Do I Have to Get Flood Insurance to Buy a House?

You may be required to get insurance when buying a house. The type of insurance you need and whether you’re required to get it depend on various factors.

If you need to get flood insurance, the Allied Brokers Insurance Agency Inc. professionals servicing Palo Alto, CA, can assist you. We offer a range of insurance types, including flood insurance. Here’s what you need to know.

Defining Flood Insurance

Flood insurance is a specific type of insurance that aids recovery after a flood. It’s separate from your home insurance policy, as standard home insurance policies do not cover flood-related damages. Flood insurance is provided through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Do Mortgage Lenders require Flood Insurance?

Mortgage lenders may require flood insurance if you buy a home in a high-risk flood area. These high-risk flood areas are designated on flood maps made available online through FEMA.

If your lender requires flood insurance, start shopping for a policy early in the home-buying process. If you can’t find an affordable policy by the time your loan is ready to fund, your lender won’t provide the money to buy the house.

What to Expect When Getting Flood Insurance

Although FEMA provides flood insurance, you can obtain your flood insurance policy from Allied Brokers Insurance Agency Inc., servicing Palo Alto, CA. At Allied Brokers Insurance Agency Inc., we offer excellent customer service and can answer your questions to help you find a policy suitable for your new home. Call us today.

How to Collect on Flood Insurance

One of California’s greatest perks is its proximity to the coast; ironically, this can also be its biggest downfall. Flooding is an undeniable reality in California. However, as long as you’re insured, situations can be made relatively less dire. You might be able to recover what you’ve lost. If you find yourself and your family safe enough to consider insurance in the aftermath of a flood, here is what you need to do.

Take Stock

Review your policy to understand what’s covered. Flood insurance comprises two parts: building coverage and contents coverage. Building coverage protects the structure of your home and all associated amenities, such as pumps, tanks, and air conditioning systems. Contents coverage shields any personal property you may have within your home.

What to Do Next

Once you’ve made a claim to your insurance company, they will evaluate it and assign an adjuster. This individual can assess the flood damage in person or by means of photographs and other documentation if you prefer. Following this, you and your adjuster can submit documentation for the claim. It’s important to ensure that all required documents have been submitted. Once approved, the claim will yield compensation.

Allied Brokers Insurance Agency Inc., Serving Palo Alto, CA

If you live in the Palo Alto, CA, area and need flood insurance, please contact Allied Brokers Insurance Agency Inc. Our proficient, professional, and prompt agents will do their best to help you find the policy that best suits your needs.

Does Flood Insurance Cover Mold?

For anyone who owns a house, most of them know flood insurance is a separate part of your ordinary home insurance policy. It sometimes gets confusing trying to figure out what’s covered and what’s not. At Allied Brokers Insurance Agency Inc. we help our Palo Alto, CA clients understand exactly what their policy covers.

Understanding Flood Insurance 

This type of coverage becomes necessary for anyone living in areas prone to flooding or extreme weather events. Most people don’t realize that even one inch of water can cause significant damage to your home. You can see the need to purchase a flood insurance policy if you’re in a prone area.

Mold Damage And Flood Insurance

One of the most common questions asked when it comes to flood insurance is whether or not it covers mold damage inside the home. It can depend on the situation. For example, if there was an unexpected storm and your home was flooded as a result, causing mold growth, then flood insurance would typically cover the cost of remediation. However, if there are pre-existing conditions that lead to mold damage, such as poor ventilation or plumbing issues, most policies wouldn’t provide coverage. One important aspect to note is taking immediate action should you have water inside your home from a flood. Homeowners should take steps to prevent mold immediately, if possible, to prevent further damage as necessary.

Understand Your Flood Insurance Policy In Palo Alto, CA

At Allied Brokers Insurance Agency Inc., we make it easy to answer any questions you have about flood insurance and much more. Let us help you get started with a free quote, and we’ll be glad to help in any way we can.

Is it a good idea to have flood insurance for my home?

For those that are living in the Palo Alto, CA area, owning a home can be a good long-term housing option. When you are going to buy a home here, you need to get the right insurance for it. This can include getting flood insurance in some situations. There are various reasons why it can be a good idea to get a flood insurance plan here. 

Meet Obligations

A reason that a lot of property owners in Palo Alto will need flood coverage is to meet their obligations. As property values are very high in this region, it is often a necessity to take out a mortgage when buying a home. Any mortgage lender will require you to carry insurance on your property. If you are living in a flood zone, this will include requiring you to have flood insurance. With a policy in place, you can comply with this obligation.

Reduce Flood Damage Impact

It can also be a good idea to get flood insurance to reduce the impact that can come with flood damage. If your home is damaged by a flood, the costs to make repairs can be extremely high. If you do not have flood insurance, you may have no insurance support through home coverage. With a flood plan, you will know that you are covered. 

Reach Out To Us

If you own a property in Palo Alto, CA, it’s crucial to obtain flood insurance. Cover your home today by reaching out to our dedicated team at Allied Brokers Insurance Agency Inc. We know the importance of this coverage and will assist you in selecting the ideal plan for your specific needs. You can count on our personalized approach to obtain the appropriate protection for your unique situation. Contact our team with Allied Brokers Insurance Agency Inc. today to learn more.