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Okemos, MI 48864

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Insurance Blog

What You Need To Know About Home Insurance

Home insurance is an important way you can invest in your home and family. Although many people think of home insurance as just another expense each month, it is truly much more than that. Great Lakes State Agency is here to help folks in Lansing, MI and the surrounding areas, better understand their home insurance options and the importance of this type of coverage. 

Is Home Insurance Really An Investment?

Yes, each month when you pay your home insurance premium, you are investing into safety and security for your family. Should your home be damaged or lost, a home insurance policy is there to make sure you have the funds you need to make repairs or replace your home. This provides a deep sense of safety and security for you and your family. You will always have a place to call home. 

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Home insurance will cover the cost of repairs or replacement of a home should it be damaged or lost. Home insurance will also cover the cost of any lost possessions inside the home. 

In addition to this, home insurance also provides liability coverage. This type of coverage can help pay for expenses resulting from an injury on your property or in your home. 

How Much Coverage Do I Need?

Each family is different and each home is different. This is why you should sit down with an insurance representative to determine exactly how much insurance coverage you need. 

Get Home Insurance Today

If you would like to learn more about home insurance, or any of our other services, please contact us at Great Lakes State Agency, serving Lansing, MI and the surrounding areas. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you today. 

Should I Get Homeowner’s Insurance Through My Mortgage Lender?

You’re probably concerned that the mortgage lender may not pay your claim in a timely manner. Consider buying homeowner’s insurance from a reputable company that protects your investment. 

Some mortgage lenders offer homeowner’s insurance as an optional rider to their mortgage. For questions, Great Lakes State Agency is your insurance expert in Lansing, MI. 

Implications of Seeking Insurance through Mortgage Lender 

If you have homeowner’s insurance through your mortgage lender, then if you have a loss, you must go through your mortgage lender to get approval for the repairs. This means that they will probably require an independent inspection by an inspector they choose. 

They’ll want to see all of your receipts and when you try to pay someone with a check from your homeowner’s insurance policy it will be held up until the mortgage company verifies that the repair has been made properly. 

Some lenders may allow you to purchase homeowner’s insurance through your mortgage and others may not. With that said, most likely your ability to refinance your home will not be affected if you have homeowner’s insurance through a mortgage. 

Many people are surprised to find out that their mortgage lender may not be the best option for purchasing homeowners insurance. This is because many mortgage lenders require a minimum amount of coverage be carried on the mortgage holder’s insurance. 

Most likely, they’ll pay the smaller amount that’s not enough to cover your home in the event of a major disaster. Instead, you may want to consider purchasing insurance directly through your homeowners. This is because the homeowner’s policy will likely cover your home for much more than the mortgage lender’s minimum amount of coverage. 

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Homeowner’s insurance is typically purchased through a broker, so it’s recommended that you purchase it from a knowledgeable agent and not your mortgage lender. 

Once you have been approved for a mortgage, the lender is obligated to provide you with coverage and will typically provide a standard policy that covers the majority of your home’s value. Visit Great Lakes State Agency to clarify issues in Lansing, MI.

Creating and storing a home inventory

No one ever wants to think about the things that could cause you to need to file a claim with your insurance carrier. But bad things happen all over and Lansing, MI, is no exception. At Great Lakes State Agency, we are there for our customers from the time we help them get the right insurance at a price that works for them through any claims they need to file along the way. 

An inventory is just a list of all your possessions. If you are like most people, you have a lot more than you realized and nothing makes you realize that faster than doing a home inventory. Get a pad and pen and a camera and pick a room to start in. Get pictures from several different angles and then list what you see with as much information as you can provide. 

For electronics, serial numbers help, as do make and model. If you have sales slips or receipts, they should be attached to the list. Open the closets and drawers, go to the top of the house and the attic and the basement if you have one. Don’t forget the garage. If you have expensive items, be sure you have an appraisal to prove their value. The more detailed your descriptions the better. 

Once you have completed your listing, attach all the backup information and the photos and find a safe place to store it. At the very least, you need to have a fire and waterproof container to protect this very important information. Ideally, the inventory can be stored away from the home and it is always a good idea to have a copy on the cloud. 

Give us a call at Great Lakes State Agency in Lansing, MI when you are ready to discuss the home insurance that is best for you. 

Is having home insurance in Lansing always a good idea?

Those that are in the Lansing, MI area could find that it is a great community and place to own a home. If you would like to purchase a property here, you always need to ensure that you are protecting it well. A great way that you can do this is by getting home insurance. A quality home insurance plan is a good investment for a few reasons.

Protect Your Dwelling and Assets

A good reason for anyone to have a home insurance plan in this area of Michigan is to protect their assets and dwelling. Buying a home is the largest investment that most people will ever make. Additionally, you will have a range of personal assets including clothing, furniture, and electronics that you will keep in your home. If you do get a home insurance plan, you will get coverage that can protect all of these assets. 

Receive Liability Support

You also should get a home insurance plan to receive proper liability protection. Anyone that is going to own a home will have a risk that an accident could occur that causes property damage or injuries. The best way to offset this concern is by obtaining a home insurance plan. With this coverage, you can receive liability insurance that will provide helpful support in a variety of situations.

You should always ensure that you have proper home insurance in the Lansing, MI area. When you are looking for a plan in this area, calling the Great Lakes State Agency is a great idea. With so many choices to make the team with Great Lakes State Agency can help you identify your insurance needs and give any support necessary to build a plan. This can help ensure you get into a plan that is ideal for your situation. 

Home Insurance FAQs

If you own a home in Michigan, you have probably heard about home insurance. While you have an idea of what home insurance is, you still have a load of questions regarding this coverage. What does home insurance cover? Does homeowners insurance cover everything? Is it mandatory? If you would like to learn more about home insurance, hang on as Great Lakes State Agency located in Lansing, MI provides answers to questions we receive from our clients. 

Is home insurance mandatory?

If you are wondering whether there is any Michigan law that requires you to buy home insurance, there is none. However, if a federal-regulated bank finances your home, they may need you to purchase standard home insurance to protect your home.

What does home insurance cover?

Your home insurance protects you from natural perils, accidental, and malicious acts. Below is a rundown of what home insurance covers:

  • Dwelling coverage protects your home’s structure and attached structures from damage from fire, lightning, hail, hurricanes, and many other risks.
  • Contents coverage pays for loss or damage to your personal belongings
  • Liability coverage provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for losses and damages caused to third parties
  • Additional living expenses (ALE) coverage pays for expenses incurred beyond your normal spending when your house becomes unlivable due to a covered loss.  

What is a deductible?

A deductible is an amount you are supposed to pay before your insurer pays you. For instance, if you chose a deductible of $1,000 and have a covered loss of $5,500, your insurer will compensate you with $4,500 after deducting the $1,000. 

Typically, home insurance deductibles are applicable per claim. If you have more than one claim in a given period, you are supposed to pay for the deductible regardless of the number of claims you make. 

What are home insurance exclusions?

Home insurance won’t cover damage from nuclear hazards, normal wear and tear, pest infestation, and floods. Besides, home insurance provides little coverage for high-value items like art and jewelry. 

Still having your question unanswered? Don’t worry. Please get in touch with Great Lakes State Agency for more information. Else, you can visit our Lansing, MI offices to chat with one of our agents. 

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