Insuring Properly During Monsoon Season

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monsoon climate with lighting

If you are not native to Arizona, you might find yourself in for a wet and wild ride during your first monsoon season.  Dry air and hot temperatures over 100 degrees could make you long for the rain and desert thunderstorms to cool it down temporarily. Unfortunately, wet and cooler weather aren’t the only things monsoons bring. Summer storms during monsoon season can make their mark with powerful winds and quick and heavy rainfall. The extreme and varying weather conditions can put your home against serious challenges. This is why you need monsoon season home insurance for water damage coverage.

Monsoon season: What is it?

Monsoon season runs from mid-June through the end of September and refers to a specific weather pattern common to the area during this time period.  Monsoon season brings a characteristic shift in wind patterns that can pickup moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and California.  This moisture and wind combined with a low pressure zone can result in extreme seasonal conditions including thunderstorms, short bursts of torrential rain, hail and high winds.

How monsoon season can impact you

Some monsoon seasons will be dry and mild while others will bring flooding and inches of rain. So, how can monsoon season impact you and your home, especially if you are living in a flood zone? Here are three types of common consequences of a monsoon.

Flooding

Monsoons can bring heavy rainfall with ensuing flooding. Unexpected storms can bring an inch or more of water to otherwise dry areas resulting in flooding. In August 2016 the city of Phoenix Transportation Department issued advisories for several roads and freeways that were closed due to flooding. People had to be rescued from their vehicles, power lines were downed and manhole covers were displaced by moving water. Homes can also fall victim to flooding. Prior to purchasing your home you may need to check to see if it was in a flood zone. It is important to note that monsoon rainfall is not restricted to areas that fall into a flood zone and can strike any home at any time.

A standard homeowner’s insurance policy will not typically include flood coverage or water damage to your belongings. If you feel that your home is susceptible to flooding or monsoon water damage, make sure that your insurance provides adequate coverage.

Fallen Trees

High winds that come with monsoon storms also bring a plethora of potential problems.  Downed trees and power lines can create safety hazards along the roadways and in your home.  A tree that is uprooted in high winds can fall on your home or vehicle and could be your financial responsibility to remove. It’s important to understand how your insurance company will treat damage caused by fallen trees.  Regardless of the damage, you will be financially responsible for your insurance deductible.  A standard insurance company should cover at least some of the damage to your property including surrounding buildings such as a shed.  Insurance will probably also pay to remove damaged trees up to $500 or $1000 per tree. Your insurance may not pay to replace the damaged plants or trees depending on your coverage.

Power Outage

Another unfortunate consequence of monsoon storms may be power outages.  Homes without power in the Arizona sun can become unlivable quickly due to rising temperatures and no air conditioning.  You may be forced to stay with family, friends or relocate to a hotel until your power is restored.  Coverage for hotel expenses will vary from policy to policy so make sure to review your existing coverage closely.  Power outages can also cause food in your refrigerator to spoil and surprisingly enough a common homeowner policy will reimburse you for spoiled food up to $500 a monsoon season home insurance can be a big help in cases like this.

Monsoon Season Home Insurance

Insurance policies can vary just as much as monsoon seasons from year to year. By having a monsoon season home insurance, you are prepared when worse comes to worst. Once you understand what monsoon season is, you will be armed to protect yourself against it. Similarly, you need to understand your insurance policy and the coverage that it offers. If your insurance does not protect you in the event of flooding, high winds, or downed trees, consider increasing your coverage or adding appropriate addendums to protect your home and property. Flooding can be common even if you don’t live in a designated flood plain. If you have questions about your insurance coverage, work with an experienced agent to review and revise your policy.

Monsoons bring cooler temperatures and potentially dangerous and damaging conditions. It can be disconcerting to suffer damage to your home and then be displaced until repairs can be completed. The best circumstances would be having a most comprehensive home insurance coverage that can protect your home. Having the the right home insurance with water damage coverage can be beneficial for homeowners. Call Gebhardt Insurance on how to have water damage coverage.

Should I file a homeowners insurance claim?

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A homeowners insurance claim could cost you more than just your deductible.

So you came home from work to find your floor covered in water.  What now? Your first thought may be to call the insurance company to get someone to come out to look at the damage, but knowing when to make a homeowners insurance claim and when to fix the damage yourself could save you money—right now and in the coming years.

Here’s what you should do to make sure you choose the repair option that will save you the most money upfront and ensure that your insurance rates don’t skyrocket in the future.

Ask a professional first.

Without knowing the extent of the damage, it’s hard to estimate how much the repairs will cost to determine whether or not you should file a claim and pay the deductible or pay out of pocket.

It’s a good idea to find a reputable restoration company to come to your home and take a look at the damage. They will be able to tell you how much damage is done, what it will cost to fix it, and may even be able to give you advice on whether or not to make an insurance claim. Slate Restoration, a company based here in Arizona, will educate you about your options so you will know whether or not the problem is something you can fix yourself, pay them to fix for less than your deductible, or if you really do need to make an insurance claim.

Determine the cause of the damage.

Is your roof leaking because you should have had some shingles replaced a while back? Did a water pipe burst due to negligence on your part? Don’t attempt to claim any type of damage that was caused due to a lack of routine maintenance because even if your claim is denied, your insurance rates may go up.

Know what types of damage are excluded from your policy. For example, many policies don’t cover termite damage, sewer backups, and mold.

Know your deductible.

Sometimes home insurance deductibles work a little differently than auto insurance deductibles. Depending on your policy, you might have a typical flat-rate deductible (like you do for your car insurance) or you might have a percentage-based deductible that’s based on the insured value of your home. There’s also a split deductible, which works like a flat rate deductible for most claims, but changes to a percentage-based deductible for particular scenarios laid out in your policy.

Home insurance deductibles vary greatly. Like $500-$25,000 greatly. It may seem like a no-brainer that you should pay your deductible if your damages are going to exceed that number. However, there are other things to keep in mind when making this decision, like how much your insurance premiums will go up if you do make the claim.

A $1000 claim now could mean higher insurance premiums for years to come. A report released by InsuranceQuotes.com found that, on average, a single claim will raise your monthly premium by 9% and a second claim could raise them 20%.

Some insurance companies will even drop you if you make too many claims. After that happens, it might be hard to find another company to insure you thanks to CLUE (the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange). It’s a database that tracks your auto and property insurance claims going back seven years. It’s available to all insurers and they use this information to determine whether or not they can cover you and how much to charge.

Pay out of pocket if you can.

Think about your homeowners insurance policy as a backup in case your home sustains catastrophic damage, like in a fire. If the repairs are going to cost you $3000 and your deductible is $1000, it may seem like the right idea to make the claim and pay the deductible. But if you are able, you should really try to pay for the repairs out of pocket. That’s why it’s so important to have an emergency fund set up.  Some repair companies will also let you make payments if you aren’t able to pay for the repairs upfront.

It may be frustrating that it isn’t advisable to file a homeowners insurance claim every time your home sustains damage, but just remember that your homeowners insurance is there for you if major damage happens in the future. And the money you pay each month for that peace of mind is totally worth it.

And if you think you are paying too much for your policy, let Gebhardt Insurance Group shop around for you. It’s our job to find you the best value for your homeowners insurance policy. Give us a call at (520) 836-3244 or get a free quote right now.