TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The start of the year is often a good time to examine your home and car insurance policies and make necessary repairs, according to an insurance professional.
Carl Fuqua with Fuqua Insurance said right now is also a good time for people to look for better car insurance rates with other companies.
“You don’t want to get too complacent with one company,” Fuqua said. “You might want to shop it, especially the first of the year, to see if rates have gotten a little bit better.”
He said the current competition is beneficial for Florida residents right now. “Several major carriers have lower rates compared to what people saw in the last couple years, so shopping for your car insurance can really pay off right now,” Fuqua said.
As for the home insurance industry, Fuqua said the market “isn’t perfect, but it’s stabilizing.”
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Depending on the age of your home and your roof, Fuqua said it could be a beneficial time to replace it. “Once you get a new roof, you can get something done called a wind mitigation certification that can potentially lower your rate significantly,” he said. “I tell people that put off getting a new roof, ‘You’re paying for the roof in premiums, just go ahead and get the new roof.’”
Even though we didn’t have hurricanes during the past season, Fuqua said you should still prepare your home and your property. “It’s much easier to take care of a problem before it becomes a claim, and having a roof with a tree in it is definitely not what you want to have to deal with.”
When examining your home insurance policy, it’s also important to get clarity on whether or not you have flood insurance. “Not everyone needs it, but if you do need it and water enters your home from rising water, it won’t be covered,” Fuqua said. “Stay on top of things so you’re prepared when things are at their worst.”
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Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.