If you’ve ever wondered, ‘Do I need sinkhole coverage in Florida?’ then this post is for you. In the sunshine state, insurance companies are required by law to include catastrophic ground collapse coverage in the homeowner’s insurance coverage. Do I Need Sinkhole Coverage in Florida? While it may come as a surprise to many, sinkhole […]
Assignment of Benefits Property Insurance Abuse in Florida Leading to Higher Rates
Assignment of Benefits (AOB) property insurance abuse in Florida is a prevalent issue leading to higher rates for homeowners all across the Sunshine State. AOB allows contractors to represent the insured to obtain payment from insurance agencies for services rendered. Even though AOB has been around for more than 100 years, loopholes have resulted in […]
Sinkhole vs. Catastrophic Ground Collapse Coverage, What’s the Difference
Just as Florida law requires insurers to offer flood insurance, carriers are required to offer catastrophic ground cover collapse but it may leave you footing the bill if you do not have sinkhole coverage. Confused? Many homeowners feel the same. The differences in sinkhole vs. catastrophic ground collapse coverage vary when you consider the definition […]
Most Common Florida Homeowners Insurance Discounts
Florida attracts regular visitors with its charm, beautiful beaches, and deep blue skies. Many of them end up purchasing a home and laying down roots here. However as many new homeowners find out: your home tends to be your biggest investment and could cost you more than you bargained for. Florida homeowners have the most […]
Homeowners Insurance Issues with Cloth Covered Wiring
South Florida is home to a thriving population of historic preservation enthusiasts. By and large, most of the homes and buildings that have been bought up in the last few years have been completely renovated. However, sometimes the people who are renovating and then selling these homes – in other words flipping them – have […]
In-Law-Suite Not So Sweet
Q: My in-laws moved out last summer to an assisted living facility. After they were gone, we renovated their two-bedroom apartment/in-law suite. Sometimes we rent it out on Airbnb since we live in a resort area. However, this past spring we let my nephew and some friends come down for spring break. Long story short, […]
Rough Storm Ahead for South Florida Homeowners
Since 2012, insurers are dealing with the unintended consequences of a move that was supposed to be a benefit to homeowners. Assignment of benefits was supposed to allow homeowners, renters, and landlords get their damaged properties fixed quickly and back to normal after a flood, accident, or other event. Instead, thanks to a few contractors […]
Why a Homeowner’s Policy May Not Cover an Airbnb Rental?
Q: I have been thinking about joining Airbnb as a host and would be renting out a Granny suite in my home. When I talked about it with some friends, they said I shouldn’t do it because it would invalidate my homeowner’s policy. Is this true and is there something I can do about it? […]
Is Your Florida Pool Safe?
In 2002, a little girl died before her mother’s eyes in a horrible and preventable accident. Virginia Graeme Baker died as a result of what is called “suction entrapment” in a family friend’s hot tub, held to the bottom by 700 pounds of suction from a drain. Fifteen years later, after a fair bit of […]
Is Mold Damage Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
Mold is a big problem wherever you have a humid climate, and since we Floridians are surrounded on all three sides by water, occasionally have massive amounts of rainfall, and even tidal flooding with regular high tides, we have the perfect climate for mold to take root. Insurance companies have paid out millions in settlements, […]