Is home insurance required to buy a home?

You're often required to show proof of homeowners insurance to your lender before they'll relinquish the keys to your property and fund your home loan. Until your home is paid in full, your lender holds a lien on your property, so it's in their best interest to make sure that the property is insured while you're paying down your mortgage.

If you're purchasing your new home with cash or an unsecured line of credit (credit card or personal loan), you may not be required to show proof of home insurance before closing. Home insurance isn't mandated in any state, but you should still consider buying homeowners insurance to protect the equity in your home. Learn more about what home insurance covers and how homeowners insurance works.

How to shop for home insurance

During the mortgage approval process, your loan specialist will let you know when to buy homeowners insurance. However, you can start shopping for a policy as soon as you've solidified your new address. Shopping for homeowners insurance early gives you more time to select the right policy and look into ways you can save.

While your lender may provide a referral, it's a good practice to compare homeowners insurance quotes and pricing, homeowners insurance coverages, and consumer reviews before making a final choice.
You can often save money by bundling homeowners and auto insurance with the same insurer. Learn more about switching your homeowners insurance.

What to look for in a home insurance policy

1. Check the limits on your personal property and liability coverage
2. Your belongings, such as clothing, furniture, electronics, and jewelry, are insured under Coverage C (personal property coverage) on your home insurance policy. Make sure the limit is enough to cover everything you own. Keep in mind that certain items may fall under a specific category with a "sublimit" set by your insurance company. And if you have any expensive items, such as art or collectibles or jewelry and engagement rings, you may need to add an insurance rider to fully cover them.
3. Coverage E (personal liability coverage) protects you if you're liable for an incident that injures someone. Be sure to select a liability limit that properly covers what you have in assets. Most home insurance policies max out at a $500,000 liability limit. If you need additional coverage, you can purchase umbrella insurance, which provides extra liability coverage for home insurance policies.
4. Be aware of exclusionsDepending on where you are shopping for home insurance, there will be a list of things that won't be covered on a standard policy. These could include earthquakes, landslides, mudflows, and flooding. If you're at risk for a peril that isn't covered on your policy, ask your home insurance agent or company if there's an option to purchase protection for excluded incidents.
5. Understand your deductibles
6. When buying home insurance for the first time, it's important to pay attention to your homeowners insurance deductible for property damage. Your deductible is the portion of the claim you're responsible for, so make sure the deductible amount is within your budget.
   Unlike car insurance, your home insurance deductible won't always be a set dollar amount. It could be a percentage of your policy's dwelling coverage. Your policy may even include a split deductible. That means you have a set dollar amount for most claims, but a percentage may apply for wind damage or other covered perils.

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A standard homeowners insurance policy may cover water damage to your basement, depending on the source. For instance, if a burst pipe was the cause of the damage, your policy may pay to repair damage to your basement. However, if a flood causes damage to your basement, you likely won’t be covered.

​Your basement flooded. What will insurance cover?Your homeowners insurance may cover damage to your basement, and damage to the personal property in your basement when:

• A pipe bursts: Your insurance may pay to repair or replace the things that the flood water damaged in your basement, up to your coverage limit.
• A plumbing appliance overflows: Sudden and unintentional leaks from a home appliance, like your washing machine or air conditioning unit, or accidental overflow of your bathtub, sink, or toilet may also be covered.

Is damage to your basement from groundwater covered?

​Groundwater is naturally occurring water underground whose levels may increase after heavy rains or snow melts, which can be destructive to basements. However, your homeowners insurance policy won’t cover damage from groundwater.

Will additional flood insurance protect my basement?

You may be able to purchase a separate flood insurance policy to protect your basement against water damage from outside flooding. Flood insurance may be essential if you live in an area with a high risk of flooding. Understand that not all flood insurance policies include below-ground-level spaces, so check with your insurer to see how you’re protected.

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Steps to take if you have a flooded house

Once it’s safe to return, you can start surveying the damage and drying out your home. You’ll also want to file insurance claims and find contractors to help you with repairing your flooded home.

1. Make sure it’s safe to return

If flood waters infiltrated your home during a storm or hurricane, cleaning it right away should be your overriding concern. But you might need to wait until it’s safe to return before you can start. Damage from a major storm like a hurricane can be dangerous, so wait until local officials give you the all-clear before you head home.

2. Cut off power, gas, and water

Turn off home utilities such as gas, water, and electricity before entering your home. HUD recommends assessing your home’s structural integrity before entering. Get a professional inspection if you’re not sure it’s safe. If the waterline is above the electrical outlets, call an electrician to ensure everything is safe before proceeding.

3. Document everything

Start by documenting the flood damage with photos and video for when you file an insurance claim. Contact your insurance company or companies to start your claim immediately.

4. Reach out for help

After a flood, most homeowners can tackle the initial stages of clearing out water-soaked furniture, appliances, and carpet and removing drywall. But for those who aren’t able, volunteer organizations, religious groups, neighbors, friends, and contractors can help. Groups like Team Rubicon, a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and deploys military veterans for disaster response, are often on the scene after disasters.

Tips for repairing your flooded home

Flood recovery can be a long process. You’ll need to find equipment, secure your home, and clear damaged items. Some tips for what to do after a flood once you’re ready to start the clean-up process include:

Buy personal protective equipment

​Rubber boots, gloves, and clothes are essential for keeping you healthy while you work in your wet home. Flood water contains hazardous chemicals and raw sewage, the residue of which gets left behind after the water recedes. Moreover, lead-based paint particles can get stirred up, especially if your home was built before 1978. Mold spores and dust in the air can also be a danger. Wearing an N95 mask or a half-face P100 respirator can help prevent you from inhaling harmful particles.

Remove everything

Don’t wait for an insurance adjuster to show up before you start working on getting your house dry because mold can multiply and cause even more problems. Take everything that the water touched out of your house. Set any solid wood furniture, family photos, or other potential salvageable items out to dry. Rip out the carpet and carpet pads.

Some hardwood floors and solid wood trim might be salvageable, but for the most part, you’ll have to strip your home down to its concrete slab and wall studs. Demolishing drywall damaged by water is easy enough for the average homeowner. To be safe, you can cut the drywall about a foot above the waterline.
Most of the time, the water will wick up the drywall a couple of inches above the waterline but not to the ceiling. Water may wick higher than that in the studs, but solid wood two-by-fours should dry out after a few days.

Once you have removed the drywall portion, cut the insulation and remove that. Don’t yank down the insulation, as that will leave a gap near the top of the wall. Once you submit an insurance claim, an insurance adjuster will survey the damage. But if it's a large disaster, the adjuster might take a while to visit your site. It’s a good idea to keep a small section of wet drywall to have evidence of the waterline for inspection.

Don’t forget hidden spaces

Be sure to check drawers and other areas of your home for standing water. The base of your kitchen cabinets behind the toe kick may trap some standing water. If you have a kitchen island, it may also have water trapped in the base. You can drill holes in the base of the toe kick to release any trapped water and get air circulating.

If you have built your cabinets out of solid plywood, they would likely survive fine after drying out. You’ll want to cut out the backs to remove the drywall and insulation behind them but leave the structure of the cabinets intact. You may need to replace more modern cabinets made from pressboard or particleboard.

You may be able to save interior doors. Take the doors off their hinge pins and stack them outside, lying flat with space between them for airflow. If they stand upright, they are likely to warp. Put a fan on them to facilitate the drying process.

Clean and disinfect

Get a broom and a vacuum  and clean everything out thoroughly. You can even hose down the solid surfaces — studs, and slab — with clean water to help wash away growing bacteria. But don’t power wash or get the remaining drywall wet. Once everything is relatively dry, you must use something to kill the bacteria.

A bleach solution of half a cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water applied with a pump spray can also help kill mold and bacteria. Bleach will corrode metal, so avoid spraying electrical outlets and cabinet hardware.

​Ventilate and dry

Once everything is cleared and cleaned, use fans to dry your home. Keep the windows and doors open as much as possible, too. It can take between two and four weeks for your home to completely dry before it’s ready for rebuilding after a flood.

Hire credentialed contractors

Once you are ready to start rebuilding, with the help of a professional, be cautious of scams or contractors looking to move too quickly. HUD urges homeowners to check credentials and hire only licensed and insured contractors.

Take your time to check references. Talk to or visit your potential contractor’s previous satisfied customers. And be cautious about paying a big deposit before work has begun.

Be prepared for future emergencies

FEMA has resources on how to protect your property from flood damage. You might also want to prepare a home emergency kit, create a home inventory, and evaluate your flood insurance needs to ensure adequate coverage if your home floods again. Learn more about how flood insurance works and how to get coverage.

   How to save on car insurance for teens

   Good student: B average or better? Your young driver may earn about a 10%††Read the associated disclosure for this claim. discount in most states for good grades.

• Multi-car: If your teenager has their own vehicle, we'll chip in another discount just for having more than one vehicle on your policy.
• Teen driver: If your child driver is 18 years old or younger and you have been consistently insured for at least 12 months, we'll add a discount.
• Snapshot®: Our Snapshot® program rewards good drivers based on how they drive.†Read the associated disclosure for this claim. Plus, our mobile app can reveal if your teen was driving distracted. Learn more about distracted driving.

You can save on car insurance in other ways too. For example, you could:

• Lower your coverage: Removing coverages you no longer need is an easy way to save.
• Increase your deductible: Increasing your comprehensive and collision deductible will increase your out-of-pocket expenses for a claim, but it will reduce your rate.

Do I have to add my teenage driver to my insurance?

A teenage driver must have car insurance in almost every state, so they can either be added to your policy or insured with a separate policy. Buying a standalone policy for a teenager can be expensive due to their lack of driving experience and a higher likelihood of accidents, so it's usually more affordable to add a young driver to your existing policy.
By adding your teen to your policy, they could benefit from the savings and rate you've earned as a longtime driver with (in most states) an established credit history. Here are a few more reasons why it's usually best to add a young adult driver to your car insurance policy:

1. Control
   Since you already own the policy, you can easily add and update coverages to make sure your teen driver has the right protection.
   
   
2. Flexibility
   If your household has multiple vehicles, your teenager will be insured to drive all of them.
   
   
3. Convenience
   You'll only have to manage one policy.
   
   

How much does it cost to add a teenage driver to my insurance?

It's generally cheaper to add a teen driver to an existing insurance policy rather than buy a separate policy for them. That's because putting a teen driver on their own policy means they don't benefit from the comparatively lower rate you've earned as a more experienced driver.

Car insurance for teens

​Getting car insurance for a young driver can be pricey due to their lack of driving experience, so a separate policy may not be the best option. In most cases, it's more affordable to add your licensed or permitted teenage driver to your existing auto insurance policy. Your policy's coverages and limits will extend to your teen driver, and some insurers, including Progressive, offer discounts to help offset the cost of insuring a new driver.

How much is car insurance for teens?

A separate car insurance policy for teen drivers can be expensive because they have a greater tendency to drive distracted, speed, tailgate, and not wear a seatbelt. The average cost of teen car insurance, however, will vary based on the exact age of the driver, their ZIP code, driving history, and vehicle type. You can find cheap car insurance that covers the essentials and fits your budget. Discover the factors that impact car insurance rates.

EXAMPLE:A car insurance policy for a 16-year-old driver who just received their license will likely be more expensive than a policy for an 18-year-old with more driving experience. As teens get older, their rates can go down due to the added driving experience, especially if they have a clean driving record over time.

How to save on car insurance for teens
You can lower the cost of car insurance with discounts for students and teen drivers.

Read the associated disclosure for this claim. At Progressive, we offer a variety of discounts for teens including:

• Good student: B average or better? Your young driver may earn about a 10%††Read the associated disclosure for this claim. discount in most states for good grades.
• Multi-car: If your teenager has their own vehicle, we'll chip in another discount just for having more than one vehicle on your policy.
• Teen driver: If your child driver is 18 years old or younger and you have been consistently insured for at least 12 months, we'll add a discount.
• Snapshot®: Our Snapshot® program rewards good drivers based on how they drive.†Read the associated disclosure for this claim. Plus, our mobile app can reveal if your teen was driving distracted. Learn more about distracted driving.

You can save on car insurance in other ways too. For example, you could:

• Lower your coverage: Removing coverages you no longer need is an easy way to save.
• Increase your deductible: Increasing your comprehensive and collision deductible will increase your out-of-pocket expenses for a claim, but it will reduce your rate.

Learn more ways to lower your car insurance rate.

Do I have to add my teenage driver to my insurance?

A teenage driver must have car insurance in almost every state, so they can either be added to your policy or insured with a separate policy. Buying a standalone policy for a teenager can be expensive due to their lack of driving experience and a higher likelihood of accidents, so it's usually more affordable to add a young driver to your existing policy.
By adding your teen to your policy, they could benefit from the savings and rate you've earned as a longtime driver with (in most states) an established credit history. Here are a few more reasons why it's usually best to add a young adult driver to your car insurance policy:

1. Control
   Since you already own the policy, you can easily add and update coverages to make sure your teen driver has the right protection.
   
   
2. Flexibility
   If your household has multiple vehicles, your teenager will be insured to drive all of them.
   
   
3. Convenience
   You'll only have to manage one policy.
   
   

How much does it cost to add a teenage driver to my insurance?

It's generally cheaper to add a teen driver to an existing insurance policy rather than buy a separate policy for them. That's because putting a teen driver on their own policy means they don't benefit from the comparatively lower rate you've earned as a more experienced driver.

Are you safe in a car during a tornado?

​It's not safe to remain in your car or drive during a tornado. Cars, buses, and other vehicles can easily be knocked over and tossed around. That's why you should always get to the nearest sturdy building and get underground if possible.

Can you take shelter below an overpass or a bridge?

Despite popular belief, government officials like the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness advise that seeking shelter under structures like bridges and overpasses is a bad idea. These areas can expose you to higher wind speeds and more dangerous flying debris.

What to do when driving during a tornado

• Get to shelter if you can If the tornado is far away or still forming, get to the nearest sturdy building and get underground if possible.
• Don't try to outrun the tornado
• Go to the nearest available shelter site, even if it's a store or office building, rather than trying to race home. Drive at right angles to the tornado's path to try and get out of its way.
• Try to make it to lower ground
• If you can't make it to shelter, NOAA advises leaving the car during a tornado if you can "safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway." In this case, you should get to the low area, lie down, and cover your head with your hands. If you're driving on a highway during a tornado, then this spot may be a ditch or ravine by the side of the road.
• Pull over and stop the car if you have no other options
• Do this as quickly – and safely – as you can. Keep your seat belt on and get low in the car, covering yourself with a coat or blankets if possible. Blankets are a good addition for winter weather if you keep a severe weather kit in the car.

When it comes to home repairs and renovations, it can be difficult to know what you can accomplish on your own — and which projects are best handled by a trained professional.

Costs, safety, time and the finished product are all things you should plan around. Consider the pros and cons of doing it yourself versus hiring a professional for a project.

You may be able to do smaller things on your own, but some jobs are better left to an expert.

What’s the time commitment?

Thanks to online tutorials, you have access to near-infinite home repair knowledge. But how much time do you actually have to put that information into action?

Before starting a DIY project, make sure you can complete the work within your target timeframe. For example, if you need to get a nursery ready before a new baby is born, can you expect to meet that deadline? Are you okay with spending so much of your spare time on it?

How much will you save?

Since you’re not paying someone else for their labor, you should be able to save a ton of money on your home project, right?

The answer isn’t always that simple. For example, do you already have the tools and materials you need? You can always get a few quotes to compare the expense of hiring a professional.

And keep in mind that you may have to hire a pro if there are issues, meaning extra spending on top of the money you’ve already invested into it.
Is safety an issue?

A good rule of thumb is that any project requiring a permit might be too big or too risky to DIY. This includes electricity, plumbing, digging and structural changes. It’s not worth the chance that a mistake could hurt you or make your home unsafe.

Can you accept “good enough” instead of perfect?

Let’s face it: Sometimes a finished DIY project doesn’t look as good as if a contractor did it. If you want a renovation to come out perfectly (or if you want to sell your home quickly), consider hiring a professional.

​Have questions about your home insurance and how your coverage can be affected by renovations? Reach out for assistance.

Are you prepared for a roadside emergency?

​All it takes is bad weather, an accident or a flat tire to leave you stranded. You could be commuting to work, taking a road trip or visiting friends and family.
Be ready for the worst-case scenario with a vehicle emergency kit. Whether you can get back on the road or need to wait for help, these five items will help you stay safe (and as comfortable as possible) in the meantime.

1. Road Flares
   Flares alert other drivers that a disabled vehicle is ahead. This can protect you from getting hit if there’s a narrow shoulder, it’s dark outside or you’re in a low-visibility spot. Choose from traditional flares that ignite like a match or battery-powered LED flares.
   
   
2. Jumper Cables
   Use another vehicle or a portable jump starter to jump-start a dead battery with these. Read your vehicle’s manual to know where your battery is located, if any specific instructions should be followed, and whether or not jump starting is recommended.
   
   
3. Car Chargers
   If you need to call for help or use the flashlight on your phone, you don’t want to discover your cell phone is dead. It’s also a good idea to keep a portable charger or power bank on hand if you can’t use a plug-in charger because your car battery is dead.
   
   
4. Blankets and Warm Clothing
   Being stranded in the cold isn’t fun — and it could be dangerous. If you can’t run your car’s heater, have blankets and a spare sweatshirt, hat and gloves on hand to keep you warm until help arrives.
   
   
5. Snacks and Water
   You could get hungry if you have to wait a while for the road to clear or for help to arrive. Keep protein bars and other shelf-stable snacks, as well as bottled water, in your vehicle.

Staying safe and being prepared are important while you’re on the road. If you have questions about your car insurance coverage, reach out to get answers.

When was the last time you took a look at your home’s foundation?

Maintaining a solid foundation is crucial to ensure the safety and stability of your property — and making prompt repairs will protect you from larger, more expensive problems down the road.
Regardless of the age of your house, inspecting the foundation should be part of your annual to-do list.

Here are five things you can do to avoid damage and maintain a solid foundation.

Check for signs of foundation damage.

Inspect the exterior of your house for large cracks in the foundation. Inside, look for crumbling, bowing or sagging walls. Diagonal cracks on interior walls and cracks in the floor or ceiling can also indicate foundation problems. If you spot issues, it’s best to call an experienced professional for repairs.

Keep water from pooling around the foundation.

Too much water can cause foundation upheaval. Make sure you have proper drainage in the form of gutters, downspouts, downspout extensions and soil sloping to carry excess water away from the foundation.

Keep the soil moist.

While you don’t want to drown your foundation in water, you also don’t want clay-rich soil to get too dry, potentially causing cracks in your foundation. If you live in a dry climate or have dry seasons, you want to keep the soil moist enough to prevent contraction.

Control vegetation near the foundation.

Attractive landscaping adds to your home’s curb appeal, but stick to smaller plants for gardens that border your home’s foundation. Tree roots can cause problems with your foundation, so it’s best to plant trees in other areas of your yard. 

​Repair any damage promptly.

When it comes to home maintenance, whether with your foundation or something else, catching and repairing problems as soon as possible can save you money and headaches in the future.

Do you have questions about maintaining your home or your insurance coverage? Reach out today.

When was the last time you gave your home and auto insurance policies an annual checkup?

A lot can happen in a year, and reviewing your current coverage is worthwhile to see if anything needs to be updated or changed.

​Keep reading to learn why you should check in on your policies.

Major Home Renovation

If you added on to your home, upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms, or made any other big changes to the property, make sure you have enough dwelling coverage to rebuild your newly remodeled home.
Even if you’ve only done minor renovations, rising construction labor and materials prices could mean that your coverage wouldn’t be enough to rebuild your home in its current condition. In that case, you’ll want to increase your coverage to avoid having to foot some of the bills yourself.

Addition of Valuable Objects

Have you purchased or inherited valuable artwork, antiques or jewelry in the past year? It’s time to update your home inventory and see if you have the proper policies to replace the value of the items inside your home. And if you added a home security system to protect your valuables, you may be eligible for a discount.

Change in Marital Status

Did you get married recently? You could be eligible for a discount if you bundle home and auto insurance policies with your new spouse.
If you got divorced or your spouse has passed, you can no longer be on a joint car or home insurance policy with that person. Reach out to get a quote for your own policy.

Payments on an Auto Loan

Review your auto insurance coverage to see if it still meets your needs. For example, if you’ve paid enough of your auto loan down, you may no longer need gap insurance. If you’ve changed jobs and are doing less driving, you may be able to get a discount.

Do you have questions about your coverage? Reach out so we can discuss your 

Are you missing out on savings? If you have insurance policies with more than one company, the answer is most likely yes. 

The commercials are true: Bundling insurance policies is often cheaper and more convenient when done with a single insurer. But why? 

While bundling may not be right for everyone, here is the how – and the why – on insurance bundling. Then you can make your own decision.

What does it mean to bundle my home and auto insurance? 

Bundling your home (or renter’s) and auto insurance means getting both policies from the same insurer. You can ask for a quote to see your potential savings before you make a switch.

1. Save money when you bundle policies.

You probably have to have home and auto insurance anyway, so you want to get the best possible deal on your coverage. You may be eligible for a multipolicy discount when you get more than one insurance policy from the same company. This is in addition to any other discounts you receive, such as for a good driving record.

2. Simplify payments and organization.

Bundling your insurance coverage can help you simplify with one monthly payment instead of several. It’s also easier to keep up with your policies when you can view all your insurance documents in one place. Check your coverage, ask a question, and file a claim — all from the same online portal or mobile app. If your insurance needs to change in the future, you just have one phone call to make. 

3. Increase your convenience as a customer.

If you file claims often, it's better to have a company that knows and values you as a customer. And even if you don’t file many claims, holding multiple policies with a single insurer gives more business to a company that has given you superior customer service in the past.

If you have any questions, reach out for help.