Strange Things Covered by Home Insurance

You probably know your homeowner’s policy covers the structure of your home and belongings, but plenty of strange things you may not know are covered. Pro America Insurance offers policies to meet all your insurance needs, including homeowner’s insurance, in Naples, FL. 

1. Falling Objects

You may know that your policy covers things like falling tree limbs. However, it also covers strange objects that may fall from the sky, including meteorites and even space debris. 

2. Liability and Legal Expenses

Your homeowner’s policy will cover your liability if someone is injured on your property. Most policies will also cover your legal expenses if you need to defend yourself in court. 

In addition to injuries, you are protected if a guest’s property is damaged while at home. If your dog eats their expensive handbag, it’s covered. 

3. Personal Property Away From Home

You may know that your personal property is covered when it’s in your home. However, most policies also cover your things when you are away from home. 

This includes traveling and students who are in college. If someone steals your child’s college laptop, your homeowner’s policy will cover the replacement cost. 

4. Living Expenses 

If your home is damaged and needs repairs, your policy will probably cover your living expenses when you are away from home. For example, if your plumbing pipe bursts, your policy will help with the costs of living away from home while it’s being repaired. This includes a hotel room, other accommodations, and food expenses. 

Homeowner’s Insurance at Pro America Insurance

If you need a new homeowner’s policy in Naples, FL, contact us at Pro America Insurance. Our agents are here to help you choose the best policy for your needs so that you can have the best coverage. 

Things to do when submitting a homeowners insurance claim

When damage happens, it is important to submit a homeowners insurance claim properly to get financial assistance as quickly as possible. If a claim is delayed or denied due to mistakes and errors, this can result in lost time and money while a claim is processed or even rejected entirely. It is helpful to have an overview of the process to successfully submit an insurance claim in the Naples, FL area. Homeowners can also get in touch with Pro America Insurance for other concerns. 

Notifying the insurance company

At first, the insurance provider should be notified after an accident or severe weather event that the damage has occurred. This will start the process to get the claim filed and processed. At this time, the homeowner should also make repairs or take emergency measures that are necessary to prevent any further damage and losses.

Documenting the damage thoroughly

The homeowner should be careful to show their insurance company any damage as completely as possible. This normally includes pictures of the damage, repair estimates from contractors, and lists of items along with their potential value. This step is crucial, as the insurance company will only use the value of the actual damage reported to process the claim. If the homeowner forgets to document something, they will not receive the associated repair or replacement costs.  

Accommodations for the adjuster

If the insurance company wants to send an adjuster to view and verify the damage, the homeowner should try to assist with this process. This can include allowing the adjuster to visit as soon as possible and providing anything else that they need. 

Additional help with homeowners insurance

Anyone who wants to set up a homeowners insurance policy or ask additional questions can contact the agents at Pro America Insurance. They can provide more specific information to customers in the Naples, FL area.

Ins and Outs of Home Insurance in Florida

Home insurance is an essential part of any personal portfolio. Home insurance is there to help you rebuild or repair your property, replace your possessions, and assist you if you are displaced. Florida residents need to be well insured against the possibility of perils affecting their property. Pro America Insurance serving the city of Naples, FL is here to help you.

What to Consider when Purchasing Home Insurance

Are you the owner, or are you leasing? If you rent your home from someone else, then there are special insurance types available for you. These are commonly referred to as renter’s insurance.

Structures:

Establish the dwelling type. Do you live in a house or a condo, or somewhere in between? Are there additional structures on your property that need coverage? Have an accurate value of all the structures, and what it would cost to rebuild. Review this regularly. Do not rely on the purchase price of your home.

Possessions:

These are the possessions you have within your household, including fixtures, furniture, and fittings. These have value. Make sure the amount you specify reflects the replacement value of these items. Keep track of things like receipts of purchases or even photographs of your possessions and serial numbers.

Additional Living Expenses:

If you are displaced, however temporarily, do you have somewhere to live? This type of coverage usually includes storage for undamaged items, grocery expenses, alternative housing, and relocation. This may vary from policy to policy.

Liability:

This section of homeowners’ insurance is for if someone should have a claim against you, for which you are legally liable.

Contact Pro America Insurance serving the city of Naples, FL today to make sure your home insurance is comprehensive and covers you from foundation to ceiling.

Does My Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Me If I Work from Home?

As we adjust to the so-called new normal, many Naples, FL residents are now working from home as telecommute employees. If you’re working for an employer from the comfort of your guest bedroom or dining room table, you might have questions about how your homeowner’s insurance coverage extends to your new situation. Here’s what you need to know.

Your Employer’s Coverage is Primary… Sometimes

In most cases, the insurance your employer has for the business is primary over your homeowner’s policy if you’re involved in an incident during work hours. However, there are limitations.

For example, if you’re injured while working as a remote employee inside your own home, your company’s worker’s compensation insurance may or may not cover your medical bills. If the computer you use for work is supplied by your employer, their policy might cover any accidental damage or theft. But if you use your own device for business, this would fall under your homeowner’s insurance.

But what if you’re self-employed? Does this matter? The answer, is yes. In this case, you would need separate business insurance as any work-related activities you do are typically not covered under your home policy. However, there are exceptions to this rule for gig workers.

Confused, yet? It can be a really muddled picture when you get down to it and almost everyone has a different set of circumstances that need to be evaluated. Thus, if you’re working from home, it’s important to talk directly to your homeowner’s insurance agent at Pro America Insurance about your current situation. From there, they can help you work out the best plan to suit your needs.

Are you ready to learn more about coverage for your Naples, FL home? Please contact our Pro America Insurance team for details.

What are the Benefits of Getting Home Insurance

Real estate is one of the biggest investments that most people will ever make. When you do own property, it is important that you make sure that your investment is properly covered. One of the best ways that you can do this today is by getting a home insurance policy. A quality home insurance policy will provide you with financial and personal protection a number of different ways. 

Covers Your Valuable Asset

The main benefit of getting home insurance on your Naples FL home is that it will cover your very valuable asset. When you buy a home you will be making a major purchase that could be a great long-term investment. However, if you do not have insurance, you are putting this entire investment at risk. When you get a home insurance policy, you will receive coverage for a variety of risks that could cause a loss. 

Liability Coverage

Another benefit of a home insurance policy is that it will give you some liability coverage. All homeowners today take on some risk for liability whenever they have any type of guest in their home. A Naples FL property owner will want to make sure that they are covered if someone happens to be hurt while on their property. The liability portion of their home insurance policy will do just that.

Getting home insurance on your property in Napes, FL is very important. When you are looking for your next home, or want to find a new policy for an existing property, you should call Pro America Insurance. The professionals at Pro America Insurance can help you find a policy that will ensure your home is properly covered and that you have liability protection to provide you with peace of mind. 

What does home insurance cover in the instance of a hurricane?

Hurricanes, no matter how large or small, bring devastation. You especially suffer the brunt of tragedy if you are one of the unfortunate souls who loses your home during the heavy gusts of wind coupled with intense rainfall. With so much heartbreak involved in the aftermath of a hurricane, you want to make sure that your insurance policy is all-inclusive of damages to your Naples, FL home. The staff at Pro America Insurance can help you ensure that your policy is one that pays for expenses related to repairing and rebuilding after the devastation of a hurricane.

Does a standard homeowners’ insurance plan cover hurricanes?

The average homeowners’ insurance plan in Naples, FL may not cover every aspect of a hurricane. Flooding is a major factor that most basic assurance policies do not cover. You may find yourself out of luck, then, if the majority of damage incurred by a hurricane is due to flooding. Some homeowners’ insurance plans leave out natural disasters altogether, which means that a provider will not pay for anything upon getting wind that your losses are due to a hurricane.

What can you do?

The best homeowners’ insurance policies cover everything from natural disasters to fires. You should search your policy to see if there is an additional allowance for natural disasters and flooding. If no such notation exists in your paperwork, then you should contact your insurance policy provider immediately to learn about options for those living in areas where hurricanes frequent.

The agents of Pro America Insurance are happy to answer all of your questions regarding flood as well as natural disaster assurance. Call them today to go over the details of your current homeowners’ indemnity policy and to find the plan best suited for your lifestyle.

4 Important Coverage Options Many People Miss When Purchasing Home Insurance

Purchasing insurance for your home is no piece of cake. For many of us, it’s the biggest asset we own, and we’d like to keep it that way. But in order to do this, you’ve got to be able to put your mind at ease by purchasing a solid home insurance plan.

As you make the rounds searching for a plan that works for you, make sure not to miss these commonly overlooked coverage options.

4 Overlooked Home Insurance Coverage Options

1. Personal Property Coverage

You might assume that your homeowners insurance simply covers all of your property, but this isn’t always true. You’ll want to get separate coverage for your most valuable items.

2. Property Damage Coverage for Natural Disasters

No one likes to think about it, but natural disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes do happen. To protect your home and your family, make sure you have coverage that covers these natural disasters.

3. Water Damage Coverage

Water damage is a leading cause of serious bills and financial loss. Don’t let your home go uncovered when it comes to water damage — especially if you’ve had trouble with plumbing or leaks in your foundation in the past.

4. Liability Coverage

Did you know that if someone was injured on your property, they may be able to sue you? It happens more often than you would think. Slips and falls on your sidewalk or accidents on your stairs can lead to serious injuries and cases against you. Having liability insurance with your home insurance will protect you from this.

Contact Pro America Insurance for Home Insurance

If you live in Naples, FL and are in the market for home insurance, let Pro America Insurance help you find a plan that works for you. We service the Naples, FL area and offer a wide range of coverage options. Give us a call today to learn more.

Are You Adequately Insured for Water Damage and Mold?

People living in the ocean community of Naples, FL are all too familiar with rising tides and intense storms. The threat of flooding and water damage from severe weather poses an imminent threat to your property, particularly during hurricane season. But many homeowners lack the strong coverage necessary to protect their property after losses. That may be because policy types and coverage needs can be confusing. Our Pro America Insurance professionals are here to help people in the Naples community. We’re available to answer questions and will work with you to create or update a policy to reflect your unique coverage needs.

Flood Insurance

It may come as a surprise that flood insurance is generally not a standard aspect of a homeowners policy. Another surprising fact is people that suffer losses due a natural disaster will not receive aid from the federal government. You could qualify for a disaster loan. But you will need to pay that money back with interest. Given Naples is a seaside community, it may be wise to update your policy to include flood insurance.

Water Damage and Mold

Many standard homeowners policies do not cover sudden water damage problems. These can range from flooding to a hole in the roof to a sewer pipe backing up into your home. Once this moisture gets in, it could start dangerous mold growths. Mold requires warmth, moisture and a good source. Construction materials meet the bill. Because mold growths are a water-related issue, be sure that you have adequate coverage. Remediation can be tremendously expensive.

Pro America Insurance proudly serves the people of Naples, FL. Our insurance professionals are available to review and update your homeowners policy to ensure it provides you with secure coverage.

Why You Need Home Insurance

People in Naples, FL get home insurance from Pro America Insurance for the same reasons that they get car insurance.  If the home gets damaged or if someone gets injured on the property, the insurance will assist with the financial consequences.  Home insurance is typically two different kinds of protection – liability insurance and hazard insurance.

Liability

This type of insurance will cover any personal liability for accidents that occur on the property.  If your neighbor happens to trip on a water hose in your yard and breaks a hip, the liability insurance will pay for the medical expenses incurred, up to the limit of the policy.

Hazard

Hazard insurance will protect you against unintentional destruction or damage to your home and its contents.  This can include damage from things like:

•             Fire

•             Theft

•             Storms

•             Vandalism

•             And more.

It can be used to cover the replacement value or the cash value.  The replacement value will pay enough to replace what has been lost while cash value will pay as much as the property is worth.  For example, the cash value for a $1,000 TV that is 5 years old will not be $1,000, because of the fact that things tend to depreciate with age, and this makes it worth less to the eyes of the insurer.

Mortgage

If you have taken out a mortgage on your home, you will need to have home insurance as a requirement for the mortgage.  This is because the house will be used as collateral.  Because of this, the lender will require you to purchase a minimum of hazard insurance, although you can buy more than that if you like.

If you are a home owner in the Naples, FL area and looking to either get home insurance or lower your rates, check out Pro America Insurance today.

 

How to Avoid Water Damage in Your Home

No one ever thinks they will get water damage in their home in Naples, FL but it can happen in a variety of ways. While you may not be able to prevent it completely, you can take steps to prevent it from happening to you in some occurrences. Use these tips from Pro America Insurance to better protect your home.

  • Water your water bill. You likely already know what your normal usage is for your water and the amount you should pay every month. Unless there is a reason for your bill to be higher, you should get suspicious if the bill is higher than normal. It could mean there is a leak somewhere and you will want to investigate it before it becomes and even bigger problem.
  • Never pour grease down your sink. While this may be the easiest thing to do when you are cooking, you could be doing more harm than good. Even if you pour it down with hot or cold water, it can cause buildup or a blockage that can lead to bigger issues later.
  • Be careful where you plan trees. Trees are gorgeous and you likely want to have them in your yard but before you plant anything, make sure the tree is out of the way of pipes both now and in the future.

There is never a 100 percent guarantee that you will not get water damage in your home but by taking these steps, you can lessen the percentage of it happening. To even better protect yourself, you need a great home insurance policy that incorporates a water damage clause. Contact Pro America Insurance serving Naples, FL for more information and to get a free quote. Taking this step can help save you money, hassle, and more.