Insurance | Blog

Do I Need Renters Insurance in Texas?

Posted on April 12, 2021March 4, 2021 by agentinsure

Perhaps, you are done with college, and it’s time to move out from your parents’ house. Renting comes with freedom and the excitement of experiencing various Texas locales without worrying about mortgages. But don’t make a mistake and think that renting doesn’t come with its responsibilities. Obviously, beyond paying rent, there are other financial responsibilities you have to contend with.

One of those is renters insurance. Many people overlook renters insurance because they hardly understand the risks of renting. Well, if you are one of those, you need to pay attention to InsureUs, Cypress, TX, on why you need renters insurance.

Why Texas renters should get renters insurance

It has probably cost your blood, sweat, and soul to purchase your personal properties like clothing, electronics, and furniture. Imagine waking up and realizing your personal stuff has evaporated through theft or fire? It’s hard to fathom. But did you know you could get renters insurance to protect your belongings against such unfortunate events?

Renters insurance comes in handy in the following areas.

Personal property coverage

Renters insurance covers your assets in case of damage or theft. However, be sure to understand the maximum coverage to expect from your renter’s insurance. Why? Your insurance may not cover your assets 100 percent.

Liability coverage

Did someone get injured in your apartment? Did you cause damage to neighbors’ properties? You don’t have to worry because renters insurance covers medical costs and damages where you are accused of negligence.

Additional living expenses

Perhaps, your home is damaged by fire. You need to live in a hotel where you will typically spend more than you would in your home. In such instances, renter’s insurance comes into play to cover additional living expenses like accommodation and meals.

Renters insurance in Cypress, TX

Don’t be left out in the cold when the unthinkable happens to your apartment. Instead, be wise and talk to InsureUS to get renters insurance to protect you and your belongings.

Three important things to remember when you purchase motorcycle insurance in Texas

Posted on March 8, 2021March 1, 2021 by agentinsure

As a motorcycle rider, you need to find a motorcycle insurance policy that will protect you financially when you’re out on the roads. At InsureUS, we provide insurance to motorcycle riders in Cypress, TX.

The following are three important things to remember when you purchase motorcycle insurance in Texas.

Minimum coverage won’t include collision coverage.

You have the option to purchase a few different types of motorcycle coverage. Types of coverage available include liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage.

It’s important to remember that minimum coverage generally only means liability coverage. This is the type of coverage required by law. Minimum liability coverage won’t cover the costs of repairing any damage to your own motorcycle if you’re at fault in an accident.

Texas has minimum coverage requirements you’ll need to meet.

Liability coverage must meet certain minimum coverage requirements in Texas. Motorcycle riders need to make sure their policy meets minimum coverage requirements in their state.

It is required that policies have at least $30,000 in coverage for the medical bills of every injured individual involved in an accident. $60,000 total liability coverage is required. Another required is at least $25,000 in property damage coverage.

A lower deductible amount could mean higher monthly

Before a motorcycle policy begins covering costs, the policyholder has to pay their deductible. A lower deductible is more affordable after a claim is filed. However, policies with lower deductibles tend to cost more in terms of premiums.

Are you currently on the market for a motorcycle insurance policy in Texas? We can help you meet your insurance needs at InsureUS. Contact us with any questions you have about meeting your motorcycle insurance coverage needs in Cypress, TX.

Do I need flood insurance in Texas?

Posted on February 28, 2021March 1, 2021 by agentinsure

If you own your own home in the Cypress, TX area, it continues to be important that you get proper insurance coverage for your home. A way that you can do this is with proper insurance. Depending on your situation, you may need to get flood insurance to protect your property. There are a few reasons why people should get this additional insurance protection in Texas.

Flood Insurance Protects Property

A key reason that people need to get a flood insurance plan when in Texas is that it can protect their property very well. If you are located near a waterway that has a tendency to flood, there is a risk that your home could be damaged if a bad storm occurs. Fortunately, this risk can be mitigated if you have proper coverage through a flood insurance plan.

Insurance is a Lender Requirement

It is also common for people to need to get flood insurance because it is a requirement set by their lender. If you are located in an area that is deemed to be a flood zone your mortgage lender will want you to get proper insurance coverage. This could mean that you are required to get flood insurance and will have to escrow the payments on a monthly basis.

If you are in the Cypress, TX area and are wondering about your flood insurance needs, calling InsureUS would be a great option. The team with InsureUS can help you better assess your insurance needs and options. With that guidance, you will be able to determine if you do need to get flood coverage. If you do need or want to have this additional protection, they can also help you build a plan that will ensure you are in compliance and properly covered.

Do You Need RV Insurance All Year Round?

Posted on January 18, 2021January 15, 2021 by agentinsure

Living in the Cypress, TX area has its perks and benefits, and one of those is the opportunity to explore the local area and travel the country from a centralized location. But if you’re using the area as a home base and spending a lot of time on adventures, you may want to make sure you have the right type and level of RV insurance. At InsureUS, we can help you go over your policy and see if there are changes that need to be made. Then you can feel good about the policy you have and you’ll be able to focus on the fun of traveling and seeing the sights.

Protecting your RV is valuable and important, so it’s ready to go whenever you are. A lot of people only travel in the summertime, when their children are out of school and they can take some time away from work or other obligations. If that’s how you use your RV, you might be wondering whether you need to keep it insured all year round. It’s not being driven, so why cover it? There are other problems that can occur, though, such as theft or vandalism. You want to be covered for those things, even if you’re not worried about something that could happen out on the road.

Having your RV insurance in effect all year round is the better and safer choice, so you don’t have to worry about your RV during the months you’re not using it. By reaching out to us today at InsureUs, we can help you cover your Cypress, TX RV with a policy that’s going to give you quality coverage. Then you can enjoy your RV, your peace of mind, and all the adventures you’ll have as you travel.

The office after COVID-19 will look and feel different

Posted on December 18, 2020November 11, 2020 by Victor Varma

Our experiences inside grocery and retail stores and restaurants have changed dramatically over the past few months, with many changes likely permanent–plexiglass dividers at checkout and contactless purchases, for example.
But what about the office? What will it look like after the quarantines ease and more workers return to the office after months of remote work?
Touchless technology and air purification systems will likely be the norm, along with separate entrances and exits. A number of design and architectural websites suggest that buttons and handles will be replaced by innovations like foot-activated call buttons for elevators and methods of entering and exiting office restrooms that don’t include handles.
Desks will be spaced farther apart and may feature sneeze guards, and offices may install more motion sensors to turn on lights and faucets. Going even further, companies might rotate staff schedules.
According to Forbes, a hub-and-spoke office model may become more common–a company’s headquarters serves as the “hub,” while the “spokes” are used for smaller teams and are in a variety of geographic locations. The hub is no longer the base where everyone shows up each day.
Other ideas include the elimination of a single office refrigerator in favor of smaller fridges by department, and grab-and-go meals in cafeterias for the foreseeable future instead of self-service hot bars. Self-cleaning surfaces are likely to become the norm as well.

Why do landlords require renters insurance?

Posted on December 7, 2020November 23, 2020 by agentinsure

If you are in the Cypress, TX area and are looking for a new place to live, renting a home can be a good option. While there are benefits that come with owning a property, those that rent typically will have fewer maintenance needs and have more flexibility. If you are going to rent a property here, you do need to also consider your insurance needs. Most of the time, your landlord will require that you have renters insurance. There are several reasons that they require this.

Renters Insurance Ensures You Can Pay for Damages

If you ever make a mistake that results in property damage or an injury to another party, you will be responsible for the damages. In some cases, the cost to pay for repairs or medical bills can be significant. Due to this, your landlord will want to ensure you have the financial capacity to cover the costs. By ensuring that you carry renters insurance at all times, your landlord will know you have the financial resources needed to pay for damages.

Renters Insurance Covers Your Assets

If there is ever a fire or bad storm that causes a lot of damage, it is possible that your personal items could be lost. When you have renters insurance, you will have coverage to repair or replace your items. Landlords will want you to have it as it will ensure you have support to replace your items and will not try to make a claim on their property insurance.

Anyone moving into a new home in the Cypress, TX area should consider their insurance needs. If you are going to get renters insurance, you should call InsureUS. The insurance team at InsureUS can help you better evaluate your renter’s insurance needs and pick a quality policy.

Can I sell my products and services on Facebook Marketplace?

Posted on December 4, 2020November 11, 2020 by Victor Varma

Four years after its quiet beginnings, Facebook Marketplace has become a major player for people buying and selling products. But is it a viable place to earn a serious income, and what about offering services?
Like Craigslist, it’s free to sell on Marketplace–a draw for anyone accustomed to paying fees to sites like eBay and Amazon. However, those two platforms have far larger audiences and are typically the go-to sites for sellers looking to do higher volume. In addition to the difference in audience reach, you can’t list more than 150 items per day on Facebook Marketplace.
Etsy, Mercari, Rakuten, Shopify and Bonanza are also popular platforms with established audiences. And while Marketplace trends toward local sales, users can offer shipping options. Sellers can use Facebook ads to boost their listings.
Marketplace listings are not just about garage sale used products. People sell pre-made outdoor sheds, for example.
What about using Marketplace to offer your services? For now, it’s a no-go.
Facebook’s Commerce Policies says services may not be listed, and its list of 14 examples includes things like photography, electrical, plumbing, cleaning, financial services and lawn care services, among others.
However, you can still create a Facebook page for your business and list your services there, as well as direct potential customers and clients to your website. With a Facebook page, you can communicate with customers right on the page or via Messenger.
A Facebook page adds a credibility factor for services such as light construction or home repair and remodeling. Businesses can also display photos of their work.

How bad has 2020 been for insurance? Look at the numbers

Posted on November 27, 2020October 16, 2020 by Victor Varma

If you live in Oregon, Washington or California, you may no longer be able to get insurance to cover damage from wildfires. Insurance losses from recent wildfires are adding up to be some of the largest on record.
Insurers are moving to raise rates and refuse policy renewals in regions with high fire risk, according to Moody’s Investor Service.
As of late July, losses from wildfires in the western U.S. were estimated to be $8 billion, the third highest on record. However, no one knows how high the total will go, according to Moody’s.
That number is just more pain piled on insurance losses as flash floods, tornados and hail caused another $20 billion in insured losses from natural disasters in 2020.
But that isn’t the full total for storm-related costs. The $20 billion number was calculated before hurricanes.
Analysts project that Hurricane Laura caused $9 billion in insured losses; Isaias caused about $4 billion in insured damage and Hanna caused about $250 million.

Small business: Check the demolition limits for riots on your insurance policies

Posted on November 20, 2020October 16, 2020 by Victor Varma

Small business owners are finding their insurance policies have limits on the payouts for demolition of buildings torched in riots.
A report by the Minneapolis Star Tribune showed that most insurance payouts for demolition cover about $25,000 to $50,000 in costs. Meanwhile, contractors in the area have submitted bids ranging from $200,000 to $300,000 for the work.
Small business owners should check their policies for limits on demolition. Depending on the policy, insurance could pay from $25,000 up to $250,000.
Total damages for riots could exceed $2 billion, according to a Bloomberg News insurance analyst. In Minnesota alone, insurers expect gross losses of $254.6 million. In Minnesota, 1,612 claims have been received, but insurers expect that number to rise to at least 1,714.
According to the Star Tribune, it often costs more to demolish buildings than the property is actually worth.
After Minnesota’s riots, cities have hired demolition crews to take down structures that were dangerous, presenting the property owners with bills totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars to haul away debris.
With most major insurers suffering losses in the millions now and with more riots expected, commercial property insurance premiums are rising, sometimes doubling. In other areas, carriers won’t write policies at all.

Long-term care insurance deductible limits raised

Posted on November 13, 2020October 16, 2020 by Victor Varma

Long-term care insurance is one way to protect your assets in retirement. The plans often pay for half of the cost of care in a nursing home, for example.
For the 2020 tax year, the deduction limits have increased, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.
Age 2020 $ 2019 $
40 or less 430 420
40-49 810 790
50-59 1,630 1,580
60-69 4,350 4,220
70+ 5,430 5,270

These deductions are available under the medical care expenses that are not reimbursed during the tax year and exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. Your adjusted gross income (AGI) is your taxable income minus adjustments such as contributions to a traditional IRA, according to TurboTax. That means most people won’t be able to claim medical expenses as a tax deduction at all, until they retire.
Unreimbursed medical expenses can include preventative care, surgeries, dental and vision care, psychological care, prescription medications and medical devices such as glasses, contacts, false teeth and hearing aids.
Here is an example of a medical deduction from efile.com:
AGI is $40,000 and your medical expenses are $5,000. In 2019 and 2020, you can deduct 7.5 percent of unreimbursed medical expenses. So, multiply $40,000 by 7.5 percent. The result is $3,000. That is how much you can deduct. So, $2,000 of your $5,000 medical expenses are not deductible.
Keep in mind these deductions are not applicable to linked benefit policies, such as life insurance and annuity policies.