Homeowners’ insurance creates peace of mind for many people. It protects the exterior and interior of your home and other structures on your property. It also provides protection and coverage for your personal belongings. However, although many incidents are covered by homeowners insurance, not everything is. Our team at Tackett Insurance Inc. knows that many homeowners are confused about what’s covered by a homeowner’s policy. We’re dedicated to erasing the confusion for our Memphis, TN residents.

What is Homeowners Insurance?

Homeowners insurance is designed to cover your home, the structures on your property, and your personal belongings. Homeowners’ insurance can pay for repairing or replacing your home if it’s damaged due to a covered incident. Fire, theft, and some natural disasters are covered by homeowners insurance. You also have liability coverage as well. Suppose you damage someone else’s property while visiting your home or due to a covered incident. In that case, your homeowner’s insurance policy will pay for repairing or replacing the damaged item. Many forms of coverage and protection are part of homeowners insurance. It’s a good idea to understand what’s covered and what’s not. A licensed insurance agent can walk you through your insurance policy and eliminate confusion. 

Will Homeowners Insurance Cover My Damaged Mailbox?

Maybe. Your homeowner’s policy covers "other structures" on your property. This form of coverage would include your mailbox. However, the damage must be caused by a covered incident. Your insurance company will determine whether or not an event covered by your policy caused the damage. The damage may have been caused by an incident not covered by your policy. If you have questions about homeowners insurance, call us. We’d be happy to answer all of your questions. 

Everyone knows that fire is dangerous, but what about the havoc it can wreak on your home? Tackett Insurance Inc. wants every Memphis, TN homeowner to learn more about the common causes of house fires, how to detect and prevent them, and the first steps you should take if your home catches fire.

Keep Smoke Alarms Maintained

Many homeowners fail to maintain their smoke alarms properly. An alarm that does not work can’t sound a warning, so when a fire occurs, there’s no way to know about it until it’s too late. To ensure your smoke alarms work properly, clean them and check the battery at least once a year. Replace the entire unit every ten years.

Practice Safe Home Heating

It’s easy to get comfortable heating with a furnace or space heater, but you should also be mindful of the fire risks. Create a safe heating environment by keeping curtains and drapes away from heat sources. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including wooden furniture.

Get Your Electrical System Checked

A well-maintained electrical system can save you from a costly fire. A fire can start when a faulty appliance causes an electrical short, causing an electrical fire. Have your electrical system inspected by a licensed electrician to ensure the wires in your home are safely connected and that no wires are exposed. If you notice any exposed wires, have them quickly covered with a plastic sheath to prevent a short from occurring. If you have a natural gas system, inspect your gas line to ensure it’s safely insulated and that no cracks or holes are present.

Summary

Fire can cause significant damage to your home and can be frightening. Knowing what causes fires and how to prevent them can be helpful. Even if you do everything correctly, unforeseen troubles can cause fire damage and loss to your home. If you live in Memphis, TN, and need a home insurance policy to protect yourself from the cost of fire damage, please reach out to Tackett Insurance Inc. today.

You go to your Memphis, TN mailbox and see a notice from your insurance company. Once you open the notice, you learn your homeowners insurance policy is being canceled. Now, what do you do? Don’t worry because you still have a small amount of time to get things taken care of, so you keep your insurance and meet any mortgage requirements. 

Keep reading to learn what you can do if your homeowners insurance policy is canceled and then give us a call at Tackett Insurance Inc. for help saving your insurance coverage. 

Why Insurance Policies Get Canceled

When an insurance policy is canceled, it often means coverage will end before the terms of your policy have expired. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why an existing insurance policy gets canceled – missing a payment or suspected fraud. 

However, insurance companies can choose not to renew a policy after it expires for several reasons. These reasons may include: 

• Having bad credit
• Owning an aggressive breed
• Leaving the property vacant
• Having a criminal record
• Filing too many claims
• Coverage is no longer available for the area

What to Do If Your Homeowners Insurance Is Canceled

Call your insurance company immediately upon receiving the cancellation or non-renewal notice. There may be something that can be done to prevent insurance loss, such as catching up on payments or getting a different type of insurance coverage. In addition, if there was something, such as a damaged roof, causing the cancellation, you might be allowed to have it fixed before the cancellation date to reinstate insurance coverage. 

If reinstating or renewing your insurance is not an option, you must start shopping around for a new policy. Different companies take on certain risks, and because one company canceled your policy does not mean you cannot get insurance. 

If your Memphis, TN homeowners insurance policy is at risk of being canceled, give us a call. Our agents at Tackett Insurance Inc. may be able to help keep you insured. 

Tips for making a home insurance claim

While it is always every homeowner’s wish never to make a home insurance claim, they still happen, and sadly, most of them are rejected. According to GoCompare, one in six household insurance claims are denied every year. That is a good confirmation that many homeowners in Memphis, TN, and other states, don’t know much about their home insurance policies.

So, how do you go about filing a home insurance claim? Tackett Insurance, Inc. will help you with several tips to help get the most in the event of a claim process.

Focus on what is covered and not the price.

If you have never gone through your insurance policy, this is the time to have a serious look at what is written down there. Read between the lines as you focus on what is included. This will help you know what is covered and what is not covered.

Take an inventory of your belongings.

It is imperative to have an inventory of your property, or else how will you prove to your insurance company that a specific item was stolen when you can’t prove that you owned it? Keep receipts, photos, or videos.

For major claims, hire an insurance adjuster.

While insurance companies have their insurance adjusters, it is crucial to hire one if you have a significant claim. Your insurance adjuster will take over the claiming process and ensure the claiming process goes smoothly until you are settled.

Act quickly

In case of an accident like fire, your speed matters a lot. Save what you can save, such as important documents and valuable items. If there are repairs to be done, call your contractor and make sure to notify your insurer. Sometimes your insurance company in Memphis, TN may require to assess the damage themselves; in this case, don’t touch anything.

Remember to be honest and offer complete details when filing your home insurance claim. If you still have more questions, feel free to write to us at Tackett Insurance, Inc., and our experts will get back to you.