Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners Insurance Quote Forms
Looking for coverage? Click any of the following links to submit a quote for quick, accurate and affordable rates.
Homeowners Insurance Information
Protect One of Your Most Valuable Assets
Whether you own your home outright or still have 29 years left on your mortgage, your home is one of your most important financial investments. Get a homeowners insurance rate quote today and let Birchell Insurance Agency help you set up an affordable policy to protect your home and possessions.
If you own your home and occupy it, you need a home insurance policy and can start a quote online or on the phone. If you own your home and rent it to someone, you need a "dwelling fire" policy and will need to get a quote over the phone. You can call 1-800-978-8813 to start a quote for either kind of policy.
Homeowners Policy Coverages
A home insurance policy is designed to cover the structure of your home and includes protection for various kinds of personal property as well as liability coverage. Want to know more? Birchell Insurance Agency offers additional
Homeowners Insurance Information online or you can give us a call at 1-800-978-8813 to speak to an agent.
Discounts and Special Programs
Many discounts are available on home insurance policies, especially for certain safety features. For example, you may qualify for a discount if your home has deadbolt locks or a monitored alarm system.
Payment Options
In many instances your homeowners policy can be rolled in with your mortgage, but if you need to pay separately we have several convenient payment options available.
Here a re a few questions that you might have....
What is homeowners insurance?
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Homeowners insurance provides financial protection against disasters. A standard policy insures the home itself and the things you keep in it.
Homeowners insurance is a package policy. This means that it covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to other people. This includes damage caused by household pets.
Damage caused by most disasters is covered but there are exceptions. The most significant are damage caused by floods, earthquakes and poor maintenance. You must buy two separate policies for flood and earthquake coverage. Maintenance-related problems are the homeowners' responsibility.
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What is in a standard homeowners insurance policy?
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A standard homeownersinsurance policy includes four essential types of coverage. They include:
- Coverage for the structure of your home.
- Coverage for your personal belongings.
- Liability protection.
- Additional living expenses in the event you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a fire or other insured disaster.
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What type of insurance do I need for a co-op or condo?
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If you have purchased a condo or co-op, the bank will require insurance to protect its investment in your home. You may, however, need more insurance to cover your personal items, liability or fees that may be charged to you regarding shared areas of the building like the lobby.
You will need two separate policies to protect your investment:
1-Your own insurance policy.
This provides coverage for your personal possessions, structural improvements to your apartment and additional living expenses if you are the victim of fire, theft or other disaster listed in your policy. You also get liability protection.
2- A "master policy" provided by the condo/co-op board.
A "master policy" covers the common areas you share with others in your building like the roof, basement, elevator, boiler and walkways for both liability and physical damage. To adequately insure your apartment, it is important to know which structural parts of your home are covered by the condo/co-op association and which are not. You can do this by reading your association’s bylaws and/or proprietary lease. If you have questions, talk to your condo association, insurance professional or family attorney.
Sometimes the association is responsible for insuring the individual condo or co-op units, as they were originally built, including standard fixtures. The individual owner, in this case, is only responsible for alterations to the original structure of the apartment, like remodeling the kitchen or bathtub. Sometimes this includes not only improvements you make, but those made by previous owners.
In other situations, the condo/co-op association is responsible only for insuring the bare walls, floor and ceiling. The owner must insure kitchen cabinets, built-in appliances, plumbing, wiring, bathroom fixtures etc.
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Does my homeowners insurance cover flooding?
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Standard homeowners and renters insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood coverage, however, is available in the form of a separate policy both from the National Flood Insurance Program - NFIP (888-379-9531, http://www.floodsmart.gov ) and from a few private insurers.
The NFIP provides coverage for up to $250,000 for the structure of the home and $100,000 for personal possessions. The NFIP policy provides replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home, but only actual cash value coverage for your possessions. Replacement cost coverage pays to rebuild your home as it was before the damage. Actual cash value is replacement cost coverage minus depreciation so that the older your possessions are, the less you will get if they are damaged. There may also be limits on coverage for furniture and other belongings stored in your basement.
Flood insurance is available for renters as well as homeowners. You will need flood insurance if you live in a designated flood zone. But flooding can also occur in inland areas and away from major rivers. Consider buying a flood insurance policy if your house could be flooded by melting snow, an overflowing creek or pond or water running down a steep hill. Don’t wait for a flood season warning on the evening news to buy a policy—there is a 30-day waiting period before the coverage takes effect.
Excess flood insurance is also available from some private insurers for those who need additional insurance protection over and above the basic policy or whose community does not participate in the NFIP. Depending on the amount of coverage purchased, an excess flood insurance policy will cover damage above the limits of the federal program on the same basis as the federal program—replacement cost for the structure and actual cash value for the contents.
Excess flood insurance is available in all parts of the country—in high risk flood zones along the coast and close to major rivers as well as in areas of lower risk—wherever the federal program is available. It can be purchased from specialized companies through independent insurance agents, or from regular homeowners insurance companies that have arrangements with a specialized insurer to provide coverage to their policyholders. |
We are currently quoting homeowners insurance through the following companies...
American Tradition - Since 1946 the Jerger Family has been in the insurance business in Florida. Our goal has always been to provide the prudent agent and its customers with security and protection through professional insurance services. We have a Tradition of providing old-fashioned service with a smile. The Jerger Holding Corporation (JERGER) has formed a new Florida property and casualty insurance company named American Traditions Insurance Company (ATIC). The Jerger Group specializes in residential property insurance and operates in Florida. American Traditions Insurance Company will provide a voluntary market for residential property insurance coverage.
T J Jerger MGA (TJJMGA) will serve as the MGA for ATIC. American Traditions Insurance Company is wholly owned by JERGER, a Florida corporation. TJJMGA has common ownership with JERGER. ATIC, under a long-term servicing agreement with our business partner West Point Underwriters, LLC, will market, underwrite and process all property insurance policies. West Point Underwriters was established in May 2000 and began writing policies in October 2000. We are proud of our special relationship with West Point. West Point Underwriters has had remarkable growth over a short operating history.
http://www.jergermga.com/default.asp
Florida Family Insurance- Florida Family Insurance Company is a Florida-domiciled property insurer, writing homeowner, condominium, dwelling fire and flood policies in the state of Florida. Florida Family Insurance Services, L.L.C. is the Company's exclusive managing general agent. Both companies are located in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Florida Family claims professionals are Florida property claims experts, certified by the National Flood Insurance Program to manage any losses incurred on National Flood Insurance policies issued by Florida Family. Florida Family is also approved to service wind-related claims for Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.
Florida Family Insurance products are distributed through Florida’s Independent Agent system. For the name of a Florida Family agent near you, please call 1-888-850-HOME (4663) or contact our marketing department.
Florida Peninsula Insurance- At Florida Peninsula, we understand there is more to insurance than the policy, and that people – our customers and agents -- matter most. That’s why Florida Peninsula is dedicated to understanding the needs of our diverse customer and agent base throughout the State. We are rated Demotech A (Exceptional) -- the highest rating conferred by Demotech.
Our service commitment means working with our customers and offering responsive and knowledgeable service beyond the sale. It means providing fast and fair claims handling. Ultimately, it means helping to ensure our customers’ peace of mind through personal attention and financial protection.
http://www.florida-peninsula.com/
Northern Capital
- In 2004, the Board of Directors of Northern Capital , Inc. submitted the Northern Capital Insurance Company "Application For Permit" to become a domestic insurer with the Florida Department of Financial Services. The "Permit" was approved and after the appropriate financing was in place, the Certificate of Authority (License) was approved by the state of Florida on May 4, 2006. Northern Capital Insurance Company commenced issuing homeowners policies in 2006 with the commitment to provide the homeowners of Florida with an additional market in which to place their homeowners insurance.
http://www.northerncapitalinsurance.com/index.htm
OLYMPUS INSURANCE CO. is the latest company to open its doors in the Florida homeowners market under a state program that gives loans to new or expanding companies.
Olympus received a 20-year surplus note for $16.5 million from the state's Insurance Capital Build-Up Incentive Program. The company matched the loan by putting up $33.5 million in capital to reach total capitalization of $50 million, giving the company the ability to write an estimated 125,000 new homeowners policies in the Sunshine State, according to the Florida State Board of Administration.
Security First - Security First is a Homeowners' insurance company created in early 2005 for the purpose of handling policies formerly held by Florida's Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.
Security First has appointed agents throughout the State.As a Security First policy holder your original agent will be your main contact for information and service.
Security First policies will be handled by two established and well-respected companies. MacNeill Group will provide policy administration services, and Allied American will handle the adjustment of claims. We chose these companies based on their outstanding customer service and longevity in the insurance industry.
Security First is owned and operated by Florida homeowners. We have deep roots in the Ormond Beach and greater Volusia/Flagler area. We are experienced insurance and business professionals who are here to make sure you're safe at home.
http://www.sficins.com/
St. John's Insurance Company: Quality Protection From A Company That Will Be There When You Need Them – We offer the important property and liability insurance you need to protect the significant investment you’ve made in your home. St. Johns is rated “A” Exceptional by Demotech for financial stability.
info@stjohnsinsurance.com
Universal Property & Casualty -Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPCIC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal Insurance Holding Company, a Florida corporation. Universal Insurance Holding Company is wholly owned by Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.
UPCIC has aligned itself with some of the best and most respected service providers in the industry. This functional structure affords UPCIC the opportunity to take advantage of a unique combination of financial strength, underwriting skills, analytical expertise and administrative capability
Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company has a distinguished and experienced group of individuals as its directors and officers. The individuals provide guidance and lend their expertise to ensure this insurance operation continues to be successful in the property and casualty insurance marketplace.
http://www.universalproperty.com/about.aspx
Citizens: In 2002, the Florida Legislature passed a law that combined the Florida Residential Property and Casualty Joint Underwriting Association (FRPCJUA) and the Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association (FWUA). This resulted in the creation of Citizens Property insurance Corporation (Citizens), which more efficiently and effectively provides insurance to, and serves the needs of, homeowners in high-risk areas and others who cannot find coverage in the open, private insurance market.
We are also members of the Florida Marketing Assistance Plan or "FMAP". FMAP is a free referral service designed to match consumers who cannot find property insurance, with Florida licensed agents and insurers who are writing new business.
FMAP was created by the Florida legislature in 1985 as a service organization
designed to assist consumers in obtaining property and casualty insurance coverage from authorized insurers in the private market.
We understand the need for insurance. We also understand the financial burden of insurance premiums. We do offer the availability of financing your insurance premiums through Premium Finance Services..
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