Do you have an extra $10,000 or so lying around? That’s the average cost a homeowner in America pays to repair storm damage. Homeowners insurance protects against the destruction a storm can cause. A standard homeowner policy covers wind damage from severe weather, but this may not cover all types of wind damage. Your Florida insurance expert, Craig Harrell, explores this topic in this article.
What’s entailed in standard wind damage insurance coverage?
A typical homeowners insurance policy provides protection against wind damage to your home and other structures on your property, such as fences, sheds, and gazebos. Wind damage coverage applies to every aspect of your home, including the roof, siding, and windows.
Roof:
This might be the most important part of wind damage coverage, as a leaky or compromised roof could render your home inhabitable until repairs are made.
You want to verify the type of coverage in place for your roof: Replacement cost, which covers the entire cost to repair or replace a roof minus your deductible. Actual cash value, which is based on the remaining effective life of your roof and the material used to build the roof
Siding and Windows:
As is the case with your roof, siding coverage amount is dictated by the type of siding you have. Vinyl and metal are the most common types of siding. A standard homeowner policy also should cover any windows broken by wind damage.
Other structures: Any non-dwellings on your property should be protected under the “Coverage B” section of your insurance policy. This coverage usually is limited to 10% of the total amount insuring your home. In addition to freestanding buildings like garages and sheds, your fence also classifies under Coverage B, to the same 10% cap.
Personal Property:
Wind damage can affect more than just structures. It could also damage or ruin your belongings, such as furniture, clothing, and appliances. As is the case with your roof coverage, personal property coverage is based on either full replacement cost or actual cash value.
Loss of Use:
What if wind damage is so extensive that you have to leave your home during repairs? Or, perhaps wind damage renders a portion of your home—such as the kitchen—unusable. That’s when loss-of-use coverage kicks in, providing for additional living expenses while repairs are taking place.
Types of wind damage not covered in a standard policy:
Any of these conditions can create an unfortunate situation where your homeowner policy will not cover wind damage:
Roof damage when the roof is out of date.
Weak seals on a window
Certain insurance companies also may disqualify a homeowner from wind coverage if they live in what is deemed as a high-risk area.
In Florida, the situation becomes more complicated. That’s because Florida is one of 19 states that requires a separate deductible for storm, wind, and hail damage. This means that you will have to pay that deductible before being reimbursed for any wind damage from a tropical storm or hurricane. This deductible is determined based on a percentage of the total amount insuring your home.
Helpful Tips on Filing a Wind Damage Claim
Before you file any type of insurance claim, you need to make sure you know all the requirements of your provider. You can find all these requirements in your policy, on the website of your insurance provider, or by speaking with your insurance agent.
You also can help from an insurance adjuster. An adjuster is an expert in the insurance profession, but he or she puts that knowledge to work for you. Adjusters are also independent. They don’t work for insurance companies.
A little preparation can make the filing process easier. Take pictures of your home before any damage occurs, and have an inventory of possessions that you have backed up either online or on a flash drive. If you make any repairs in the immediate aftermath of a storm, be sure to save all receipts, as they will be used to calculate your final settlement amount. And remember, even if you file a claim that gets paid, it’s likely to raise your rates, so you don’t want to file a claim and have it denied.
Harrell Adjusting Offers Public Adjuster Services for Wind Damage Insurance Claims in Florida
The insurance process can be complicated: understanding your policy, filing a claim, and working with your provider if an incident does occur. When you hire the services of a professional adjuster, you’ll have an insurance expert in your corner every step of the way. In Florida, Craig Harrell and his team are the experts. Harrell Adjusting is based out of Central Florida but works with customers throughout the entire state. Schedule an appointment today by enquiring online or by calling (863-845-0759)
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