Many homeowners are surprised to learn that claims can indeed be denied if proper maintenance isn’t upheld. At Curtis Miller Insurance, which provides insurance products in and around Parkersburg, WV, we want to help you understand why maintaining your home is crucial for ensuring your claims are honored.

The Importance of Regular Maintenance

Home insurance is designed to cover unexpected events, not issues caused by neglect. Regular maintenance helps prevent problems like leaks, mold, or structural damage. If an insurer finds that a lack of upkeep directly contributed to the damage, they might deny the claim. Keeping up with routine tasks like cleaning gutters, checking the roof, and servicing heating systems can save you from headaches.

Understanding Policy Terms

It’s vital to know the specifics of your policy. Most policies have clauses that require homeowners to maintain the property. Ignoring these terms can lead to denied claims. Understanding what’s expected can help you stay compliant and fully protected.

Protecting Your Investment

Your home is likely one of your most significant investments. Regular maintenance ensures your insurance remains valid and helps preserve property value. This proactive approach can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems, saving you money and stress.

Peace of Mind

Maintaining your home gives you peace of mind, knowing you’re doing your part to protect your property and investment. It ensures that your insurance works for you when you need it most.

For more guidance on maintaining your home and understanding your policy, contact Curtis Miller Insurance, serving the greater Parkersburg, WV, area. We’re here to help you navigate your coverage and keep your home safe.

Being a homeowner in the Parkersburg, WV area has remained a great investment for many people. For those who live in this part of the state, having the right insurance for their home is also very important and beneficial. Someone who lives in this part of West Virginia will need this type of insurance for various reasons. 

Protect Dwelling

A great reason to have a home insurance plan in this part of West Virginia is to cover your dwelling. The repair cost can be a lot if your home is ever damaged due to a fire, vandalism, or bad weather. Fortunately, if you can get insurance for the property, it will offer the support needed to cover such repairs. This can prove to be a significant financial protection. 

Comply with Insurance Obligations

It is also important that you get a home insurance plan to meet any insurance obligations. It is common for someone in West Virginia to take out a mortgage or live in a home association. In either of these situations, you will need to have insurance in place. When you get coverage here, you can meet such requirements moving forward. 

It will always be vital that you get proper insurance when purchasing a home in the Parkersburg, WV area. When you are going to buy a house and are looking for insurance, it would be a great idea to call our team with Curtis Miller Insurance. When you work with our team at Curtis Miller Insurance, you will get the support you need to build an ideal policy that meets your needs and adequately covers your home. 

The staff at Curtis Miller Insurance, serving the greater Parkersburg, WV area, have seen how winter can wreak havoc on roofs. While home insurance may cover damage done to your roof by storms, it will not cover damage caused by not properly maintaining your roof. Here are a few tips to help you prepare your roof for the upcoming winter months. 

Clean Your Gutters

One of the best ways to prepare your roof for the upcoming winter months is to have your gutters cleaned. Water cannot flow from the roof into the gutter trough if your gutters are not clean. Water may freeze in the trough, and this can be the beginning of a roof dam forming. 

Trim Back Overgrown Trees

Another way to prepare your roof for the winter months is to take the time to trim back overgrown trees that may hang over your roof. The branches or limbs can fall on your roof in the winter, damaging your roof. Branches and limbs can also impede water flow off the roof, leading to ice build-up. 

Have Your Roof Inspected for Signs of Damage

Finally, it is strongly recommended that you have your roof inspected by a roofing professional in late summer or fall. The professional will ensure your roof is in good condition and free of leaks. If damage is noted, the roofer has time to make the repairs needed before winter hits. 

While you cannot prevent all damage to a roof, there are many steps you can take to help decrease the chances of roof damage. If damage occurs, having the right home insurance coverage can be vital. The team at Curtis Miller Insurance, serving the greater Parkersburg, WV area, can help to ensure you are properly covered. Call us today to discuss your home insurance needs with us or to obtain an estimate for a policy that offers you the protection you need. 

The Parkersburg, WV area continues to be an ideal place to own a home. If you are going to purchase a home when you are in this part of West Virginia, you should make sure that you get a proper insurance plan as well. There are several reasons why the typical property owner here should always have a home insurance plan when buying a home here. 

Coverage is Required by Lenders

A reason that you should obtain a home insurance plan when in this area of West Virginia is because the coverage is typically required by mortgage lenders. If you are going to finance your home purchase with a loan, your lenders will want to know their collateral is covered and protected. A great way to do this is by requiring all borrowers to get full home insurance plans and retain coverage at all times. 

Coverage Includes Important Protection

Even if you do not have specific home insurance requirements, getting coverage is still a good idea. As you are looking to buy a home, finding ways to protect yourself and your investment is important. A home insurance plan can do this by protecting your home and personal assets while also providing valued liability insurance coverage. All of this coverage can be helpful if you incur a loss or are named in a liability claim. 

People that are residents of the Parkersburg, WV area and are looking for insurance coverage should call Curtis Miller Insurance to discuss their needs. As you are looking for home insurance protection, you will quickly find that there are a lot of choices to make along the way. The team with Curtis Miller Insurance can help you assess all of your options and give support when you are trying to build a new insurance plan. 

When you remodel or refurbish your home, you need to update your insurance coverage with Curtis Miller Insurance of Parkersburg, WV. Your home improvements increase the home’s value which otherwise would not be covered without a policy update.

We do not mean a simple update like replacing the kitchen fixtures, but something more major such as adding a deck or porch. If you remodel your kitchen with a new island and update all the appliances, you would need to increase your insurance coverage.

Another instance where you need to update and add coverage is adding a room or building an addition. The same truth applies if you convert a room. Converting a walk-in closet or dressing room to a bathroom significantly changes your home’s value. Home appraisals consider the number of bedrooms and bathrooms as a key criterion, so by adding a bathroom, you significantly raise the value of your home. This one gets people because converting a room did not change the square footage of the home.

When you alter your home to make it wheelchair accessible or convert to a smart home, you similarly raise the home’s value. This modernization requires added insurance to cover its technology.

Repainting the rooms or wallpapering does not fall into the same category. Though it pretties up the place, you do add much to the appraisal value of the home.

If you have a renovation or remodeling planned, contact Curtis Miller Insurance serving Parkersburg, WV to learn whether you need to increase your home insurance coverage and when. You may need a construction policy to cover your home while it undergoes updates, then you will need the added home insurance coverage once the work is finished.

Video inventories are becoming powerful tools that can help homeowners keep an accurate record of their valuables. This is an excellent way to recover your items if they are ever stolen or replace them if they are lost in a fire. The agents at Curtis Miller Insurance can show Parkersburg, WV residents how to accurately document their items with a video inventory.

Proof of Ownership

Having a video inventory that is time-stamped can be used to prove that you owned the item in question during a specific time period. While you may not have the receipt or the box that item came in, a video inventory that shows it among your other possessions is often all the proof that is needed.

Verification of Condition

When taking a video inventory, you can get close-up footage of existing damage or general wear and tear. You can also prove that an item has no damage whatsoever, depending on the situation. 

Record Important information

Another valuable benefit of having a video inventory is that you can capture images of each item’s serial numbers and other important information that is located on the device. You can also narrate the video and include any comments about the items being recorded. 

A copy of your video inventory should be given to your insurance agent. You should also keep a copy for yourself and store it in a safe place. The agents of Curtis Miller Insurance offer recommendations on how to perform a video inventory to their clients who live in or near Parkersburg, WV. Contact an agent today and set up a meeting to discuss your insurance needs and if a video inventory will be helpful.

Having homeowners insurance from Curtis Miller Insurance can be a real life saver when the time calls for filing a claim for damage to your property or if a liability arises and you need coverage. If you live in Parkersburg, WV then you should get in touch with an agent regarding home insurance. Find out what the top reasons people are for filing a claim in West Virginia. 

Storm or Severe Weather Damages

Violent storms, challenging weather, and high winds are among the top reasons for filing a claim with a homeowners insurance company to repairs done at West Virginia homes that were covered. Some homeowners get flood protection, but that is a different type of policy. If you have questions about the difference, you can contact an agent at Curtis Miller Insurance to learn more. Be sure to assess damage from rain, snow, hail, wind, dust/debris, down trees or other damages from storms. 

Water Damage

Aside from floods, water can damage your home in more ways. Pipes can burst within the home and cause a lot of damage to your property, in which case a claim should be filed with your home insurance provider. Getting a sump pump installed can relieve problems with water associated with bad weather, drainage problems, backups or leaks at the home. 

Fire Damage

Fire damage remains among the top reasons for filing a homeowners insurance claim. Fire can have a disastrous impact on personal property and can destroy an entire home and its contents inside. The smoke can also do a lot of damage. Claims should be filed right away after a fire at your home. Do not wait. Get in touch with an agent to find out what type of coverage options are available for you in Parkersburg, WV. 

Many childhood dreams include jumping on trampolines, swimming on hot summer days, and climbing play sets with friends. As adults, it’s great to have an area to send the kids to burn off energy in the privacy of your own yard. Residents of Parkersburg, WV can rely on Curtis Miller Insurance to help them navigate proper insurance coverage for their play areas.

Does my home insurance policy cover my play area?

The only way to find out is to ask. Insurance companies have different requirements for covering trampolines and swimming pools. Some companies have no exclusions, meaning your regular homeowner’s insurance has adequate liability coverage to handle injuries if you are found legally liable for the medical bills. The next step up is coverage with specific safety precautions. Things like fences with child-proof/locked gates surrounding either the whole yard or the specific equipment may be required. Trampolines may have to have a net enclosure. There are a few agencies that will not provide coverage at all if a trampoline is brought onto the property and it can result in non-renewal of your policy. The best thing you can do is talk to your agent at Curtis Miller Insurance to determine whether your current policy is sufficient before installing new play equipment.

Is it necessary to notify my agent if I get new play equipment?

The best thing you can do is talk to your agent at Curtis Miller Insurance to determine whether your current policy is sufficient before installing new play equipment in Parkersburg, WV. You may want to review current liability limits even if your policy does cover trampolines, pools, and play sets. A great time to do this is before installation in your yard. It’s amazing how quickly an injury can occur. 

Will my regular home insurance be enough?

If you are unsure whether your policy limits will be enough, check into the possibility of an umbrella policy to provide coverage beyond the homeowner’s policy liability cap. Our agents can guide you on how to best protect your family, friends, and home from the legal ramifications of injury.

 

Love for your pets is natural since they are members of your family. The remaining objective when it comes to your pets can be difficult. It is the job of your insurance agent to inject some objectivity into the situation when discussing home insurance needs. Curtis Miller Insurance can answer questions about pets and liability for the residents of Parkersburg, WV.

Dogs

Dogs are the pets that most often affect home insurance. Be aware that breed and prior actions of the animal may impact cost and coverage requirements.

Keep your dog’s license current. If your dog is over three months old, you must obtain a license by January 1st every year. The annual fee is discounted for animals that are spayed and neutered. 

Take responsibility and action if your dog has a history of aggressive behavior. If your dog is labeled a dangerous dog by the courts, it means they have attacked a person or domestic animal without provocation and caused injury or death. You are required to carry at least $50,000 in liability insurance coverage in the Commonwealth. Any dangerous dog must be safely contained and is required to be muzzled if it is taken out into the public.  

Police dogs, guide dogs for the blind, deaf, and handicapped, and farm dogs (depending on circumstances) are exempt. If a person is attacked while trespassing or after provoking the dog, you should be protected. Check with your agent to be sure.  

Exotic and Non-Traditional Pets

Any damage caused by pot-bellied pigs and farm pets is usually covered under your liability policy, but you will want to double check with your agent. Exotic animals could be different. The type of animal can potentially affect the level and type of insurance you need.

Your agent at Curtis Miller Insurance can help you determine if your regular home insurance policy in Parkersburg, WV will be enough or if you will need additional coverage.