Archives for Texas

Protecting Homes from Wild Fires Raging Across Texas

April 27, 2011

As we are seeing all too clearly this Spring, wild fires are a very real risk for Texas Homeowners. More than 840 fires have consumed almost 1.5 million acres just this year (this and other facts to follow throughout this post are provided by the incredible team at the Texas Forest Service).

Fortunately, steps can be taken to prevent and/or limit losses. Property owners taking proactive actions combined with a coordinated state response have saved more than 5,600 structures. Unfortunately another 400 dwellings were not able to be saved, and lives were lost.

If your home is in any area affected by these wild fires, we strongly encourage you to educate yourself on the important steps you can take to protect yourself and your property.

There are many things you can do, but the Top 3 things to do to protect yourself and your property are:

  1. Prepare your property. Keep the area around your house clear of combustible materials, keep your lawn well mowed and shrubs and trees pruned and away from your home.
  2. Prepare your family. Develop and agree on an evacuation plan, including what you’ll do if you’re separated. Have medicines, important documents and irreplaceable memorabilia easily accessible and ready to go if needed.
  3. Leave when it’s time. None of your property is worth the loss of your life. Many wild fire related deaths come from last-minute evacuations. If ordered, leave – don’t delay!

Obviously this is only scratching the surface of what you should know if you’re in an affected area. Use the resources available from the Texas Forest Service, Firewise and the American Red Cross, among others.

And to all the brave firefighters working to save people’s lives and property across Texas – you have our sincere gratitude.

Categories: General Tags: , , ,

Eight Steps To Protect Your Home from Wildfires

April 27, 2011

Taking a few important steps can make a huge difference in the threat a wild fire poses to your home.

House Fire With Firefighters

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Ada Be

  1. All combustibles such as firewood, wooden picnic tables, boats and stacked lumber should be kept away from structures.
  2. Clear roof surfaces and gutters regularly to avoid build-up of flammable materials such as leaves and other debris.
  3. Remove branches from trees to a height of 15 feet or more.
  4. LPG tanks should be far enough away from buildings for valves to be shut off in case of fire. Keep area around the tank clear of flammable vegetation.
  5. Store gasoline in an approved safety can away from occupied buildings.
  6. In rural areas, clear a fuel break of at least three times the fuel length around all structures.
  7. Have fire tools handy such as: ladder long enough to reach your roof, shovel, rake and a bucket or two for water.
  8. Place connected garden hoses at all sides of your home for emergency use.

(Source: Texas Forest Service)

Of course nothing is as important as protecting yourself and your family.

Make sure you know the emergency exits from your home and your neighborhood and use them if you are ordered by officials, at all concerned, or in any way threatened by fire.

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , , , , , ,

The Best Thing About a MobileHome…

April 20, 2011

…is that it’s mobile!

A MobileHome rolling down I-35 in Texas.

When the time comes for your insureds to move their MobileHomes, you can provide them the coverage they need thanks to the Trip Collision Coverage option in iMGA’s MobileHome product.

As with all iMGA policies and coverages, it’s EASY for you to provide Trip Collision Coverage for your clients. Simply choose “yes” on the Trip Collision question in the quote and/or application and they’ll have 30 days’ coverage for damage to their covered MobileHome caused by collision subject to only a $100 deductible.

If you’re a Texas MobileHome owner needing coverage for moving your home, please complete this form so we can get you in touch with the nearest independent agent that represents iMGA.

If you’re a Texas independent agent that doesn’t yet represent iMGA but would like to discuss the possibility, please complete this form.

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , , , ,

When is a Dwelling Policy Better than a Homeowners Policy?

February 15, 2011

You might be surprised to learn that there are cases where – even for a homeowner – an iMGA Texas Dwelling Policy (TDP3) with liability coverage added offers more coverage than a Texas Homeowners policy (either HOA or HOA+). As a professional independent insurance agent it is important that you know the differences so you can offer the coverages that best fit your clients’ needs.

Where an iMGA TDP3 Policy is Better

  • Covers all perils not excluded (commonly known as “All risk” or “open perils” coverage) vs. named perils on HOA/HOA+
  • Loss of Use Coverage – 20% vs. 10% for HOA/HOA+.
  • No deductible for Fire and Lightning, and only one deductible. HOA/HOA+ has a deductible on all perils including fire and lightning and a separate deductible for wind and hail losses.
  • Wind-driven rain IS covered. It is not on an HOA/HOA+ policy.
  • There is no coverage for Fire, Lightning and Vandalism and Malicious Mischief after the dwelling has been vacant for 60 days. On an HOA/HOA+ policy there is no coverage for any cause of loss after vacancy for 60 days.
  • There is no subrogation clause. HOA/HOA+ policies do have a subrogation clause.

Where an HOA+ (“HOA Plus”) Policy is Better

  • TDP3 doesn’t provide coverage for business personal property,  property of guests or residence employees away from the premises. HOA/HOA+ policy does except for business personal property.
  • Both provide a 10% extension of personal property off premises. On the TDP3 this is not additional insurance and does not increase the personal property (Coverage B) limit.
  • TDP3 covers only utility failure under Consequential Loss. HOA/HOA+ covers loss due to change in temperature as a direct result of damage to the dwelling, equipment in the dwelling including damage to any power, heating or cooling equipment (including connections and supply pipes not in or on the dwelling under Consequential Loss.
  • HOA/HOA+ provides some Automatic Removal coverage and In-Transit coverage. The TDP3 does not.
  • The TDP3 does not provide glass breakage as a named peril insured against.
  • The TDP3 does not provide any coverage for theft of personal property.

Of course every policy can have unique conditions and endorsements, so it is important that you carefully read and understand all the policy language.

Categories: General Tags: , , , , , , ,

We Got Asbestos for Christmas!

December 19, 2010

Sure, most people wouldn’t have asked for Asbestos for Christmas, but we did – and it arrived early!

To be clear we didn’t get a big box of asbestos – we got approval to write dwellings with Asbestos siding in ALL iMGA dwelling programs (Texas Elite Non-Admitted HOA/HOA+/HOB, Admitted HOA/HOA+, TDP1/TDP3 and Vacant).

West Texas House with Asbestos Siding
This much-requested change is effective immediately, so sign in today to quote a personal property policy – now with or without Asbestos siding!

As always, if you have any questions about any of our products, please call 512.494.4161 and Tony (at extension 12) or Mike (at extension 13) will be glad to help you.

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , ,

Professional Insurance Agents of Texas

November 30, 2010

PIA Texas LogoAt iMGA we’re proud to support our independent insurance agents and the organizations that help them grow and succeed. The Texas Professional Insurance Agents association is strongly in that camp, and as such we are pleased to have joined as Associate members.

We look forward to working with Texas PIA members to grow their agencies and strengthen their association.

If you’re a member of PIA and would like to offer our Texas Personal Property products to your clients please complete the iMGA New Agent Interest Form.

Categories: Agencies, Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , , , , ,

Introducing the Texas Elite program

October 21, 2010

With a product as good as the Texas EliteTM HOA/HOA+/HOB program, we couldn’t give it just any name. We had to be sure the name made it clear that this is NOT your average Homeowners program.

Of course, you can tell that just by the fact that this program offers a TRUE Texas HOB policy. The HOB offers a level of coverage most companies can’t or won’t offer at a reasonable rate any more. Fortunately iMGA is backed by Ace and Catlin – two of the most respected Lloyds of London syndicates. As strong “A” rated carriers, they know how important the right level of coverage is, and they’ve let us include it in Texas EliteTM.

Texas EliteTM offers much more than the option of an HOB policy form, though. It also offers:

  • personal injury coverage included on every policy at no extra charge,
  • accidental water discharge coverage up to policy limits,
  • up to $5,000 of automatic mold coverage,
  • included sewer backup coverage (up to $5,000),
  • up to 15% of dwelling limit for water damage beneath the slab,
  • liability coverage for trampolines and for pools with slides and diving boards,
  • dog liability coverage,
  • coverage for home-based business liability,
  • up to $50,000 of home-based business personal property coverage,
  • coverage for incidental farm and ranch exposure including livestock equipment, outbuildings and fencing on up to 30 acres,
  • coverage for dwellings with Asbestos siding,
  • hail resistive roof credits even without documentation,
  • firearm theft coverage (up to $2,500),
  • and much more.

So login now to quote Texas EliteTMHOA/HOA+/HOB or any of iMGA’s other great Texas Personal Property programs (MobileHome, TDP1/3, HOA/HOA+ and Vacant).

If you have any questions aboutTexas EliteTM – or any of our other Texas Personal Property products – please call Tony at 512.494.4161 extension 12 or Mike at extension 13 and they’ll be glad to help you.

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , , ,

We make big discounts EASY

October 7, 2010

At iMGA we work hard to make things easier for you and your clients.

Hail resistive roof credits are just one of the ways we do that. Metal, Cement Tile, Impact Resistant Composition and many other types of hail resistive roofs are allowed significant discounts in Texas.

Most companies require extensive, difficult-to-acquire documentation before applying a discount for these types of roofs, though.

iMGA will apply a Class 2 credit automatically to any qualifying roof type in our Texas Elite Non-Admitted HOA/HOA+/HOB program. That means a discount of up to 17% (depending on territory) – without any unnecessary paperwork!

So login now to quote any of our great Texas Personal Property programs (MobileHome, TDP1/TDP3, HOA/HOA+, Non-Admitted HOA/HOA+/HOB, and Vacant Dwelling).

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , , , , , ,

Lower deductibles help make things easier

October 4, 2010

Some companies have decided that now is a good time to increase the minimum allowed deductible on their policies.

At iMGA we’ve done the opposite. Where we were requiring a 2% wind/hail deductible in some areas of the state we are not any longer. Plus, in our Texas EliteTM Non-Admitted HOA/HOA+/HOB program, your customers can choose a $1,000 deductible option – even for wind/hail!

We know that lower deductible options are important for your clients, especially in these challenging economic times, and we are happy to offer options that make things easier for you.

So login now to quote any of our great Texas Personal Property programs (MobileHome, TDP1/TDP3, HOA/HOA+, Non-Admitted HOA/HOA+/HOB, and Vacant).

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , , , , ,

Aluminum, Asbestos and Vinyl Siding

August 25, 2010

House with siding photo courtesy Flickr user pasfam

Thanks to suggestions that we receive from our agency partners, iMGA is able to bring continued improvements to help you better serve your clients’ needs. The latest mass request was for a product for asbestos, aluminum, and vinyl siding. We are pleased to announce that …

iMGA can now accept dwellings with asbestos, aluminum, and vinyl siding in our non-admitted HOA/HOA+/HOB product!

Homes with these sidings are rated as easily as you have become accustomed to in our online quote, bind and issue system. Aluminum and vinyl siding will require a cosmetic damage exclusion be signed by the insured. This endorsement is automatically generated along with the policy so that no referral is required.

We are working to expand availability to our admitted programs as well, but are pleased to be able to offer you this option now.

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , , , , ,
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