Category: Home Insurance

Homeowners insurance helps protect families against expensive losses from unexpected events like theft, vandalism, fire, and other hazards. Many people believe their homeowner’s insurance protects them from flood damage, but this is not always true. At Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA, we can help you understand the water damage coverage in your homeowners insurance policy.

Water Damage Your Homeowners Policy Will Cover

Your policy will generally cover water damage that occurs inside the house, such as when your washing machine or dishwasher overflows, a pipe bursts in extreme cold, or a roof leak that allows water inside your home. It will also cover damage from water used to put out a fire or from ice dams that occur in cold climates. Water damage from a swimming pool leak or sump pump failure is not covered under standard homeowners insurance.

Flood Insurance Is A Different Type of Coverage

Homeowners’ insurance generally does not cover damage from water outside the home, such as flash flooding or a sewer backup. For this type of water damage, you will need a flood insurance policy, which will cover damage to the building and much of its contents. If you live in an area prone to flooding, your mortgage holder may require you to have flood insurance in addition to standard homeowners insurance.

Choose Toney Insurance Services For Your Homeowners Insurance

The experienced agents at Toney Insurance Service in Snellville, GA, can provide detailed information on coverage in your standard homeowners insurance policy and advise you on whether additional insurance is advisable. Contact Toney Insurance Services today for a no-obligation quote on homeowners insurance to protect your property in case of unexpected water damage.

Winters in Georgia can be unpredictable. It can get quite cold even if snow and ice are not common occurrences. If it rains and then gets cold, ice can be a serious issue for drivers and just walking to get into your vehicle. At Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA we take the safety of our customers seriously, and we make sure that one thing they don’t have to worry about is having the right home insurance. 

 Preparing your Georgia home for winter

Exterior water sources need to be winterized

In Georgia, many people have sprinkler systems for their lawns. These need to be winterized to make sure that none of them burst if they freeze with water in them. Disconnect and store any outdoor hoses and turn off the water to outdoor spigots. 

Tune up heating

No matter what type of heating system you have, you probably haven’t used it for months, and it needs to be cleaned and tuned up, and the filters need to be changed. You want it to perform when you need it. 

Clean the chimney

If you have a fireplace that you enjoy using in the winter, getting the chimney cleaned yearly helps to reduce your risk of a chimney fire. 

Get trees trimmed

With the advent of winter weather, the potential for storms that can include ice increases, and if you have a tree with branches large enough to cause damage to your home or vehicle, getting any dead or damaged limbs removed before winter can save you a lot of grief. 

Plug the leaks

Make sure that your windows and doors are not letting your heat escape. 

Consult With Us

Contact Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA when it is time to review your home insurance or if you are a new homeowner. We can help make sure you have the coverage you need. 

Most people don’t even read their home insurance policy. This can lead to some nasty surprises. Having questions about your home insurance is a good thing, and at Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA, we have a team of very experienced insurance agents who are eminently qualified to answer your questions. 

Home Insurance FAQs

Do I need to have home insurance if I don’t have a mortgage?

No, the sad truth is that the state of Georgia doesn’t require home insurance, but that doesn’t mean that it is a good idea to be without it. For most people, their home is a major portion of their assets, and if you don’t have home insurance, you are risking the entire loss of your home from something like a fire or a tornado. Home insurance also includes liability coverage in the event you are sued by someone injured at your home or by a member of the family. 

Will home insurance cover my property if I lose it away from home?

Yes, it will. If your vehicle is broken into and your possessions are stolen or if you lose your laptop while on vacation, your home insurance will cover the items, but there is a deductible. 

Is my home covered for water damage?

Your home is covered for some water damage. If the damage is the result of an interior pipe or hose bursting, that will be covered. If a tornado ripens off your roof and you suffer water damage, that will be covered. However, if there is a flood, your home is not covered for damage. For that, you need to have a separate flood insurance policy. 

Consult With Us

Contact Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA when you want to discuss your home insurance needs. 

Absolutely. Not everyone’s policy will need to be updated annually. However, it’s a good idea to review your homeowner’s policy needs when you obtain new art objects, for example, jewelry and hobby items like rare train sets or 100-year-old porcelain dolls.

It’s not just about expensive things like classic cars or retro travel trailers. It’s also about the structure and any add-ons such as an extra room, indoor or outdoor pool, a deck, a bay window, or adding a permanent canopy over the patio to make an outdoor room. Toney Insurance Services of Snellville, GA is here to explain why this assessment is necessary.

The 80 Percent Rule

You just left closing on your new house with only change left in the bank. You had to purchase home insurance for closing. We get it. You should know, though, that the 80 percent rule is necessary for homeowners to receive full home insurance coverage. 

You should also know that had you not bought it and/or kept up with inflation to keep your insurance at 80 percent and a disaster struck, then the insurance would only pay the difference between the 80 percent of the value of the house and the amount of insurance you bought.

Why Update Your Home Insurance

Let’s say your new house needs upgrades. You upgrade it, and the value of your home increases. The snag to that is you forgot to upgrade your home insurance. Disaster strikes. The insurance company won’t pay for repairs because the 80 percent window has been closed.

According to the upgraded value of your house, you now have, say, 58 percent coverage on your house. The insurance company will take the difference between the 80 percent it originally was and the 58 percent it is now and pay you 22 percent. You’re on the hook for the rest of it. Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA will be happy to walk you through what other things you should know about home insurance.

Consumers who own a home in Snellville, GA need to fully understand home insurance. Toney Insurance Services can provide answers to questions area homeowners have about this important coverage.

The following are four common misconceptions consumers must be aware of regarding home insurance:

Home insurance offers complete coverage for personal belongings within the home

While home insurance policies typically include some coverage for the policyholder’s personal belongings with the home, there will be a limit on how much coverage this includes. That’s why homeowners with especially valuable items in their homes such as collectibles or high-end electronics might want to increase their personal property coverage limits. 

Home insurance always provides coverage for water damage

Home insurance policies cover some types of water damage such as water damage resulting from a burst pipe. However, standard home insurance will typically not provide coverage for flood damage or certain other causes of water damage. 

Home insurance provides coverage for landslide damage

Standard home insurance does not usually cover landslide damage. If you live in an area with a risk of landslide damage, you may need to add specialty coverage for landslide damage. 

Homeowners don’t have to purchase home insurance

While homeowners are not typically required by law to carry home insurance, they are typically required to carry home insurance by their mortgage lender. If you are still paying off the mortgage on your home, you will need to buy insurance coverage. 

Contact Us Today

Get in touch with us at Toney Insurance Services to get a quote on a home insurance policy for your property in Snellville, GA. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and provide you with the coverage you need!