​​We’re all looking for ways to save a buck or two. When it comes to homeowners insurance, a great way to put more money in your wallet is to bump up your deductible.

“Won’t I have to pay more when I make a claim?” most people ask. Yes, but you’ll likely save in the long run.

If you’re like the average homeowner, you’ll make a claim only once every nine years (and often wait considerably longer). If you can save a little more than $100 a year in premiums by raising your deductible, the math typically works out in your favor.

Making this adjustment to your deductible results in a threefold benefit:

Lower premiums: A higher deductible reduces the cost of your insurance.

Increased cash flow: With less money flowing out of your account to cover insurance premiums, you have more on hand to cover other regular expenses (like groceries, the heating bill, and transportation expenses).

Reduced claims: If you have a small loss or theft, where costs will likely fall short of your deductible amount, you can opt to not file this claim and decide whether you want to replace the item. Fewer claims help keep your premiums lower.

​​You have homeowners insurance. You have auto insurance. You’re covered, right? Your skies look clear. Why would you need an umbrella policy?

Picture this: You’re hosting a neighborhood barbeque. Bill from down the block slips on your deck and suffers serious injuries. Your homeowners policy liability coverage pays out $250,000. That’s great, but his total medical expenses, plus lost wages, create a grand total of $450,000. How will you come up with the additional $200,000?

This is where a personal umbrella policy comes into play. It’s designed to extend your liability coverage beyond your auto and homeowners policies. In a case like Bill’s, or if you encounter a similar situation with a car accident, your personal umbrella will cover you. Once you reach the limit of your standard policy, the umbrella coverage kicks in. This additional policy can make a huge impact when you face a large liability claim.

Million-dollar claims
Personal umbrella policies are typically available in million-dollar increments, and most personal umbrella policies cover between $2 million and $5 million. While this amount may seem high, keep in mind that 13% of personal injury liability awards and settlements total $1 million or more. With today’s higher health care costs and hefty litigation awards, one incident can become very costly.

Umbrella policies are helpful for those with considerable assets as well as for those without much money in the bank. If you have few savings, an umbrella policy will provide the much-needed funds to cover a large liability cost. If you’re wealthy, opportunists may be more likely to file lawsuits, knowing you have the funds to pay their settlement. With this extra coverage in place, both groups are fully protected; your savings and assets won’t be at risk if you have an umbrella policy in place.

Congratulations! You're ready to buy a home...​But first you'll need a mortgage. A mortgage is a legal agreement where a lender offers money to a borrower to purchase real estate in exchange for interest. The loan is secured by the real estate, so if the borrower fails to repay (defaults) the lender can foreclose, selling the property to pay off the loan.

​How do I qualify for a loan?​
​Everyone is different. But it’s easy to find out what your personal home loan and mortgage rate parameters are. Lenders focus on these 5 things:

• ​ Credit Score
• ​ Household income
• ​ Job history

• ​ Cash reserves
• ​ Down payment amount​

Of course you'll want to protect and insure your investment. You'll need home owner's insurance and if you were to pass away, you will need mortgage protection insurance so that your family isn't left struggling to pay the house payment you leave behind.

#insurance #ismartsafe

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​When you think “condo,” what comes to mind? Many people envision an apartment-style building with multiple floors and units. “Townhome,” on the other hand, conjures up images of a two-story home attached to two or three other homes in a row.

These pictures aren’t entirely inaccurate: the exterior style of your home is not what determines its status as a condo or townhome. The determining factor is ownership. In a condo, you own the inside of your home. The exterior, land, and common areas are owned by an association. In a townhome, you own the land beneath your unit.

This distinction becomes significant when selecting insurance coverage. Because you only own the interior of a condo, this is all you need to insure. Coverage may vary depending on your association bylaws, but you typically do not need insurance for anything beyond your four walls. With townhome ownership, you need coverage for the structure and the land it is on.

Generally, condo insurance covers items such as carpeting, plumbing, counters, and cabinets. Townhome coverage extends beyond these items to include the roof, frames, exterior walls, foundation, floor, and property.

In either situation, you need insurance for your personal belongings. You should also obtain liability coverage in both settings.

We know that ​buying a home is one of the biggest purchase decisions you’ll ever make. But getting a mortgage loan doesn’t have to be difficult. That’s why WFGInsuranceQuotes.com helps you find the right home financing with the right mortgage lender.

Whether this is your first time applying for a home loan, or you’re buying a vacation home or investment property, you’ll want to be prepared.

​Already have a home loan?  We can also help you refinance your mortgage to help you save money, help with low cost homeowner's insurance and mortgage protection insurance.

Get up to 5 free mortgage loan offers in minutes. There’s no cost and no obligation. It’s just a great first step to turn your dream home into a reality. Get started today.

​​A few simple maintenance tasks can help prevent major liability insurance claims. The following tasks, completed annually, will help protect you from several types of homeowners insurance claims, such as:

Liability
Inspect your driveway and walkways. Are these areas safe and smooth? Repair any broken, cracked, or uneven areas. This helps prevent accidents on your property. And don’t forget to fix fences and gates.

Winter weather may have taken a toll on your home’s exterior. Check hinges, latches, and locks to ensure they work. If you have a pool, maintaining these deterrents is especially important to keep your own kids or neighboring children away from the pool area and out of danger.

Fire damage
Change batteries in all your smoke detectors and ensure they’re functioning correctly. Also clean your dryer’s lint hose. Your lint trap doesn’t catch it all. You should clean the hose once each year to prevent fire. (And as a bonus, it also increases dryer efficiency.)

Moisture damage
Check the water heater, and if you notice any corrosion or leaks, get it repaired right away. As well, seams and caulking on doors and windows can crack over time and allow moisture to enter your home. This can cause further damage to its structure. Reseal or recaulk where needed.

You also should clean out your gutters and clear away all the debris left by winter storms. The gutter and downspout system protects your home from water damage by directing water away from your roof and foundation. When it’s clogged, it can’t do its job.

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​Your belongings are boxed. Your closing is scheduled. You’ve filed dozens of change-of-address forms. What’s left to do for your move?

Have you thought about moving insurance? If you’re hiring professional movers, you may assume you’re covered. This might not be the case. All moving companies are liable for the property they transport. However, their basic liability falls under either “full value” or “released value.” If you pay the extra cost for “full value,” the mover has to repair, replace, or pay for any damaged items. Under “released value” obligations, the mover only has to pay 60 cents per pound per item. If they damage your solid wood bedroom set, those cents won’t add up for you.

Some moving companies offer insurance policies. These work like most coverages: you pay the premium up front as well as a deductible for any claims. If the price seems fair, this policy may be worthwhile. However, check your state regulations to ensure it’s legit. Not all states allow moving companies to sell insurance policies, and it’s not unheard of for moving companies to sell bogus coverage.

The better option may be to obtain your own coverage through your insurance provider. Your homeowners policy may include move coverage, or you may need to add it for a small additional premium. If you need a separate policy, rates are usually based on the value of your possessions.

Is it worth the cost? The answer may depend on how trustworthy your movers are. And how much you care about your belongings.

​Your home is underwater, and it’s not about its market value. Literally, your home has been consumed by floodwaters. Now what?

Whether the cause is a broken pipe, a storm, or a flooded river, take the following three steps in this order.

Stay safe: It may be tempting to rush in to salvage your belongings, but water can create hazardous conditions. Check for a weakened structure as well as damage to gas or electric lines. It might be extremely dangerous to walk on cracked floors or wade through standing water near electrical shorts. If you even suspect the property is unsafe, don’t enter. If you can safely turn off electrical sources and/or gas, do it before you go in.

Document everything: Take photos (or a video) of the damage before draining the water, removing items, or making repairs. For insurance purposes, it will help to have an accurate depiction of the extent of the damage.

Contact your insurance provider: Notify your agent as soon as possible. Some flood damage is not covered by typical homeowners insurance policies. Communicate with your provider to discover what, if any, coverage is available. Let them know of any repairs you intend to make. Your agent can advise you if you need to wait for an adjuster to inspect your property first. If you do make repairs, document the process with pictures and receipts.
Throughout this process, it’s important to stay in touch with your insurance provider, particularly if yours is not the only property impacted by a flood.

​Your home is worth $250,000 in the real estate market. Does that mean you should have $250K in homeowner’s insurance coverage?

Not necessarily. When determining the amount of homeowner’s coverage you should have, several factors come into play. You should consider each of these as you work with your insurance agent to set up your policy.

The Structure: What will it cost to rebuild your home if disaster strikes?
To calculate this figure, multiply your square footage by per-square-foot building costs in your area. Your insurance agent can help provide these figures. As you calculate, keep in mind the style of your home, the type of materials used, the features and upgrades, and any additions you have made since initial construction.

The Codes: Have building codes changed since the construction of your home was completed?

If you have to rebuild, you may need to adhere to new codes, which can require additional expense. If you suspect this might be the case, consider adding an endorsement to your policy that allows funds for bringing your house up to code.

The Possessions: Don’t forget everything inside your home. You’ll need coverage to replace your personal property as well. Conduct an inventory of your belongings. This will help you estimate the cost of replacement, and the record will be helpful to have on file if you ever need to make a claim.

The Liability: Homeowner’s insurance also covers your liability as a property owner.
If you are sued due to bodily injury (your dog bites a neighbor) or need to repair property damage (your child’s baseball shatters the neighbor’s window), your liability insurance will cover the associated costs.

Most policies provide at least $100,000 in liability coverage, and it is often advisable to increase this amount to $300,000-$500,000 to ensure sufficient coverage.

​A vintage New Yorker cartoon pictures a character surrounded by his collections. The caption reads: “Possessions are part of the self.”

If you’re a collector of something – and many of us are – you’ll relate to the cartoon character. Whether it’s a prized art collection, Beatles memorabilia, or antique teapots, it means something to you, and it should be protected.

Many collectors underestimate the value of their collections, and while no one wants to consider the impact of a break-in, flood, or fire on their valuables, they should. Do consider insuring your collection before you’re faced with a disaster. To any serious collector, the alternative is just unthinkable.

Homeowners insurance: The assumption many collectors make is that homeowners insurance covers these items. However, this policy is typically limited in coverage and has maximums that are probably insufficient to cover your collection. To ensure proper coverage, consider adding an endorsement to your homeowner’s policy, or purchasing a separate floater policy that offers the right amount of coverage. Of course, this means knowing what your collection is worth. Even if you know what you paid for an item, its value in today’s market may be quite different. And that means getting a current appraisal.
Appraisal tips: To have your collection appraised, follow these steps.