Category: Home Insurance

When you buy a home, getting homeowners insurance is crucial. If you live in the Plainfield, IN area, you can contact the Gill Insurance Agency to answer any questions about your insurance solutions. Homeowners insurance is a requirement for getting a mortgage. There are different types of homeowners insurance, and it’s essential to get the ones you need. 

What is the 80% Rule? 

It’s important to understand how much insurance you should buy. There is a guideline called the 80% Rule. According to this role, the insurance company will only cover your damages if you have purchased insurance worth at least 80% of the house’s value. If your policy isn’t worth that much, the company will only pay a proportion of the minimum coverage you should have purchased. 

The 80% Rule makes it essential for you to know the value of your home before buying home insurance. Remember that if you’ve had any capital improvements to your home, this will affect the home’s value – and, therefore – the amount that will be paid on a claim. Unfortunately for all homeowners, inflation will also increase the value of their home. For this reason, experts recommend you review your homeowner’s insurance every year to determine the correct amount of your policy value and your premiums. 

Call Us for an Appointment Today 

Gill Insurance Agency has offices in several states, and each office is staffed by experienced professional agents familiar with insurance guidelines for their state. We can discuss your home and determine how much insurance you need to buy. If you’re in Plainfield, IN, we’re the agency that can accurately assess the value of your home. Call us today for an appointment to discuss your home insurance needs. 

Home insurance is a critical aspect of proactively protecting your home, family, and belongings. The Gill Insurance Agency in Plainfield, IN offers the following guidance with regard to home insurance.

What Does Home Insurance Cover & How Much Coverage Is Needed?

Home insurance typically covers damage to

• The home and other structures, i.e., fence shed, etc.
• Personal belongings
• Liability for injuries sustained on the property
• Living expenses should the property become inhabitable due to a covered peril

The amount of coverage depends on the home’s value, contents, location, etc.

What Does Home Insurance Protect Against?

Although each policy varies, the typical perils for which this insurance protects include

• Fire
• Theft
• Windstorms/hail
• Vandalism
• Certain water damage

What is a Deductible?

A deductible refers to the specific amount an insured pays out of pocket before insurance coverage begins. Higher deductibles help lower premiums but require more out-of-pocket cash prior to making a claim.

How do Replacement Cost & Actual Cash Value Differ?

Replacement cost refers to coverage that replaces covered items with new ones. Actual cash value will pay less as it accounts for the damaged item(s) depreciation.  

Does Home Insurance Include Coverage for Flood Damage?

Not typically. If your home is in a flood zone or prone to flooding, a separate flood policy is available through private or federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insurers.

Are there Discounts for Home Insurance?

Yes. Depending on the policy, these discounts may help lower your premium –

• Home security systems
• Smoke detectors
• Bundling policies
• Good credit and more.

Contact Us Today

Remember to maintain your premiums to avoid a lapse in coverage, and contact us at Gill Insurance Agency in Plainfield, IN for more information.

If you’re planning on updating your home, it is essential to make sure you have adequate homeowners insurance in place before the work crew shows up. So, before construction begins and the dust flies, let the insurance professionals at Gill Insurance Agency can help you determine the coverage you will need while renovating a property in the greater Plainfield, IN area.

Important Insurance Considerations for Home Renovations

Depending upon the type of renovation, you may need to adjust these aspects of your homeowner’s insurance coverage –

• Update the overall policy limits should your planned renovation include upgraded appliances or an addition. This ensures that you will have sufficient insurance coverage to protect the new and improved version of the property.  
• Update the limits of the homeowner’s policy regarding medical expenses coverage. This is especially important if a friend/family member does the renovation – because you may be liable for medical expenses for those injured on your property who are not family members or professionals who carry their own professional insurance.

Increasing the medical expense limit on your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the medical bills for any injuries that may happen – on the insured property – to a person who is not a family member or resident of the home.  

• Make sure your personal property insurance coverage will suffice. Remember, during construction, things happen – something breaks or appears to have disappeared without your knowledge.  Make sure you maintain sufficient  personal property insurance for essential property that may include –
  •  Furniture
  • Appliances
  • Electronics
  • Clothing.

Reach Out To Us!

Still have questions or concerns about the homeowner’s coverage when planning a renovation project in and around Plainfield, IN? Give our insurance professionals at Gill Insurance Agency a call today.

A home inventory sheet is an invaluable tool to help you in the event that you have to make a claim. Depending on the disaster to befall you, it may be next to impossible to tally up the damage after the fact.

Homeowners insurance is not mandated by law for residents living in Plainfield IN, but it is usually a requirement for obtaining and maintaining a loan with a lender. Gill Insurance Agency is here to assist.

Why You Need a Home Inventory Sheet?

Though a daunting task, the objective of your home inventory sheet is to collect information regarding everything you own and to store it in one place.

It is important also to give a copy to your Gill Insurance Agency representative. 

The process may go slowly but dedicate time consistently to collecting the data to complete this important document. It’s vital to categorize possessions according to their type, such as clothing or electronics. 

If you have collectibles or items that are particularly valuable, you may want to get an endorsement to cover this class of items specifically. These can also include antiques or vintage properties that may be especially difficult to replace. 

Be sure to write down serial numbers and include receipts when possible. It is advised that you also take a photo of paper receipts, as these can degrade over time, becoming increasingly difficult to read. Along with the purchase price, including the current market value. Be sure to take videos of more costly goods, as these can also record their condition. 

Gill Insurance Agency is at Your Service

We specialize in protecting our clients in all areas of their lives with insurance products and services designed to meet their needs. We invite you to reach out to us to speak about your situation in more detail, and we serve the greater Plainfield, IN region. 

A home is the most valuable thing most of us will ever own. Make sure it is protected with homeowners’ insurance. The Gill Insurance Agency, serving the Plainfield, IN area, can help.

The four main components of a homeowners’ insurance policy:

This policy covers the dwelling or home, other structures, such as garages and storage sheds, personal property, and liability coverage. In the event of a total loss, insurance will be the primary source for rebuilding your home. It also provides liability coverage in the event of legal actions for damage or injuries to another person on their property.

Homeowners insurance will protect the equity you have in your property. Without it, you could face not only losing your home but any increase in value that has accrued.

One of the most important parts of homeowners insurance is the level of coverage

Don’t pay for more coverage than you need. The most common policy is the HO-2. It is a broad policy that protects against a wide range of perils as outlined in the policy.

There are some things homeowners insurance does not cover

Insect or termite damage, rodent or bird damage, mold, rot, rust, and general wear and tear are not covered. Also, damage from smog or smoke from agricultural or industrial sites is not covered. A home that has been poorly constructed or has a hidden defect also will not be covered.

In addition, if you are carrying a mortgage on the property, your lender will require that you have homeowners insurance. They want their interests protected in the event of a total loss of property.

Contact Us Today

Even if you own your property free and clear, homeowners insurance is still a sound financial decision to make. In the event of a lawsuit, and you own your home outright, you face the risk of losing it.

Don’t take risks with your most valuable asset. Contact the Gill Insurance Agency in Plainfield, IN today for a quote. You will be glad you did.

With so many things competing for your dollar, you want to justify every line item in your budget. So, is home insurance worth it? You ask yourself. Home insurance not only protects your building structure but also protects you and your loved ones. Gill Insurance Agency in Plainfield, IN is here to provide guidance on this important insurance coverage. Here are some reasons why your home insurance gives you more value than the actual price you pay.

Home Insurance: Why To Invest?

It protects your building structure

Your home is valuable to you both financially and emotionally. You have used a lot of money to bring it up, either in the form of savings or loans. Your home holds a sentimental value, too. It’s a place where you have created numerous memories with your loved ones and pets. With all these goodies, doesn’t it make sense to protect your home? While you can protect your home with security surveillance enhancement, home insurance goes beyond the visible threats. It protects your home against natural disasters, falling objects, and other risks not prevented by security systems.

Protects you against liability claims

Has your dog bitten a passerby? Has the tree in your garden fallen on your neighbor’s house? While these incidences are accidental, you could be liable to pay for the damage. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry if you have liability coverage in your home insurance policy. This coverage covers you when third parties accuse you of causing bodily injury or property damage.

Covers loss of use

If your home has been damaged by a peril listed in your policy, home insurance covers additional living expenses until your home is repaired. Isn’t that convenient? You don’t have to seek temporary shelter from friends and relatives, even after a disaster.

Give Us A Call

Would you like to invest in home insurance in Plainfield, IN? Contact us at Gill Insurance Agency today for an affordable quote.

Although home insurance is not required by law, it is likely that your bank will require it before underwriting your mortgage. However, even if the bank does not or you purchased your home without financing, home insurance is a no-brainer purchase because it protects you and your loved ones from devastating financial loss. If you do not have home insurance and your house is destroyed in a fine, you are financially responsible for all costs associated with the incident up to and including rebuilding the structure. Unless you have an extra few hundred thousand dollars laying around to rebuild your home, you’ll want to have the security that homeowners insurance offers. If you are on the fence about home insurance, ask yourself – if your home and all your belongings are destroyed; could you afford having to start over from nothing? If not, you’ll want to have home insurance coverage. 

Most mortgage lenders will ask that you insure your home to at least the rebuilding value which is determined by the insurance company. Aside from being financially protected by a home insurance policy, you’ll also receive liability coverage, so if a third party is injured on your property, your insurance will kick in until your liability coverage is exhausted. Most home insurance policies will also include dwelling coverage that pays for damage to the structure of your home that is caused by a storm, wind, or other covered incident along with additional living expenses if your home is uninhabitable because of a covered loss.

At Gill Insurance Agency in Plainfield, IN we know that you have lots of questions about home insurance so we encourage you to give us a call to learn more about our agency and how we can help you with all your insurance needs. 

When you are renovating your home, you have several hundred thousand worries on your mind. One of them is the potential for accidents or liabilities. That is what home insurance is for, and what contractor insurance is for if you are hiring one. 

At Gill Insurance Agency, we want Plainfield, IN residents to make sure they know what their liability coverage looks like before they renovate. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you get that first hammer swinging. 

Notify Your Home Insurance Company Before You Renovate

When you are renovating, you will need to check with your home insurance company before you do so. They will want to know if the cost of your home will go up after the renovation is complete.

Increase Your Liability Coverage

They also want to make sure that your liability limits are high enough, in the event of an accident during the renovations. There could be any problem happening during a renovation. A nail could get stepped on and it turns into a year-long crisis, a fall could occur, or damage could occur that you may be held liable for. 

This is important whether you are hiring a contractor or not. All too often, we do it ourselves, and get an extra hand from a friend, and something happens. Nobody wants to sue anybody, but somebody still has to pay for the damages.

Increasing your liability coverage helps you to feel more secure in the event that something like this happens. If it happens on your property,  you are going to be held liable.

Check Your Contractor’s Insurance

If you do have a contractor, be sure that they have liability insurance as well. You can ask to see a copy of their policy or get a copy of their policy number in the event of a problem. You can get a copy of their worker’s compensation policy as well. They may ask to see your policy number as well, but for the most part, this is a question contractors shouldn’t be afraid to hear.

This is important and tells your contractor that you are paying attention to liabilities. It may be their nail that you hurt yourself on. You won’t be held responsible for that.

Increase Your Liability Coverage Today

It’s never too early to increase your liability coverage. At Gill Insurance Agency, we want Plainfield, IN home owners to feel comfortable with their home insurance policy. Call us today to update your home insurance policy, and increase your liability coverage before you renovate.

After a severe storm rolls through Plainfield, IN, some homeowners are left to deal with the damage. Dealing with storm damage can leave homeowners frustrated as they deal with roof damage and getting their insurance claim approved. Some roof damage is covered by standard insurance policies, while other situations may lead to a denied claim. Continue reading to learn more about the roof damage and your homeowner’s insurance coverage. 

If needed, the experts at Gill Insurance Agency can help you with your insurance coverage and explain the different situations when roof damage is covered. 

Does My Homeowners Insurance Policy Cover Roof Damage?

The best way to determine if your homeowner’s insurance covers roof damage is to take the time to read the entire policy. Typically, homeowners insurance considers how the roof was damaged before approving or denying a claim. Generally, roof damage is covered as long as it was not damaged because of neglect or lack of maintenance. Some policies have exclusions, which do not cover roof damage caused by wind or hail. 

What If There is a Leak In My Roof? 

When you discover a roof leak, you must first take the steps necessary to minimize future damage to the roof and your items inside the home. Then call a contractor out to determine the cause of the leak. Finally, if some covered damage caused the leak, call your insurance company. They will send out an adjuster to look at the roof and determine if your policy covers the damage. 

Dealing with roof damage and trying to get it covered can be a challenging process for many Plainfield, IN homeowners. To reduce the hassle associated with roof damage, call our experts at Gill Insurance Agency. We can help you determine what is covered and provide you with the best insurance policy for your needs. 

Home insurance is designed to protect your home from a variety of perils. You choose the amount of liability coverage and the deductible. Your peace of mind comes from knowing you are safe. It would be great if home insurance covered everything that could damage your home, but unfortunately, it doesn’t. Knowing the exclusions on your policy is vital. Always read your policy. It is just a good thing to do. At Gill Insurance Agency in Plainfield, IN, we don’t believe in one size fits all. We believe your insurance policy should be customized to fit your needs. 

Floods

Floods cause billions of dollars in damage every year across every state in the union. It is hard to imagine one of the most common hazards homes face isn’t covered by home insurance, but that is the case. The good news is flood insurance is offered by the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) and by private insurance carriers and is something you can purchase if your home is in an area where flooding might pose a danger. 

Earthquakes and other land movements

Not quite as common as floods, earth movements are also not covered by home insurance. Land movements include earthquakes, mudslides, and sinkholes. All of these can hit with little or no warning and cause devastating damage. You can also purchase an additional policy to cover this potential issue. 

Owner neglect

Your insurance carrier has the expectation you will maintain your home. This includes replacing your roof when it ages out and treating your home for pests like carpenter ants and termites before they do major damage. 

Having the right home insurance gives you security. You can supplement your policy to cover excluded items if you are aware of them. Talk to us at Gill Insurance Agency in Plainfield, IN about your home insurance needs, and let us make sure you have the right coverage.