Have you looked out at your yard lately? If you see large tree branches hanging over your roofline, it might be time to hire a tree trimmer. In Texas, keeping your trees neat is not just about curb appeal, it also plays a huge role in your home insurance eligibility and possibly, your wallet.

Trimming tree branches away from your roofline drastically improves your home insurance eligibility. In fact, it might even help you find a lower priced home policy.

Texas Home Insurance Companies Care About Your Trees

Texas weather is highly unpredictable. From intense windstorms and heavy hail to hurricanes, our homes take a beating every year. Thus, when severe weather hits, overgrown branches become major hazards.

First, strong winds can snap heavy limbs, sending them crashing directly into your roof. This causes severe structural destruction and expensive leaks. Second, constant rubbing from nearby branches can scrape away the protective granules on your roof shingles over time. This mechanical friction weakens your roof long before a storm even arrives. Finally, overhanging branches drop leaves and twigs that clog your gutters, leading to rot and water damage.

The Eye in the Sky: How Home Insurance Companies Spot Overgrown Trees

You might think an insurance company will only notice your trees if you file a claim, but that is no longer the case. Today, technology allows providers to view your property from above.

Many insurance companies now use high-resolution satellite images and aerial photography via drones to review your roof layout. Sometimes, they use these images to check the condition of your home before they even agree to cover your home. Thus, the number of home insurance quotes that are available becomes limited. As a result, you may not be getting the best priced policy.

Furthermore, carriers rely heavily on a post-bind inspection. This is a formal property review that happens right after your policy starts and sometimes before the next renewal. Between the overhead satellite data and the detailed post-bind inspection reports, insurers will easily spot any branches hovering too close to your house. If they flag your property as a high risk, they can choose cancel your policy during the initial underwriting period or non-renew your policy at expiration.

The Impact on Home Insurance Eligibility and Rates

Can trimming your trees really save you money? Yes, it absolutely can.

• Better Eligibility: Many insurance companies in Texas will deny coverage or refuse to renew a policy if their satellite data shows overhanging branches. Trimming your trees keeps your home eligible for coverage in a tough market.
• Lower Premiums: Many insurance providers offer better home insurance rates for homes with a roof in good condition and no overhanging trees.
• Avoiding Claims: The cheapest claim is the one you never have to file. Keeping branches clear prevents costly claims, which helps keep your long-term insurance history clean.

How Much Should You Trim?

As a general rule, you should hire a reputable tree trimmer.  Keep all tree branches at least 10 feet away from your roofline. This distance creates a buffer zone. It prevents branches from hitting your house during high winds and keeps pests like squirrels and rats from climbing onto your roof.

Let a Local Home Insurance Expert Help You Save

You do not have to shop for coverage completely alone. Reach out to a local independent insurance agent like AlphaSure Affordable Insurance Services. An independent agent can look at multiple home insurance companies at the same time. Thus, they will save you time and help find you the best rates for both your home and car insurance. Call AlphaSure Affordable Insurance Services today to start shopping for car or home insurance tailored perfectly to your budget. You can also go online for free home insurance quote to start the shopping process.

For most families living in Texas, a home is more than just a shelter; it is often the single largest financial investment they will ever make. Consequently, understanding the importance of having home insurance is critical for long-term financial stability. While no one expects a disaster, being prepared ensures that a single event doesn’t lead to a total loss of your hard-earned assets.

Homeowners insurance is a contract between you and an insurance provider that provides financial protection against disasters. A standard policy typically covers both damage to the property itself and your legal responsibility for any injuries or property damage you or your family members cause to others.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

When evaluating policies, many homeowners ask, “What does home insurance cover exactly?” While every policy is unique, most standard homeowners insurance policies include four essential types of coverage:

• Dwelling Coverage: This pays to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged by a covered peril such as fire, windstorm, hail, or lightning.
• Personal Property: Your furniture, clothes, electronics, and other personal items are covered if they are stolen or destroyed by a covered disaster.
• Liability Protection: This covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that family members or pets cause to other people.
• Additional Living Expenses (ALE): If your home is uninhabitable after a fire or other insured disaster, ALE pays the additional costs of living away from home, such as hotel bills and meals.

However, it is important to note that standard policies in Texas usually do not cover damage caused by floods. Because the weather in South Texas can be unpredictable, discussing these gaps with an independent insurance agent is a vital step in your shopping process.

Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent?

Choosing the right coverage can be overwhelming. Furthermore, rates can vary significantly between carriers. This is where the value of an independent insurance agent becomes clear. Unlike “captive” agents who work for a single company, an independent agent works for you.

At AlphaSure Affordable Insurance Services, we serve as your starting point in the shopping process. We compare multiple top-rated carriers to find the coverage that fits your specific needs in both San Antonio and Laredo.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are you sure your home insurance covers your finest Texas gear? Most homeowners think their policy protects everything inside their house. If a thief breaks in, you expect a check to replace your stolen items. However, many Texans do not know about insurance sublimits. Specific high-value items are not covered the same as, for example, furniture.

What Are Home Insurance Sublimits?

Your policy has a main limit for personal property. This coverage limit is a percentage of the dwelling limit, usually starts at 40%.  However, certain items are covered at a much smaller sublimit. Insurance companies use sublimits to lower their risk on items that thieves steal most often, such as jewelry. If a thief steals your favorite Rolex, a standard home insurance policy might only pay a fraction of its true value.

Four Categories with Low Policy Limits on a Home Insurance Policy

1. Jewelry and Watches Texans love their fine jewelry and bright watches. Sadly, depending on the home insurance policy form, home insurance policies cap the losses by the peril of theft. The sublimit for jewelry to losses by the peril of theft starts at $500!  

2. Firearms Guns are a big part of Texas life and outdoor sports. Yet, most standard policies limit firearm theft coverage to twenty-five hundred dollars. Thus, this small amount barely covers a couple of high-quality rifles or shotguns.

3. Gold, Silver, and Platinum Do you keep precious metals in a home safe? Standard home insurance offers very low protection for precious metals. Most policies cap the losses for precious metals.

4. Fine Arts and Antiques If a thief steals multiple luxury items at once, your payout will be way below the actual value of these high value items. Thus, it is important to properly insure your fine arts and antiques.

How to Protect Your Valuables the Right Way

You do not have to leave your prized items at risk. Instead, you can protect your valuables with two easy choices:

• Scheduled Personal Property: This adds a specific item to your policy based on its real value. It provides full coverage with no deductible.
• Insurance Riders: You can buy a policy add-on to raise the sublimit for an entire group, like all your firearms.

Review your home insurance policy today with a local independent insurance agent from AlphaSure Affordable Insurance Services.

Call us today, get a home insurance quote online or visit us at one of our local offices in San Antonio or Laredo, TX.