At Catto & Catto, we saw 200 hurricane & flood insurance claims in 2017, most due to Hurricane Harvey’s devastating damage in Houston and along the Gulf Coast. Families experienced significant losses from minor wind damage to total home destruction.
Planning in Advance: Coverage that Protects
The good news is that our policyholders were covered in these disasters from the thousands upon thousands of dollars of financial liability.
We find that the average consumer doesn’t know what coverage they have, especially if they purchased a policy solely based on its low monthly premium. Cheap insurance is out there, but often when you experience a significant loss, you realize your policy doesn’t provide as much coverage as you thought. Plan now; understand your policy’s exclusions and coverages, or you could be left with no coverage when you need it most.
An Advocate In a Time of Need
Ninety-eight percent (98%) of our Hurricane Harvey claims were settled in 60 days.
We act as our clients’ advocate during the claims experience, working directly with insurance adjusters immediately after disaster strikes to ensure our clients receive financial coverage as soon as possible for damages. Some of our specialists were on the phone with insurance companies for 8 months garnering payouts for policyholders. We won’t give up until our clients get paid, coordinating with multiple entities such as the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for floods, Texas Windstorm Pool, and the insurance carrier.
We take care of the time-consuming and potentially confusing aspects of the claims experience so our customers don’t have to. Our insurance specialists help our customers fully understand their coverage and can provide them with the support they need if they are displaced from their home in the event of a covered loss.
Preparing for the Future
We recommend that you prepare in advance so you are confident in your coverage and the steps you’d take in the event a disaster strikes.
- Find an Expert Insurance Partner. Find a trusted advisor who has the knowledge and expertise to get you the type of policy and coverage you need.
- Find the Right Provider(s). If you have found an insurance provider that is a good fit for you, we recommend sticking with it. Frequently changing providers can lose you loyalty credits and negotiating power. There is a caveat to working with the same provider for every product: you may not be getting the best rates and may have to select a product that may not be suitable for your life. Instead, review your products and needs with an independent insurance expert like Catto & Catto who can customize the products to your life, instead of trying to fit your life into a single company’s products.
- Don’t Skip the Annual Check Up. We recommend you meet with your insurance professional at least once a year to ensure your policy is still providing the appropriate coverage for your home, location, and lifecycle. If you’re upsizing, downsizing, starting a family, had any recent accidents, or major life changes, you may need to change your coverage. It’s always good to evaluate your plan and to discuss this with your provider.
- Get a Pulse-Check on Your Homeowners Insurance Policy. Prior to hurricane season, get an insurance checkup or consultation. Most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period, so be sure to check on your coverages in advance.
- Stock Up. Be sure you stock an emergency supply of food, water, medical supplies, and any other items you may need during a disaster.
- Write It Down; Make a Plan. Safeguard important documents, create an inventory of household goods, and document steps to take after a disaster.
- Take Preventative Measures, Get a Discount. Consider installing storm shutters and other preventative items. These can help protect your home and sometimes improve your insurance rates.
At Catto & Catto, we’re here for our clients through life’s most joyous events and through its challenges when disaster hits. Our goal is to empower all of our clients to fully understand their coverages and know where to go when they have questions or need help. If you’d like to speak with an insurance expert, we are happy to help.