|
Your roof is one of the most important—and expensive—components of your home. Keeping it in good condition helps protect everything beneath it from the elements.
That’s why roof rejuvenation has gained attention in recent years as a potentially less-expensive alternative to replacing an aging asphalt-shingle roof. Roof rejuvenation generally involves applying a specially formulated treatment to shingles in an effort to restore some flexibility and slow the effects of aging. While it may sound like an attractive way to extend the life of your roof, it isn’t the right solution for every roof. Before you decide to rejuvenate your roof, consider these important factors: This is the season for severe thunderstorms that can include large numbers of lightning strikes, and this has been the case for a multiple areas of the country this summer.
Lightning is one of the most common natural disasters that can cause damage to homes. It’s important to know what your homeowners insurance policy covers, doesn't cover, and what you need to do if your home is struck. As insurers are tightening their criteria of their client portfolio due to the industry's hard market, the occurrences of cancellations and non-renewals are on the rise.
It's especially important in this climate that you understand the difference between these two actions, reasons insurers take them, and how to avoid being the recipient of either of them. You're not by yourself if you feel overwhelmed when making decisions about your insurance coverage. Why is insurance so complicated, and how do you navigate through coverage options to ensure you choose what's best for you? Read on for answers to these two important questions.
Have you ever come across the term subrogation while reading about auto insurance and wondered what it actually means?
It's one of those insurance terms that sounds complicated but is actually fairly simple—and understanding it could make a big difference after a car accident. Let's look at what subrogation is, when it can help you, and when you may want to think twice before using it. Summer has already heated up with “feel-like” temperatures in the triple digits. Here in the South, scorching temperatures and high humidity can linger well into early fall. And while the air temperature may be in the 90s, the pavement beneath your tires can easily exceed 140°F.
Extreme heat doesn't just make driving uncomfortable—it can create unexpected hazards for both you and your vehicle. Here are seven important tips to help you stay safe on the road this summer: Golf carts are becoming an increasingly popular way to get around neighborhoods, parks, and communities. But before you start using one for everyday family transportation, it's important to understand the local rules and insurance requirements that apply where you live.
When shopping for homeowners insurance, most people focus on factors like their roof’s age, the overall condition of their home, and its location. But there’s another important factor many don’t realize: your credit score.
Yes — your credit history can significantly impact your homeowners insurance premium. Here’s how: Summer is the busiest moving season of the year, and whether you're relocating across town or across state lines, protecting your belongings should be part of your moving plan.
One important question many people overlook is: What happens if your belongings are damaged, lost, or stolen during the move? The answer depends largely on how you're moving. June marks the beginning of hurricane season, and for residents of Georgia and South Carolina, that means it's time to review your insurance protection before a storm threatens the area.
When hurricanes strike, damage can come from multiple sources—including wind, hail, falling trees, storm surge, and flooding. Unfortunately, not all types of damage are covered by the same insurance policy. Depending on where you live, protecting your home and finances may require a combination of coverages. Here are several important steps to take now—before a storm is on the radar: You're not by yourself if you feel overwhelmed when making decisions about your insurance coverage.
Why is insurance so complicated, and how do you navigate through coverage options to ensure you choose what's best for you? Read on for answers to these important questions. When you’re on the road, you expect other drivers are carrying auto insurance. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
According to the Insurance Research Council, more than 15% of drivers nationwide are uninsured. In Georgia, estimates range from 12–15%, while South Carolina still has over 10% of drivers on the road without insurance. Even more concerning, many drivers carry only minimum limits that may not fully cover damages after a serious accident. So what happens if someone hits your vehicle and they either have no insurance — or not enough? Warmer weather is here, and RV season is officially in full swing. Campgrounds are filling up, and weekend trips to the lake or coast are back on the calendar.
If you own an RV, now’s the time to double-check your insurance before you hit the road. An RV isn’t just a vehicle—it’s part car, part home. That means a standard auto policy usually won’t cover everything you need. Summer storms, falling branches, water intrusion, and even theft at campsites can create costly surprises if your coverage isn’t set up correctly. Here are a few areas RV owners should pay close attention to: In today’s world of instant online quotes and chatbot answers, it may seem like you no longer need an insurance agent. But when it comes to protecting your home, auto, business, and finances, having the right advisor can make all the difference.
Buying insurance on your own often feels easy—until you have a claim or discover too late that your coverage has costly gaps. That’s when expert guidance becomes invaluable. A strong insurance agent does more than sell a policy. They help you make smart decisions, avoid expensive mistakes, and stand beside you when you need help most. So how do you choose the right insurance professional? Here are 7 things to look for: Living in humid climates like Georgia and South Carolina means moisture is a constant factor—and that creates the perfect setup for mold inside your home.
When warm, damp air meets cooler surfaces, condensation forms. Over time, that moisture can allow mold to take hold and spread. You’ll often find these conditions in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where humidity and water tend to build up. In many cases, homeowners insurance will cover mold, mildew, fungus, and spores—but only if they result from a covered peril. So what is a covered peril? This includes specific situations such as: Rising costs aren’t just affecting groceries and gas—they’re impacting your homeowners insurance too. The real question is: would your current policy fully cover a loss today?
Many homeowners were already underinsured, and with construction, labor, and fuel costs climbing in recent years, that gap may be even wider now. If your home were to be seriously damaged, your current coverage limit might not stretch as far as you think. The following 4 coverage areas are likely the most vulnerable to inflation: Severe weather season is back across Georgia and South Carolina. After events like Hurricane Helene, many homeowners learned valuable lessons—but as time passes, it’s easy to let preparation slide.
The good news? A little proactive planning can go a long way toward preventing costly insurance claims. Here are 7 smart steps every policyholder should take before the next storm hits: Every March, fans across the country dive into NCAA March Madness, studying matchups and building brackets they hope will come out on top.
While you're watching the action unfold, there’s a surprisingly practical takeaway: the same mindset that helps build a winning bracket can help you make smarter decisions about your home and auto insurance. Here are three lessons worth applying: Do you "bundle" your insurance policies?
Generally, it's advantageous to do this, meaning you combine your insurance coverages with the same insurer. Companies reward you with discounts for using that one insurer to cover multiple policies. The most common combination is to use the same carrier for home and auto insurance. But, there ARE exceptions, and this is another reason to use an experienced independent agent. Independent agents have access to numbers of insurance carriers, meaning they can mix companies to match your specific insurance needs. When would using different companies be better than bundling policies with one insurer? Here are a few examples: Most people think of spring cleaning as decluttering closets and washing windows. But it can also protect your home — and help you avoid costly homeowners insurance claims.
A few simple maintenance steps now can prevent thousands of dollars in damage later. Here are three smart ways to reduce risk this spring: Homeowners insurance is designed to protect one of your biggest investments. But many claims surprises don’t happen because someone had “bad” insurance… they happen because of coverage gaps.
Here are three of the most common gaps — and how they can impact real homeowners. Are you part of an HOA? If so, there’s a coverage gap many Georgia and South Carolina homeowners don’t realize they have—until after a disaster hits.
With the increase in infrastructure and weather-related losses, subdivisions and condo communities are seeing more damage to shared foundations, roofs, buildings, fences, and common areas. Those areas are insured under the HOA’s master policy—but that coverage has limits. When a major loss exceeds the HOA’s insurance limits, the HOA can issue a special assessment to homeowners to make up the difference. That bill lands directly on you. Loss assessment coverage is a homeowner’s insurance endorsement designed to help pay your share of those unexpected HOA assessments. Without it, you’re typically paying out of pocket. Whether this coverage makes sense depends on a few key factors: Valentine’s Day is all about the heart and can include an expensive jewelry gift— a diamond ring, bracelet, necklace, or luxury watch—which can carry both financial and sentimental value.
Jewelry can be lost, stolen, or damaged more easily than many people realize. The good news is there are insurance options available to help safeguard your special gift long-term and give you peace of mind. When it comes to insuring fine jewelry, you typically have these options: If you drive in Georgia, there’s a higher-than-average chance the person next to you on the road has little to no car insurance at all. That’s not speculation—it’s backed by data.
Current estimates show 12%–19% of Georgia drivers are completely uninsured, putting our state consistently in the top 10 nationwide for uninsured motorists. That means roughly 1 out of every 6 drivers may have no insurance coverage if they cause an accident. Even more concerning: when you factor in underinsured drivers—people who carry only minimum limits--about 1 in 3 drivers nationally (33.4%) are uninsured or underinsured based on recent 2023–2025 trends. This is where Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage becomes critical. UM/UIM coverage can help pay for: Planning a winter road trip? Cold weather and changing conditions can turn a routine drive into an expensive insurance claim fast. A little prep now can help reduce accidents, breakdowns, and out-of-pocket costs later.
Before you hit the road, take a few minutes to protect yourself, your passengers, and your wallet by taking these important preventive steps: |
AuthorDennis Lam Archives
September 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed