The key to understanding what you need in a Texas homeowner insurance policy depends greatly on understanding the nature and location of your home. Texas covers a vast and widely diverse range of geographic territory, and many regions in the state have perils uniquely specific to a particular locale. It is important that you work with an Agency that will take the time to educate you in the many challenges you may face in the part of the state you reside, and what your Texas homeowner policy needs to specifically cover to provide you with the best possible coverage.

Understanding a few basics about the three types of Texas homeowner insurance policies will help you save time and avoid confusion when you begin working with an Agent. Each policy type offers specific financial and coverage benefits that need to be carefully weighed in relation to what you can recently afford to invest in homeowner insurance and what you need to consider in terms of indemnity should you ever face a calamity and need to file a claim.

HO-A Policies

Texas HO-A are the most inexpensive policy type, and are often the most attractive to the first time homeowner due to the low cost investment they offer.

There is nothing wrong with investing in a homeowner insurance policy that is discounted or represents a low premium, but it is very important that you carefully consider what the policy actually covers and weigh that against perils in your part of Texas that could strike your home at some point in time.

An HO-A policy will only cover perils specifically named on the policy, and they limited in the endorsements that can be added to the HO-A policy.

HO-A+ Policies

The HO-A+ policy provides additional coverage to the Texas homeowner by making available a host of endorsements or coverage additions to the base HO-A and thereby becomes a very viable means of acquiring extensive coverage on dwelling and contents.

HO-B Policies

For a slightly larger investment in Texas homeowner insurance, you can have your agent write an HO-B policy. HO-B policies offer replacement cost coverage for most perils associated with damage to your house, and named peril contents on or off the premises where the house is located. Replacement cost coverage can be added to the contents coverage alleviating depreciation when damaged items are replaced.

An HO-B offers an extended variety of endorsements. Talk to your agent about what these endorsements entail.

HO-C Policies

Texas HO-C homeowner insurance coverage represents the broadest possible policy type intended to anticipate the most common perils in your region and offer comprehensive replacement costs per the estimated risk you face balanced against the value of your home and its contents. The HO-C policy provides extended peril coverage on dwelling and contents.

The specific details of your HO-C policy will have to be determined in partnership with your agent, who will look at all risk factors relative to where you live, the size and architecture of your house, and the value of your belongings within that house to give you the maximum coverage, the best possible rates, and any discounts for which you may be eligible.

One final note: It is always best to work with an agency that represents a number of A+ rated homeowner insurance carriers and who works statewide throughout Texas. Such agencies like TAHI tend to have more options to offer the Texas homeowner seeking the best rates and the most coverage.



By: G. M. White

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sugar asked:


do you sue in the county you live in? or do you sue in the county the agent/agency is? how about city? also- what is the most you can get in new york state? what if you feel you are owed a lot more?
i have family that has been in insurance for 35 years (but were never involved in something like this) and i know i will win-it was a natural disaster that pretty much everyone in the county is suing their companies over, due to sleazy agents trying to make a buck and not offering coverage they knew people needed…. i just dont know where to go…

Dewailer asked:


I know this varies and are based on different factors. I am just seeking an average – thanks!

dskarpe asked:


Received a bill for an additional $106, agent said the mortgage company failed to pay entire premium. But amount paid matched the amount of the renewal letter I had received. Person in office asked what was I doing with my bill. So I called the company and they just said the agent changed something and they couldn’t tell what. I said this is like getting groceries, and the store calls after you get home and tells you they can charge your CC additional for your groceries!!!!

Getting a right homeowners’ insurance quote is never an easy one considering the various options that are open to homeowners today.

Homeowners’ insurance quotes can now be gotten direct from the insurance company or through an agent or even online. Which is the best way and how can a homeowner manage to get the best quote that would also save him/her money?

The choice between getting a quote and a policy from an insurance agency or from the company directly or going online rests solely with the homeowner. It depends on the mental set up of the person looking for an insurance coverage.

Many times the best quotes can be found online – there are innumerable agencies and even insurance companies that allow you to fill in a simple online form and supply you with a homeowner’s insurance quote within a short time. Also since it is possible to get quotes from more than one company at the same time, it makes for easier comparison.

There are also online services that help you compare the quotes from different companies to find out which is the best one suited to your needs.

On the other hand dealing with a person or agent whom you have known for years might be the preferred way for many people. And since many insurance agents don’t just provide a quote but also handle all aspects of the shopping including filing of claims if any, they turn out to be the best option for most homeowners.

At the same time, there fact remains that the insurance agents receive a commission or fee from the insurance company which might directly be drawn from your pocket.

Many people prefer to deal directly with the insurance company as this takes out the middleman and lets them know all the facts first hand. Moreover a direct approach also makes things simpler and straightforward in addition to removing the middleman’s commission – that much less expensive.

Also unlike an insurance agent, the insurance company would not really try to influence a homeowner’s choice of coverage.

Another big benefit of going direct is that you are not required to wait for your agent’s availability when you wish to file a claim. Most direct insurers provide 24-hour toll free claims handling and processing services, so a phone call is all that’s needed.

While this removes the personal touch provided by the agent, it also makes for ease of use and effective savings.

All said and done, the ultimate choice depends on how the homeowner looks at the situation and the method with which he or she is comfortable. Getting the quote is not the big thing – getting the right policy and coverage is.



By: Ian Koch

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