Florida attracts regular visitors with its charm, beautiful beaches, and deep blue skies. Many of them end up purchasing a home and laying down roots here. However as many new homeowners find out: your home tends to be your biggest investment and could cost you more than you bargained for. Florida homeowners have the most […]
What is the Average Cost of Renters Insurance in Florida?
If you rent an apartment, townhome, or home, then having renters insurance is essential. It covers your property in the event of a catastrophe or theft. According to a study by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average cost of renters insurance in Florida rose 0.5 percent in 2013, followed by a 1.1 percent […]
Homeowners Insurance Issues with Cloth Covered Wiring
South Florida is home to a thriving population of historic preservation enthusiasts. By and large, most of the homes and buildings that have been bought up in the last few years have been completely renovated. However, sometimes the people who are renovating and then selling these homes – in other words flipping them – have […]
Tips to Avoid Home Repair Scams in Florida
When the hurricane is gone, you can be forgiven for thinking that the worst might be over. You have your homeowner’s insurance policy and you have your flood insurance policy. You are a conscientious homeowner who has taken pains to make sure that you are covered for any eventuality. What could possibly go wrong? The […]
In-Law-Suite Not So Sweet
Q: My in-laws moved out last summer to an assisted living facility. After they were gone, we renovated their two-bedroom apartment/in-law suite. Sometimes we rent it out on Airbnb since we live in a resort area. However, this past spring we let my nephew and some friends come down for spring break. Long story short, […]
Rough Storm Ahead for South Florida Homeowners
Since 2012, insurers are dealing with the unintended consequences of a move that was supposed to be a benefit to homeowners. Assignment of benefits was supposed to allow homeowners, renters, and landlords get their damaged properties fixed quickly and back to normal after a flood, accident, or other event. Instead, thanks to a few contractors […]
A Hurricane Preparedness Resource List
We’ve been lucky so far. A major hurricane hasn’t hit us in years, but that doesn’t mean it will not come around this year. Florida’s population has grown massively and many new residents have no idea how to prepare. Let’s start with the basics. Tropical Storm vs. Hurricane: A tropical storm shows the same cyclonic […]
Why a Homeowner’s Policy May Not Cover an Airbnb Rental?
Q: I have been thinking about joining Airbnb as a host and would be renting out a Granny suite in my home. When I talked about it with some friends, they said I shouldn’t do it because it would invalidate my homeowner’s policy. Is this true and is there something I can do about it? […]
Is Your Florida Pool Safe?
In 2002, a little girl died before her mother’s eyes in a horrible and preventable accident. Virginia Graeme Baker died as a result of what is called “suction entrapment” in a family friend’s hot tub, held to the bottom by 700 pounds of suction from a drain. Fifteen years later, after a fair bit of […]
Is Mold Damage Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
Mold is a big problem wherever you have a humid climate, and since we Floridians are surrounded on all three sides by water, occasionally have massive amounts of rainfall, and even tidal flooding with regular high tides, we have the perfect climate for mold to take root. Insurance companies have paid out millions in settlements, […]