Home Insurance

When the Lights Go Out: Preparing for Power Loss

Posted on by AgentInsure

Power outages can happen anytime in Brandon, FL. You may suddenly lose power due to tropical storms, or even from someone running into a utility pole in your neighborhood. Dealing with a power outage is easy–and can even be fun–if you have taken time to prepare. Runnels Insurance offers tips on making the most out of a power outage.

Lights and Entertainment

Lighting is simple with today’s selection of LED flashlights and emergency lighting kits. Stock up on inexpensive LED flashlights and batteries, or for a few dollars more you could even install a few emergency lights. This type of lighting is powered by a heavy-duty battery and is made specifically for emergency events.

Keep board games and books on hand. Treat the outage like a camping trip—or an impromptu vacation from electronic devices. What better to do during down time than some family bonding over a word game or a trivia competition?

Create a Stockpile

No need to buy food to last your family for years; but, consider stocking enough staples to feed your family for at least several days’ time in the case of a significant outage. Keep a manual can-opener on hand to use in a pinch. Also, make sure to have enough drinking water to keep each family member well-hydrated during a mid-summer outage.

Power Up

If you experience more power outages than you care to deal with, consider investing in a generator. Even small generators can provide enough power to help you accomplish cooking on an electric griddle and taking care of basic household needs.

Runnels Insurance wants to make sure all of your home’s needs are met. For more tips on power outage preparation, or to see how Runnels Insurance can help you find the best homeowners’ insurance policy for your budget, contact us today.

Fun Things To Do Inside With Kids This Winter

Posted on by AgentInsure

During the winter months, it may be too cold to send the kids outside to play, even in Brandon. This means you want to know about some of the fun things for kids to do indoors.

Salt Dough

There are various recipes for salt dough that you can create. It is similar to play dough, but you can create it on your own. This allows you to choose the colors. There is a version where you can bake the final creations, allowing the kids to paint afterwards. It also ensures that you can keep the creations without them drying out and cracking.

Reading

Reading is an activity that can be a lot of fun – and you can have the kids do some quiet time reading or you can let them choose a book and read it out loud. If you run out of books throughout the winter, have them write their own.

Board Games

Board games are a necessity during the winter months. As the colder weather starts to approach, you may want to consider whether you have enough games. You can always go shopping at the toy store or even at yard sales for some new games so that the kids don’t get tired of what they already have. It may also be a good idea to encourage their creativity and have them create their own board game. Lay out pieces of poster board with markers and let them create a game with dice, trivia cards, or something else.

At Runnels Insurance, we’re here to help you with homeowner’s insurance and more. Contact one of our independent insurance agents today to learn about what we have to offer. We’re ready to answer your questions and get quotes from top insurance companies in Florida.

 

Home Coverage And Value Determines The Cost Of Insurance

Posted on by AgentInsure

Buying home insurance in Brandon, Florida can be very easy. However, the cost of insurance is going to vary based upon home coverage as well as value. More expensive homes are going to cost more to insure simply because there is a higher replacement rate.

Insurance companies look at what it is going to cost to pay out claims. When the claims are of a higher level, they have to charge a higher premium. This means that it is going to cost more to ensure a $200,000 home versus a $100,000 home. However, it is not going to be double the amount, so this can provide you with peace of mind as you begin shopping for homeowners insurance.

You will have the ability to adjust how much you pay based upon the level of coverage you want on your home. There are plenty of options to explore so that you can decide what kind of coverage you want on your home. You will have the ability to protect your home against fire and smoke damage, theft, floods, storm damage, and much more. Adding additional coverage can save you money by being able to file more claims as opposed to paying out-of-pocket.

By understanding more about your home value and the coverage you want on your home, you have the ability to impact the cost of insurance. Comparisons can be obtained from multiple insurance companies so that you can determine who is going to provide you with the highest level of coverage at the most affordable price.

At Runnels Insurance, we’re here to help with home insurance in Brandon, FL. Call today to get quotes and learn more. We will help you with every aspect to ensure that you get an affordable policy that works within your budget.

 

 

Common Coverage Provided by Condo Insurance

Posted on by AgentInsure

As you can imagine, insurance policies differ from one provider to the next, and most of them can be customized to meet your insurance needs. When it comes to condo insurance, you should be aware that there are two basic types of policies. Even more important is that you check with you homeowners association to determine the coverage provided through its master policy.  

Most of the time, there are basic types of coverage through the master policy, including on the following elements:

  • Walkways
  • Exterior of buildings, including the framing
  • Roads
  • Lawns
  • Swimming pools
  • Walking tracks
  • Tennis courts
  • Fitness centers

Because a master policy already provides coverage, your need for insurance is different than that of a person who owns a regular home. Being that the master policy covers most of the exterior, you need coverage for the inside of the condo, including on your personal belongings, light fixtures, hardware, etc.  

There are two basic types of condo insurance to invest in:

  • Bare walls-in
  • All-in

An all-in policy provides the most extensive type of coverage, but it tends to be more expensive than a bare walls-in policy.  If you are wanting coverage on your counter tops, fixtures, hardware, and other elements inside your condo, you’ll want to opt for an all-in policy. And don’t forget that regardless of the policy that you purchase, you’ll still have to pay a deductible when filing a claim. And just like with car insurance, the higher the deductible, the lower your monthly rates will be. For a lower deductible, you’ll be dishing out more money each month on your premiums.  

To learn more about condo insurance, contact a reputable insurance agent serving the Brandon, FL area today. 

How Do I Protect My Home Against Storms?

Posted on by AgentInsure

Brandon FL is a town that’s just east of Tampa. The 33511 ZIP code has a lot to offer residents, including several bowling alleys, a large shopping center, and a lot of unique restaurants. Due to the close proximity of Brandon to the Gulf of Mexico, there’s always the possibility of experiencing storms.

Homeowners insurance is going to protect against a lot. If you suffer roof damage in a storm, you want to know that you are protected. This means exploring your policy in 33511 in greater detail. You may not have the level of coverage you think.

Depending on where you live, storm damage may be considered an “extra” that you need on your homeowner’s insurance policy. Essentially, this means you have to pay for the added coverage if you want your roof and other home areas covered during a storm.

The storm coverage may not be as expensive as you may think. When you shop for a policy in Brandon, FL, agents will talk to you about coverage and what you find to be the most important. All of the options can be included in the quotes you receive. This can ensure you are being quoted for a policy that is comprehensive enough to provide you with adequate protection.

If your home in 33511 is coverage against storm damage and more, then you can simply call the insurance company and file a claim when something has gone wrong. They will send out an inspector and get the process started.

Call and talk to one of our agents today where we can help you find homeowner’s insurance that protects against storms and everything else. Multiple quotes can be in your hands in no time at all to help you make a more informed decision.

What Does A Sinking Foundation In Brandon Cost To Repair?

Posted on by AgentInsure

Brandon, FL has a lot to offer residents. There are various communities throughout the Hillsborough County town and much to keep people active. There are bowling alleys, golf courses, and even microbreweries. Home values are in line with the state average and many people commute into Tampa for work.

If your home in Brandon 33511 has a sinking foundation, you will want to get it repaired as quickly as possible. The costs are going to vary depending on:

– The extent of damage

– Whether it includes the porch

– How long it has been going on

The expense is going to be out of pocket unless your homeowners insurance covers the costs. There are many times when you can have a policy built to provide this level of coverage. This way, if you do encounter a sinking foundation, you will simply have to file a claim with the insurance company.

If your policy accepts the claim, the only money you will spend in Brandon, FL to make the repairs is the deductible. This can be $1,000 or more depending on the details of your policy. It is a small price to pay knowing that insurance will cover the rest.

Once you notice problems with your porch, foundation, or anything else, you will want to explore what’s going on in 33511. This includes calling an inspector to confirm that it’s a sinking foundation problem. They will then tell you what the cost is going to be and get the paperwork together that you can submit to the insurance company.

We have insurance agents to help you find the right policy so you don’t have to worry about foundation and other problems coming out of your pocket. We can help you determine coverage levels and give you quotes from multiple companies.