Do I Need to Include my Spouse or Civil Partner in my Home Policy Even Though They Have Their Own Insurance in Coppell, Texas?

Obtaining home insurance in the DFW area is not difficult, but it does require some consideration into the individuals who are living in your house. When you are asking for a quote in Coppell, Texas, you will be required to name the other people living in your home and your relationship to those individuals.

Providing Details

Even if your spouse or civil partner has an insurance policy to protect personal assets, you are still required to name them in your house policy. Companies will require details about each person living in your house, though you can inform the company that your spouse or civil partner is already insured at the time you are obtaining a quote.

Getting Coverage

Obtaining coverage will depend on several factors. Your significant other will be named on your policy, but as a secondary individual in the house. It is a measure to protect your financial assets because the other individual might not have appropriate coverage or might not maintain coverage in the future. Although you will not need to have the same level of coverage for your significant other if he or she already has coverage, you will still need to name them on your policy to keep your own assets safe.

Insurance coverage is not always limited to personal items. In the case of homeowners coverage, you will need to list every individual living in the home and the major assets that you want protected from theft or damage. Even if the objects are not your personal belongings, you still want to protect assets within the house. If you want to learn more about finding the right coverage, then contact us today to talk to an independent agent.

What’s a Circle of Dependability shop, and why should I consider taking my vehicle there for repairs in Coppell, Texas?

You may know that in the DFW area of Texas, many of the auto insurance companies employ direct repair programs to facilitate car repairs and settle property damage claims. These programs use a group of approved repair shops to handle body work and mechanical repairs, and recommend, if not insist, that policy holders take their vehicles to one of these facilities to have it repaired after an accident. Some insurance companies have their own repair program and calls each approved facility a Circle of Dependability shop. Before a body shop or repair facility is approved, they are required to be in compliance with all of the strict standards for auto repair that the insurance company has set forth in its program. Each Circle of Dependability shop has to have state-of-the-art frame and unibody repair equipment. All employees must be trained to comply with the program guidelines and each facility must only use paint and other materials that conform to EPA standards. If you have auto insurance from these companies and have an accident in Coppell, you should report that accident to your insurance company and then, decide what facility you want to use to get your car repaired. While the insurer will suggest a Circle of Dependability shop, you are not bound to use such a facility. If you have always dealt with an auto body shop near your Coppell, Texas home and are satisfied with the work they do, you can choose them and your auto insurance policy will cover your repairs. You might want to use a Circle of Dependability shop because there are rarely any disputes over the amount of money needed to make the repairs. Since there is an insurer-repair shop relationship, there is less red tape and your car can usually be repaired more quickly. Work is guaranteed and you receive a lifetime warranty on parts and labor from both the insurer and the Circle of Dependability shop. As your independent agent, we represent many different auto insurance companies that also provide excellent claims service through authorized repair shops. While an insurer with circle of dependability shop might be great for you, you can always speak to an independent agent and see what other options you have before the time comes to renew your car insurance policy.

What Is Meant by ENERGY STAR Rebate Program in Coppell, Texas?

In an effort to encourage the use of more energy-efficient buildings, equipment and appliances, the U.S. Government’s Environmental Protection Agency established the ENERGY STAR rebate program in 1992. This voluntary program identifies and promotes the labeling of products to designate them as energy efficient, to help the nation meet its goal to improve its energy security.

If you have a home in Coppell, Texas and are interested in saving money while also helping reduce pollution, you will want to look into the various rebate programs available to homeowners.

For example, if you are getting ready to purchase a new washing machine and drier, check for the ENERGY STAR sticker to see how much energy you will save by using that particular model, compared to models that are less efficient and lack ENERGY STAR labeling. Depending on funding availability, you may be eligible to receive a rebate when you purchase such an energy-efficient appliance. You will not only save money immediately from the rebate, but additional money over the years as you use the appliance.

If you are buying a new home, there are opportunities to save money and energy if the entire home is considered to be energy efficient according to ENERGY STAR standards. A third-party organization will need to verify the home’s energy efficiency before it can be awarded an ENERGY STAR label. You’ll then have the satisfaction of knowing that you are living in a building that is cutting down on pollution while also saving money on your fuel bills.

As your independent agent, we can help you learn more about the ENERGY STAR rebate program or answer any other insurance policy questions you may have about your home in DFW. Please give us a call in Coppell, Texas today so that we can give you specific details for your circumstances. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

What type of coverage should I have if I own a swimming pool in Coppell, Texas, and does the size and depth of it matter my policy?

On those hot summer days in Coppell, Texas, it is always nice to take a dip in your swimming pool. Your house can be a popular place if you have a cool pool. You can have pool parties and your kids can invite their friends over to partake in the fun.

All around Dallas, Fort Worth and Coppell, Texas there are homes with backyard pools. Many are in-ground pools and some are of the above-ground variety. If you own a swimming pool in Texas, you need to be concerned about liability issues as well as the actual maintenance and protection of the structure and equipment used around the pool.

Your standard home insurance policy will provide both liability and structural damage coverage within certain limitations. For instance, you are covered by the liability portion of your home policy if someone gets injured while swimming or playing around in your pool. You are not covered if the ground around your pool shifts and the pool develops a big, ugly crack.

While the size and depth of your pool in the DFW area does not usually affect the premium you pay on your home policy, other factors do. You may have a difficult time getting your home insurance carrier to cover your pool if you install a diving board or slide. Both of those items increase the likelihood of someone getting injured. You may have to agree to an exclusion for injuries directly related to diving board or slide accidents.

You can lower the risk of swimming pool accidents by installing a fence around your pool with a safety gate and by covering it with a tarp when it is not being used in the winter months. Having a swimming pool in the DFW area is very common and insurance companies are quite willing to provide coverage for homes with swimming pools.

We get a lot of question about how much coverage is needed if a person has a swimming pool. Give us a call and an independent agent can go over everything from safety and maintenance to the different insurance carriers who offer the most complete home policies for pool owners.

Is There a Time Limit in Coppell, TX for the Beneficiary for Claiming an Amount After the Insured Dies?

If you have life insurance, it means you are designating a specific person or your estate to receive funds at the time of your death. For those who have a loved one who has recently passed away, ensuring you claim the insurance is important. While it may not seem like you can handle receiving such money when you are dealing with grief, it may be a very important decision for you. You may not have a lot of time on your side.

What Are the Rules?

Unfortunately, for those who are a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, there is often a date by which you must make your claim. Keep in mind that this date changes based on the policy, though. That means that the terms and conditions of receiving the payout will differ based on the life insurance policy specifically. The best way to know when you have until, then, to make a claim is to read through the documentation.

However, there are some things to keep in mind:

  • As long as the beneficiary has the proof necessary to verify his or her identity, it is unlikely that the company will not pay out the funds owed.
  • In many cases, the insurance company will contact the individual beneficiary and provide information about the claim directly. You may not have to wait to learn of the life insurance.
  • Escheatment may occur in which the unclaimed funds from the policy are sent to the state. The state may hold onto these funds for some time until the individual claims them.

To find out more about your Coppell, Texas rights, contact an independent agent today. We can help you to get the life insurance you need at the right price.

Do you offer a discount for long term hire on toy insurance in Coppell, Texas?

There are a lot of things that people will want to insure. People look to insure their cars, homes, high value items and in some cases people buy life insurance. Of all the things that some insure there are a few things that should not be overlooked. Some of these things are what some people call their toys, also known as RV’s, ATV’s and all sorts of fun toys. Here are some things to think about when insuring toys in Coppell, Texas

Some Things to Consider when Buying Toy Insurance

  • Toy insurance works a lot like auto insurance. There is a physical damage side and a liability side to the insurance policy. Your toys can be damaged by the same sources as your car or your home. You will need both sides of the policy to fully protect your toys.
  • You will have the choice to choose a deductible. Consider choosing a high amount in order to keep the cost of the policy low.
  • Insurance companies will often offer multi-policy discounts for their customers. If your home and auto are with the same company, then you may qualify for this important discount.
  • In some cases the longer you are with an insurance company the more you can save with a long term discount.

If you have any questions about toy insurance in the Coppell, Texas area, then please call your independent agent today. We can help answer all of your questions about how to properly insure your priceless toys. Your toys are valuable things that need to be protected from the perils that can damage them. Give us a call and we can help you work through all of the details of getting your toys insured.

Can I file a claim for something that happened to my boat during the off-season in Coppell, TX?

Your boat is an investment not only in the financial side of things but also in the memories that you can build by using it on the water. It is imperative that you protect it from damage while you are using it and while it is in storage during the winter months. Here are some things for you to think about before you file the next claim during the off-season.

Filing an Insurance Claim While the Boat is in the Off-Season

  • You boat policy comes in two sections much like an auto policy. There is the liability side and then there is physical damage section. The liability aspect of the policy is usually used when the boat is being used and the physical damage aspect is used throughout the year.
  • While your boat is in storage consider suspending the liability side of the insurance. You will lower your premium until you are ready to use the boat.
  • You will want to keep the physical damage benefits of the policy applied to the boat year round. If there is some damage that happens because of a storm then you would file a claim using these benefits.
  • If you live in Coppell, Texas, then you can file a claim in the off-season. Damage can happen at anytime of the year so you will need coverage throughout the year.

As your independent agent in the Coppell, Texas areas we can help answer all of your boat insurance questions. We are here to provide you with the services you need to protect your investment during the off-season. Give us a call today and let us put together a policy that will provide coverage for your boat year round.

What type of insurance covers pontoon boats and other unique boats in Coppell, Texas?

Coppell, Texas is an ideal location for owning a pontoon. You can take a day trip to several of the Coppell-area parks or enjoy a day trip to the Gulf of Mexico for a weekend vacation. However, like any other watercraft, it is important to protect your pontoon with proper insurance before you take it out on the water.

What is Pontoon Insurance?

A pontoon is a unique boat that is basically a floating raft that contains a motor. Because of its hybrid status, you will have trouble getting the pontoon covered by traditional boat insurance. What you may not know is that many companies hold a special line of insurance just for your pontoon. Several top insurance providers offer pontoon boat insurance that addresses the risks that are unique to pontoons.

What Pontoon Insurance Covers?

Like boat insurance, pontoon insurance includes liability coverage to protect you from lawsuits that may occur if a guest or bystander is injured while you are operating your pontoon. It also offers medical coverage in the case of an accident. You may also opt to add coverage for theft, vandalism, or expensive upgrades to your pontoon. Some companies also offer extra services, such as towing if your pontoon breaks down on the water.

Insurance for Other Unique Boats

An independent agent can help you insure your pontoon or any other unique boat that you own. because an independent agent carries insurance from multiple companies, you can select from several policies to obtain the best rates for your boat. Your independent agent can also determine the level of coverage that you need for your boat based on your boating activities. Contact us today to receive thorough coverage for pontoons or other unique boats.

If I Buy a Condominium in Coppell, Texas, Will my Homeowner’s Insurance Policy be Different From The One I Had When I Owned a House?

When you purchase a condominium in Coppell, Texas, you are purchasing a unit within a building, not an entire building. As a homeowner, you own the entire house and any other physical structures that are on your property. Condominium associations are responsible for insuring the physical property, and that includes most of the building(s.) Although you may not be paying the insurance on the physical condominium property, the monthly condo fees you pay (in addition to your mortgage,) will include your portion of the condominium association’s home insurance policy.

Insuring the Primary Dwelling

The primary dwelling typically refers to the physical structure that people live in. Condo associations will be responsible for insuring most of the physical structure, but there may be specifications that though typical of a condo policy, are vastly different from what you could expect to find in a home insurance policy. The condo association may insure the wall studs of your condo outward. This means that you’re responsible for everything from the wall studs all the way into the condominium.

Insuring Your Personal Property

As your independent agent in Coppell, Texas, we can help you find the appropriate home insurance policy for your condominium. You may be responsible for insuring everything from the wall studs to the inside of the unit. Most homeowner’s insurance policies include anything that is built into the house such as kitchen cabinets, built-in bookshelves, closet shelving, etc. Your condo policy will not include those things, so we would advise you to insure your personal property for a higher dollar amount.

In almost all other aspects, your condo insurance will have most of the same provisions that existed in your home insurance policy. You will have loss of use protection, and your condo insurance will pay medical payments to others who may be injured in your condo. Talk to your independent agent in Coppell, Texas to get more information about a home insurance policy to fit your specific needs.

Whom can I contact if I encounter technical problems when making online payments in Coppell, TX?

There are still plenty of people in Coppell, Texas who do not want to sign up so they can make online payments with their insurance company. Instead, they prefer to pay their monthly or quarterly premiums the old-fashioned way by writing a check, putting it in an envelope and mailing it to the payment processing address.

Most people are comfortable with computers, cell phones and today’s modern technology and have no problem paying their mortgage, electric bill and other regularly recurring bills through online payments. Online payments are a convenient and safe way to pay your insurance premiums as well.

It only takes a few seconds to log into your account and make your payment. Most insurance companies also give you the option of making your payment with your smartphone or other electronic mobile devices. You are in control and money will not be transferred until you confirm that you want to make the payment.

It is very rare that anything will go wrong when you make an online payment towards the balance you owe on your annual insurance premium. The software used to accept payments are designed to be easy and user friendly. If you should make a mistake with the amount or accidentally press the wrong key, you are in no danger of emptying out your bank account.

On the rare occasion that you lose your internet connection or some other technical issue arises, you can always call us and an independent agent will be happy to address your problem. You can also call the insurance company directly and explain your problem. They will be sure to quickly resolve the issue so you can check your account and make your online payments without further delay.

You should not let the possibility of encountering a technical problem stop you from making your insurance payments online. If your computer blows up, or you change your mind, you can always go back to the old-fashioned way of paying your insurance premiums by mail.