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Primary Residences: Comprehensive protection for your living space, including property damage, personal belongings, loss of use and liability coverage.
Vacant Dwellings: Specialized coverage for homes that are temporarily unoccupied, providing protection against risks like vandalism or theft.
Secondary Homes: Coverage for vacation homes or second properties, ensuring they’re protected year-round, even when you're not there.
Investment Properties: Protection for rental or investment properties, covering damages and liabilities while helping you maintain peace of mind as a landlord.
Builder’s Risk Insurance When you're constructing, renovating, or remodeling a property, a Builder's Risk policy is crucial to ensure your project stays protected. This type of policy covers buildings under construction, providing coverage for damage to the structure, materials, and equipment on-site.

What Homeowners Insurance Covers

Most standard property insurance policies include these core components:

Dwelling Coverage
Covers damage to the structure of your home (roof, walls, built-in appliances, etc.) from covered events like fire, windstorms, hail, or vandalism.
Example: A tree falls on your roof during a storm—insurance pays for repairs.
Other Structures Coverage
Covers detached structures on your property, like garages, sheds, or fences.
Typically a percentage of your dwelling coverage (e.g., 10%).
Personal Property Coverage
Covers the contents of your home (furniture, electronics, clothing, etc.).
Can include items stolen or damaged both inside and sometimes outside your home.
Loss of Use (Additional Living Expenses or Loss of Rents Expense)
Pays for temporary housing and living expenses if your home is uninhabitable due to a covered event.
Personal Liability Coverage
Protects you if someone is injured on your property or if you accidentally cause injury or damage to someone else’s property.
Covers legal fees and settlement costs.
Medical Payments to Others
Covers small medical bills (usually $1,000–$5,000) for guests injured on your property, regardless of fault.

Common Exclusions that are not covered in any dwelling policy

Floods (separate flood insurance needed)
Earthquakes (often requires add-on or separate policy)
Routine wear and tear
Mold, pests, or neglect
Certain dog breeds or high-risk items unless specifically endorsed

How Premiums Are Set

Your cost can be based on a number of factors including the following:

Location (risk of natural disasters, crime, etc.)
Home’s age and condition
Year of replacement for main systems such as roof, heating/air conditioning, electrical and plumbing
Dwelling type (single family, duplex, condo, etc)
Dwelling use (primary, vacant home, rental property, etc)
Coverage limits and deductibles
Claims history
Personal credit history

Whether you're insuring your main home or managing multiple properties, our team will help you navigate your options and create a tailored solution that fits your needs.

Liability Coverage: This covers damages and injuries to others if you are at fault in an accident. It includes:
Bodily Injury Liability: Covers medical expenses, lost wages, and legal fees for the other driver or passengers in an accident you cause.
Property Damage Liability: Covers the cost of repairing or replacing another person’s vehicle or property that you damage in an accident.
Collision Coverage: Helps pay for repairs to your own car if it's damaged in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. This coverage can help cover the cost of repairs or replacement if your car is totaled.
Comprehensive Coverage: Protects your car from damage not caused by a collision, such as theft, vandalism, weather-related events (hail, windstorms), falling objects, or fire.
Rental Car Reimbursement: Provides a rental vehicle in the event your car needs to be in a repair shop for a covered claim
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Provides protection if you're in an accident where the other driver is at fault but doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your damages or is completely uninsured.
Medical Payments/Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. PIP may also cover lost wages and other related expenses.
Roadside Assistance: Provides help in case your car breaks down or you have an emergency on the road. Services often include towing, flat tire changes, battery jump-starts, and more.

How Does Personal Auto Insurance Work?

Premiums: The cost of your auto insurance (premium) will depend on factors like your driving history, vehicle type, coverage limits, and the state in which you live. Higher coverage limits or adding additional coverage options like collision and comprehensive will typically increase the premium.
Deductibles: Many policies come with a deductible, which is the amount you’ll need to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in for a covered claim. Higher deductibles usually result in lower premiums, but it's important to choose a deductible you can afford.

Claims Process: In the event of an accident or damage, you’ll file a claim with your insurer. The company will assess the damage and determine how much they’ll cover, based on your policy limits and deductibles.

Recent history teaches us that flooding can strike anyone at any time. In Texas, flood losses are not typically covered by a homeowners policy. A separate policy should be purchased to ensure that you are protected from the devastating financial loss from an unexpected flood event.

There are two types of flood insurance available for dwellings:

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a government-backed program administered by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and has the following limits:

$250,000 for the structure of the home
$100,000 for personal property

Limitations of NFIP Insurance:

While primary home claims are paid on a “replacement cost” basis for the structure, Secondary structures and rental dwelling claims are paid on an “actual cash value” or “depreciated” basis.
Any contents coverage claim is ALWAYS paid out on an “actual cash value” basis.
Waiting Period: NFIP policies typically have a 30-day waiting period before coverage becomes effective (with some exceptions).
TWO deductibles: There is one deductible for the structure and another deductible applied to your personal contents in the event of a loss.

Private flood insurance is offered by non-governmental insurance companies. Unlike NFIP, these policies are tailored by individual insurers, offering more flexibility in terms of coverage limits and options which can offer the following.

Higher Coverage Limits
More Comprehensive Coverage: Private insurers may offer additional coverage options not available under NFIP, such as additional living expenses, debris removal, and coverage for certain exclusions like sewer backups.
Replacement cost coverage for secondary and rental home structures

Life is unpredictable, and accidents can happen when you least expect them. Personal Umbrella Coverage offers an extra layer of protection beyond the limits of your standard auto, home, or other personal insurance policies. This type of insurance provides additional liability coverage in case you're involved in a lawsuit or held financially responsible for damages exceeding the limits of your primary insurance.

What is Personal Umbrella Coverage?

Personal umbrella insurance is designed to protect your assets and future earnings in the event of a serious accident or lawsuit. It kicks in when your primary insurance policy (like your auto or home insurance) has reached its coverage limit.

Key Features of Personal Umbrella Coverage:

Extra Liability Protection: Personal umbrella coverage provides an additional layer of liability protection, typically ranging from $1 million to $10 million or more. This helps cover the costs if you're found responsible for a lawsuit or accident that exceeds your primary insurance coverage limits.
Broad Coverage: It not only extends liability coverage from your auto and home insurance but may also cover situations that other policies might exclude, such as:
Injuries or damages caused by your pets
Accidents that occur while you're volunteering or engaging in activities outside of work
Libel, slander, or defamation claims
Legal defense costs (even if you're not at fault)
Affordable Premiums: Umbrella insurance is often very cost-effective considering the significant additional coverage it provides. Because it offers high coverage limits at a relatively low cost, it’s one of the most efficient ways to protect your financial future.

Why Do You Need Personal Umbrella Coverage?

Protection Against Large Lawsuits: If you're found liable for significant damages—such as an auto accident where someone is severely injured or a slip-and-fall accident at your home—your primary insurance may not cover all the costs. Without umbrella coverage, you could be forced to pay out of pocket, potentially depleting your savings or assets.
Peace of Mind: Knowing that you have additional liability protection helps ease concerns about unexpected events. Whether it’s a serious car accident, a major slip-and-fall incident at your home, or even a lawsuit arising from something you said, umbrella coverage offers an extra safety net.
Legal Costs: Lawsuits can be costly even if you're not at fault. Umbrella insurance can help cover the legal defense fees and other associated costs, which can quickly escalate.

How Does Personal Umbrella Coverage Work?

Primary Insurance First: Umbrella insurance only pays out after your primary insurance (like auto or homeowners) has reached its coverage limit. For example, if you’re in a car accident and the damages are $500,000, and your auto insurance only covers $300,000, your umbrella policy can cover the remaining $200,000.
Broader Coverage for Exclusions: In addition to protecting you against situations where your primary insurance falls short, umbrella insurance may also cover certain events not typically covered by other policies, such as slander, libel, or accidents involving your boat or rental property.
Eligibility: To qualify for personal umbrella insurance, you usually need to carry a certain minimum amount of coverage on your existing auto and home insurance policies (e.g., $250,000 in liability coverage for auto insurance). The umbrella policy will go above these limits.

Collections Insurance is a type of insurance designed specifically to protect valuable personal items, such as:

Fine Art: Paintings, sculptures, and other works of art.
Antiques: Furniture, décor, and other rare items with significant value.
Rare Coins and Stamps: Collections of rare or historical items.
Jewelry: High-value pieces or heirlooms.

Most Texas home policies place a limit on valuable items within the policy form. The typical limit is between $2500 to $5000. This is why a collections policy is important for overall coverage plan.

Most collections policy underwriters/carriers will require a recent appraisal, bill of sale and or photos to accurately determine the coverage amount.

Owning a condo comes with unique insurance needs. While your condo association's master policy may cover the building's structure and common areas, Condo Unit Coverage is essential for protecting your personal property and the interior of your unit and typically includes the following:

Personal Property Protection: Covers your belongings inside the unit
Interior Structure Coverage: Protects the interior of your unit, including walls, floors, cabinetry, and appliances, in case of damage or destruction.
Liability Protection: Provides coverage if someone is injured while inside your unit, protecting you from medical bills or legal fees.
Loss of Use: If your condo becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss, this coverage helps pay for temporary living arrangements.
Loss Assessment: Covers your share of a condo association's deductible or repairs if the association’s master policy is insufficient.

Understand your deductibles first:

30 to 50% of initial claims filed are below the deductible amount and therefore there is no coverage from the policy. If you are unsure what your deductibles are, please refer to your policy documents. If you go ahead and file a claim that turns out to be below the deductible, the claim will still count against you and show as a zero dollar payout.

Report the incident. It is best that you reach out to us first so we can apprise you of deductibles and/or inform you of information needed for you to file a complete claim.
Take measures to immediately mitigate the risk. I.E. if a water pipe bursts, immediately turn off the water source and call a plumber. Also, be sure to keep the receipts for any emergency repairs

Stay Calm and Courteous

Remain polite, even if the process is frustrating or the adjuster isn't immediately responsive.
Avoid aggressive or accusatory language. The adjuster is there to help but has guidelines to follow.

Be Honest, accurate and cooperate fully

Provide truthful, thorough, and consistent information.Don’t exaggerate the extent of damage or loss—fraud can void a claim and result in legal consequences. Respond to requests for documentation or interviews promptly.
Be available for inspections or calls when scheduled.

Document Everything

Take photos/videos of the damage immediately after the incident, if safe to do so.
Keep a log of all communication with your insurance company (emails, calls, names, dates).
Save all receipts for emergency repairs or temporary accommodations.

Don’t Discard Damaged Items Prematurely

Unless they pose a health hazard, keep damaged property until the adjuster has reviewed it and documented the damaged materials

Understand Your Policy

Know what is and isn’t covered. Read your declarations page and coverage details.
If something is unclear, ask the adjuster respectfully for clarification.

Be Realistic, Patient and express gratitude

Claims can take time, especially for large-scale disasters (e.g., natural catastrophes).
Adjusters often handle multiple cases—check in politely if you're waiting on updates.
If the claim is handled well, a brief thank-you to your adjuster or agent goes a long way and encourages good service.

Utilize professional assistance wisely

If needed, involve a public adjuster, contractor, or legal advisor, but disclose this to your insurer.
Be cautious with contractors—only use licensed professionals and get written estimates.

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Coverwise

Home Insurance

Auto Insurance

Flood Insurance

Excess Liability

Collections Insurance

Condo Insurance

Claim Etiquette

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