies in Florida prior to 2011 would automatically cover anything to do with a sinkhole, up to policy limits, until a few years ago. To understand this comprehensive coverage you must first understand the insurance industry term vs. the “real world” term, below will hopefully break it down in a way you will understand the differences and coverage’s.

Let’s get the legal out of the way…“YOUR POLICY PROVIDES COVERAGE FOR A CATASTROPHIC GROUND COVER COLLAPSE THAT RESULTS IN THE PROPERTY BEING CONDEMNED AND UNINHABITABLE. OTHERWISE, YOUR POLICY DOES NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR SINKHOLE LOSSES. YOU MAY PURCHASE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR SINKHOLE LOSSES FOR AN ADDITIONAL PREMIUM”  (Florida Statutes 627.706). If I just had that information I would think that I would need the addition coverage of comprehensive sinkhole coverage, however this might not be the case.

First I would like to state that I would never tell anyone what to buy, I just like to educate clients before buying any coverage. Also, every insurance company might have slight coverage differences in their policies, so it is up to the consumer to check their policy or check with their insurance agent. 

The dwelling is defined as the home and any ATTACHED structures to the dwelling that which are permanent (driveways & screened enclosures may or may not considered part of the dwelling). So we have determined the house is covered, how about everything else?

Your standard coverage does not cover a potential sinkhole, in which a sinkhole affects your property. Examples: cosmetic issues, settling, cracking, grass, trees, fencing  that which does not a crate an unsafe environment, etc… Coverage is available to cover most of those thing. This coverage will have an added cost and a deductible of at least 10%.  Which means that if your house is 300k you are responsible for 30k. To obtain this coverage you must pay for an inspection after you purchase the policy; its non-refundable & does not guarantee coverage. The inspector will go over your home looking for any possible reason not to cover your property. Also every insurance carrier has a certain radius from your home they will check before coming to your home and if a sinkhole had appeared they will not issue the coverage. So, if you do get approved for sinkhole coverage you will be covered for those extra things.  This is the tricky part about sinkhole coverage. If something happens like in this article you will be responsible for 10% and if the repairs cost is under that then you are responsible for all of the cost. There are repercussions to filing a claim under either coverage; the property will be uninsurable with most insurance companies. You will also limit any potential buyers for your home due to it being uninsurable. If the carrier finds that it’s was not a sinkhole causing a problem, for whatever other reason they will not cover it and it will still show as a claim on your claims history with no payment. So now, you paid for an inspection, the premium every year, and even have a 10% or more deductible, so if you make a claim you may not be able to find insurance and may not get the insurance company to cover. I do understand that a claim needs to be made if a sinkhole does appear and your house is unsafe or condemned, there is no way around that you have no choice at that point. But, if it’s not affecting your dwelling I recommend paying to have it fixed yourself since you will be paying for it anyways, that way it’s not a claim.  If you cannot pay for that fix or do not want to then you can wait it out and see if it stabilizes its self. If it does not then eventually it will lead to the dwelling being affected and then covered under the catastrophic coverage collapse. In my opinion I just do not see how the extra protection will serve my clients any more then what is already covered. These events are horrible and unfortunately are something we will need to live with in Florida.  

I would also like to put sinkholes and sinkhole coverage in a different way. See if this helps you understand:

In your house you have a wall, typically drywall, and behind it are pipes carrying your water supply. You might not know exactly where the pipes are but you know they are there. One of your pipes starts to leak a little but you are not aware. Then after time you notice that the drywall is discolored, soft, wet or mold. So what do you do about the discovery you made. Now  you call the insurance company, the leaky pipe may not be covered but the resulting damage would be.  That's why a lot of major national carriers do not provide Home insurance in Florida. They might claim to be about caring for people on TV, yet when the bottom line wasn't enough for them in Florida they got out. Trust me I know how some of them can be, I love insurance but that does not mean I agree with all the laws, policies and company's practices. This is not exactly like a sinkhole but I think it gives you a different prospective on it. The Pipes represent the possible sinkhole and the wall is your property.

As a consumer you can make any choice that is available to you, thats one of the things great about this country. However each choice has a different result and could have different consiquences. Please do not rush into any decision that you need to make. Do not base your decision on what someone else has done or told you. You do not know what their circumstances are or people sometimes misrepresent the truth. They might tell you one thing but have done another, that way they look good in your eyes.

I had one client refer me a friend, this friend wanted the same policy as what they had. The client did not tell the friend anything about the policy. The only thing they told them is that I provided a lower quote so they saved money and that I would do the same for them. Unfortunately the home they were insuring was much older, so that made a little difference in the cost. I sent them the quote based on their home and it was higher then what their friend had. Around 300 a year higher, but lower then what they were paying. They could not understand why they could not get the same price for coverage because the homes were about the same size and around the same area. Without disclosing the other clients information, I told them a lot of factors go into quoting a policy. I do not inform them that their friend choose the least amount of coverage, less then what they wanted. Also I found out that the client told his friends a price that was lower then what he really has. So please take any information with a grain of salt.

Just remember that when it comes to insuring anything you have. Make sure that you do not rush into anything. Contact a Florida registered insurance agent, every state is different your out of state agent might not know Florida law. Ask questions when you have them on your policy. Shop around to different insurance agents or company's. My agency is not tied to one or two insurance carriers, I do not have to go by just their rules or policy's. We have over 35 different insurance carriers to choose from, that gives my clients a huge shopping power. You never know what policy might fit their needs better than another or which one has a better rate.

The Villages - Thefts

Did you know.... Jewelry on your homeowner's policy has a $1000 limit!!! After the shock fades, here is what you can do. Gather your valuables and asses if any one item is over $500. If any item is over $500 in value,  then you will need an appraisal less then 2 years old. Now heres the kicker... if you have over $5000 in jewelry,  you will want to get a separate policy spcificly for your jewelry, instead of putting it on your homeowner's policy.

For more information please contact me today! 352-751-5454

Jewelry-stolen-latest-burglary-villages

An extra way to save money for the holidays

Do you wish you had extra money for the holidays ?

Days are passing by fast and soon it will be that time of year again. Christmas is a fun time of year but not a cheap time. We all could use some extra money around the holidays. If that is you, then you need to save where you can. Insurance is not a place people think they can save, but most of the time you can. We can shop your Car, Home or even Business Insurance to save you money for the holidays. 

When it comes time to save money we all look for places to cut. Most people cut back on cable, entertainment, going out to lunch and any other spending we think we can do without. It is always a good idea to save money when you can, but why not on your insurance. Insurance is an expense we all must pay, the state requires us to have car insurance our homes are covered by homeowners insurance. That does not mean we can not save money on the insurance we pay.

When we obtain insurance for our Home, Auto or Business, we tend to become complacent. Insurance is not a product with a set price or coverages. Each company may and do provide different coverages for different prices. The company that you are currently with may of had a recent increase, while another company may of had a rate decrease. The state of Florida does regulate the insurance industry and what the coverages will cover. They also require every insurance carrier to submit for approval the premium ( cost of the policy) to the state, thus protecting the public from sudden rate hikes. Each carrier can only raise or lower rates with the states approval. This practice is supposedly to reduce the fluctuation in insurance costs to the public. However insurance companies give themselves leeway by offering credits to some, deductions to others and other ways they can adjust they cost of coverage.

This sounds complicated and even boring to most, I know. What this really means to you is that you do have an opportunity to reduce the cost of your insurance. Do not just sit back and let your current insurance company earn money for nothing. When was the last time they contacted you to try to save you money? How often did they shop your insurance to other carriers? Is your insurance agency able to shop you to multiple carriers. If they are unable to seek out other offers for your business, why are you with them?

HomeTown Village Insurance is a local independent insurance agency. We are not tied to one company, like a State Farm, Allstate or Geico. What we are tied to is our clients and saving them money. Our agency has several top insurance carriers including but not limited to: Nationwide, Progressive, Travelers, MetLife and Mercury. It is our job to seek out the best coverages for the right price. We to often see clients that have been paying to much and going along with what they were given. This is not decided for us but a choice that we make for ourselves. 

When will you break free from the chains of inferior company's. This is a wise decision to give you a choice in your life when it come to insurance. Stop walking blindly down the wrong path, open your eyes and become aware that you can choose. If not just for one moment in your life, choose to explorer your options and see what is available for you. Our agency prides its self on giving our clients options and helping them save. Do not deny yourself this opportunity to have a choice and enjoy the fact that we actually care. 

This agency was founded to bring back the local and small town traditions that most of us have had. We do not believe in 1-800 numbers, call centers or pushing products you do not need. We offer our services to The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl and all over Florida. Our services are that we take the time to understand your needs, we shop several companies for you to find the most savings, then we continuously review your polices to see what is available and if we can save you more money.

The time to save money on insurance is now. Contact our office for a free insurance review so that we can start the process.


F.Y.I.

If you are thinking you are not up for renewal on your policy's or that you just paid it, you can still save. Insurance is typically paid on a daily basis and when you change policy's you can recoup any unpaid premium. What you would need to do is provide your former insurance carrier with a deceleration page of your new policy. On that page will be a date of issue that will be the date that they use to refund any unused premium.

What is Personal Injury Protection in Florida (PIP)

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Florida


Florida is one of ten states that have personal injury protection (no fault) auto insurance. The intention was to provide injured drivers up to $10,000 in IMMEDIATE MEDICAL COVERAGE in lieu of establishing fault through the court system. The goal was to reduce payment delay for injured drivers, as well as limit the utilization of the court system. In Florida, PIP coverage is REQUIRED to be purchased by all owners of motor vehicles registered in this state. PIP coverage makes the individual responsible for their own injuries in an accident regardless of fault.

The State of Florida has made a change to this law. The law is still intact, however you are limited on time. If you want to file a claim on the PIP coverage, you must do so on or before the 14th day from the incident. Please remember that change in the law for PIP. If you need to use the coverage do not wait or you might not be eligible.

Insurance laws constantly change or are rewritten. It is important to stay informed and have a good understanding of what will affect you, when it comes to insurance. I do have a lot of clients that are from out of state, that move to The Villages or surrounding areas of Florida. Each state is different when it comes to insurance and a lot of the new residents, snowbirds are unaware of the differences. That is why I say that it is a good idea to talk to your agent, so that you have a good understanding of laws and how they affect you. What you might think or understand about your insurance coverages on you Home, Auto or even Business could be different in Florida.

Contact HomeTown Village Insurance if you have any questions on Insurance in the State of Florida. We would be happy to help you in any way that we can, even if you are not our client. We want to educate everyone on Insurance, not just the clients we have.


HomeTown Village Insurance is an independent insurance agency covering The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl, Ocala Fl, Lake County, Marion County, Sumter County and all over Florida. We provide Homeowners Insurance, Auto Insurance, Commercial Insurance and other types or personal and business products.

When is the best time to shop for insurance in Florida

The best time to shop for insurance is now. Whether you live in The Villages Florida, Leesburg or any where else in Florida. The reason that today is the best day to shop for insurance, is because insurance rates constantly go up all the time. In fact I had only one company this year lower its rates for homeowners insurance. That was very rare to see and I do not know how long that will last. However like most things in our lives, costs always go up.

If you are thinking that you're insurance policy is not up yet and you need to wait until your renewal. That is a common mistake when it comes to shopping your insurance rate. Unless you have a fully earned insurance policy, which means it is paid in full and nonrefundable. Those polices are not the norm, they tend to be a higher risk and are very rare to see. So for the average policy holder you are allowed to cancel your policy and receive a refund. Insurance in the state of  Florida is actually accessed daily. If you obtain a new policy that has an effective date during your current coverage, you can receive the unused funds back.

Even after explaining that any insurance premium paid will not be lost, most people tend not to shop their insurance policy's. We have even come across some of the public that never shop insurance, they just simply go with what the carrier or agency sends them. This is such a painful thing to see and witness. Over my 15 years of insurance experience, I have found no better weapon to use then the ability to shop. That was one of the goals that I had when I opened this agency. HomeTown Village Insurance was not going to be tied to one or two insurance carriers, but have the ability to shop many carriers for your benefit. With the ability to shop over 35 insurance carriers, I truly feel comfortable when I tell a client that this price I have for them is the best. That is why I say "We make sure you have the right coverages for the best price".

At no time should you just renew your policy without even trying one other agency or company, especially  with the shape of the economy today. Who in the United States of America would not be interested in saving money. I asked one of my clients who lives in The Villages and had insurance with American Integrity if he  would be interested in saving some money on insurance. The reply I received was the same I always get, of course I want to save money who wouldn't. That is why I tell everyone from family, friends and people on the street to shop your insurance rates. I was able to shop his home insurance and not only improve his coverages but saved him over $500 a year. Now we not only provide him with a homeowners policy but with an Auto and Golf Cart as well.

Insurance companies in Florida are like a jigsaw puzzle. To me each client is a unique piece and will not fit into just one spot. Unless that is the right spot for them. In other words, lets say you live in Leesburg and are in a home that was built in 2001. Some or most agency's would quote you with one or maybe two homeowners companies, even worse with citizens. That reason is can be different, if they are restricted by the amount of company's they have available or that they have the attitude that its a one fit for all. My agency does not do that at all, when it comes to insurance.

Like I said before we have over 35 insurance companies to shop you're Home, Car, and Golf Cart. We also have a large amount of commercial insurance carriers. I know each insurance company inside and out. Take for instance the home owner in Leesburg Fl that I told you about. I know that some companies have better coverages and rates for that age of home then others. Also the style of home can make a difference as well, block or frame. These little things can make a big difference when it comes to placing a client with the right company. If a client contacts me for a quote on car insurance, I would search out every discount that I could find. Also because of the amount of car insurance companies we have, I can see what would make a difference. Some companies like certain cars better or I have even have had a company rate one spouse higher then the other.

When it come to shopping insurance you never know what you might get or how much you might save. What I can tell you is that if you do not shop your Car insurance, Home or any other policy, you are giving up one of the best rights we have as Americans, The Freedom of Choice.Contact HomeTown Village Insurance today so that you can take advantage of your rights and shop your insurance.

HomeTown Village Insurance

352-751-5454

Visit us online at http://thevillagesinsurance.net/

Insurance in The Villages Florida

 I would like to thank the two clients I visited in The Villages today. One of the great things that this insurance agency does is in home visits. We want to bring back that home town feeling when it comes to insurance. So our office offers in home appointments to review your insurance needs. It actually makes a difference when you can sit with the client in their home and go over the choices we give them. Most people feel more comfortable that way. We also want the client to feel like they are the most important person to us and that they have all our attention.

The first appointment in The Villages was Cheryl. Cheryl was very nice and welcoming. She was a client of The Villages Insurance and had her Home, Auto and Golf Cart with them. We spoke over the phone a couple of times and she told me the coverages that she currently had. I myself worked for The Villages Insurance years ago, so I know what they offer for insurance. I gathered some information from her so that I could shop her coverages. We at HomeTown Village Insurance have over 35 insurance companies to shop coverages and rates with. That way we are not stuck with one or two companies and the rates they offer.

After I shopped her coverages I gathered the information that I had and made an appointment to go over the coverages with her in person. My goal is to inform and educate my clients so not only they understand what the policy covers but that that also understand it. When we met this morning I reviewed and compared what The Villages Insurance was offering to what I had. What I was able to do was save her money. The fact is that I was able to lower her insurance bill by more than $575 a year. I was able to do that by knowing what companies work best and how they work. Her auto insurance was with Travelers Insurance, I was able to keep her with them while lowering her rate. It all depends on how much work your insurance agent want to work for you. She was very pleased with what I had to offer and I signed her up right away.

The next appointment I had in The Villages Florida was with Jack M.. He was a very nice gentlemen from the village of Chatham. Jack located HomeTown Village insurance through the village news web site. One of the fastest growing news sites on the internet. When I talked with Jack he informed me that he was currently with AAA for insurance. He told me that one of the reasons he liked AAA was that he had an all in one policy. An all in one insurance policy is really only offered by AAA in Florida. Even though you see all the TV adds saying they offer it, you need to look at the fine print. Unfortunately in Florida most carriers do not offer that kind of policy. That is a good thing that they do not offer it.

The reason that an all in one policy in Florida is a bad idea is this. If you have a Home, Auto and Golf Cart insurance with one company. If that company decides to raise your rates or change your coverages to one of your policies. You would not only have to shop the policy that was changing but the other policy's you have with them as well. AAA does that with all of their clients that it has in Florida. You will not be able to keep just one policy with them without the other policy rate increasing. What that means is that they know that you are more likely to keep your coverages with them when they have an increase or change in coverage then shop them some where else. If you had independent policy's that would not be the case. Whenever one policy has a change you can still keep the other policy's if you are happy with them.

I was able to explain that to Jack and make an in home appointment with him in The Villages. Jack had been with AAA for a very long time. It is hard for most people to change something that has been consistent in their life. Sadly this is how people could save them selves a lot of money. Since most people just go with the flow they do not shop the coverages or rates for insurance. It is good to be loyal to your agency but no reason you cant keep them honest and shop around. I was able to save Jack M. over $500 in insurance. With that in mind he also has the ability to change a policy or coverage with out it affecting any other policy he might have.

Saving money for my clients is very important to me and my office. However we also have a lot to offer our clients that seems to have gone missing in the United States. When you become a client of ours you become family. Our job is not to sell you what ever we can sell you. We make an effort to help you understand what you have and show you what is available so you can make the decision. If we do not see a need for something we will inform you of what we believe you need instead of what makes us the most money. That I know is hard to have faith in when so many companies just want to take. We are family owned an run with over 15 years experience in the insurance industry. We are not out to take over the world, we just want to make a difference in our community.

Whether you live in The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl, or any where in Florida contact HomeTown Village if you are interested in saving money. We have over 35 companies to shop your rates and coverages with. We want to make sure you have the right coverage for the best price.

HomeTown Village Insurance

352-751-5454

Sinkhole Insurance in the State of Florida

First let me get this out of the way. Sinkholes that you see on T.V. that have swallowed a structure are not defined that way by the state. For insurance purposes what that is actually classified in a Catastrophic Ground Collapse. That is when a hole surfaces on the ground and causing damage that results in the  property being condemned or uninhabitable. A Sinkhole is when a hole or pocket in the ground have not surfaced.

So now that we that out of the way. What does that mean to you and your home. In Florida you have two coverages on home insurance policy that relates to that. One is Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse and the other is Sinkhole Coverage. Because of the media and how they protray things on the news. Most people believe Sinkhole coverage is what they need on their homeowners policy. That unfortunately is incorrect presumption on what they need.

Sinkhole coverage in Florida covers a potential pocket (void) under your home, in the event you become aware of this situation. The pocket or void is under the ground and has not surfaced.You may request the company to add the coverage before you purchase the policy if you pay for a sinkhole inspection. This inspection does not guarantee the coverage will be added to the policy and even if it is added the coverage will contain a 10% deductible. The result if a viod is found will most likely be a substance like cement to fill the void. That is after you pay your 10% deductible. Which if your policy is for 180,000 you will need to pay 18,000 first.

How often will you know of a void under your home. Most of the time the only way we know of a void is when it surfaces. When it does surface it no longer defined by the state for insurance purposes as a Sinkhole but Catastrophic Ground Collapse. This is a fact and is not for interpretation by any agent.

The coverage that will cover your home in the event of it falling into a hole or void is Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse. Unlike Sinkhole coverage, Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse is under your normal deductible. If your home collapses into a hole or void your homeowners insurance policy will pay coverage limit. In Florida it is a STANDARD COVERAGE on all home insurance policy's. You do not have to have Sinkhole coverage to be covered if your home is swallowed by a hole or void.

Insurance companies and agents make money by the amount of coverage you have. If a coverage makes sense to you and  you think you need it then get it. Do not just go along with your agent if you do not understand the policy or coverages. If your agent tells you that you need sinkhole coverage to cover your home. Ask them about Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse and see what they tell you. After all this is a sales business and if they person you are dealing with is honest they should tell you the truth. However a lot of agents are just after the sale and to see how much money they can make.

We at HomeTown Village Insurance want our clients to be like family. Our goal is to bring back that local home town feeling. You are just not a number when it come to us. We take the time to go over your coverages with you so that you understand them. You will feel important and that your business means something to us. HomeTown Village Insurance staff want to make sure that you have the best coverages for the right price.



HomeTown Village Insurance covers The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl, Ocala Fl, Tavares Fl, Clermont Fl, Lake County Fl, Marion County Fl, Sumter County Fl and all over Florida.

Second Chance

Can someone explain this to me. I have been in insurance for 15 years. I have worked for major insurance corporations, ran a local insurance agency and now own one myself. The question i have is this. I just had a customer who I saved over 500 on homeowners insurance. With a top rated company. The company they used had them under insured and they were paying to much. Also they would not return phone calls or really help they client when she had questions. The client could not understand how I could be saving them so much money and insure them for more. So they called that company to see if I was telling the truth. Luckily, when they finally got a hold of someone. The person on the phone was honest and told them the truth about my policy. That the quote i gave was correct. However they convinced the client that they will correct it and lower the premium. The client just contacted me and said the policy was never corrected and she wanted to go with me. I am an honest person and have told clients to use someone else when I know they can get a better deal. Just don't understand when a company was taking advantage of someone that that person would give them a second chance. I so wish I could say told you so.

Here is a MONEY Saving Tip!

Here is a MONEY Saving Tip!


HomeTown Village Insurance has some tips for you to save money on your Homeowners Insurance in Florida. Here is an example of one of the ways to save money on Home Insurance:

Most home insurance company's in Florida automatically give a credit for meeting wind mitigation standards. But what if you don’t see that credit on YOUR policy? The reason is if your home is 2002 or newer this credit is automatic, however if your home was built in 2001 or older you will have to show the insurance company you meet the requirements.

Because most Insurance Agents do not notify you of this credit, we at HomeTown Village Insurance want to make sure you save the most on your policy. And this credit could be HUGE! In Florida, for example, premium discounts for certain favorable wind mitigation features are mandated by State law and can total 45% of the original policy's premium.  

Windstorm mitigation inspections look for construction features that have been shown to reduce losses in hurricanes, such as a hip roof, concrete block construction, the presence of gable end bracing, shutters and opening protections, the presence of roof to wall attachments such as toe nails, clips or hurricane straps, and the presence of a secondary water resistance barrier.  

This is what you will have to do; get a wind mit inspection done & send it to your insurance company or contact your Agent. Our Recommendation for that Inspection would be Heroic Inspection Services Located in Leesburg. Nik owns an excellent company that does quality work, for fair prices! Give Nik a call and tell him you need an inspection TODAY!

 

https://www.facebook.com/heroicinspectionservices?fref=ts

Heroic Inspection Services LLC

I am a licensed and insured full service inspector offering Home Inspections, 4 Point Inspections, and Wind Mitigation Inspections.



HomeTown Village Insurance covers The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl, Ocala Fl, Clermont Fl, Lake County, Marion County, Sumter County and all over Florida.

American Strategic Insurance or ASI in The Villages had a rate hike

 We have been getting a lot of calls recently from clients of The Villages Insurance. Apparently ASI insurance just had a big rate increase in Florida. That is the main homeowners company that The Villages Insurance carries. Since we have over 35 companies to shop rates with. We have saved those clients with ASI a lot of money. If you have ASI contact us today to see how much we can save you.

 Do not let this chance pass you by. Homeowners insurance is an easy and important opportunity to save money. Most people just keep what insurance they have. We talk to clients all the time from The Villages Florida that have been with the same company for years. It is a good thing to have loyalty. Sometimes loyalty can cost you money when it does not have to though.

 Most agency's only have one maybe two home insurance companies in Florida to write insurance with. Why limit your shopping to just one or two. Especially if one of them is the state run citizens insurance of Florida. You do have more options and choices when it come to home insurance in Florida. These options probably would save you money when it comes to insurance.

 The only way to find out how much HomeTown Village Insurance can save you is by contacting our office. You can call us at 352-751-5454 or visit us online at  http://thevillagesinsurance.net/. If you live in The Villages Florida, Leesburg Florida, Ocala Florida or any where in Florida then you need to contact us Today.

HomeTown Village Insurance shops Car Insurance, Home Insurance, Commercial Insurance and other lines of Insurance in Florida.

Home Insurance Rate Decrease

RATE DECREASE ANNOUNCED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are happy to announce that one of our Homeowners Insurance providers has notified us that they will have a rate decrease. This decrease will take affect in November. If you are interested in saving money please contact us for a quote. It is not every day that a company lowers its rates. Make sure you take advantage of these savings. Even if you currently have insurance it is a good idea to compare. Do not wait until it your policy is up. You might miss out on the savings. You can actually shop your insurance at any time. When we find you a better rate for home insurance, your current company would refund you the difference for the rest of the term. What that means is that you would not be penalized for shopping around. HomeTown Village Insurance provides insurance in The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl and all over Florida.

Call us today 352-751-5454

Tropical Storm Karen Path Gets Florida Insurance Companies to Start Suspending

Tropical Storm Karen is forming in the gulf of Mexico and is heading toward the United States. As with any storm you never really know the path it will take. At this time some insurance companies have already suspended new policies in Florida. This would be a good time to have us check your coverage to make sure you are protected before it is to late. Soon all insurance companies will suspend new polices or new changes till the storm passes. Contact HomeTown Village Insurance at 352-751-5454

Flood Insurance Rate Increase

Flood Insurance rates are going way up in Florida. The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 which started on Oct. 1 2013 is the cause. The act removes federal subsidies from properties in flood zones along with other changes. If your in a flood zone and purchased your home before the act was signed on July 06 2012 then most of you will see an increase of 25% annually. I know that does not sound like a lot. However lets say you are paying $1200 for Flood Insurance then it goes up by at least 300 to 1500 a month. That is a big increase for a public that already is having a hard time with this economic recovery. How ever if you purchased your insurance after that date then your insurance could increase 10 times the amount. This is the crazy part of the law to me. If you had to pay 1200 a year then it would increase to maybe 12,000 a year. unfortunately that is correct I checked it twice myself.  The affected areas are not just on the coast of Florida but in low-lying inland areas also. This also will affect the sale of homes in Flood Zones. Please contact us so we can help guide you thru this important change to Flood Insurance.

HomeTown Village Insurance 352-751-5454

Do You Have Tower Hill Insurance Company?

As many of you may know Citizens Insurance Company is a state run Insurance carrier for those people who can not find insurance. You may also beaware that most policies with Citizens are considered HIGH risk, due to a multitude of reasons.

If you are a Tower Hill customer I would beware that your insurance company has taken steps to now assume more then 100,000 policies thru Citizens. This to me is not a good sign for the average Tower Hill Client. What makes insurance prices rise are, CLAIMS... Now just think of those 100,000 HIGH risk homeowners that are now in YOUR insurance company. The truth is now those policies that were once convered by Citizens and paid out by Citizens is now going to be paid out by your insurance company Tower Hill. This insures your fate in prices rising in the future.

If you have a Tower Hill policy CALL ME today to avoid those rising prices! (352)-751-5454


https://www.thig.com/about-tower-hill/news-and-events/tower-hill-insurance-companies-approved-for-citizens-takeout

Uninsured Motorists

At HomeTown VIllage Insurance we make sure your covered because drivers don't have these hanging in their windows. Don't be caught off guard after an accident when another driver doesnt have insurance. Call us today and see if are protected against an unisured motorist today at 352-751-5454

Sinkhole Insurance Florida

Sinkhole Myths and Facts

Sinkholes have been big news lately.  We've had them in Orlando, Clermont, The Villages, Ocala and recently one in Mt. Dora.  Florida insurance policies may or may not cover them depending on the policy coverage and the severity of the hole.  

Myth:

Sinkhole Insurance provides coverage for your home in the event that the hole surfaces causing damage that results in the  property being condemned or uninhabitable.

Fact:

Sinkhole Insurance is not the coverage that covers your home in that event.  The coverage that covers your home is Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse which is included on every homeowners insurance policy sold in Florida.

Myth:

Sinkhole Coverage is no longer available in Florida.

Fact:  

Yes even though Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse will cover your home in the event a hole surfaces and destroys  it sinkhole coverage is still available.  Sinkhole coverage pays for holes or pockets in the ground that have not surfaced. To obtain sinkhole coverage you would have to pay for expensive inspections just to apply for the coverage and the coverage also comes with a 10% deductible.

Please contact us for further information or questions and to recieve a free insurance review at 352-751-5454

Florida Insurance Law

Most People don't realize they can shop their insurance anytime during their policy period. If you would like a free review of your insurance to see if you have the best coverage for the best price. We have over 35 companies to choose from. Give us a call today at 352-751-5454