Making your home a safer place to live

Your home serves as a sanctuary, a place where you and your family gather and feel safe. Ensuring its safety is essential for your well-being. Numerous factors contribute to the security of your home’s interior and exterior portions. At EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX, our function as independent insurance agents enables us to prioritize the needs of our customers. We offer multiple choices to help you land the most suitable policy for your requirements.

Considerations for Outdoor Safety

Creating a safer exterior around your home can involve the installation of an alarm system that alerts you to potential intruders. Motion-detecting lighting can further augment your security by illuminating any moving object within its range. Proper fencing is integral for children’s safety if you have a swimming pool. Pruning shrubs near your house to a lower height and regularly trimming tree branches can help avoid injuries or damage.

Enhancing Safety Inside Your Home

Inside your home, the threat of a fire necessitates smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on every floor. Promote child safety by ensuring poisonous chemicals and medications are stored out of their reach or securely locked away. Regularly check and ensure that doors and windows are all locked.

Trips and falls constitute some of the most significant potential threats inside a home. Keep hallways and stairs free of clutter, ensure there’s ample lighting, and avoid throw rugs or extension cords that could lead to a tumble. Conducting a safety assessment of your home’s interior can further enhance its safety.

Our dedicated team at EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX, is readily available to discuss your home insurance needs. Contact us today.

What Are Five Popular Add Ons for Home Insurance?

Also called riders or add-ons, home insurance endorsements are additions to standard home insurance policies. They provide extra protection for certain items or risks. Common endorsements to consider adding to your policy through EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX, include the following.

  • Scheduled Personal Property: This endorsement provides coverage for specific high-dollar items such as jewelry, art, or antiques. These items typically have limits under a standard home insurance policy, so scheduling them separately ensures that they are fully covered in case of damage.
  • Flood: Generally not covered under routine policies, some states in storm damage-prone areas require a special policy. Protect property with flood insurance regardless of the area.
  • Water Backup Coverage: This endorsement may cover damage caused to personal property, such as electronics and furniture, due to water backing up; water backup coverage can also cover certain structural damage like walls and floors, but a deductible must be covered first.
  • Earthquakes: This endorsement covers homes if the earth shakes and damages the home or its contents. Those in areas where earthquakes occur occasionally or more frequently, such as California, should consider adding this coverage to their standard insurance policy.
  • Identity Theft: While becoming increasingly popular, identity theft can be costly and time-consuming to correct. This rider covers theft-related fees for goods and legal fees. Eliminate these concerns with ID theft protection from your insurance provider or an outside source.

Looking For Insurance For Your Home?

If so, contact the experts at EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX, to learn more about coverage options and endorsements. We will help you determine the right policy and add-ons for your home and keep you apprised when it’s time to update or review your policy for optimal protection.

What is Covered by Home Insurance?

Our agents at EasTex Insurance, serving the residents of the Tyler, TX, area, are touting the importance of home insurance, whether you still owe money for your home or not.

Home insurance, also known as homeowners insurance, is a great safety net if a tragic incident occurs. It will protect one of your most significant investments: your home. Home insurance will cover your property and possessions in the event of unexpected events or disasters covered under your specific policy.

Home Insurance Coverage Options in Texas

Most normal home insurance policies will cover the following:

  • Dwelling Coverage: This part of your policy covers the structure of your home, including the walls, roof, floors, and even built-in appliances and bookcases, if they are damaged by something like fire, windstorms, vandalism, and more. Dwelling coverage means you can rebuild or repair the home you love if damaged or destroyed.
  • Personal Property Coverage: Most home insurance policies also protect your belongings, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, and appliances, if they are damaged, stolen, or destroyed in some incident, as stated above. This coverage extends beyond your home, often covering items lost or damaged even while you are traveling.
  • Liability Coverage: This type of coverage is essential, especially if someone falls and is injured at your home or you accidentally damage someone else’s property. This type of coverage can help you cover legal fees and medical expenses.
  • Additional Structures: Most of the time, other structures on your property, such as garages, sheds, or fences, are covered under your home insurance policy.
  • Loss of Use Coverage: If you and your family have to live at another location while your home is repaired or rebuilt, this coverage will help your living expenses while you are displaced from your house.

Contact EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX

To get your home insurance policy started, contact our agents at EasTex Insurance, serving the residents of the Tyler, TX, area today!

What You Need To Know Before Buying Your First Homeowner’s Policy

Purchasing your first home is an exciting time in life. But there are a lot of different factors that need to be addressed during this time. One of the more important factors to consider is homeowner’s insurance. Here at EasTex Insurance, serving Tyler, TX, and the surrounding areas, we are committed to helping you make wise insurance choices. Keep reading to learn more about homeowner’s insurance. 

Do I Need Homeowner’s Insurance?

Pretty much everyone needs a homeowner’s insurance policy. If you have a mortgage on your home, the mortgage company will likely require that insurance is in place for the duration of the mortgage. Even if you do not have a mortgage in place, though, home insurance is the best way to protect the investment you have made into your home. 

How Much Will My Policy Cover?

Generally, a home insurance policy will cover the cost of replacing the home based on its value. However, in addition to that, the policy can also cover the value of the personal property that is housed on the property. This amount can vary from family to family. 

To determine exactly how much coverage you might need for your personal belongings, you will want to sit down with an insurance expert who can help you evaluate the value. 

Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Flooding?

Most homeowners’ policies will cover interior flooding. This is flooding that results from plumbing malfunctions or appliance malfunctions. Naturally occurring flooding is often not included. If you are concerned about naturally occurring flooding, you should talk to us about flood insurance. 

If you want to learn more about a home or flood insurance, please get in touch with us at EasTex Insurance serving Tyler, TX, and the surrounding areas. 

Reasons why you may need more liability insurance on your home

Liability insurance is the coverage that protects your future. It protects you from legal action that may be taken against you for an injury at your home or done by a member of your family, even a man’s best friend. At EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX, we have been bringing our insurance expertise to the residents of Eastern Texas for more than 40 years. As independent insurance agents, we can bring more choices and personalized service to our customers. 

You have a dog

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but they are also a liability. Some dogs are so dangerous that your home insurance won’t cover them. If your dog bites someone or decides to dig up their prize roses, you may need to have extra liability coverage to pay for the damages. 

You have a trampoline.

Trampolines are very popular and can entertain kids for hours. They can also result in serious injuries. Ensure you have all the safety features in place and keep a close eye on the kids when they have friends to use it. 

You have a swimming pool.

Swimming pools are a great addition to your home, but they bring considerable risk. Make sure that you are following all the fencing requirements in your community. You are liable for any injuries, even if the person injured is trespassing on your property. 

You entertain a lot

The more people you have at your home, the more vulnerable you are to being sued. Ensure you maintain your exterior decks and have handrails to discourage falls. Nobody likes to think their friends or neighbors will sue them, but unfortunately, they will. 

Contact EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX to discuss your home insurance liability needs and answer any questions you may have. 

Protect Your Home and Belongings in Tyler, TX

As a homeowner in Tyler, TX, protecting your home and belongings from potential risks is essential. One way to do this is by carrying homeowner’s insurance. A home insurance policy can help cover the cost of repairs or replacement if there is damage to your home from a covered event, such as a fire or severe weather. Keep reading to learn more about homeowners’ insurance policies.

What Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?

A typical homeowner’s insurance policy covers damage from events like fires, severe weather, theft, and vandalism. It can also help cover temporary living expenses if your home is uninhabitable due to damage from a covered event. Most policies also include personal liability coverage if someone is injured on your property and you’re held liable.

An EasTex Insurance representative can help you choose the right coverage for your needs.

What Type of Coverage is Available?

Several types of homeowner’s insurance policies are available in Tyler, TX, each with its own coverage set. Some of the most common policies include:

HO-1:

This basic policy provides coverage for damage from select events, such as fires, storms, and vandalism. It does not offer coverage for other risks, such as floods or earthquakes.

HO-2:

This policy provides coverage for damages from a broader range of events than an HO-1 policy. Besides the coverage in an HO-1 policy, it also offers protection from wind damage, hail, and water damage (from leaks and pipe bursts).

HO-3:

This is the most common type of homeowner’s insurance policy. It offers broad coverage for damages from many events, except those expressly excluded from the policy. Examples of events not covered by HO-3 in Tyler, TX, policies include floods and earthquakes.

To learn more about your options, contact EasTex Insurance.

Things that home insurance doesn’t cover

Home insurance is the safety net you purchase to protect your home. It offers lots of different protection from a variety of hazards. You may feel like you have all the bases covered, but unfortunately, like most other types of insurance, home insurance has exclusions. Knowing what they are can help you to make whatever other plans you need to make. At EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX, we are independent insurance agents and we represent you, our customers. With more than 40 years in business, we have the experience you need and expect. 

Owner negligence

You may think that your home is your castle and the upkeep of your castle is your personal business. You are wrong. Your home insurance expects you to take care of your home and if you don’t, the insurance will not pay for any resulting damage. If you need a new roof but hold off on replacing it and get damage as a result, you won’t be covered. If termites do devastating damage to your home, you won’t be covered. You should have a termite bond. 

Floods

Floods cause millions of dollars of damage every year and your home insurance won’t pay. If a pipe bursts in your home and floods it, that is covered, but if you are inundated by surface water, you will only be covered if you have designated flood insurance. 

Earth movement

Earth movements include earthquakes, mudslides, and sinkholes. While these all cause a lot of damage, they are not covered under a standard home insurance policy. You can add an endorsement to cover them, however, or buy a totally separate policy. 

Limited coverage

Some specific areas have limits built into the policy. One of these is jewelry. Check the limits on your policy and expand it with an endorsement if necessary. 

When you have home insurance needs, contact EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX.

How Homeowner’s Insurance Protects You

Homeowners insurance provides financial protection for your home and all personal belongings inside. However, if you currently have this insurance policy for your home in Tyler, TX, you may begin to wonder if it is enough? You may also wonder more specifically what it is protecting you from. While the professionals at EasTex Insurance can help answer these questions and others, additional information can be found below, as well.

Homeowner’s Insurance Defined

Homeowners insurance is a group of protections that help replace or repair your home, outbuildings, and belongings if they are damaged or lost because of theft or fire. It can also cover costs incurred due to accidental damage to someone else’s property or if someone visiting your home is injured.

The Cost of Homeowner’s Insurance

The cost of insurance depends on several factors, including your home features, the cost of your personal belongings, and selected coverages. You may also incur additional fees for extra coverage or increased limits. A professional insurance agent can help you find the right coverages that fit your needs or determine if you can receive any policy discounts.

Coverage Provided by Homeowner’s Insurance

Homeowner’s insurance will usually cover things like your home, other structures on the property, your personal property, and liability for damage or injuries to someone else’s property. It may also be possible for you to purchase more coverage if needed for additional protection.

Regardless of if you need to purchase home insurance for the first time or replace your existing policy for your Tyler, TX home, EasTex Insurance professionals can help. We can help review your home’s specifics and what level and amount of home insurance you need. The professionals will also help compare policies to find the most value for the right price.

 

Keeping your home safe over the holidays

This the season to be jolly, but it is also a time when you need to keep your home safe. Safety comes in different forms, and many things can go wrong at this most wonderful time of the year. Your home insurance is your safety net, but hopefully, if you take some precautions, you can avoid having to file a claim. At EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX, we have 40 years of experience providing you the customer service and insurance products you deserve.

Check the batteries

When everyone is spending more time indoors at this time of the year, it is important to make sure you replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that can kill. More than 400 people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning, and over 2000 are hospitalized. 

Keep your Christmas tree hydrated.

Christmas tree fires cause millions of dollars of damage every year and are responsible for deaths as well. It was a tree that didn’t get enough water to keep it from drying out in many cases. Never put a candle or other heat source near your Christmas tree. If you have pets or small children, anchor your tree for additional safety. 

Don’t leave lights on

When you go to bed, turn off the holiday lights or have them on a timer. Check all the cords, whether on the lights or extension cords, to ensure they are in good repair. 

Don’t announce your travel plans on social media.

Keep a low profile on social media during the holidays. If you are away for the day or several days, don’t talk about it before you go. You can share when you return. Thieves are always looking for an easy score. 

Contact EasTex Insurance in Tyler, TX for all your home insurance needs.

Why a home inventory is a very good idea

Your home is your castle, and protecting your home and all the things that you own are important to you. Nobody likes to think about bad things happening, but unfortunately, they do. When they do, you need to file a claim, which is never fun. It can also be stressful, but there are some things you can do to make filing a claim less stressful, including having a home inventory. In the event of a catastrophe, you will find a home inventory is a very good idea. At EasTex Insurance of Tyler, TX, we have been in business since 1979 and love to share our many years of experience. 

When you file a claim for loss of personal possessions, your carrier is going to want to know exactly what was lost. Depending on how the structure of your home was involved with the loss, it may be difficult to prove exactly what you used to have. That is where your home inventory comes in. It is a careful room by room record of your possessions. You can create it the old fashioned way with a pen and pad, or you can use a video to record the content of your rooms. If you use a written record, the addition of photos can be very valuable. Attach any invoices or receipts you have. Include as much detail (brand, date purchased, model number) as possible. 

If you have valuable items, getting an appraisal will make collecting on your claim a lot easier. Once your inventory is complete, you should store it in an easily accessible place safe from anything which might destroy your home. The cloud is a safe option. 

A home inventory is an excellent idea if you ever file a claim. At EasTex Insurance of Tyler, TX, we will be happy to answer any questions about a home inventory or about any other insurance-related topic you have. Call our office to set up an appointment or to get a no-obligation quote.