These can be challenging for homeowners in Oviedo, FL, and elsewhere in the Sunshine State. Home insurance rates are rising, regulations are changing, and you may have fewer options. This, of course, has led to a flurry of questions at Karla Salmon Insurance. One question that we get increasingly is whether homeowners must carry homeowners insurance.

It is not a legal requirement to carry home insurance in Florida.

Unlike auto insurance in the state, homeowners are not legally required to carry homeowners insurance. If a home, however, has been financed and has a mortgage, the lender will likely require the mortgage holder to carry it.

What if I own my Home Outright?

If you do not have a mortgage, you can choose to “go bare” and go without home insurance. This is also called “self-insuring” because you alone will be responsible for the damage your home may experience. Any and all damage from a fire, storm, vandalism, or theft would be the responsibility of the owner.

The Danger of Self-insurance.

While it may be tempting to self-insure a home you own outright in this time of uncertainty and rising costs, it could be financially risky, especially if you don’t have the financial resources to absorb a significant loss.

You may have Home Insurance Options.

You may have options for changing your coverage and even locating a different homeowners insurance provider. At Karla Salmon Insurance of Oviedo, FL, we invite you to contact us to discuss your situation. We may be able to help you avoid having force-placed insurance on your financed home.

Contact us today to discover what we can do for you.

Oviedo, FL homeowners are no strangers to the devastation and destruction that hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and other natural disasters can leave behind. The good news is that the experts at Karla Salmon Insurance in Oviedo, FL, are here to help! 

Five Reasons to Protect Your Florida Home with Comprehensive Insurance 

1. Exposure to Weather-Related Risks 

Florida experiences weather extremes, including tropical storms, hurricanes, tornados, and extreme heat. These naturally occurring phenomena can pose significant risks to the structural integrity of your home. A comprehensive insurance policy can help offset some of the costs associated with storm recovery. 

2. Comprehensive Property Protection

Safeguard the interior and exterior of your home with comprehensive home insurance that can cover structural damage, theft, vandalism, and related perils. 

3. Liability Coverage Can Shield Homeowners from Legal Fees 

Unforeseen accidents that happen within the confines of your home and property can lead to costly lawsuits that can wipe out your savings and rack up expensive legal fees. Liability insurance for homeowners can help protect your finances from potential lawsuits and medical fees.

4. Comply with Mortgage Lender Requirements 

Many Florida mortgage lenders stipulate that homeowners must carry comprehensive home insurance to hold a mortgage. Comprehensive home insurance meets mortgage lender requirements. It adds a layer of financial security to your most significant investment. 

5. Peace of Mind is Priceless

It isn’t easy to put a price on peace of mind. However, in Oviedo, FL, residents who know that their financial interests are protected by home insurance can rest easier knowing that their home, family, and personal belongings are safe. 

Contact the knowledgeable and friendly insurance agents at Karla Salmon Insurance and get a home insurance quote today! 

As more people spend all or part of their work hours at home, there is increased awareness that most home insurance policies provide limited coverage for work-related tools and equipment. This article covers several options for adding that coverage. If you live in or near Oviedo, FL, the Karla Salmon Insurance team will gladly review your options and create a home and business insurance plan that works for you.

Home Insurance and Working From Home

As the name implies, home insurance covers personal assets and activities. It does not protect business assets and activities, whether you or your employer owns the assets. Typically, a home policy covers only $2,500 in business assets, so you should obtain additional coverage if you own a business and keep some assets at home.

You have several methods to obtain coverage that depends on your business size. Self-employed or freelancers often gain enough coverage by adding a business property endorsement to their home policy. However, check whether your business assets exceed the policy limits ($5,000 is standard.) If so, increase the policy limit with an endorsement.

Businesses with employees and less than $250,000 in revenues can benefit from in-home business insurance. These policies cover property, liability, and other elements typical of commercial insurance coverage.

Finally, a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) may be appropriate for home-based businesses with revenues exceeding $250,000. BOPs package the commercial insurance elements you need, like Workers’ Compensation, and add liability coverage for colleagues or customers injured at your residence. 

Working with Karla Salmon Insurance

We recommend discussing your situation with your agent, such as Karla Salmon Insurance. Our team proudly serves homeowners and businesses in and near Oviedo, FL. Call us or stop in today.

At Karla Salmon Insurance, we get a lot of questions about homeowners insurance from property owners in the Winter Springs and Oviedo, FL areas. The more our areas grow, the more questions increase in numbers and scope. Some of these questions involve outbuildings on a property. Here are some of the more frequent questions and answers.

What is an Outbuilding?

An outbuilding is a structure located on a property but separate from the main building. Examples include sheds, storage units, an unattached garage, and fencing.

Does my Homeowners Insurance Cover These Outbuildings?

The short answer is "probably". Many policies cover these structures to mirror the coverage of the main structure. However, outbuildings may not be covered for damage caused by lack of maintenance, pests, or insect damage. They may also be uncovered due to damage from flooding if a separate flood insurance policy is not in place on the main structure.

Are There Limits to Coverage of Outbuildings

Outbuilding coverage is generally tied to the overall limits of the primary homeowners’ insurance policy. This may include limits on the coverage of an outbuilding’s contents.

If you own a home in the Winter Springs and Oviedo, FL areas, you are in the midst of explosive growth. This includes massive commercial and residential developments. Home values are rapidly increasing, meaning you can quickly outgrow your homeowners’ insurance. Karla Salmon Insurance can review your present home insurance policy and provide a price quote. If you are unsure about your homeowner insurance and its coverage and limits, reach out to Karla Salmon Insurance, which serves Winter Springs, Geneva, Sanford, and Oviedo, FL.

At Karla Salmon Insurance in Oviedo, FL, we help homeowners cover their houses and the valuables inside their homes. When your most prized possessions are stolen, figuring out whether you can pay for their replacement can be stressful. While each policy specifies terms and limits, we can offer general guidance and hop around the topic of stolen belongings below.

Does Home Insurance Cover Stolen Belongings Outside the House?

Although break-ins threaten homeowners, valuable possessions are at risk of theft outside the home. Many home insurance policies provide coverage for valuables even if they’re stolen off the premises of the primary dwelling. For example, if you find yourself traveling and notice that a thief snagged your luggage, you might be able to file a claim and cover the costs of replacing the stolen items through your insurance policy. Of course, limits and policy terms apply to this situation. Even if you can’t be reimbursed for the entirety of the costs of the stolen items, this can help ease the financial burden after this devastating event happens. 

If your home insurance policy wouldn’t usually cover an item, or you’ve reached your limits, then it’s doubtful it would be covered if it’s stolen outside the home. If an item was in an area outside the house already covered by your home insurance policy, such as the garage or deck, it should still be covered. For special items like collectibles, you may want to get an insurance policy that specifically covers those valuables, so they’re covered inside and outside the home.

To protect your valuables, speak with an agent at Karla Salmon Insurance in Oviedo, FL, today!

Safety in the home is an essential aspect of homeownership. Making your home safe from danger inside and out is vital to your personal safety and security. At Karla Salmon Insurance Oviedo, FL, our insurance experts are here to answer your questions and put your mind at rest about your home insurance coverage. 

Security

You should feel safe when you are at home. If you have been thinking about getting a home security system, now is the time actually to do it. Many systems are DIY projects that can be accomplished in a short time without needing any help. By adding cameras to the exterior of your home and motion-activated lights, you can always know who might be approaching your home. You should always use your door and window locks. They are free and are a deterrent. 

Storm shutters and hurricane-proof windows

Florida is twice as likely to be hit by a hurricane than any other hurricane-prone state. Florida residents need to be prepared for the possibility of a hurricane. By having storm shutters and shatterproof glass, you can limit some potential damage. If you are in an area prone to hurricanes, having a generator is necessary.  

Clear clutter

Clutter is a significant danger to both your personal safety and the safety of your home. Clutter is a fire hazard to your home and a trip and fall hazard to you. Keep all walkways and stairs clear and well-lit. Don’t keep anything that is potentially flammable in an area that is not air-conditioned. It gets very hot in the summer in Florida. 

When you need assistance with your home insurance, give our office a call or stop by the office for a no-obligation quote at Karla Salmon Insurance in Oviedo, FL.

Here at Karla Salmon Insurance, providing residents in Oviedo, FL with home insurance, two of the questions that we are asked are why certain dog breeds are precluded from home insurance policies and what happens if you have one of these dog breeds despite them being precluded from your home insurance policy. Read on to find out the answers to these questions. 

Why Are Certain Dog Breeds Precluded From Home Insurance Policies?

Certain home insurance companies preclude certain breeds of dogs because certain breeds of dogs are more likely to bite people and cause injuries. Home insurance companies keep data and then mull over that date to find out what breeds have bitten individuals and lead to home insurance claims being filed. Based on that information, companies have decided to preclude these breeds of dogs from home insurance policies or increase the price of your policy based on the breed of dog you own because they are considered high-risk. 

What Happens If You Have a Dog Breed That Is Precluded From Your Home Insurance Policy? 

If your home insurance policy precludes a breed of dog from your policy, it does not mean that you cannot own that type of dog. You can still own the dog. However, if your dog happens to bite someone or cause injury to someone, your home insurance policy will not cover the costs associated with that event. You will be personally responsible for any costs, including medical care. 

Here at Karla Salmon Insurance, serving the greater Oviedo, FL area, we want to match homeowners up with the right insurance policy for their needs. Some companies do preclude specific breeds of dogs, while other companies may offer insurance with no breed exclusions. We can help you find the insurance plan that fits your family’s needs. Call us today to get started. 

It’s crucial to ensure that your Oviedo, FL home is protected from burglary and vandalism. While crime rates may decrease in certain areas, that doesn’t mean you should become complacent with home security. Here are three simple tips from Karla Salmon Insurance that can help keep your home safe from vandals and thieves.

Install an alarm system

An alarm system helps protect your home from vandalism and theft by alerting you to an intrusion. You can do this through motion sensors, door/window contact sensors, glass break detectors, and other types of sensors. When the alarm is triggered, an alarm will sound, a notification will be sent to you, and in some cases, the police will be alerted. This gives you the time to take action and prevent or reduce the damage caused by vandalism and theft.

Use outdoor lighting

Outdoor lighting can deter would-be vandals and thieves by making it more difficult for them to hide in the shadows and remain undetected. Additionally, outdoor lighting can make it easier to identify suspicious activity, allowing homeowners to call the police if they see something out of the ordinary. Finally, outdoor lighting can provide an additional layer of security by providing visibility to areas around the home that may be susceptible to break-ins.

Secure doors and windows

Securing doors and windows can help protect a home from vandalism and theft by making it more difficult for intruders to access the house. The use of deadbolts, keyed locks, or other security measures on the doors and windows makes it harder for an intruder to enter the home, reducing the likelihood of a break-in. Additionally, visible security measures can deter potential criminals, who may move on to an easier target if they see that your home is secure.

Karla Salmon Insurance is a locally owned and operated insurance provider serving Oviedo, FL. We are dedicated to ensuring that our clients feel secure with their home insurance coverage. We understand the importance of having reliable insurance protection, and we strive to provide outstanding service and competitive rates. Contact us today!

Karla Salmon Insurance serves the city of Oviedo, FL with the home insurance it needs to protect the typical American’s most significant investment – their home. In Florida, hurricanes frequently make landfall, damaging homes.

More than just coastal homes incur damage. The rains and winds of a hurricane damage inland homes, too.

Covered: Wind Damage

Your home insurance covers some of this damage. If high winds damage your home, your home insurance covers the damage.

Uncovered: Rising Water Flood

If the rain causes water levels to rise and your home floods, your home insurance does not cover that. Only a flood policy covers that.

Covered: Wind Damage Caused Flooding

However, if winds damage your roof and rainwater enters the home through the wind damage, your home policy does cover that water damage.

Covered: Hail Damage

Hail from the thunderstorms that spawn from a hurricane, the home policy covers. Also, if the hail breaks windows or damages the roof, the home policy does cover the ensuing water damage.

Covered: Mold or Mildew Caused by Roof Damage

If the water that enters the home from above causes mold or mildew, then the home coverage pays for it. Only flood insurance covers if mold or mildew develops because of a rising water flood.

Contact Us

As you can tell, a fine line exists between what home insurance covers from a hurricane and what it does not. Your best line of defense against paying out of pocket for hurricane damage remains proper insurance.

Meet with an agent from Karla Salmon Insurance to learn how best to protect your home from hurricane damage in Oviedo, FL. Let our agency help you determine which policies, riders, and endorsements will best protect your Florida home. When a hurricane hits, ensure your insurance covers the damage to protect your financial security.