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Although home insurance is not required by law, it is likely that your bank will require it before underwriting your mortgage. However, even if the bank does not or you purchased your home without financing, home insurance is a no-brainer purchase because it protects you and your loved ones from devastating financial loss. If you do not have home insurance and your house is destroyed in a fine, you are financially responsible for all costs associated with the incident up to and including rebuilding the structure. Unless you have an extra few hundred thousand dollars laying around to rebuild your home, you’ll want to have the security that homeowners insurance offers. If you are on the fence about home insurance, ask yourself – if your home and all your belongings are destroyed; could you afford having to start over from nothing? If not, you’ll want to have home insurance coverage. 

Most mortgage lenders will ask that you insure your home to at least the rebuilding value which is determined by the insurance company. Aside from being financially protected by a home insurance policy, you’ll also receive liability coverage, so if a third party is injured on your property, your insurance will kick in until your liability coverage is exhausted. Most home insurance policies will also include dwelling coverage that pays for damage to the structure of your home that is caused by a storm, wind, or other covered incident along with additional living expenses if your home is uninhabitable because of a covered loss.

At Gill Insurance Agency in Plainfield, IN we know that you have lots of questions about home insurance so we encourage you to give us a call to learn more about our agency and how we can help you with all your insurance needs. 

When you are renovating your home, you have several hundred thousand worries on your mind. One of them is the potential for accidents or liabilities. That is what home insurance is for, and what contractor insurance is for if you are hiring one. 

At Gill Insurance Agency, we want Plainfield, IN residents to make sure they know what their liability coverage looks like before they renovate. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you get that first hammer swinging. 

Notify Your Home Insurance Company Before You Renovate

When you are renovating, you will need to check with your home insurance company before you do so. They will want to know if the cost of your home will go up after the renovation is complete.

Increase Your Liability Coverage

They also want to make sure that your liability limits are high enough, in the event of an accident during the renovations. There could be any problem happening during a renovation. A nail could get stepped on and it turns into a year-long crisis, a fall could occur, or damage could occur that you may be held liable for. 

This is important whether you are hiring a contractor or not. All too often, we do it ourselves, and get an extra hand from a friend, and something happens. Nobody wants to sue anybody, but somebody still has to pay for the damages.

Increasing your liability coverage helps you to feel more secure in the event that something like this happens. If it happens on your property,  you are going to be held liable.

Check Your Contractor’s Insurance

If you do have a contractor, be sure that they have liability insurance as well. You can ask to see a copy of their policy or get a copy of their policy number in the event of a problem. You can get a copy of their worker’s compensation policy as well. They may ask to see your policy number as well, but for the most part, this is a question contractors shouldn’t be afraid to hear.

This is important and tells your contractor that you are paying attention to liabilities. It may be their nail that you hurt yourself on. You won’t be held responsible for that.

Increase Your Liability Coverage Today

It’s never too early to increase your liability coverage. At Gill Insurance Agency, we want Plainfield, IN home owners to feel comfortable with their home insurance policy. Call us today to update your home insurance policy, and increase your liability coverage before you renovate.

After a severe storm rolls through Plainfield, IN, some homeowners are left to deal with the damage. Dealing with storm damage can leave homeowners frustrated as they deal with roof damage and getting their insurance claim approved. Some roof damage is covered by standard insurance policies, while other situations may lead to a denied claim. Continue reading to learn more about the roof damage and your homeowner’s insurance coverage. 

If needed, the experts at Gill Insurance Agency can help you with your insurance coverage and explain the different situations when roof damage is covered. 

Does My Homeowners Insurance Policy Cover Roof Damage?

The best way to determine if your homeowner’s insurance covers roof damage is to take the time to read the entire policy. Typically, homeowners insurance considers how the roof was damaged before approving or denying a claim. Generally, roof damage is covered as long as it was not damaged because of neglect or lack of maintenance. Some policies have exclusions, which do not cover roof damage caused by wind or hail. 

What If There is a Leak In My Roof? 

When you discover a roof leak, you must first take the steps necessary to minimize future damage to the roof and your items inside the home. Then call a contractor out to determine the cause of the leak. Finally, if some covered damage caused the leak, call your insurance company. They will send out an adjuster to look at the roof and determine if your policy covers the damage. 

Dealing with roof damage and trying to get it covered can be a challenging process for many Plainfield, IN homeowners. To reduce the hassle associated with roof damage, call our experts at Gill Insurance Agency. We can help you determine what is covered and provide you with the best insurance policy for your needs.