If someone believes that your negligence has caused them harm, there is a good chance that you could be sued. You are at risk if someone believes you are legally liable for their injuries and/or damages. Although, most Texas Homeowners Insurance Policies will provide coverage for liability as a result of someone being injured on your property (if your are considered legally liable), it is far better to avoid these types of issues all together.

Here are a few tips for “Fall Proofing” your property:

• Install handrails on both sides of your stairs
• Keep stairs clear and unobstructed
• Ensure stairs are sturdy, strong and in good condition
• Wipe up spills immediately
• Install bright lights over porches and walkways
• Repair cracked or broken concrete
• Keep sidewalks and paths clear of obstacles

As they say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Take the necessary steps to prevents these occurrences before they happen.

I have been asked the following question: If I own a condo, can I just get a renters insurance policy or do I need a condo insurance policy? The answer is definitely, a Condo Insurance Policy.

Renters Insurance will only cover the contents of an apartment, condo or home. This is fine if you are a tenant and the contents are the only exposure you have in the event of a loss. But, if you own a condo you have additional concerns even though you don’t own the entire building.

The Condo Owners Association will provide coverage for the building/structure. The typical coverage provided by this type of policy will be only for the roof and exterior walls. Coverage stops at the wall studs and anything inside of this is the unit owners responsibility. This would include the sheet rock, paint, texturing, wallpaper, cabinets, wall tiles, showers, sinks, fixtures, lighting, cabinets and more. Renters Insurance does not cover these items. You have to determine a value for these finish out items and add this to the contents coverage amount and use this as the coverage amount for the condo insurance policy.

This is a major difference in coverage and must be address properly or you could risk a major loss. So, get the Condo Insurance policy if you own the unit. It does cost much more and could save you a bunch in the long run.

I am often asked this question, and the answer is: “It depends.” It depends on the type of water damage that has occurred and what the source of the water is. It also depends on what type of coverage you have on your Homeowners Insurance Policy.

Water damage due to rising water from outside of the home, such as a river overflowing its banks and rising into the home, is called “Flood Damage” and is specifically excluded from Texas Homeowners Insurance policies. No coverage is provided for this. A separate Flood Insurance policy is available and is written though the National Flood Insurance Program, a federal program. If you are located in a designated flood zone you definitely will need a Flood Insurance policy and your mortgage company will require this coverage. If you are not located in a flood zone, this coverage is not required but you may want to consider it anyway. Contact our office for additional information on Flood Insurance.

The type of water damage that is typically covered under a Texas Homeowners Insurance policy is the type that originates from within the home. Such as a water line bursting or a water heater bursting and flooding the home.

There are two primary types of water damage coverages, for homeowners insurance purposes. The first is what is called “Sudden and Accidental Discharge of Water”. This is when a sudden burst of water floods the home. An example would be a water heater bursting or a washing machine hose breaking and suddenly flooding the home with water. This can do major damage, especially if you are not home when it happens. This type of damage is typically covered under a well endorsed homeowners insurance policy.

The second type of water damage is that which occurs as a result of slow leaks. Possibly a leaking water line or a shower pan leak. These typically do a smaller amount of damage and are often less than the homeowners insurance policy deductible, unless they are left unattended for an extended period of time. If that happens these can become major claims as well. Because of this, many homeowners insurance companies do not cover damage for slow leaks. They consider this a maintenence related claim and feel that if the homeowner takes care of the issue as soon as it becomes apparent, it would not be a big deal. Some insurance companies do cover this type of water damage, as well. It’s good too have both covered, if it is not cost prohibitive from a premium standpoint.

Another type of water damage coverage on a Texas Homeowners Insurance Policy is “Backup of Sewers and Drain Coverage.” This would cover you in the event a toilet backed up and overflowed into the home. This can be a big deal, especially if the bathroom is located upstairs. Most policies do covers this now days, but it is generally an additional endorsement to the Texas Homeowners Insurance policy. However, some policies do include it automatically.

So, once  again, the answer is: “It Depends”. Check with your agent and/or insurance company or contact our office to verify what specific type of coverage you have or to discuss this coverage in more detail.