If you recently purchased a home in the great state of Texas, congratulations! Owning a home anywhere is a major life accomplishment, but life in Texas is special. If you are in the process of shopping around for home insurance in the Highland Village, TX area, keep reading. Thompson Insurance Services is here to help you discover a policy that suits your lifestyle and needs. 

Home insurance covers your house itself and the property. Dwelling protection covers the physical structure of your home. There’s also personal property coverage, which protects all your belongings within your home. Liability protection covers you if someone is injured in your home or property. 

While Texas law does not require you to have home insurance, the lender who secured your loan most likely does. Lenders need to know that their investment is protected, which is why they require home insurance. 

There are many reasons why protecting your home with insurance is the best possible choice you can make for your most significant investment. The home you live in with your family should be protected in any event, no matter how small. 

You certainly won’t regret having insurance when it comes to storm or fire damage, theft, or any other situation out of your control. 

The team at Thompson Insurance Services is here to help. If it’s time to renew your policy or start from square one, our agents can advise you on what policies fit your lifestyle and offer the most coverage. If you’re in the Highland Village, TX area, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Ideally, you should review your home owner’s policy annually to ensure you have the best price and appropriate coverage. There are other times you may want to check in with your agent to see if you need to make changes. 

Your home value increased.

Whether by market value or recent improvements, if your home value has increased notably over the value the policy was written for, you want to be sure that a claim made on that policy will be enough to replace your home. Otherwise, if your home is damaged, you’ll wind up paying for the gap out of pocket. 

Additionally, if you add features like a pool, hot tub, trampoline, or backyard play equipment, you might want to boost your liability coverage if someone is injured. 

Your family expanded.

With new bodies comes new items. Anytime you have a significant increase in personal property, you’ll want to update your home inventory and discuss your policy limits with your agent to ensure you are adequately covered. A good time to do this is when you bring a new baby home or merge households. New people increase the number of electronics and valuables in the house and increase your potential liabilities. 

You might also want to check with your agent before purchasing a new pooch. Some insurers have breed restrictions, and which breeds are restricted can vary between providers, so it’s worth checking in to make sure you have liability protection. 

You’ve added security. 

Alarm systems and home monitoring systems have never been so accessible and affordable for consumers. If you are one of the many looking to increase your property’s security, reach out to your agent to determine if the system you are considering might result in a discounted premium. 

In Highland Village, TX, homeowners looking to get the most out of their insurance policy should call or visit Thompson Insurance Services today.

There are obvious times to review your home owner’s insurance. Here are a few surprising things that can impact your policy and its premiums in Highland Village, TX. 

Wood and Pellet Stoves

• If you are considering installing or removing one, reach out to your insurance agent to discuss the impact it will have on your premiums. Homes that contain either type of stove are more at risk of fire damage, which can increase the cost of your policy. They may also require professional installation. If you are determined to have the crackle of a fire no matter the price, remember these three tips to reduce your household risk: 
• Have your fireplace inspected annually to determine maintenance issues and clean the chimney once a year to prevent residue build-up. 
• Keep rugs, drapes, and other flammables away from your fireplace. Keep a screen up to keep sparks and ash inside of the fireplace and not on your floors.
• Use seasoned, properly dry hardwood. It will burn longer and cleaner, producing less soot. 

Man’s Best Friend

Dogs are great companions, but they can impact your insurance premiums. Texas homeowner’s policies will typically extend liability protection in the event the family dog bites a visitor. However, it’s important to note that many providers have breed restrictions. If you are in the market for a new dog, review your provider’s restricted breed list. However, know that not all insurers use the same list, and some insurers don’t look at breed at all. So if you have your heart set on a specific puppy, it’s worth shopping around. 

If you are ready to review your policy to ensure your coverage meets your needs, call or stop by Thompson Insurance Services today.  

Whether you are in the process of purchasing a new home or you already have a home in Highland Village, TX, investing in homeowner’s insurance from Thompson Insurance Services should not be an option if you want peace of mind. And that’s not all. Home insurance protects you in many other ways. Here are some areas covered by home insurance

Dwelling protection

One of the things that your homeowner’s insurance protects is the physical structure of your home. Home insurance covers your building’s walls, house foundation, roof, and so forth. Also, structures linked to your home are covered at an additional premium. 

Personal property coverage

Other than protecting your home, homeowners insurance also shields the content inside your home. Home insurance covers personal assets, including furniture, electronics, appliances, and clothing. Besides, high-value items like art and jewelry are covered, although up to a specific limit. 

Liability protection

If someone who is not a member of your family comes to your home and suffers bodily injuries, your homeowner’s insurance should cover their treatment or hospitalization costs. Similarly, home insurance covers property damage that you or your family members may cause to other people. 

Loss of use coverage

When you least expect it, an event can occur and render you homeless. For example, a fire accident can consume your entire house, leaving you without a home. When this happens, you have no other better option than to look for a temporary living place, incurring unexpected costs in the process. 

Thankfully, with a home insurance policy, the relocation process will be a breeze as it facilitates costs exceeding your day-to-day expenses. 

Buy home insurance in Highland Village, TX

Now that you have a clear understanding of what homeowners insurance covers, why not buy it today? It’s simple — you only need to contact Thompson Insurance Services and get covered today!

Buying a home calls for a huge investment. As such, you need to protect your home with homeowners insurance. At Thompson Insurance Services located in Highland Village, TX, we often receive several questions about whether home insurance is mandatory in Texas. If your home is financed by a mortgage, your lender is legally allowed to ensure you have home insurance as long as the loan payment is pending.

Types of home insurance coverages available for Texas residents

Whereas the law doesn’t require you to have homeowners insurance, this coverage provides the below protection.

Dwelling coverage: Provides coverage to the structure of your home, including ceiling, roof, walls, floors, and other attachments to your house. As a perils’ policy, it protects your home against the below: 

• Riots
• Fire and lightning
• Falling objects like aircraft
• Volcanic eruptions
• Theft
• Vandalism

Given its limited coverage, you may have to look out for other home insurance options for optimal coverage.

Contents coverage: Covers for personal belongings such as electronics and furniture against fire, vandalism, and theft.

Liability insurance: Provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for incidences that you are legally liable. It covers medical expenses, lawsuits, and property damages that you might have caused.

Outbuildings: Protects structures like sheds, garages, and gazebos, which aren’t permanently attached to your house.

Medical payments: If a person gets injured while within your property, this policy can cover the medical costs.

Flood insurance: Most homeowners have a misconception that home insurance protects them from flood damage. This notion isn’t true. For flood damage protection, you have to purchase separate flood insurance. 

Home insurance for Highland Village, TX residents

While Texas homeowners aren’t required to carry home insurance by the law, it’s super critical to purchase home insurance to protect your invaluable asset. If you are a Highland Village, TX resident and its environs, contact Thompson Insurance Services for your home insurance needs. We offer custom-tailored home insurance policies to meet your needs.

Your home is most likely your most valuable asset in Highland Village, TX. You have put a lot of work, love, and time into it, and having it insured is one of the smartest things you can do. Even if you own your home, or vacation home, outright, you never know when disaster could strike. Rather than losing your asset, you’ll want it protected with a home insurance policy. Ready to get started? Read on to learn about three tips for purchasing home insurance in Highland Village, TX. 

1. Compare Several Quotes

You’ll want to start by comparing several home insurance quotes with a reputable agent from Thompson Insurance Services. He or she will ask you some questions to find the right policies to compare. Together, you will go over each policy’s cost and coverage. Ask questions and get any clarifications you may need. We recommend going over three or more quotes before making a decision on home insurance. 

2. Bundle Your Policies

After you’ve decided on the home insurance policy you want to buy, ask your reputable agent to help you bundle them under one insurance carrier for a discount on your premium. You can bundle auto, life, umbrella, and more. 

3. Work with a Reputable Agent

Finally, it is important to work with a reputable agent to make sure you’re buying the right policy. A reputable agent will be quick to point out the differences in policies and help you make the right decision.

To learn more about purchasing home insurance for your property, contact the team at Thompson Insurance Services. Our friendly, reputable agents are available right now to take your call. 

One of the most important steps in buying a home is purchasing the right home insurance policy. At Thompson Insurance Services, we’re here to help homeowners in Highland Village, TX to meet their insurance needs.

The following are three things you need to do before you buy a home insurance policy for your home in Texas. 

Determine what your mortgage lender’s requirements are

One of the most important things to know is that mortgage lenders require their borrowers to carry adequate home insurance coverage. You should therefore discuss home insurance requirements with your mortgage lender before you purchase a policy. 

This way, you can be sure that the policy you purchase meets all of the specifications set forth by your lender. 

Compare quotes from different providers

If you want to minimize your insurance costs, you should take the time to get quotes from multiple insurance providers. Then, you can compare the offers you get and figure out which one best meets your needs at a competitive price. 

Research discounts you may be eligible for

There are quite a few different discounts that you could be eligible for. You could enjoy a discount if you carry out certain home improvement projects or if you have a security system installed to prevent burglaries. You could also enjoy a discount if you bundle multiple insurance policies with the same provider.

Take some time to research discounts. Home insurance will be a recurring cost that will add up over time. That’s why it’s so important to do what you can to minimize the number of your premiums. 

Get started now by contacting us at Thompson Insurance Services. We’ll get back to you with information on a home insurance policy for your home in Highland Village, TX. 

If you live in Highland Village, TX, you may be interested in how your home insurance works in case your personal property is lost, damaged, or stolen. Thompson Insurance Services wants everyone to know how they can keep their things protected from any number of threats. From criminals to smoke, we’ll look at how different policies work and what you can expect in terms of coverage. 

Make No Assumptions 

This is not just a good strategy in life, it can also save you from being surprised when you go to file an insurance claim. Some people may assume that their things are covered during certain events, only to find that their policy only covers the physical structure. So while home insurance may be able to help you fix the siding of your home, it won’t be able to replace the furniture in your living room. 

Standard Policies 

If you do have coverage, your things would typically be protected from things like natural disasters and theft. If your things are stolen — even if they’re not at home during the time of the theft — you should still be able to file for them. Just keep in mind that home insurance policies in Highland Village, TX do not cover flooding damage unless you have a specific rider attached to it. 

If you’re looking for someone to talk to about how to protect your things, especially if you’ve acquired a lot more stuff since you first bought the home, Thompson Insurance Services is here to help. When you contact us, we’ll tell you more about how your coverage limits will impact you under a variety of circumstances which can help you choose a policy that you’re comfortable with. 

The subject of fire prevention usually arises when it comes time to decide on a home insurance policy that would cover accidents occurring in Dallas and the Highland Village, TX area. These four fire prevention tips can get you started.

1. Make sure you have enough smoke alarms

The Red Cross recommends at least one smoke detector on every level of your home. It is always a wise plan to have one in each bedroom, the hallway, and other traffic areas.

2. Check smoke detector batteries frequently

It’s a good idea to check the batteries in all smoke alarms a minimum of once a month. If you hear frequent, intermittent beeping, you know it’s time to change it, but do it before then or it could be too late.

3. Keep your HVAC maintained and inspect all electrical wiring

Keeping your furnace, heating ducts, and vents clean can reduce fire risk. You also should repair any faulty electrical wiring immediately or it could cause a spark that starts a fire. An additional electrical wiring tip: don’t overload outlets with too many cords.

4. Keep an eye on the stove and make sure your timers work

The best way to prevent kitchen fires is to stay near the stove while cooking. In any case, make sure your timers work before you attempt to leave the room (ex: to use the bathroom) for even one minute. You also will want to keep your burners, stovetops, and ovens free of grease and debris.

Thompson Insurance Services in Highland Village, TX cares about your safety. We also can help you with questions about your home insurance policy. Contact us anytime.

At Thompson Insurance Services, we work with people in and around Highland Village, TX and try to find high-quality insurance. For example, we can help first-time owners like you understand your home insurance option and prepare you for purchasing the best policy. 

Work On Your Credit Score 

First-time homeowners with a middling or mediocre credit score may want to work on that before they purchase a house or a home insurance policy. Your lending rates – and your insurance premiums – will be higher if your credit score is sub-par. 

Try to make all of your payments on time, pay off your credit cards, and work on boosting other elements of your score. You’ll typically need to get around 750 or so to get the best results, though the higher you get with your score, the better. 

Don’t Buy Excessive Coverage 

After you’ve improved your credit score and you’re ready to buy a policy, you should make sure to obtain a plan that is right for your home and financial needs. Too many first-time homeowners make the mistake of trying to get a policy that covers everything and pay too much money. 

For example, you may think that you want hurricane coverage for your home even though you don’t live in a hurricane zone. Or you may try to purchase coverage options that are too expensive or which add little to your policy. Talk to your provider to ensure you don’t make this mistake.

We Can Help 

So if you’re buying your first home in Highland Village, TX and you want to make sure you get the best hoe insurance possible, please contact us at Thompson Insurance Services right away to learn more. Our experts will sit down with you and work out the best plan for your needs.