TWFGCA
  • Home
  • Quote
  • About Us
  • Claims
  • Pay Bill
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Quote
  • About Us
  • Claims
  • Pay Bill
  • Blog
  • Contact

TWFG CALIFORNIA BLOG

What's under the roof?

7/19/2017

 

Understanding Home Insurance

Picture
Photo by Tom Thain on Unsplash
DID YOU KNOW?
Most standard homeowners insurance policies include four essential types of coverage:

Structure
This coverage will repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged or destroyed by:
Fire
Hurricane
Hail
Lightning
or Other Disasters listed in your policy**.
​
This can also cover detached structures such as a garage, shed or gazebo, but be sure to check with your agent about this. 
.
**It will not pay for damage caused by a flood, earthquake or routine wear and tear. 
"Purchasing enough coverage to rebuild your home is generally a good rule of thumb when buying coverage."
Belongings​
Your furniture, clothes, sports equipment and other personal items are covered if they are stolen or destroyed by fire, hurricane or other insured disasters.
The coverage is generally 50 to 70% of the  insurance on the structure of your home.
Items stored off premises as well as trees and shrubs on the premises are covered, but there can be limits on these coverages so speak with your agent to better understand them. 
High price items like jewelry, furs, art and collectibles are also covered, but often subject to dollar limits within your standard policy. To ensure these items are covered, you can purchase special endorsements or floaters to make up the difference. 
The best way to be sure that all of your belongings are well insured is to conduct an inventory and estimate their overall value. 


Liability
Liability covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members cause to other people. It also pays for damage caused by your pets. So, if your son, daughter or dog accidentally ruins a neighbor’s expensive rug, you are covered. (However, if they destroy your own rug, you’re out of luck.)
The liability portion of your policy pays for both the cost of defending you in court and any court awards—up to the limit stated in your policy documents.
 If you have significant assets and want more coverage than is available under your homeowners policy, consider purchasing  an umbrella or excess liability policy, which provides broader coverage, including claims against you for libel and slander, as well as higher liability limits.
Your policy also provides no-fault medical coverage, so if a friend or neighbor is injured in your home, he or she can simply submit medical bills to your insurance company. This way, expenses are paid without a liability claim being filed against you. Again, its does  NOT pay the medical bills for your own family or your pet.
Living Expenses
Additional Living Expenses or ALE pays the additional costs of living away from home if you cannot live there due to damage from a an insured disaster.
It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other costs, over and above your usual living expenses, incurred while your home is being rebuilt or repaired. Also if a portion of your home is rented out, ALE will cover the lost income from your tenant during this time. 

Your ALE coverage limit is 
separate from the amount available to rebuild or repair your home.  So your home will still be covered for your full policy amount, even if your ALE coverage runs out. 

Keep in mind that the ALE coverage in your homeowners policy has limits, so please speak to your agent to understand what your limits might be. 


Want to know more about your current policy? Thinking about switching policies?
​ Contact  our agents at TWFG California in Fremont to speak about your unique home insurance options!
Contact Us
510-573-4745 - twfgcalifornia@twfg.com

Drone Safety

1/19/2016

 

Your Home, Your Privacy, Your Insurance and Drones.
What you should know

Picture

Drone Safety

Drones, also referred to as unmanned aerial systems (UAS), are usually thought of as toys or hobbyist aircraft. However, they can also constitute a substantial risk to your family, home and privacy.
Even though most drones only weigh a few pounds, a crash can still cause significant damage to a person or property. Additionally, many drones are equipped with cameras and other technology that can violate
your family’s privacy. Whether or not you own a drone, it’s important that you’re aware of
regulations and safety tips regarding their use. 

Federal Regulations 

Tips for Safe Drone Use

Even drones that are used only for recreation are legally considered aircraft, and must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Here are the basic guidelines for registering recreational drones:
  • Drones that weigh between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds must be registered online.
  • Once registered, the drone’s operator will receive a registration number that must be placed on all applicable drones.
  • The registration is valid for three years. Failing to register a drone may result in regulatory and criminal penalties.
Since the FAA legally considers drones the equivalent of manned aircraft, any attempt to damage or destroy one can result in federal penalties. These include up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 in fines. Even incidental damage could expose you and your family to federal penalties and expenses for any resulting damage.

If you’re concerned with a drone that’s operating in your area, call
your local police department. 
You could be financially responsible for any damage a drone causes to a person or property. Here are some basic tips to safely operate a drone:
  •  Check your local laws and ordinances to ensure that drones can be operated in your area.
  • Make sure that the drone’s operator is comfortable with the controls, and that he or she is aware of all safety guidelines.
  • Don’t fly the drone above 400 feet, and always remain below any surrounding obstacles.
  • Keep the drone in sight at all times, and have an observer assist the operator if needed.
  • Remain clear of all manned aircraft. The FAA requires all drones to stay at least 5 miles away from airports.
  • Don’t operate the drone when it’s windy, or in other inclement weather.
  • Don’t operate the drone under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
  • Keep the drone away from all pedestrians, roads and open-air stadiums. ​

Drones & Privacy

Researchers have shown that drones equipped with smartphones can access data from an insecure computer network and other electronic devices. Since drones can access areas that a normal person couldn’t, such as a second story window or a fenced-in backyard, they could potentially access your family’s private information and violate your privacy. ​

Though most homeowners policies cover damage caused by aircraft, others may exclude this coverage option. Contact us to check your home’s coverage, and for more drone safety information. 
Contact Us

Home Insurance

1/1/2015

 
Picture

    Quote me for Home Insurance

    -
    -
Submit

Insuring your home with TWFG

We at TWFG make providing comprehensive homeowners insurance to California residents one of our main specializations. This is partially due to our high referral rate, and also partially due to the fact that our customers report satisfaction year after year. We will walk you through the process, from obtaining enough content coverage to protecting against predatory litigation (especially if you have a lot of assets). We will even lay out all your discount options—for example, you can save as much as 20% by bundling homeowners insurance with your auto or life insurance plan.
Your home is your shield from the elements…who is protecting your home? Get a California homeowners insurance quote today.

    ​TWFG CALIFORNIA

    Categories

    All
    Auto Insurance
    Commercial Insurance
    Coverages
    Home Insurance
    Life Insurance
    Meet The Team
    Safety Tips
    Umbrella

    Welcome to the TWFG California Blog.  Find out more about our services, our team and monthly updates on insurance tips and news that you should know. ​

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly