What Home Owners Should Know About Home Insurance

Purchasing a home is a big deal. You will want to make sure everything is perfect in your new place. As you are busy getting things set up, don’t forget about homeowner’s insurance. This important type of coverage will ensure that your home is protected. At Ellis Insurance Agency serving San Antonio, TX and the surrounding areas, we are here to help answer your insurance questions. Keep reading to learn more about home insurance. 

Who Needs Home Insurance?

Home insurance is often required if you have a mortgage on your home. Even if you do not have a mortgage on your home, though, home insurance is the best way to protect the money you have invested in your home. Your house is more than just a house. It is both an investment and a safe place for you and your family to grow. Having the proper insurance in place brings you peace of mind. 

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Home insurance is a type of insurance product that is designed to pay if your home is damaged because of fire, natural disaster, or burglary. With the proper insurance in place, you will not have to worry about paying for these expenses out of pocket. 

Home insurance offers coverage for the following areas:

  • Property Damage- If the home is damaged or lost, the policy will kick in to repair or replace your home. This gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you will always have a home for yourself and your family. 
  • Liability Coverage- If someone is hurt in your home or on your property, liability coverage will pay for any medical bills or legal fees that may result. 

If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact us at Ellis Insurance Agency, serving San Antonio, TX, and the surrounding areas. 

 

 

Renters Insurance Policy Overview

Ellis Insurance Agency serves the San Antonio, TX community and the surrounding areas. For over 30 years, we have provided service to our clients built on trust and reliability. We recognize that each of our clients has unique circumstances. We sit down with our clients to help them find policies specifically tailored to their needs.

Renters Insurance Policy Overview 

If you reside in one of the many appealing rental properties in the San Antonio, TX area, consider adding renters insurance. While the property owner may have coverage, it likely only covers any damages to the interior and exterior of the property. Your personal items are not their responsibility. That’s why renters insurance is an asset. Renters insurance covers your personal items if something happens to them. This can help alleviate some stress in the event that your possessions are stolen. Consider taking inventory when you move in so that you’ll be aware of your personal item’s true value. If you’re traveling out of the state to go on vacation, the policy covers your items while away from home.

Liability coverage is another important part of the policy. Perhaps you enjoy inviting guests over to have a good time. If one of your friends or an invited guest suffers an injury, liability coverage steps in to protect you. Liability coverage also covers accidental damage to your neighbor’s property. Perhaps you have a pet whose having a bad day and scratches your neighbor’s wall or causes a dent in their property. Liability coverage will protect you. If a natural disaster moves through Texas and damages your rental property, you can add alternative living coverage, which helps you find another place to stay while the property is restored.

Ellis Insurance Agency Will Help You Cover Your Assets

Contact us today to learn more information about renters insurance.  

Why RV Insurance is Needed

Whether you are embarking on a cross country road trip to see all the national landmarks or use it as a personal residence, RV usage is on the rise. Given the expense required in purchasing, maintaining, and owning an RV you’ll want to be sure that you have adequate insurance coverage. In Texas, you are only required to carry minimum liability insurance which is unlikely to be enough if you are involved in an accident given the likely cost of repairs to an RV and the totality of damage it could cause to a third party. 

RVs are an investment and an expensive one at that so insurance provides valuable peace of mind while you are on the road. At Ellis Insurance Agency in San Antonio, TX, we want to help you with your RV insurance needs. When shopping for insurance, you’ll first want to know what classification of RV you own because this can have a large impact on the type of coverage you’ll want to purchase and the cost. An RV can cover anything from trailers to motorhomes to truck campers to fifth wheelers. 

Similar to your auto insurance policy, a typical RV insurance plan will include collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, liability, and medical payments. Additionally, you may want to consider optional coverage such as towing, roadside, and contents insurance which pays to replace your belongings if they are damaged or stolen in a covered incident. Contact Ellis Insurance Agency in San Antonio, TX to schedule an appointment with one of our professional and knowledgeable insurance agents so that we can help customize an RV insurance policy that best meets your needs.

Why Motorcycle Insurance Is Beneficial

Ellis Insurance Agency serves the San Antonio, TX community. We are committed to helping our clients find the coverage they need to protect their assets. For over 30 years, we have provided quality service to the local community. Our success was built on treating our clients with respect and integrity. We hope to build trust with you so that we can provide your coverage needs as you deal with life’s challenges.

Why Motorcycle Insurance Is Beneficial

Many San Antonio, TX residents enjoy riding their motorcycles during warm summer days. While motorcycles are fun and exciting, they are relatively high risk assets. It only takes a split second for you to lose control of your motorcycle. Motorcycle insurance covers you if an incident happens. There are multiple benefits to insuring your motorcycle.

Liability Protection

Perhaps you are operating your motorcycle on a wet road, and you lose control. Maybe you see something in your peripheral vision, which causes you to crash. If you accidentally crash your motorcycle and injure someone or damage an object, liability coverage protects you. Liability coverage protects your assets by covering the damages and offering a safety net if the injured party pursues legal action.

Personal Injury Coverage

Personal injury coverage protects you if you are injured while riding your motorcycle. Motorcycle accidents often cause severe injuries. You are covered while you receive medical treatment. Your rehabilitation is also covered so that you can focus on getting healthy.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is beneficial because it protects your motorcycle in unique ways. You are covered if your motorcycle is stolen. You are also covered if your motorcycle breaks down while you are on the road. You can add urgent roadside assistance.

Ellis Insurance Agency Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about motorcycle insurance.   

Boat Insurance Basics

San Antonio, TX, is a delight for boat owners. Following the San Antonio River, this city offers many opportunities for watercraft enthusiasts to enjoy themselves. But before you hitch up your boat, make sure that you have the right boat insurance for your needs by speaking to the friendly insurance agents at Ellis Insurance Agency serving San Antonio TX.

Breaking Down the Basics

To some extent, your homeowner’s policy will provide financial cover for your boat, but this is only for physical damage or loss, subject to the way the policy is structured. Comprehensive boat insurance should provide financial cover in two ways.

Physical Damage or Loss

Does your policy afford you financial protection against the possibility of accidental loss, damage, or theft of your boat? You will structure this area of your boat insurance policy in one of three ways.

Replacement Cost

Pay to repair or replace your boat.

Actual Cash Value

This type of insurance also pays to replace or repair your boat against accidental damage or loss but at a depreciated value.

Agreed Amount Value

You insure your boat for a set maximum value.

The type of policy you select depends on your financial obligations and your needs and should be reviewed at the time of renewal annually.

Liability

Liability is always a big one. Boats are fun, and good fun is often shared with friends and family. A boat insurance policy with liability cover provides financial assistance, depending on your policy wording, with injuries, disability, and death if you are legally responsible.

Don’t let this one sail by you; contact the Ellis Insurance Agency serving San Antonio, TX, today! And make sure you are covered adequately with insurance for your boating assets.

Why Umbrella Insurance Is An Asset

Ellis Insurance Agency serves the San Antonio, TX community. For over 30 years, we have strived to help our clients protect what matters most. Every person has unique risks and potential exposures that they have to deal with. We want to simplify the process of searching for coverage.

Why Umbrella Insurance Is An Asset

Sometimes life throws an unexpected curve ball your way. While dealing with emergency situations are always uncomfortable, having protection in place can help things go a little smoother. Umbrella insurance is a safety net that you can lean on during tough times. Umbrella insurance is a supplemental policy that you can add to your home and auto liability coverage. This protects you from a potential lawsuit if you cause damages to someone’s property, or you are responsible for someone suffering a serious injury.

If you have a child who is learning how to drive, umbrella insurance is a potential safety net. Research shows that high rates of teen drivers are involved in auto accidents. If your teen driver causes substantial property damage, umbrella insurance will protect you. Perhaps you have a pool or trampoline at your San Antonio, TX home. While these are fun accessories, they are also very dangerous. One mistake could lead to someone suffering a serious injury. If you are held liable involving a pool or trampoline accident, umbrella insurance helps protect you. Maybe you enjoy hosting parties at your residence. If you are serving alcohol at the party, you may be held liable if someone damages property or gets into a fight, causing a bodily injury. If the allegations are serious, umbrella insurance can protect you.

Ellis Insurance Agency Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about umbrella insurance.

Why Should I Invest in Flood Insurance?

Is there anything worse than undergoing a natural disaster? Perhaps there is, but dealing with the aftermath of a natural calamity is never child play. Floods are one of the most common disasters in the US. And boy, when floods strike, most residents are left counting losses upon losses. 

Given that floods are ubiquitous in the US, you might wonder how you can protect yourself. While arming yourself with precautionary tips during floods is superb, flood insurance coverage ensures that your home is livable even after floods damage.

Still not convinced why you should invest in flood insurance? Ellis Insurance Agency of San Antonio, TX, shares more reasons.

It may be required

While Texas doesn’t require residents to purchase flood insurance, your lender may insist you purchase coverage if you live in a flood plain area. And even if your property is in a low flood-risk area, your lender may still require you to invest in flood insurance. But whether flood insurance is compulsory or not, you need it. 

Home insurance doesn’t cover floods

Home insurance is an excellent investment to protect your home. Unfortunately, typical home insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. As a result, you require flood insurance from private insurers or the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to protect your home against floods.

Floods can strike anywhere

According to FEMA, there is a 26% chance that you will experience floods at some point during a 30-year mortgage period! Floods can strike anywhere, and sometimes without warning. The only way you can be safe is by purchasing flood insurance.

Flood insurance in San Antonio, TX

If it rains, floods can strike anytime and anywhere. And even if you live in a low-risk area, you are not entirely safe. About 20% of flood insurance claims come from residents living outside high-risk areas! Are you ready to get started with flood insurance? Contact Ellis Insurance Agency today.

What Is Covered By Your Condo HOA’s Insurance?

Condo owners have the luxury of having the outside of their home and community areas covered under their condo association’s insurance policy. However, not everything in a condo community is covered by the master HOA insurance plan. As a condo owner in San Antonio, TX, you need to purchase additional insurance to cover things your condo association does not cover. 

So what exactly does my condo association’s master insurance policy cover? Would you please continue reading to learn more and then call our agents at Ellis Insurance Agency to discuss your condo insurance coverage options? 

Condo Insurance vs. Condo Association Insurance

Your condo insurance covers your needs and what directly impacts you as an owner of a condo unit. The condo association insurance typically covers all common areas of the building and property and some protection of the interior structure, depending on their policy and building design. 

What is Covered by Your Condo’s Master Insurance Policy? 

Regardless of the policy your condo association carries, you can expect most HOA’s insurance to cover the following: 

  • The exterior of the condominium building
  • Common areas, including exercise rooms, swimming pools, lobbies, outdoor pavilions, etc. 
  • The land around the building

What is Not Covered by Your Condo Association’s Master Insurance Policy? 

When purchasing your condo insurance, check with your HOA to learn more about the condo association’s level of structural insurance protection. In most cases, the master insurance policy protects the outside walls up to the inside border of your unit. Additionally, your condo association’s master insurance policy does not cover your personal belongings, anything damaged inside your unit and does not protect you against liability claims in your unit. 

With questions about their condo association’s master insurance policy, condo owners in San Antonio, TX, should reach out to the experts at Ellis Insurance Agency for assistance. 

Do I Have Enough Accident Coverage?

There are many types of auto insurance coverage options available, which leave many wondering if they have enough accident coverage. The experts at Ellis Insurance Agency understand the need for accident insurance and do not want San Antonio, TX, residents wishing they had more coverage after an accident. When shopping for an insurance policy, make sure to discuss your options with your insurance agent and ensure you have enough coverage in the event of an accident. 

Below are the different coverage options you will benefit from having when in an accident:

Bodily Injury Liability

This coverage pays for the damage caused to someone else’s property and injuries when you are at fault. For example, if you caused an accident and are sued for the damage, this policy covers your court costs and legal defense. Additionally, liability coverage pays for the other person’s medical bills, lost wages, and compensates for pain and suffering. 

Collision Insurance

This coverage pays for the damages caused to your vehicle after being in an accident with another car or object or in the event of a rollover. 

Medical Payments

This coverage, often called personal injury protection, pays for medical bills and funeral expenses when the policyholder is injured in an accident. This policy may also provide coverage for lost wages and other related costs associated with the accident. 

Uninsured Motorist

This policy covers you if you are hit by a driver who does not have insurance coverage or enough insurance coverage to pay for your damages. 

Do not wait to discover you do not have enough San Antonio, TX, accident insurance coverage. Instead, call the experts at Ellis Insurance Agency today to learn about the different coverage options and which one is best for your needs. 

Advantages of Home Insurance

A home is a valuable investment for all homeowners. This brings the need to protect it from disasters like fire and theft, using various home insurance coverage. To avoid a significant financial loss, Ellis Insurance Agency of San Antonio, TX explains the advantages of having home insurance.

Protect Contents in Your Home

Apart from protecting the external structure of your home, insurance covers the contents inside as well. This means that in case of a fire, water damage, or theft and your valuables are either stolen or damaged, home insurance will compensate you for the costs of repairing or replacing property.

Peace Of Mind

No matter the amount of financial security one has, ensuring their home is secured will give them peace of mind. Home insurance offers a sense of security to homeowners by seeing that they are compensated after a loss.

Provides Temporary Living Expenses

Your house may suffer severe damage to the point it becomes uninhabitable. This will require you to find alternative shelter till your home is restored to its original state. Home insurance will help cover the cost of the temporary expenses, including accommodation costs, travel expenses, and meals.

Protect Your Family

Home insurance also provides family coverage. If any of your covered family members cause an accidental bodily injury or property damage to a third party, home insurance can help compensate for those losses. It can be by covering medical bills or the cost of repairing damaged property.

Protect You From Lawsuit

Depending on the policy you have chosen, you can protect yourself or your family members from lawsuits. If someone accidentally gets hurt or their property gets damaged in your home, a home insurance policy will help you cover legal fees or compensate the third party for the damage.

If you are shopping for home insurance to enjoy the benefits mentioned above, you can give us a call at Ellis Insurance Agency. Our San Antonio, TX agents will take you through the different policies and help you choose a suitable one.