Insurance Blog

Can You Void Your Home Insurance By Mistake?

At Harris Insurance, we know that your home coverage can be confusing. We also know that it’s easy to make mistakes that could impact your Jasper, AL home. We have had many people asking us about whether or not they can accidentally void their home insurance. Surely that’s not possible, right?

Yes: And Here’s How 

You absolutely can void your homeowner insurance policy by mistake, and it’s important to know how. Here are three of the most common mistakes homeowners make:

  • Leaving Your Home Too Long: If you leave your home for 30 days or more without telling your insurance company, you could avoid your policy. Just let us know, and we’ll make sure that you stay protected by keeping your policy active.
  • Extensive Renovations: Now, this situation is only a problem if you don’t tell your insurance agent what you’re up to with your home upgrades. Whenever you add new items that increase your home’s value, let us know so that we don’t have to void your policy and get you another one.
  • A Home Business: Running a home-based business is an exciting situation but can be a real problem if you don’t get extra policy protection. If you have expensive equipment, keep inventory in your home, or have clients coming and going to and from your home, you could void your policy.

Other ways to avoid your policy include fraudulently reporting or describing an event or change in your property, doing illegal things in your home, or submitting too many claims.

Don’t Make This Mistake

Prevent yourself from voiding your home insurance by contacting us at Harris Insurance and talking with us if you’re close to making these mistakes. We’ll help Jasper, AL residents like you handle this process smoothly and minimize the risk of serious problems that could impact your home’s cost.

Things your home insurance won’t cover

All too often homeowners get complaisant because they think that home insurance protects them from everything. If you haven’t read your home insurance policy, you are in for a shock. At Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL, we work with our customers to make sure that they have the proper coverage. As independent insurance agents, we work for our customers and support their best interests. 

Home Insurance Exclusions

Flood

Floods are a dangerous, common, and costly natural disaster. They are also not covered by traditional home insurance. If a pipe breaks in your home, that is covered, but if the water comes from the surface of the land, it will not be covered. You need to get a separate flood insurance policy provided by the NFIP. If you live in a flood plain, your mortgage lender will require that you get this important coverage. 

Sewer backup

Flooding is not something fun to think about, but sewer backup is even worse. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it is not covered by your home insurance. You can get a rider to your policy, however, that will provide that protection. 

Earth movement

Earth movement covers several different types of peril. It includes earthquakes, mudslides, landslides, and sinkholes. None of them are covered by home insurance. You can however get insurance to cover them if they are a concern that you want protection from. 

Owner neglect

As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to maintain your home. You are responsible for making sure you replace things like your roof before they damage your home. It is your responsibility to make sure that you don’t get termites or other critters with treatment before they become an issue. 

Consult With Us

Contact Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL if you have questions about what is and isn’t covered by your home insurance. 

Tips to prepare your home for a storm

With the threat of storm season looming here in the Jasper, AL area, it’s important to make sure your house is prepared for whatever nature throws your way.

Here are some tips from us at Harris Insurance to help you get ready:

1. Trim trees and shrubs:

Make sure that any trees or shrubs near your home are trimmed back so strong winds won’t easily uproot them.

2. Secure outdoor furniture and decorations:

Bring in lawn furniture, umbrellas, and decorations that can easily be blown away in high winds.

3. Seal windows and doors:

Check all outside windows and doors for cracks or gaps where air can seep in. Add weather-stripping or caulking if needed to seal the openings and prevent water from entering your home.

4. Clear gutters:

Be sure to clear out any debris from your gutters so rainwater can drain properly and not damage your roof or siding. 

5. Stock up on supplies:

Have an emergency supply kit ready with items such as non-perishable food items, first-aid materials, flashlights, batteries, etc., in case of a power outage during the storm. 

Keep Your Home Insurance Updated

By following these simple steps before a storm hits, you can rest assured knowing that you have taken every measure to protect yourself, your family, and your home from potential damage caused by severe weather conditions!

For more tips, give us at Harris Insurance a call today. We would be happy to help you find a homeowner’s insurance policy that meets both your needs as well as your budget. We are proud to serve the Jasper, AL area and look forward to serving you!

Tips to prepare your home for a storm

With the threat of storm season looming here in the Jasper, AL area, it’s important to make sure your house is prepared for whatever nature throws your way.

Here are some tips from us at Harris Insurance to help you get ready:

1. Trim trees and shrubs:

Make sure that any trees or shrubs near your home are trimmed back so strong winds won’t easily uproot them.

2. Secure outdoor furniture and decorations:

Bring in lawn furniture, umbrellas, and decorations that can easily be blown away in high winds.

3. Seal windows and doors:

Check all outside windows and doors for cracks or gaps where air can seep in. Add weather-stripping or caulking if needed to seal the openings and prevent water from entering your home.

4. Clear gutters:

Be sure to clear out any debris from your gutters so rainwater can drain properly and not damage your roof or siding. 

5. Stock up on supplies:

Have an emergency supply kit ready with items such as non-perishable food items, first-aid materials, flashlights, batteries, etc., in case of a power outage during the storm. 

Keep Your Home Insurance Updated

By following these simple steps before a storm hits, you can rest assured knowing that you have taken every measure to protect yourself, your family, and your home from potential damage caused by severe weather conditions!

For more tips, give us at Harris Insurance a call today. We would be happy to help you find a homeowner’s insurance policy that meets both your needs as well as your budget. We are proud to serve the Jasper, AL area and look forward to serving you!

Four common home insurance mistakes to avoid

When you purchase home insurance, there are a lot of potentially costly mistakes that it’s important for you to avoid. At Harris Insurance, we can help you to avoid mistakes when you insure your home in Jasper, AL.

Here are four common home insurance mistakes to avoid:

Buying the first home insurance policy that you come across

Getting quotes and comparing them is an important step in the process of buying home insurance. If you don’t compare quotes, you won’t know if the policy that you’re purchasing is competitively priced and offers you high-quality coverage.

Foregoing coverage for sewer backups

Sewer backups are a fairly common and unpleasant problem in a home that a standard home insurance policy doesn’t usually cover. You’ll need to have this type of coverage added to your policy if you want to benefit from it. 

Assuming you have coverage that you don’t have

Read the fine print and know what’s covered in your policy. Unfortunately, homeowners sometimes make assumptions about what their policy covers and then end up disappointed when accidents happen, and they try to file a claim for damages that aren’t covered. 

Failing to take the time to customize your coverage

You can customize your home insurance policy by adding certain types of coverage or choosing particular deductible or maximum coverage amounts that best meet your needs.

Taking the time to customize your policy by making such adjustments helps ensure that you’re getting the best possible policy for your needs. 

We Are Here To Help!

Contact us at Harris Insurance for a quote on an insurance policy for your property in Jasper, AL. We’ll be happy to come to your assistance and answer all your questions about the home insurance policies that we offer. 

Is having home insurance in Alabama a good idea?

People that are in the Jasper, AL area may find that owning a home is a great housing option. When you are going to purchase a home in this part of the state, it is always wise to get insurance for the home.

There are various reasons why having a home insurance plan here will be a good idea:

Coverage Protects Assets

An important reason that you should have a home insurance plan is so you can protect your assets. Your home is likely the largest and most valuable asset that you will ever own. Due to this, ensuring you have support if it sustains damage is important. One way this can be done is by getting a full home insurance plan, which offers coverage if you incur damage from a covered loss. A home insurance policy also offers coverage for your personal assets up to the policy limits. 

Comply with Requirements

You also will want to have a home insurance plan so you can comply with various requirements. If you choose to buy a home, you will likely have various insurance requirements. These can be set by mortgage lenders or home associations. When you are properly insured, you can stay in good standing with these requirements. This could help you avoid penalization or being in default on various agreements. 

Contact Us Today

It is always a good idea for people in the Jasper, AL area to have home insurance. If you are looking for this coverage in Alabama, it would be helpful to call Harris Insurance. There are a lot of choices to make when looking for coverage and Harris Insurance can help you assess your options. This can help ensure you are able to build a plan that will properly meet your needs. 

Why You Need Home Insurance

If you own a home, it’s vital that you have the right insurance coverage for it. It’s important to always have a home insurance policy to cover the home and protect your own finances. A home is likely your largest investment, and it’s smart to always keep it protected. In addition, it is generally required by lenders that you must have this insurance in place to protect their investment as well. When you need a home insurance policy, call us at Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL to find out more.

Benefits of Home Insurance

Protection for Your Possessions

One of the ways that your home insurance keeps you protected is that it provides coverage for all of your possessions that are in the house. It’s important to have this coverage because you never know when a damaging event could destroy your things. If this were to happen, it could cost many thousands of dollars to replace it all. Home insurance is the policy that pays for the replacement of all of those items. The amount of items in your home adds up to a very large value, so keep it all protected with home insurance. 

Dwelling Protection

Home insurance also covers the dwelling. If a serious event happened to the home, and it needed repairs, the home policy would pay for those repairs. Home repairs, especially major ones, can be prohibitively expensive to pay for. Without home insurance, you might not be able to afford them. It’s never a good idea to go without this coverage because of the many things that can happen that damage a home.

Get Your Home Insurance Policy Today

If you are going without home insurance, or you are buying a home, you need to set up a home insurance policy. Call us at Harris Insurance in Jasper, AL and we will assist you to get the coverage you need.

Does Your Home Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

When a hurricane hits, the damage can be devastating. If your home is in the path of a hurricane, it’s essential to know if your home insurance will cover the damage. Here’s everything you need to know about home insurance and hurricane damage in Jasper, AL.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Home insurance typically covers damage caused by fire, wind, hail, lightning, and theft. However, coverage varies from policy to policy, so it’s essential to read your policy carefully and know what is and isn’t covered.

For example, most home insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by flooding, so if you live in an area prone to flooding, you’ll need to purchase separate flood insurance. Your Harris Insurance agent can help you determine your coverage types.

What About Hurricane Damage?

Home insurance if wind typically covers hurricane damage or rain causes the damage. However, as with any other type of natural disaster, it’s important to read your policy carefully to see what is and isn’t covered. A Harris Insurance agent can help you understand your policy and what it covers.

How to Prepare for Hurricane Season

If you live in an area susceptible to hurricanes, there are a few things you can do to prepare.

First, make sure you have an adequate insurance policy in place. Standard home insurance policies cover wind and general storm damage, but in Alabama, you may need a separate policy because the area is prone to hurricanes.

You should also create an emergency kit and have a plan in place in case you need to evacuate. Your emergency kit should include food, water, a first-aid kit, and essential documents.

You should also make sure your home is prepared for a hurricane. This includes trimming trees and shrubs, securing loose items, and reinforcing doors and windows.

Give Us A Call

By taking these steps, you can help protect your home and belongings in the event of a hurricane. To learn more about protecting your home with insurance in Jasper, AL, contact Harris Insurance.

Home Insurance Misinformation Alabama Residents Should Learn About

Harris Insurance proudly serves the Jasper, AL community and the surrounding areas. We work closely with multiple carriers throughout the South. This allows us to offer flexible policies designed to meet the evolving needs of our clients. For over 20 years, we have helped residents face life’s challenges knowing that they are protected in any situation.

Home Insurance Misinformation Alabama Locals Should Learn About

Your Jasper, AL home is a significant investment. You’ve likely made a lot of sacrifices to become a homeowner. Home insurance protects your property against potential damages. Your possessions inside your home are also covered if damaged or stolen. Liability coverage is an asset. Accidents may occur at any moment. Liability coverage protects you if one of your guests is injured on your property. You are also covered if you accidentally damage someone else’s property. You can add alternative living coverage to protect you if your home suffers extensive damage and you have to stay somewhere else temporarily. Look over your policy carefully to avoid any errors.

Home insurance differs from flood insurance. If your home suffers flood damage after a natural disaster moving through the area, you are not covered unless you alter your policy. Flood damage differs from water damage, which could occur due to a broken pipe or drainage issues. Your policy also leaves you unprotected if you don’t take care of your home. Perform regular maintenance on your home to avoid long-term problems. If mold develops, this is a common situation where homeowners are left unprotected and may be forced to make tough decisions.

Harris Insurance Will Help You Obtain The Right Coverage

Contact our office to learn more information about home insurance.

Do all Alabama property owners need home insurance?

People that are in the Jasper, AL area will find this is a great place to own a home. When you are a property owner, it will offer you a consistent place to call home and can be a good long-term investment. When you are shopping for a property, you should also allocate time for going over your insurance needs. A home insurance plan could be needed for a few reasons. 

Coverage is Required by Lenders

A primary reason that you may need to get a home insurance plan here is that it will be required by your lenders. Taking out a mortgage is common for most people that buy a home. If you do take out a mortgage, it will provide you with the opportunity to purchase your home. However, there are rules that come along with it. Any mortgage lender is going to require that you carry a full home insurance plan until your loan is fully repaid.

Coverage is Required by Association

There is also a chance that you could be required to carry home insurance by a home association. Living within a home association can be a good idea as it can come with security and other amenities. If you are part of an association, you will need to meet and understand its rules. This often includes requiring property owners to carry home insurance. 

There are a lot of situations in which having home insurance will be a necessity and requirement. If you want to get a home insurance plan in the Jasper, AL area, speaking with Harris Insurance can be helpful. The team with Harris Insurance can help you identify your particular home insurance needs and help build a plan that will properly cover your home and keep you in compliance with any requirements. 

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Jasper, AL 35501

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