It has never been more important to know what you have in writing on your homeowner’s insurance policy. Insurance rates are at an all-time high! Daily agents are getting told that it is greed or that carriers are just pocketing that money. I assure you that is not the case, but do you know what you are paying for?
Roof claims were almost half of the reported claim payouts while only being 6% of the total losses on claims according to the statistics in 2020 from an article “Homeowners Insurance Statistics and Facts” by Insurance Contributor – Elizabeth Rivelli
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- According to a study, 6% of all insured homes had a claim in 2020. (Insurance Information Institute, Triple-I)
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- In 2020, 97% of all homeowners insurance claims were property damage claims. (Triple-I)
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- The majority of home insurance claims (45.5%) reported in 2020 were related to wind and hail damage, followed by fire and lightning damage (23.8%). (Triple-I)
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- In 2020, only 2.3% of all homeowners insurance claims were liability claims, the lowest rate since 2016. (Triple-I)
Catastrophic losses of $275 billion in 2022, of which $125 billion were insured losses, according to a new report from Swiss Re, last year was the second consecutive year in which insured losses from natural catastrophes surpassed the $100 billion mark, Swiss Re reported, according to an article written by Ryan Smith in Insurance Business Magazine – March 23, 2023
For Oklahomans, this is not the best news. Due to the cost of Wind/Hail losses, Oklahomans pay one of the highest-rated insurance policy premiums in the country. The average cost of homeowners insurance in Oklahoma is $5,839.47 which is higher than the national average of $2,417.00 according to the analysis of homeowners insurance premiums using data provided by Quadrant Information Services, according to the website MarketWatch.com.
Now that you feel all the things… let me give you some important things to know when it comes to saving some money in the long run and how to avoid major issues during claim time.
1. It is very important to know insurance is an investment, and If it’s not in writing, it doesn’t exist. Got a quote in writing? Have they run the reports for losses? If it’s just a text, with some numbers, it’s not a bindable quote. What is not in writing can cost you more money at the point of claim, in other words, “cheaper price” doesn’t always turn out to be cheaper!
2. When you think you have a claim, call your agent, not the 1-800 number. Zero pay claims can keep you from getting a decent rate next year or switching companies at renewal. If you don’t know your deductible or if it is a justified claim (sudden and accidental loss due to Fire, Water, Theft, Explosion, Lightening, Wind, Hail, or Tornado) NOTE: If you have an adjuster come look at your roof, it already is a claim!
3. When you are getting coverage, you need to review the policy you have to make sure it is going to do what you think it is supposed to do and to pay you when it’s necessary. The most important coverage is the Dwelling Amount – The average right now is $175 per square foot for rebuild, not repurchase. When you have it underinsured, it could cost you even more than just your deductible. This coverage is the basis for all other numbers in the policy, so if you start in a deficit, it can show up even more in the secondary coverages.
4. Is the roof “Actual Cash Value” (ACV) or “Replacement Cost” (RC) at the time of the claim date? This is such a huge deal! ACV can be hidden by using different terminology such as Payment Schedule or Depreciated Schedule. This means you paying deductible and the difference between the full price and the “depreciated value” of the roof due to age and condition. This could cost you thousands of dollars!
5. Building Ordinances and Law”, is the other item that needs to be in writing on your policy that can save your bank account! When you have a roof loss or any loss for that matter, and your city has changed the code ordinance for your zip code, this coverage will pay for labor and materials to update the line item to match the city’s required codes and ordinance. This means your contractor is required at the time of loss to update the item/s that are no longer grandfathered in at the time the ordinance changed. This is for any licensed trade (plumbing, electrical, or roofing systems). You can not replace the roof without addressing the decking if it is no longer up to code. Without this endorsement on your policy, depending on your square footage and the cost of lumber, you can triple your out-of-pocket payout to your contractor. It is important to note as well, that the law changed in Oklahoma, to where a roofer can no longer write off your deductible to get your business. It is considered fraudulent and was one of the major contributors to major companies pulling out of Florida and California. For case law, click on the link below.https://casetext.com/statute/oklahoma-statutes/title-59-professions-and-occupations/chapter-30-contractors/roofing-contractor-registration-act/section-115130-offer-to-pay-insurance-deductible-or-to-compensate-for-providing-service
Saving money can only happen when you make an educated decision on what coverage changes need to be made to the policy. You can raise the deductible, or you can remove some ancillary coverages. Ordinance and Law should not be one of them. Some companies will allow you to change the deductible or do a flat deductible, others will only write the policy if the roof is less than 7 to 10 years of age. Most carriers are requiring a bundle to help offset the losses, and some are going to mandatory 2% Wind and Hail deductibles. (2% of the dwelling cost can be substantial) You want to know what you are going to pay if you pull the trigger on a claim.
I can not say this more strongly, PLEASE do NOT neglect opening a notice that looks like junk mail if it is from your insurance carrier. Call your agent and talk to them about it to make sure you understand what they are saying in the notice.
Insurance carriers are required to notify you directly if they make any changes to your policy at any time! Most of the time this will happen around renewal. The mortgage company will pay your escrow in most cases 6 weeks in advance. Work with your agent on how to overcome this if you are switching to a new company.
It is getting harder to find coverage for our clients when they have a roof that is older than 10 years or they have had several small claim payouts. It’s not impossible, just more difficult.
I believe in insurance! I know that it can be expensive, but as an agent, when the policy claim happens, it should do the job with very little out-of-pocket expense.
It matters that you are with an agent who can walk you through the coverages listed and tell you what you can expect when you have your worst day ever!
At MVP Insurance, we can translate the policy for you into 5th-grade language. We have trusted partners who understand your policy. When you need a roof replaced, call your agent for the name of someone local, insured, and licensed.
No one can promise that you are covered completely, but knowing what you have can help you be in the driver’s seat when you are making decisions about coverage and claims. If you can’t explain it, you don’t understand it.
If you don’t know what you have or who you are with, call us and we can help you navigate 2024 with a review of your policies. We do all types of insurance other than health. When it comes down to it, you are responsible for knowing what you have, let us review it before you renew it!
To request a review appointment, go to our website at www.insuremvp.com
Let us know in your request if you would like us to get you in touch with a vendor to give you an honest opinion about the potential of a claim for your roof or any other possible need.
Joan Curtis is a local agency owner in Oklahoma City off of 122nd and Penn, licensed in Oklahoma and Texas. Wife to retired fireman turned Roofer, Todd Curtis. Mom of 4 grown and growing kids, and daughter of the Most High King. To contact Joan or the team at MVP Insurance, call 405-697-5222 or go to our website and request information. www.insuremvp.com