A home inventory is the first step in purchasing homeowners insurance. This document catalogs your possessions. If you are forced to make a claim, a home inventory will speed up the process and help increase your pay out.

That’s why West Texas Insurance Agency encourages its clients to start here. Serving Amarillo, TX, these professionals share seven steps for creating a comprehensive home inventory.

Organize by room or area

Break down your home into sections. Avoid getting overwhelmed by starting with smaller areas. Find a process that makes the most sense for you.

Record basic information

Write down descriptions of each item. At a minimum, this includes purchase dates and approximate prices. Jot down the makes, models, and serial numbers of electronics and appliances as well.

Group similar items

There’s no need to list everything individually. Lump low-cost goods, like clothes, together. Assign a total value for the entire group.

Take pictures and video

It pays to have some visuals. These will speed up any claims. In addition to being a reminder of what you own, these pictures and video document belongings before they’ve been damaged.

List expensive items separately

Jewelry, collectibles, and other high-end items often require additional coverage. Make a note of these items and then consult an agent.

Incorporate technology

Work smarter, not harder. Home inventory apps, like Sortly or Nest Egg, make this process easier. Users can organize info, scan barcodes, and upload images.

Update often

Review your inventory regularly. While it’s great to keep digital records, print out hard copies as a backup. Store these somewhere other than your home just in case.

Contact an agent serving Amarillo, TX

After completing your home inventory, reach out to West Texas Insurance Agency. Using this information, these agents will find a personalized homeowners policy that’s right for you.

West Texas Insurance Agency assists the Amarillo, TX community, as well as the surrounding areas. For over 15 years, we have strived to help our clients find coverage to meet any need. We treat our clients like family, and we hope to establish a long-term relationship with you.

How Water Damage Impacts Home Insurance

Your Amarillo, TX home is your personal sanctuary. Home insurance helps you protect your most valuable asset. You are covered if your home suffers significant damage due to inclement weather or an accidental fire. All of your personal items inside the home are covered if they are stolen. However, you may need to add extra coverage if you have luxury items such as paintings or fur. That is the only way to fully cover those items. Liability coverage protects you if a guest is injured while visiting your property or if you damage your neighbor’s property.

Generally, your home insurance covers water damage to your property. You are protected if there is an accidental leak due to a burst pipe. However, it’s important that you take care of your property. You are not protected if your home’s issues are caused due to poor maintenance. You may also be left unprotected if your home is damaged due to a leaky drain or sewage backup. You can add flood insurance to protect your home against issues created by overflowing rivers, lakes, and oceans. Research your policy carefully to see which water damage is covered and potential areas where you may be left unprotected.

West Texas Insurance Agency Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about home insurance.

There is satisfaction in owning a home and unexplainable freedom if it’s the right one. But buying and owning a home also means purchasing homeowners insurance to protect your family and belongings. While in Amarillo, TX, the law doesn’t require you to have home insurance, it still serves your interest to have a policy. As West Texas Insurance Agency, we will guide you on useful insurance tips to consider as homeowners.

Research and Get the Facts

Gather relevant information when you find a home to determine its potential insurance requirements and costs. With the plumbing, electrical, landscaping, construction, and other maintenance costs, it is easier to affect your premiums. It is important to review and get facts about the costs before settling for a home insurance policy.

Know Your Limit

It is easier to go over your premium limits than it is to get underinsured as a homeowner. It is essential to understand your premium limits and what they will cover before buying a policy. Let your home’s market value reflect the potential amount you can get in coverage and monthly premiums to pay.

Work Towards Complete Coverage

Most home insurance policies only cover your home’s structure and part of your personal belongings. This is, however, not satisfaction in a home with kids and seniors. As a new homeowner in Amarillo, TX, you should work towards complete coverage for better results.

Seek to Protect Your Financial Assets

Did you know a home insurance policy could go a long way into covering your financial wellbeing? The focus should be on repairing and replacing your property and also on your financial assets through liability coverage.

Secure and Keep Your Records Current

Accidents, emergencies, or the unthinkable can occur, and the only option can be filing a major insurance claim. As a homeowner, ensure you have up-to-date records of everything in your house, including its structural condition. This is vital as it will, in the long run, affect the relevance of the policy you have.

The information you have about home insurance can affect the decisions you make. For professional guidance and more helpful tips, contact West Texas Insurance Agency today and meet your goals.

When getting a homeowner’s insurance cover, you’d want to know what it entails. The question of whether the insurance covers pet damage is common among homeowners. If you insure your home with West Texas Insurance Agency in Amarillo, TX, you’ll get insights into what the insurance covers regarding pet damage. 

Keep reading to know more about homeowner’s insurance and pet damage. 

The Type of Pet Damage Covered by Your Insurance 

Your insurance won’t pay for damages that your pet cause in your home. The insurer considers the policyholder as responsible for what the pet does. If your dog breaks your new iPhone, or when a kitty scratches your walls, you’ll be accountable for the damage. 

The policy doesn’t also cover any veterinarian visits. Your vet bills are your responsibility.  

There are instances where the home insurance comes through with pet damage. 

Property Damage Liability 

If your fluffy puppy destroys your neighbor’s property, the homeowner’s policy can cover the damage. The insurance policy will cover any fee needed for repairs or replacement. It further provides fees if you face a lawsuit. 

Bodily Injury Liability 

Homeowner’s insurance can cover injuries that your pet cause on other people. The insurance will compensate for the fees you have used on medical payments. It further covers any legal expenses related to the incidence. 

It is crucial to talk to your insurance company to be clear on pet damage. You can request the information to understand the extent of pet damage that the insurer will be liable for. With the right details, you’ll be in a better place to establish the ideal premiums. 

At West Texas Insurance Agency in Amarillo, TX, our incredible customer service team will provide you with insights on home insurance and what it covers. Get in touch to know more about homeowner’s insurance and pet damage. 

Home insurance is mandatory in Amarillo, TX in order to get a mortgage. Even if you own your home outright, it’s still a smart idea to have home insurance. Why? At West Texas Insurance Agency, we’ve put together a short list to answer this question. Read on to learn about three scenarios where you’d need home insurance or be out of luck. 

1. Injury on Your Property

You have a holiday party and invite friends and family, who bring their own friends. One of those friends slips and falls on your bathroom floor and bonks their head on the sink, getting a minor head injury. They, in turn, decide to sue you. Home insurance will help cover the cost of litigation. Otherwise, you’re left paying lawyer fees and court fees out of pocket. 

2. Fire

No one ever expects their house to catch on fire, but it does happen. That’s why you should have a plan in place just in case a fire were to break out. Make sure all your family members have memorized the escape plan and practice it until you get it perfect. If your home were to catch on fire, you can have peace of mind knowing that an insurance claim will help recoup the financial loss and put you up in a hotel. 

3. Theft

You may do all you can to prevent theft of your home, but it can still happen. If your home is burglarized, you’ll need home insurance to help you recover your losses. Typically, there is a deductible for this type of coverage, but once the deductible is met, your policy reimburses you for the rest.

To learn more about purchasing a home insurance policy, contact the team at West Texas Insurance Agency, serving the Amarillo, TX area. 

When you purchase a house, getting home insurance is the next logical step to take. However, it is imperative to read your policy carefully. You need to know the exact terms and conditions that are required to file a home insurance claim  West Texas Insurance Agency can assist you with understanding your policy so that your insurance claims are not denied. Here are some common reasons that a home insurance policy company may deny your claim. 

Not Filing Your Claim in Time and Not Having an Inventory of Your Belongings

Texas law states that you need to file home insurance claims within 15 days. This is because filing an insurance claim is a time-sensitive manner. Insurance companies need to see that damage incurred because of a specific reason that is covered in your policy. Claims are often rejected if the homeowner doesn’t have a comprehensive list of their property and the value of each item. It is a good idea to do a home inventory checklist as soon as you purchase your new premium.   

Making Late Payments or Missing Payments 

If you are late on paying your insurance premium or missed a payment, a lapse in coverage might have occurred. If something happens when your home insurance policy has lapsed because of nonpayment, then your not covered until you catch up on the balance that you owe. Getting calendar reminders, or setting up automatic payments, can help avoid getting an insurance claim denied. 

It is Not Covered in Your Policy or is Negligence of a Contractor or Someone Else 

If you hire a contractor and they cause significant damage to your property, it is your responsibility to pay it. You are responsible for the people that come in and out of your house or on your land. The reason for homeowners insurance is to protect what you own from circumstances that are out of your control. You can control, however, if your home is properly maintained. An insurance company isn’t liable for damage caused by negligence to maintain the basic upkeep and repairs necessary as a property owner. 

Other Reasons that a Claim Can be Denied   

Your policy clearly outlines what is and isn’t covered. If your home in Amarillo, TX incurs damage or mold from a water leak that is continuous, your claim may be denied. It will only cover these situations if it is caused by a covered risk in your policy. Your policy will also outline how long you can be vacant from the property and still be covered in case of damages due to vandalism, theft, or other instances that may occur. Earthquakes are also not covered. Wind and hail storm damage art covered when it affects your actual home or belongings, but no damage to trees and shrubs. Contact West Texas Insurance Agency to speak to an agent who will explain your policy to you in detail. They will clearly detail what your rights are as a homeowner who wishes to file an insurance claim.

Living in the Amarillo, TX area is a great option for a lot of people. Due to the strong local economy, it is also a good place to purchase your own home. When you are looking to buy a home, it is important that you carefully consider your insurance needs. There are several reasons why you need to get a home insurance policy for your Amarillo home. 

Provides Valuable Forms of Coverage

One of the reasons why you need home insurance is because it will provide you with valuable coverage. When you purchase a home, you are going to be making a very significant investment that needs to be properly protected. This insurance policy will protect both your dwelling and your personal assets. Additionally, when you get a home insurance policy, you will also receive liability coverage that will protect you if you are found liable for an accident that occurs in your home. 

Required by Lenders and Associations

Another reason that you may need to get home insurance is that it can be required by your lenders and association. If you have a mortgage loan, the lender will require that you carry home insurance to protect their collateral. Further, if you live in an area with a home association, there are often requirements in the bylaws that will insist you carry home insurance at all times. 

Buying a home in the Amarillo, TX area is a big decision. If you are going to buy a home here, it is important that you get it properly covered by insurance. When you need to get home insurance, you should call the West Texas Insurance Agency. The team at the West Texas Insurance Agency will explain all of your options and help you to select a policy that is right for you. 

Part of the responsibilities of owning a home is ensuring your home insurance policy is up to date. This means if you’ve made significant upgrades to your home if your personal property has increased or changed, or you’ve started a home-based business, you may need to increase your home insurance coverage. Homeowners’ insurance policies issued in Amarillo, TX usually group various types of coverage into one policy. Before taking out a new policy or making changes to your existing policy, you’ll want to consult with a licensed insurance agency like West Texas Insurance Agency. 

Upgrades or Renovations

You probably need to increase your coverage if you’ve added additional space, outdoor features like a pool, and major upgrades like granite countertops. A pool, for instance, can create more opportunities for accidents or hazards. Additional space and upgrades translate to increased replacement costs in the event of a loss. 

Personal Property

If you’ve added more personal property or are now storing certain types of property like the top of the line electronics or high-end items, you probably need to speak with your agent. It’s easy to accumulate new or upgraded belongings and forget about the costs to replace them. Don’t forget smaller changes like more expensive furniture, additional clothes, and jewelry. 

Home Business

It’s been years since you moved in, but now you’re operating a business from home. You may need to add coverage for assets designated for your business. It’s best to first speak to your agent about the nature of your business, the designated equipment, and whether clients are coming in and out of your home.

Need more information about home insurance policies that serve Amarillo, TX? Contact us at West Texas Insurance Agency today!   

 

As winter approaches, you’ll need to go through your house to do a thorough job of deep cleaning it. You’ll need to make sure that it is properly ventilated to keep the air quality at its optimum while you are hunkered down for the season. In Amarillo, TX, the independent agents at West Texas Insurance Agency can help you freshen your home with an adjustment to your home insurance policy.

• Check the air filters – the Environmental Protection Agency states that you should replace your air filters quarterly. This way the air in your home will remain fresh and clean.

• Refrigerator – clean out the refrigerator by taking everything out and cleaning the bare fridge with soap and water. Using astringent cleaners will soak into the food when you put it back. Pull the appliance from the wall and vacuum the coils. You can also use a damp rag to remove old clinging dust.

• Freezer cleaning – remove all the food and clean it as you would the refrigerator. If frost has developed, use a hairdryer to melt the frost. You can always unplug it and allow it to drain on its own if you don’t have a hairdryer or don’t wish to use one.

• Washer and dryer – Refreshen the washing machine by adding vinegar to an empty cycle. For the dryer, you’ll need to unplug it and disconnect the vent in order to vacuum the built-up dust that’s formed from the last year.  

• Floors – even though you vacuum your carpets regularly, you should consider renting a deep-cleaning carpet vac to penetrate below the surface of the carpet. This type of vacuum can be used on certain types of sofas and couches as well.

After you’ve cleaned your home for the winter, make sure to stop by West Texas Insurance Agency in Amarillo, TX for home insurance.

Finding the right kind of home owner’s insurance is a very personal matter. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to insuring your home. You have a different property from the person next to you. You have different valuables inside and you have a different family. All of these are elements you need to consider when selecting the right home insurance add-ons. If you live in or around Amarillo, TX, West Texas Insurance Agency is here to help you find the right insurance options for your property. 

Flood Insurance

Sure, it doesn’t rain all the time in Amarillo, but when it does it often overwhelms the region. The ground your property is on accustomed to absorbing heavy rainfall. Additionally, if you have a plumbing line burst during the winter, it may flood your property. That is why you should consider flood insurance. 

Window Insurance

Do you have children? Do they love to play baseball and be active around the house? If so there is a greater chance of having a cracked window. Your home insurance may cover some damaged windows, but when it is human error you might receive limited coverage at best. With some additional window insurance, you’ll protect your property from this kind of damage. 

Added Liability Insurance

If you live in a crowded area with a good amount of foot traffic you may want to consider added liability insurance. This will help protect you if someone slips and falls on your property and then attempts to file a lawsuit against you.

The best way to determine the right home insurance options for your own home is to talk to the team at West Texas Insurance Agency. Here the team will help walk you through the selection process and go over the best way to protect your home. So, if you’re interested in understanding how to insure your home and you live around Amarillo, TX, now is the time to give the team a call.