iMGA's Texas Personal Property Insurance Blog

“Trust But Verify”

iMGA | February 2012

It’s critical that you be able to trust those with whom you work – whether they’re clients, prospects, employees, vendors or partners.

At iMGA we take this so seriously we have a plank in the iMGA Dos and Don’ts that says “Don’t deal with dishonest people. It’s not possible to make a good deal with a bad person.”

No matter what we would wish, though, we know that people make mistakes and bad choices. So we have controls and checks in place to ensure we learn and can respond quickly when someone is attempting to abuse our trust.

Whether it’s independent accounting verification, inspections, property loss reports, or reviewing claims and applications, make sure your agency has verification processes in place also.

If you’re lucky the presence of those risk controls will discourage someone who might otherwise have done something untrustworthy. Either way it’ll reduce your exposure and the harm caused to those who count on you to watch out for them and their data. You’ll be glad you did.

With iMGA Products Your Agency Has the Best of Both Worlds

iMGA | January 2012

Home and auto insurance buyers were less interested in home-auto package discounts in 2011 than 2010, according to a HomeInsurance.com survey.

Most companies advertise discounts for insuring an automobile, motorcycle or other policy along with a homeowners policy, but survey respondents were less focused on that element than before.

Whether you’re selling to one of the 48% of surveyed homeowners who want to take advantage of a home-auto package discount or to a prospect more worried about the best coverage options or overall price, iMGA has a solution for you.

With products from the most basic Vacant or TDP1 policy to the broad MobileHome or HOA policy to the special form TDP3 or HOB policy, we can help you meet most Texas Personal Property Insurance needs.

iMGA’s Texas Elite policy offers up to eight discounts. One of those discounts is a multi-policy credit for your clients that also have their auto insurance with your agency. So for those home insurance buyers that belong to the home-auto package fan club, let them know that your agency not only has the broad coverages, but the discounts as well.

Making Payments Easier

iMGA | January 2012

We’ve been listening to our agents, and know that you don’t like dealing with Premium Finance if you can avoid it.

We agree, and we’re thrilled to announce that Texas Elite HOA/HOA+/HOB policies will no longer need Premium Finance.

As of now you are able to offer a Direct Bill option with 16% of premium plus taxes and fees down and the remaining premium spread evenly across 9 monthly payments. An installment fee of $5 will apply to each installment, but you will not need to explain Premium Finance to your clients or complete any special paperwork.

Existing policies originally issued using Premium Finance will automatically be offered the direct bill installment plan on renewal.

We hope you’re as excited as we are about this significant improvement in simplicity and ease of use.

Are you getting the best price possible?

iMGA | January 2012

The Longhorn Dwelling product makes quoting any Texas dwelling policy very easy. Whether your client needs a TDP1, TDP1 Plus, or TDP3 you can quickly get a quote using the same easy process.

To ensure you get our best possible price for your client, though, be sure to add the details on any dwelling improvements. A dwelling built in 1950 whose heating was completely updated in 2005 will get a much better price than the same dwelling with no updates.

With the ability to cover properties of to 100 acres, any protection class, up to $550,000 value and a monthly pay option, the Longhorn dwelling program can meet many of your clients’ needs quickly and easily.

Learn more about the Longhorn dwelling program.

The new Longhorn Dwelling program from iMGA brings the BEEF!

iMGA | December 2011

We are amused by large insurers spending their time and money advertising how claims caused by mayhem are covered by their policies. The ads truly are funny, but we laugh because we have yet to see a scenario advertised that would not be covered by most any auto policy.  So, we’re left asking “where’s the beef”?

Well, we have been listening to our agents, and based on your input we put some serious beef into rental dwelling policies. Our new Longhorn Dwelling program includes coverages and options that have all but disappeared from the rest of the market especially when combined into a single policy.

Here just a few of these additional coverages that are now available to your clients.

Available on any new Longhorn Dwelling policy:

  • TDP1 and TDP3 Form options
  • $500 deductible option
  • Up to 2 owner-occupied dwellings on a single policy
  • Mortgagee or Direct Bill options, with up to 9 monthly installments

Available on all Longhorn Non-Admitted Dwelling policies:

  • Up to 9 tenant-occupied dwellings on a single policy
  • No deductible for Fire and Lightning claims
  • Optional deductibles up to 5%
  • Automatic hail resistive roof credits without documentation
  • Corporate named insureds, partnerships, and LLC’s eligible
  • A new TDP1 Plus package option that includes replacement cost and additional extended dwelling coverages
  • Optional extended vacancy clause – up to 3 months’ vacancy coverage without cancellation or rewrite
  • Optional liability and medical payments coverage available on properties up to 100 acres
  • Slide, diving board and trampoline liability buyback options available
  • Owner occupied mobiles homes eligible (depending on age)
  • Rewarding new credits:
    • Senior/Retiree
    • Age of Roof
    • Age of Dwelling
    • Fire and Burglar Protective Devices

Available only on Longhorn TDP1 policies:

  • Coverage for tenant-occupied mobile homes

Available only on Longhorn TDP1 Plus and TDP3 policies:

  • Vandalism & Malicious Mischief automatically included
  • Limited foundation and water back up automatically included
  • Limited mold coverage automatically included

Of course we can’t possibly list all the options or terms and conditions here, so be sure to quote a Longhorn Dwelling program policy as soon as possible and see for yourself just how much beef is really there.

Most owner-occupied Longhorn Dwelling policies will continue to be issued through San Antonio Indemnity Company. All other Longhorn Dwelling policies will be underwritten by Lloyd’s of London which is non-admitted in the State of Texas.  However, Lloyd’s of London is rated “A” by A.M. Best, and known the world over for their security and innovative insurance products.  For example, they insured Betty Grable’s legs and Bruce Springsteen’s vocal cords.  They also insure tens of thousands of Texas houses and have been doing business since about 1688, so they’re very solid. We’ll automatically include the appropriate notices with any renewals switched from SAIC to Lloyds, of course, so you wont’ have to do anything special with those.

We thank you for the opportunity to continue to provide you and your clients leading insurance products for rental properties.  We hope that we may serve you for years to come.  We promise to continue to innovate and improve our product offerings to earn that privilege.  We’re putting the beef back into insurance!

So please quote a Texas Longhorn TDP and let us know how we are doing.