If you’re part of an HOA board or neighborhood association, you already know how many details go into protecting your community. Most homeowners assume their policy covers everything—but that’s rarely true. A single uncovered claim could cost thousands. Chris Zeigler breaks down what’s really inside a policy, where most families are underinsured, and how simple adjustments can save communities from big financial surprises. He explains how coverage works for shared walls, roof

Every year, your life changes—maybe your home gets upgrades, you buy a new car, or your teen starts driving. That’s why you should do a quick insurance checkup. Here’s what to ask yourself: For Auto: Do I have enough protection if someone hits me and runs? If my car gets wrecked, could I pay my deductible right now? Did my mileage or drivers change this year? For Home: How much would my deductible be if a storm hit? Did I make updates that raised my home’s value? Do I have pr

Putting your home and car insurance together—also called bundling—can save money. But sometimes it just looks cheaper because it hides weak spots. Good: One bill, one agent, one company. Discounts when you combine policies. Bad: You might stop checking if your coverages still fit your life. If one rate goes up, both might. Some agents lower limits to make the price look good. Bundling can be smart, but only if both your home and auto policies actually protect you. Call (214)

Home insurance protects a lot—but not everything. Some of the things you’d think are covered might not be unless you add extra protection. Floods: Regular home insurance doesn’t cover rising water. You need separate flood insurance for that. Water backup: If a drain or sewer backs up, that usually needs an add-on. Valuables: Expensive jewelry or collectibles might have low limits. Home businesses: If you work from home or rent out part of your house, your policy might not

If you live in Texas, you already know how fast storms can roll in. But most homeowners don’t know how their policy handles storm damage. Many insurance companies use a percentage for wind and hail deductibles. That means if your home is insured for $500,000 and your deductible is 2%, you’ll owe $10,000 before help kicks in. And not every roof is covered the same way. Some are paid at “Replacement Cost” (also known as new-for-old), while others use “Actual Cash Value” (also k

It happens every day—someone with no insurance hits a car that does have insurance. Guess who pays? The driver who’s responsible should , but if they don’t have coverage, it can fall back on you. That’s why there’s something called Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage (also known as UM/UIM). It helps pay for repairs and injuries when the other driver can’t. There’s also Medical Payments (also known as Med Pay or PIP) that helps with doctor bills, no matter who caused th

The word “deductible” (also known as what you pay before insurance helps) can be confusing. But it’s one of the most important parts of your plan. Here’s why: In Texas, some storm deductibles are a percentage , not a flat amount. A 2% deductible on a $400,000 home means $8,000 out of your pocket. Some homes have different deductibles for different problems—one for fire, another for hail. Some car loans or leases only allow a certain deductible. If yours is too high, you could

Most people think once they have insurance, they’re fully covered. But sometimes, there are things hiding in your policy that can cost you later. 1. Your Deductible Is the Money You Pay First Before your insurance pays for a claim, you pay something called a deductible (also known as your “share of the bill”). If your deductible is too high, you might not have the cash when something bad happens. Think about it like this: if your car gets hit or your roof gets damaged, can yo