Are There Items Not Covered by Home Insurance?

Yes. Termite, insect, and rodent damage is not covered by insurance. Rot, mold, and mildew aren’t covered, either. These are the results of negligence in not properly maintaining the house. If damage stems from ordinary wear and tear on the house, then it won’t be covered by home insurance. What else isn’t covered? Town & Country Insurance in Buford, GA will tell you all about it.

What Isn’t Typically Covered Under Home Insurance?

Identity Theft

When we think of home insurance, we think of catastrophes like fire, floods, and earthquakes. What we don’t think of is identity theft. No insurance covers that.  

Dangerous Dog Breeds

Depending on how certain breeds of dogs are raised (with love or with anger,) they either cuddle or bite. For instance, we’ve had pitties that thought they were lap dogs, but they frighten everyone else. Forget home insurance if you have a “dangerous” dog.

Home-Based Businesses

Running a daycare or running a puppy training program in your home could result in damage to the home. While toddlers and puppies are fun and cuddly, they also chew on the oddest things. Don’t expect home insurance to help.

Nuclear Hazards

Nor do we think of nuclear hazards in connection with home insurance. There’s a nuclear power plant near dozens of major cities. If something happened to the inner workings of the plant, it could mean an explosion. It would mean radiation. Unfortunately, your house won’t be covered. 

War

We’ve all seen the pictures on the news of war in the Middle East and other areas. The houses are shot up, on fire, or just demolished. If war should land on our shores, home insurance would disappear.

Give Us A Call

Town & Country Insurance in Buford, GA knows what is and isn’t covered by home insurance. Drop by today or call to discuss it with our insurance professionals.

Ready to Buy a Home? Don’t Forget About Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance is one of those things you know you need, but it’s easy to forget about when you’re buying a new home. However, homeowners insurance is an important part of protecting your investment, and it’s important to ensure that you have the right coverage in place before you move in. Town & Country Insurance in Buford, GA can help you navigate this vital coverage. 

Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t forget about homeowners insurance when buying a new home:

1. It Can Help You Avoid Out-of-Pocket Expenses

If you don’t have homeowners insurance and your home is damaged, you’ll be responsible for paying for repairs or replacement yourself. This can be a very expensive proposition, especially if extensive damage has been done. Homeowners insurance can help you avoid having to pay out of pocket for repairs or replacement, as it can cover the cost of these things up to your policy limits.

2. It Can Give You Peace of Mind

Knowing that you have homeowners insurance can give you peace of mind in knowing your home is protected. This can be especially important if you have experienced an event that has damaged your home in the past. Having insurance can help you feel more secure in your investment and give you peace of mind knowing that you’re covered.

3. It’s Required by Most Mortgage Lenders

If you’re financing your home with a mortgage, your lender will likely require you to have homeowners insurance in place. This is because the lender wants to ensure that their investment is protected in case of damage to the home. If you don’t have insurance, you may be putting your loan at risk.

Get Homeowners Insurance Today

As you can see, there are many good reasons to ensure you have homeowners insurance when purchasing a new home. Town & Country Insurance in Buford, GA can help you find the right coverage for your needs and budget. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Call us today and let us help you protect your investment.

When Should I Think About Adding to My Homeowners Insurance Coverage?

Having homeowners insurance for your Buford, GA home is very important. It means that you have covered against the possible uncertainties. However, just like any other insurance policy, homeowners’ plans are limited to some instances. In such situations, you need to consider adding to your existing plan. Town & Country Insurance gives some tips on when to add to your home insurance plan.

New Home Improvements

Many people consider home improvement after every five years. If you happen to improve your house with some new additions, you need to add to your existing home insurance policy. This will help you to cover the new additions that you have made to your property. 

After Buying Artworks and Antiques

Most of the standard homeowners’ insurance will not cover artwork and antiques. These are high-value items that most insurance companies will not be willing to replace or repair. However, you need to cover them as well with a new insurance policy. The only way you can do this is by adding a new insurance policy. 

Jewelry Additions

Basic home insurance does not cover more than $1,000 of jewelry. If you have bought some new jewelry, there is no doubt that it will not cover by your homeowners’ insurance. Get addition to protect your new valuable items.

Furniture Upgrades

Furniture is covered by homeowners insurance. However, when you have some improvement on some of your furniture, you need to notify your insurance company so that you can adjust your coverage limit. However, you can consider adding your homeowners’ insurance to cater to the upgraded value of your furniture. 

Consult Insurance Professionals

Adding your homeowners’ insurance is very complex. That is why you need consultancy services from insurance professions. Town & Country Insurance is your one-stop insurance company in Buford, GA. Consult us today for tips on when you need to add to your existing home insurance.

Do Buford property owners need home insurance?

The Buford, GA area continues to be a great place for people to live and move to. If you are interested in this area of Georgia, you should consider purchasing a home when you move in. Those that do buy a home here can benefit in several ways. Along with buying a home, you also need to carefully consider your insurance needs. There are a few reasons why property owners here need this coverage. 

Insurance Provides Important Coverage

The reason that most people need to get a home insurance plan is that it gives great coverage and protection. If you are going to purchase a home here it is important that you get the protection that could be used to repair it if there is damage. Further, a home insurance plan will give you coverage for personal liability risk, which will be helpful if there is an accident in your home that results in injuries to a guest.

Insurance is Required by Lenders

Taking out a mortgage is a good way to finance your home purchase. Those that do decide to buy a home with a mortgage will have specific insurance requirements set by their lender. They will likely have to review and approve your policy while also requiring you to escrow payments each month. 

There are always going to be plenty of reasons for those that are in the Buford, GA area to get a home insurance plan. If you are considering getting this insurance here, it would be helpful to call Town & Country Insurance. The insurance team with Town & Country Insurance can help you determine your insurance needs and build a plan accordingly. This will give comfort that your home is protected and you are in compliance with all insurance obligations. 

Do I need a home inventory

Owning a home in Buford, GA puts you near the Mall of Georgia which is the largest mall in the Southeast. Burford has been an important part of Gwinett Country for more than 100 years. Filing a claim with your home insurance company is not something anyone looks forward to. It can involve a lot of paperwork and stress. Having a good home insurance policy and a trusted insurance agent can make it less of a hassle. Town & Country Insurance has been offering customer-focused service since 2010.

To answer the question do I need a home inventory you need to know what a home inventory is and what it does. If your home is hit by a covered peril, you will file an insurance claim. Part of the coverage that home insurance offers is contents coverage. All the things that make your life comfortable, the things that make a house a home. If they are all destroyed you will want and need to replace them. Imagine your home is destroyed by a fire or a tornado. Not much may be left to remind you of what you had before the devastation. 

That is where your home inventory comes in. It is the record of what you had in every room of your home before the damage. It is your proof of what you had, what you paid for it, and what needs to be replaced. It makes filing a claim much earlier than trying to put it together with nothing left to remind you. So yes, you do need a home inventory. 

If you are purchasing a home and need home insurance or if you are ready to shop for new home insurance at Town & Country Insurance in Buford, GA we can help you. Give us a call or stop at our office and let us give you a free quote. 

Will Home Insurance Cover Items In A Storage Unit?

If you have possessions locked up in a storage unit in Buford, GA, your home insurance policy does offer some protection for those items. Just about anything you own, if it’s listed in your inventory, if your premiums are paid up, is going to be covered, whether it’s in your home, in your office, in your car, or in your storage unit.

This means that if there’s a disaster or a break-in at your storage facility, you’re going to be covered by your home insurance, rather than by any insurance the storage company may carry.

That said, the insurance that your home insurer provides for off-premises items typically cuts off at a lower limit than on-premises possessions. This is usually set at around 50% unless you’re willing to buy additional insurance. 50% is usually enough, but if you have some particularly valuable items in storage, you may want to consider buying extended coverage.

You can also look into storage unit insurance if you find yourself in the process of moving or will otherwise be without home insurance for any length of time, but if your home insurance policy is active, if it’s paid up, then you don’t really have much to worry about.

If you are looking to buy home insurance in Buford, GA, you can get in touch with us at Town & Country Insurance to get a good deal on a great home insurance policy. Stop by our offices, check out the Town & Country Insurance website, or call us on the phone whenever it’s convenient for you, and we’ll see what we can do to set you up with the protection that you need.

What should you focus on when buying home insurance?

Shopping for homeowners insurance might not be as fun as shopping for the home itself. Many Buford, GA homeowners often focus on insurance prices and fail to balance between price and value. Insurance can be complicated, with many terms and things to think about. At Town & Country Insurance, we can help you with professional insurance advice so that you can make informed decisions regarding home insurance. Here are a few things to focus on when buying home insurance.

Know the amount of insurance you need

Each home insurance policy is different. Your home insurance policy cannot be the same as your neighbor, simply because you are in the same area or bought the same type of house. A lot has to be put into consideration when putting up your policy. Such considerations include:

  • Whether the insurance provider is offering actual cash value or replacement costs
  • Your coverage limits
  • The perils covered and those that are excluded

Know your insurability before shopping

Buying insurance is not just about filling and signing forms. Your insurance provider will ask several questions to know whether you are eligible for insurance or not. They also ask questions to see whether your insurance needs to meet their insurance regulations. Knowing your insurability gives you a better chance to know what to focus on and what not to.

Save save save with deductibles!

When buying insurance, you can save money if you have a higher deductible in your policy. Your insurance company will give discounts and continue increasing these discounts as these deductibles increases. You can compare these discounts from different providers and choose the company with the best deal.

As a first time home insurance buyer, you need to be aware of your coverage, to know the amount of insurance you need and use that as a guide when making a claim. If you still need help to determine your coverage, Town & Country Insurance can help you. Visit our website or office at Buford, GA and meet our expert insurance advisors.

 

What New Homeowners Should Know About Home Insurance

Being a new homeowner is one of the most exciting steps you will take in your life. However, there’s a lot for new homeowners to learn, including understanding home insurance.  If you need home insurance in Buford, GA, Town & Country Insurance can guide you through the process. 

Types of Coverage

  • Dwelling coverage: your home
  • Other property: Other structures (shed, barn, etc.)
  • Personal property: valuables inside your home
  • Liability: Covers expenses if someone is injured on your property
  • Additional living expenses: living expenses if your home is uninhabitable 

Know Your Lender’s Requirements

Be sure to check your lender’s home insurance policy and get adequate coverage. Most lenders will require you to purchase home insurance before you close on your home, and not getting the proper coverage can cost a lot of time and headaches. 

Replacement Cost vs Market Value

Replacement cost is what it would cost you to replace your home. Market value is what your home is appraised for in the current market. Most policies offer 125% of the replacement cost.

Know the Exclusions

Most policies will exclude certain types of damage or causes of damage. It’s important to know what these are. You don’t want to file a claim for something that isn’t covered. You may also want to purchase extra coverage to cover exclusions. 

Check the CLUE Report

CLUE stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Report. It’s basically a history of any claims made on your home, even before you owned it. This will likely be taken into account by the insurance company when giving you an insurance quote. If multiple claims have been filed on the home, you may pay higher rates. A CLUE report can give you this information going into purchasing insurance so that you aren’t unpleasantly surprised when you receive a quote. 

If you need home insurance, call us at Town & Country Insurance in Buford, GA. Our agents will explain everything you need to know about home insurance and help you get the coverage you need. 

 

 

First Time Homebuyers: What You Need to Know Before Purchasing Home Insurance

If you are purchasing your first home, you will also need to purchase your first home insurance policy. Since you have never purchased a policy before, you may be unsure of what you need to do or consider before making a purchase. Town & Country Insurance, serving Buford, GA, wants to help you with this purchase. Here are a few important things you need to know before purchasing home insurance for your new home. 

The Importance of Obtaining Quotes Before Buying

Prior to purchasing your first home insurance policy, it is important to get quotes from different companies. Many people assume that all homeowners insurance plans are the same and are similar in price. This is not true. Obtaining quotes allows you to see what different companies have to offer and what the price is for the products that they offer. 

What is Covered and Excluded Under Your Insurance Policy

Another important factor to consider when purchasing your first home insurance policy is to find out what is covered and excluded. Not every event is covered under your insurance policy. For example, flooding caused when a river overflows its banks are typically not covered under your policy unless you purchase a flood add-on policy. 

How to Get an Adequate Coverage Level

Lastly, take the time to ensure you have adequate coverage for not only your new house but all the items stored inside, including electronics, furniture, and jewelry. A great insurance agent can help you calculate what coverage level is right for you. 

Purchasing your first home insurance policy does not have to be a scary or stressful experience. Here at Town & Country Insurance, serving the greater Buford, GA. area, we are here to help you. We can explain home insurance policies to you, answer any questions you have and help determine an adequate coverage level for you. Call us now to get started. 

 

Does my homeowners policy cover personal items like clothes and books?

All homeowners policies are different in some ways, but there are many similarities. Your home in Buford, GA has multiple kinds of coverage if you obtained a policy from Town & Country Insurance.

How Much Coverage Your Home Needs

Probably the most important part of the policy is dwelling coverage, which will help you if the physical structure is damaged, such as in a fire. This is going to represent the largest value.

The amount of coverage you would get to protect your personal possessions will often depend on how much the home is worth, and what the dwelling is worth. The contents coverage will usually be between 50% and 70% of the total value of the house. So if your home is worth $100,000, you will probably get $50,000 in contents coverage.

What Is Contents Coverage?

Your home has many items which would need to be replaced in a total disaster. This includes furniture, carpeting, appliances, electronics, and other household items.

Contents coverage also includes personal items, like clothing and books. You will have just as great a need for your personal items as other items that need to be replaced.

Exclusions

There may be some exceptions and limitations, and those will be spelled out in your policy. One normal limitation is that jewelry or fine art usually has its own limit, meaning that an additional policy would be needed to protect such unique items. 

The most important thing to remember is that your policy limits, inclusions, and exclusions are spelled out in your policy. If you have any questions about which of your valuables are covered on your Buford, GA home, you can always call your agent or contact Town & Country Insurance so we can help.