Nashville insurance insight: storm damage and your homeowners policy
/
Although spring tends to be the peak season for major storms here in Tennessee, we’re still getting a healthy share in Nashville now that summer’s rolling in. And the steady parade of downed trees in my neighborhood keeps that in the front of my mind.
Also at the front of my mind when winds are howling and thunder’s rolling: how these major storms affect my clients.
There’s good reason for someone in my line of work to be thinking about that, since weather leads to the bulk of homeowners insurance claims — 51 percent of all losses are traced to weather-related damage.
Are you clear on what is/isn’t covered at your place, and with your policy? Just in case, here’s a quick rundown of the most common stuff. (If you’d like to go over your specific home insurance policy (or shop for a new policy that offers coverage that makes you more comfortable), I’d be happy to help. Just give me a call.)
What’s most likely covered
Every Nashville home insurance policy is different, so don’t take this as gospel, more as just a typical case study. By and large, these are things you’ll usually find covered:
— damage to the exterior of your home from wind and hail
— damage to the interior of your home related to a storm, including your personal property (furniture, etc.) and your systems (wiring, HVAC, etc.)
— moisture damage related to a storm
— damage related to lightning and/or fire
— storm-related damage to any additional structures on your property, like your fence or shed
— living expenses, if storm damage makes it so you can’t stay in your home
— replacement of the entire home if it’s destroyed
What’s most likely not covered
A lot of us learned to look out for this in 2010, during the Nashville flood. But your average homeowners policy usually doesn’t cover flood damage.
For that level of coverage, you’ll need to get a separate flood policy. If you’re in a floodplain, your mortgage company may require you to get one. But if you don’t have a mortgage and your home is in a floodplain, it’s still a smart thing to seek out, even if someone isn’t forcing you to. To dig in further, here’s some info about the National Flood Insurance Program.
Something else that’s good to know: If, say, your garage is destroyed in a storm and your car is damaged with it, you’ll most likely be dealing with your auto insurance, not your home insurance, for the car. (This is a place where bundling your insurance policies can be really beneficial — having the same company can help you save on deductibles.)
Trees are a kind of tricky thing, too — many policies cover their removal, but not all. If you have a heavily treed property, this is definitely something worth looking closely at.
There are a lot of other topics to tackle when it comes to storm-related damage and home insurance — like when it’s smart to make a claim, when it might be smart to just absorb the repairs. I’m happy to chat with you about all of it.
If you’re looking for home insurance options in Nashville, give Tucker Coverage a call or send an email.
Or, for an easy start, fill out this quick form for an online home insurance quote for your Nashville home.
Other insurance-related topics you’d like to see me tackle on the blog? I’m always eager for feedback. Just let me know.