Debunking Common Home Insurance Myths

It’s probably no surprise that myths abound regarding home insurance. After all, most people don’t know much about it beyond the basics. And when you don’t understand something, it’s easy to fill in the blanks with whatever information you can find, even if that information is wrong.

This post will debunk some of the most common myths about home insurance. By the end, you should better understand what this type of coverage is and what it can do for you.

Myth 1: Home Insurance Is Just for Protecting Your Home from Damage

Wrong! Home insurance also covers your personal belongings if they are stolen or damaged. So, if you have a break-in or a fire, your home insurance policy will help you replace anything lost or damaged.

Myth 2: Home Insurance Is Expensive

This one depends on many factors, including the value of your home and the amount of coverage you need. But in general, home insurance is not as expensive as you might think. And when you consider the peace of mind it can provide, it’s definitely worth the cost.

Myth 3: Your Home Insurance Policy Will Cover Any Damage That Happens to Your Home

This is unfortunately not true. Home insurance policies have limits and exclusions, so it’s important to read the fine print of your policy to understand what is and isn’t covered. For example, your policy will not cover damage from floods or earthquakes.

Myth 4: You Don’t Need Home Insurance If You Own Your Home Outright

This is another myth that’s not true. Even if you don’t have a mortgage, it’s still a good idea to have home insurance. This type of coverage can protect you from things like fire, theft, and vandalism.

Now that you know the truth about these common home insurance myths, you can be sure that you’re getting the coverage you need for your home. ACU Insurance Services in League City, TX can help you find the right policy for your needs and budget. Contact us today to get started.

Can you buy flood insurance for your business?

At ACU Insurance Services, serving League City, TX, we want you to fully protect your business and your home so you protect your financial investment. Just as you don’t automatically get flood protection in your home insurance, your business doesn’t automatically come with flood protection in your commercial insurance policy.

You can purchase flood insurance for your business, though, just as you can for your home. You get the same options:

  • Contents only
  • Structure only
  • Contents and structure

Which do you need?

You only need content coverage if you lease your office or commercial space. This type of policy protects your business equipment, stock, and any employee’s personal property.

If you own the building, whether you and your business occupy it or lease out its space to other companies, you need structure insurance coverage. This type of flood policy insures the building against damage.

If you own your building and occupy it with your own business, purchasing a contents and structure policy provides the best solution. With this option, you protect both the physical structure of your business’s building and the equipment and stock inside it.

Essentially, you can think of a contents-only policy as the renter’s insurance of flood policies. Whether you purchased a full building or just an apartment, condo, or floor, you’d purchase a structure or contents and structure policy.

Contact ACU Insurance Services today to learn more about protecting your League City, TX business with flood insurance. Let us help you add flood coverage to your existing commercial insurance coverage. Call us today.

When should someone get a windstorm insurance plan on their home in Texas?

People who live in the League City, TX area will find that owning a home is a great long-term housing option. While you can turn your home purchase into an excellent investment, it is vital that your asset is fully covered with insurance. One of the ways that you can protect your property is by getting a windstorm insurance plan. There are various reasons to get this coverage for your property in this area of Texas.

Ensure Covered Against Wind Damage

You may need to have a windstorm insurance plan so you can get coverage against wind damage. In this part of Texas, there is always a risk that strong winds could damage your home. You may find that your base home insurance plan will only offer limited coverage to mitigate this risk. With the windstorm insurance plan, you will get the coverage needed to offset this risk. 

Insurance is a Requirement

You may also need to get a windstorm insurance plan if it is a requirement. Due to the value that windstorm insurance provides, there are situations in which you may be required to obtain it. A mortgage lender or housing association may want you to obtain and maintain this coverage in some cases. 

Anyone that is a property owner in the League City, TX area should consider their windstorm insurance needs. This is a unique form of coverage that protects against the risk of wind damage in this part of Texas. As you are looking for a new windstorm insurance plan, it would be wise for you to call the team with ACU Insurance Services. Once you call ACU Insurance Services, you can get the guidance needed to choose an ideal plan for your situation. 

Do I Need Flood Insurance For My Business?

Your business is your livelihood, so you want to make certain that you have all of the right insurance policies in place to provide you with coverage if a disaster ever strikes. There are many different types of risks that you face when you own any type of business. One type of risk that is often overlooked by business owners in League City, TX is flood insurance.

You are hearing about flooding more and more often on the news these days. Many times, a flood strikes with little to no notice. Depending on the location of your business, it may be essential to include flood insurance in your commercial insurance policy. The agents at ACU Insurance Services are happy to talk to you about the options that are available and whether or not you should include flood insurance coverage in your business policy.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover?

In general, flood insurance is designed to cover damage to both your building as well as its contents that is caused directly by natural flooding. This includes water that comes from a variety of causes, such as:

  • Broken dams
  • Blocked storm drains
  • Melting snow
  • Storm surge
  • Rain
  • Overflowing streams or rivers

To be considered a flood, the waters must cover a minimum of two acres or flood at least two different properties.

Coverage for your building will most likely include replacing or repairing things like damaged water heaters, electric systems, or air conditioning. The contents on the inside that may need replacing can include things like merchandise, inventory, and machinery, depending on the type of business that you do.

If you are in the League City, TX area and you would like to find out more about flood insurance for your business, please contact ACU Insurance Services today. Our agents are standing by to answer your questions.

Should you get home insurance in Texas?

Owning a home has continued to be a great way for someone to build long-term wealth. If you are considering buying a home, the League City, TX area can be a great place to do so. While there are advantages that come with property ownership, there are risks as well. To help offset some of these risks, getting home insurance is a good idea for various reasons. 

Coverage Needed to Protect Home

A key reason that anyone in this area of Texas should get this coverage is to protect their home. If you want to buy a home, you will want to use and enjoy it for a long time. A great way to ensure this happens is by getting insurance as it will offer you protection if your home is damaged in an accident or you are a victim of vandalism or theft. 

Insurance Will be a Requirement

You should also get a home insurance plan because it could be a requirement for you. A lot of people in this part of Texas will take out a mortgage when they buy a home. If you have taken out a mortgage, you will need to carry insurance. Your lender will likely require that you obtain a certain level of coverage and maintain it through the loan term. 

If you are going to invest in a home in the League City, TX area, it will be very important to get the right insurance for it. A great place to start your search for insurance is by calling ACU Insurance Services. The team with ACU Insurance Services can give any support that you need to build a plan that meets your needs. They will offer a full consultation and evaluation to help you get the right coverage. 

Does Home Insurance Cover Pets?

If you are a pet owner, it’s your wish to see your animal friend safe and secure. As such, you may want to know if your home insurance covers injuries to your pet or if it covers injuries or damages your pet inflicts to other people. Since some pet incidences can be costly, ACU Insurance Services in League City, TX answers the question: does home insurance cover pet damage?

What does home insurance cover about pets?

Typical home insurance covers the below regarding your pets:

  • Bodily injury liability: If your dog, for instance, causes injuries to other persons, your home insurance covers the ensuing medical costs. The same case happens even if your pet causes injury when on someone else’s premises.
  • Property damage liability: If your horse or dog destroys some else’s property, you will be responsible for the property damages. Luckily, your home insurance can come to your rescue and cover the property damage claims.

Since liability claims can be costly, you need to update your home insurance liability coverage if you own a dangerous pet. Besides, you can consider umbrella insurance if you have significant assets to protect.  Additionally, home insurance can cover legal fees and settlement claims if the person goes ahead to sue you.

Home insurance exclusions regarding pets

Typical home insurance won’t cover the below regarding your pet:

  • Veterinarian visits: Home insurance doesn’t cover injuries or illnesses to your pet. As such, you should invest in pet insurance to cover vet visits.
  • Property damage: If your dog or cat rips your carpet or sofas apart, home insurance won’t cover the damage because your insurer expects you to control your pet’s behavior that may result in property damage.

Are you ready to get started with home insurance in League City, TX? Please consider ACU Insurance Services for all your home insurance solutions.

4 Myths About Flood Insurance Demystified

One of the purposes of insurance is to offer protection against catastrophes, including floods. However, there are a lot of myths circulating concerning flood insurance. ACU Insurance Services offers flood insurance for people residing in League City, TX. Floods are a common disaster and even if you don’t live in a high-risk area, getting flood insurance is highly advisable.

Here are some of the most common myths about flood insurance

Only People Living in Flood Risk Areas Should Get Flood Insurance

Some people have been misled to believe that only people in very high flood risk areas should get flood insurance. That should not be the case. You should take this insurance even if your area is low or moderate flood risk.

Flood Insurance Is Included in Homeowners’ Insurance

Some people assume that with their homeowner’s insurance, their home is covered against floods. This is not always the case. Many insurance providers consider floods a gradual event rather than a sudden one and don’t compensate you in case of floods occur.

You Can Only Get Flood Insurance If You Are a Homeowner

You don’t have to own a home to get flood insurance; renters also get these covers to protect their possessions in case of a flood.

You Should Wait for The Rain Season to Buy Flood Insurance

You don’t have to wait until the rains come to get flood insurance. One of the reasons for this is that you’ll have to wait for some days after taking flood cover for it to become effective. If there is flooding during this period, the insurance won’t be of any help.

Preparation is key in dealing with potential damages from floods. It’s crucial to understand that floods can occur anywhere, and the only way you can protect your property is by getting flood insurance. ACU Insurance Services serving League City, TX offers flood insurance. Call us to learn more about our plans.

Windstorm Coverage Options

Your home is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime. Having a homeowners’ insurance policy in place to protect your investment is very important, but windstorm insurance will provide you with an extra layer of protection.

What Is Windstorm Insurance?

If your home is damaged by heavy winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, gales, hail, and other windy weather when storm insurance can help you pay to repair your home. The agents at ACU Insurance Services in League City, TX can simply add it to your existing home insurance policy through the same type of rider that you would use to add flood or earthquake insurance.

What Does Windstorm Insurance Cover?

Windstorm insurance will cover any physical damages that occur from a wind event to your property as well as your personal belongings.

Most windstorm policies will also cover detached structures, including garages, barns, and sheds. Wind is very detrimental as it causes roofs to blow off and windows to break leaving your home and other buildings susceptible to rain damage, flooding, and tons of damage from debris flying through the air.

This type of insurance is very important to have in place if you live in an area, such as Texas, that suffers from occasional or frequent hurricanes, tornadoes, and cyclones that can be devastating for you and your home. This type of insurance will assist you and your family in getting back on your feet much faster after a horrific event than if you did not have a windstorm policy at all.

To achieve peace of mind when it comes to your home or business in Texas, you need to create a windstorm insurance policy that works well for your situation. The agents at ACU Insurance Services in League City, TX can assist you in getting your policy started. Please call for a quote and appointment today!

When should you review your home insurance policy?

Home insurance is one type of insurance that just about everyone who owns a home needs and wants. With all the things that can go wrong, why would you want to risk your investment? At ACU Insurance Services in League City, TX, we are dedicated to helping our customers to personalize their insurance to better meet their needs. As independent agents, we can offer more choices. 

When your policy is set to renew, that is the perfect time to do a review. You will have a current declaration page to give you all the particulars. You need to see if your home is valued correctly. Have you done any major renovations that you haven’t notified your insurance agent about, something that would increase the value of your home? Some repairs, like a new roof, make your home less expensive to insure. 

Are you worth more now than when you first took out the policy? The more you have in assets, the higher your liability coverage should be. Have you added any additional risks to your home like a dog or swimming pool? Talk to your agent about your liability insurance and whether you should add an umbrella policy. 

Is your deductible right for you or should you increase or decrease it?  Do you have the right type of content coverage and have you added any expensive items to your home or jewelry box that might require an endorsement to make you feel protected? 

Other times to review your home insurance policy are when there is a change in your life status; when you get married or divorced. 

Your home insurance is something that changes over time. It needs to be reviewed at a minimum every year but more often as is necessary. 

Contact ACU Insurance Services in League City, TX when you are in the market for home insurance.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover?

Floods have been known to cause significant damage in the US, and one of the states that are affected by major flooding is Texas. And while this is a situation that a homeowner cannot prevent, you can get flood insurance to minimize the financial loss you might experience in such cases. Most people assume that renters insurance and home insurance cover floods, which is not true. Without insurance, you would cover repair costs by yourself, which costs you money and time. However, to make it easy for you, ACU Insurance Services serving League City, TX takes you through what is covered by flood insurance.

The Building

Building property coverage helps protect the actual structure of your home plus the foundation and other structures. This can include the stairs, a built-in bookshelf, and kitchen cabinets. In addition, appliances like washing machines, heat pumps, dishwashers, water heaters, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems are also covered.  

Personal Contents

With personal content coverage, your personal property will be covered when affected by floods. Some of these items include small kitchen electronics, décor, dryers, toys, shoes, and clothing. Personal valuables such as art pieces are also covered in personal content coverage if the policy allows. However, note that flooding exclusions might take effect when contents are stored in the basement, as most flood policies do not protect content in this area.

Other Coverage

There are events covered by flood insurance, yet they are not precisely floods. For instance, mudflow and groundwater seepage that causes damage to various homes can be covered here.

Living in areas prone to flooding can be stressful if you do not have flood insurance, as you are constantly worried when you hear a storm is approaching. Here at ACU Insurance Services, serving residents of League City, TX want to ensure you enjoy peace of mind. Call us today and we will help you with purchasing flood insurance to protect your home and its contents.