Home Insurance FAQs

Navigating the Home Insurance               Mix-master- Arrgghh!

   Have you ever tried to navigate the mix-master in an unfamiliar city? I have lived in and around the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex most of my life and I still haven't mastered them. There was only one or two when I first started driving. Now it seems every suburb has it's own version of the Mix-master. 
   Have you tried to navigate shopping for Homeowner's Insurance lately? Same story. There used to be a few carriers- we all grew up with Allstate, State Farm and Farmers. Now, there are dozens and dozens. Talk about navigating confusing roads!
   It is easy to get overwhelmed trying to figure out your policy. So I thought I would share a few of the questions we hear the most often:
* Why is my dwelling insured for so much more than I paid for the home?
Because your insurance covers the cost to REBUILD your home, not move into it. Most carriers have their own dwelling amount estimator. Agents plug in the specifics of a home- square ft, roof type, age, updates, etc and the estimator computes the cost that carrier is willing to pay to rebuild the home from foundation to roofing. 
* Are my wedding rings covered?
Most policies will have some type of jewelry coverage. Most of them will be basic, $2500-$5000 in coverage. But if you want your precious jewelry covered, you will want to consider a scheduled personal property endorsement. It will cover specific pieces without a deductible. It will also cover theft and mysterious disappearance. The basic jewelry coverage in the policy will not.  The same goes for your coin collection, art collection, gun collection (Hey - we are in Texas!)
*If my dog bites a neighbor, will my insurance cover it?
Yes. Your personal liability will cover this.  As long as it is not a ineligible dog breed and there isn't an animal exclusion on the policy. Most carriers will have an ineligible dog breed list. Some will not write the home at all, while others will exclude liability in the case of a dog attack. Most of the dogs on the forbidden list are aggressive breeds; Pitbulls, Dobermans, Rottweilers, etc...
  Believe me- not all insurance policies are the same! As independent agents, my husband and I see many different types of policies. I feel for people calling in with questions- the ones who are truly trying to understand what their coverage is. I know the time and effort it took us to learn the carriers and coverage. And it is what we do everyday, all day. We realize most of our clients don't have that kind of time. And you shouldn't have to. That is what we agents are for! 


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Brockman Premier Insurance
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Ineligible Dog Breeds

Is Your Dog Affecting Your Insurance Costs?

   Your dog is a liability concern for all home owners insurance carriers. Certain, aggressive, dog breeds, pose a higher risk for attacking someone. If your dog attacks or bites anyone, you are liable for their medical bills.

   Insurance carriers consider some breeds to be ineligible. Many will not insure you if you own an Akita, Chow Chow, Doberman, German Shepherd, Pitbull and Rottweiler, among other breeds. Even if they will insure your home, you will have to opt for an Animal Exclusion. This means if your dog bites anyone, the insurance carrier will not pay the claim. Every home insurance quote I have ever completed asks about dog ownership and breed. At the very least, your insurance will increase with one of these breeds.

   Many carriers will leave the claim open until the claimant has healed completely. In the case of a child, this could take years. Doctors will decide if plastic surgery is needed. Many times they will wait until the child has reached 18 to make sure the reconstruction is done after they have finished developing. This type of claim could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars by time it is all said and done.

   Our next door neighbor had a Great Dane, “Duke”. Duke was the sweetest dog, everyone loved him. He loved people. He loved to play, but never got aggressive. One day their son had a friend over. Duke knew the boy well. The boys were up in the game room playing video games. Duke was in there chewing on some toy. The friend bent over to see what Duke was chewing on. Duke bit him, on the head. Basically he had the boy’s head in his mouth. All heck broke out. The boy was covered in blood, an ambulance was called, Duke was locked in another room. Now, the boy is fine. It looked worse than it was- a few stitches, some glue. The doctors said if Duke had wanted to kill him, he could have very easily. Apparently he was just warning him. But this was a non-aggressive dog with no bit history, who loved people. This type of claim is why certain breeds are ineligible, require exclusions, or at least will increase your premium.

   Many people have argued that they have raised their ineligible breed from a puppy, with love. Their beloved pet would never bite anyone. But Insurance is about the possibility of risk. Actuaries research and compile data on every risk a carrier could cover. Their numbers decide if the risk will be covered and how much it will cost to do so. You won’t be able to argue your point on this. Talk to your agent and make sure you know the facts about insuring your home with one of these breeds.

Thanks for reading!

Nancy Brockman

Please contact  The Brockman Agency for quotes and answers to your questions about Home, Auto and Commercial insurance. We partner with 20 carriers, so we do the shopping for you!