Tips to Help Minimize the Chances of a House Fire This Holiday Season

At Boss Insurance Agency, serving the greater Kingwood, TX area, we have seen many house fires happen during the holiday season. As such, we are offering tips that can help you to minimize the chances of your home going up in flames this holiday season. 

Tips to Minimize the Chances of a House Fire

Keep Your Tree Hydrated

One of the most common reasons for house fires during the holiday season is that trees get dried out, and then warm lights can ignite a flame. If you decide to get a real tree, always ensure the tree stays hydrated. If the tree is drying out, avoid using the lights on the tree. 

Ensure You Do Not Overload Your Electric System

Electrical fires are also common this time of year. You are plugging more things into your electrical system, including holiday lights, inflatables, trees, and other decorations. It is easy to overload your electrical system. Be mindful of what you plug in, and if you are setting up an extravagant holiday display, contact an electrician to ensure your electrical system can handle the new load. 

Blow Candles Out  

You may host many holiday parties with friends and family during the holiday season, and you want your home to look and smell its best. As such, you may light some scented candles. Always be sure to blow these candles out at the end of the night. 

Get or Update Insurance Coverage For Your Home

These tips can help to minimize the chances of a house fire happening this holiday season, but you cannot prevent every house fire. This is why it is so important to have home insurance that you can trust and rely on. Here at Boss Insurance Agency, serving the greater Kingwood, TX region, we can help you find a policy that will cover you should the unexpected happen. Give us a call now to obtain estimates for a home insurance policy. 

What Does Flood Insurance Cover in Texas?

As a homeowner in Texas, it’s essential to be aware of the dangers of flooding and to have adequate protection against this natural disaster. Flood insurance is an integral part of that protection, but what does it actually cover? Boss Insurance Agency is here to help. 

What Does Flood Insurance Cover?

Flood insurance covers damage to your home and personal property caused by flooding. This includes water that enters your home through foundation cracks, windows, or doors; water that rises from the ground and enters through openings in your foundation; and water that overflows from rivers or lakes onto your property.

What Does Flood Insurance Not Cover?

There are some things that flood insurance does not cover, such as damage caused by storms, high winds, or sewage backup. It also does not cover costs associated with moving your belongings to a safe location or repairing any cosmetic damage to your home (such as repainting).

Your Boss Insurance Agency representative in Kingwood, TX can help determine whether you need flood insurance and how much coverage is right for you.

How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost?

The cost of flood insurance depends on several factors, including the age and value of your home, its location, and whether you live in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Other factors affecting your premium include the policy type and the coverage you need.

Get The Right Coverage Today

For a homeowner in Texas, it’s crucial to have adequate protection against flooding. Flood insurance is essential to that protection, but what does it cover? Now that you know more about what flood insurance covers and doesn’t cover, you can decide whether it’s right for you. If you have questions or want a quote for flood insurance, give us a call at Boss Insurance Agency in Kingwood, TX today.

Does boat insurance cover water skiers?

Picture this: You’re out on the lake, enjoying the warm summer sun and the freshwater smell. You’ve got your boat, and your friends, and everyone is having a great time. Suddenly, someone falls while water skiing and sustains some injuries. Will your boat insurance cover them? Boss Insurance Agency is here to answer your questions about boat and watercraft insurance in Kingwood, TX.

Water Skiers Are Usually Covered Under Boat and Watercraft Liability Insurance

There are a few things you need to know about boat insurance and what it covers. Most standard boat insurance policies will cover you for liability if someone is injured while on your boat. This includes water skiers, wakeboarders, tubing, and even swimmers who are hurt while in the water near your boat. And just so you know – Injuries that occur while people are loading or unloading from your boat are also usually covered.

But There Are Some Exceptions

However, there are some situations where boat insurance will not cover injuries. For example, if someone is hurt while using equipment that came with the boat, such as oars or a tow rope, they may not be covered. Additionally, most policies exclude coverage for racing boats or boats used for commercial purposes.

Boss Insurance Agency is Here to Help

So, does boat insurance cover water skiers from Kingwood, TX? The answer is usually yes, but there are some exceptions. The best way to know for certain is to check the coverage listed in your policy. Contact an agent at Boss Insurance Agency to look at your policy to see if water skiing (or any other activity) is covered. We’ll make sure you have the coverage you need.  Then go out and have fun!

The Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

If you’re in the market for car insurance, you’ve probably come across the terms "comprehensive coverage" and "collision coverage." But what exactly do these terms mean? And do you need both types of coverage? At Boss Insurance Agency in Kingwood, TX, we’re here to help you understand the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage so that you can make the best decision for your needs.

Auto Insurance: What You Need to Know

Comprehensive Coverage 

Comprehensive coverage, also known as "other than collision" coverage, is an insurance policy that pays for damage that is not caused by a collision. This can include damage from events such as fire, theft, or vandalism.

It can also cover damage from natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, or hail storms. In most states, comprehensive coverage is optional, but if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to carry it. 

Collision Coverage 

Collision coverage is an insurance policy that pays for damage to your vehicle that is caused by a collision either with another object or vehicle. This can include damage from accidents, hit-and-run incidents, or parking lot fender benders. If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to have collision coverage.

Deciding Whether You Need Comprehensive and Collision Coverage 

If your vehicle is paid off and you don’t rely on it for transportation to work or school, you may be able to get by with just liability insurance. However, if your vehicle is financed or leased, your lender will likely require you to carry comprehensive and collision coverage.

Even if it’s not required, carrying both types of coverage can give you peace of mind knowing that your vehicle is protected against a wide range of potential risks.

When deciding whether to purchase comprehensive and collision coverage, consider the value of your vehicle and whether or not you could afford to replace it if it were damaged beyond repair. An old car with a low book value may not be worth the expense of carrying comprehensive and collision coverage.

On the other hand, a newer car with a significant loan balance, carrying both types of coverage could give you financial protection in the event of an accident. Ultimately, the decision is up to you.

Get the Right Car Insurance Coverage

At Boss Insurance Agency in Kingwood, TX, we can help you find the right car insurance coverage for your needs and budget. We offer a wide range of coverage options, including comprehensive and collision coverage. Contact us today to get started.

Life Situations That Require Changes in Your Life Insurance Coverage

Life changes, and with it, your life insurance needs may change as well. Reviewing and updating your policy regularly ensures your family is always taken care of in Kingwood, TX.

There are a few critical life situations that require changes to your life insurance policy:

Getting Married or Divorced

If you get married, you will probably want to increase your life insurance coverage to ensure your spouse is taken care of financially during your death. If you get divorced, you may wish to remove your ex-spouse from your policy, so they are no longer covered. Also, if you are the primary breadwinner in your family, you may want to increase your coverage so your spouse and children can maintain their current lifestyle if you pass away unexpectedly.

Having a Baby

When you have a baby, you will want to increase your life insurance coverage to ensure your child is taken care of financially should something happen to you. A benefit of life insurance is that it can also be used as a savings vehicle for your child’s future education.

Your Boss Insurance Agency can help you with any changes you need to make to your Kingwood, TX life insurance policy.

Changing Jobs

If you change jobs, your life insurance needs may change as well. For example, if you leave employment providing life insurance coverage, you will want to consider purchasing a policy on your own. Alternatively, if you take a new job that offers life insurance coverage, you may want to decrease your coverage since you will now have some coverage through your employer.

A Boss Insurance Agency expert can help you assess your life insurance needs based on any life changes.

Home Insurance Tips

If you’re in the market for home insurance in Kingwood, TX, you may be wondering what discounts are available to you. There are a number of discounts that insurers offer, and it’s important to know about them before you purchase a policy. Here we discuss some of the most common discounts available on home insurance policies. We’ll also provide tips on how to qualify for these discounts.

Home Insurance: What You Need To Know

1. Multiple Policy 

One of the most common discounts available on home insurance policies is the multiple policy discount. If you have more than one type of insurance policy with the same insurer, you may be eligible for a discount on your premium.

For example, if you have both auto and home insurance with Boss Insurance Agency, you may qualify for a multiple policy discount. To qualify for this discount, you’ll need to have both auto and home insurance with the same insurer. You’ll also need to maintain both policies for a certain period of time, typically one year.

2. Safety Device 

Another common discount is the safety device discount. If you have certain safety devices installed in your home, you may be eligible for a discount on your premium. Some of the most common safety devices include smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and deadbolts. To qualify for this discount, you’ll need to have the required safety devices installed in your home. You’ll also need to maintain them in good working order.

3. Claims-Free 

If you have a home insurance policy that has no claims on it, you may be eligible for a discount. This discount is typically called the claims-free discount. To qualify for this discount, you’ll need to have a policy with no claims for a certain period of time, typically three years.

4. Loyalty 

If you’re a loyal customer of an insurer, you may be eligible for a discount. This discount is typically called the loyalty discount. To qualify for this discount, you’ll need to have been a customer of the insurer for a certain period of time, typically five years.

Give Us A Call

There are a number of discounts available on home insurance policies. Boss Insurance Agency in Kingwood, TX can help you navigate through your insurance options. Contact us today to learn more.

How Can I Determine My Flood Risk?

If you live in the greater Kingwood, TX area, chances are that your property has a moderate to high flood risk. Boss Insurance Agency is here to help you navigate your flood insurance options. 

Flood Insurance: What You Need To Know

There are two main reasons you should get flood insurance in Texas: 

Floods are the number one natural disaster in Texas

Although “Flash Flood Alley,” which includes places like Austin, has a higher flooding potential than most parts of Texas, every area in the state, including Kingwood TX, is vulnerable to flooding and other natural disasters. 

Homeowners’ insurance in Texas doesn’t cover floods

Most homeowners insurance policies don’t cover floods, even those that take place due to natural disasters that are covered under their policies. For example, if your roof gets damaged in a hurricane, your insurance policy will likely pay for wind- or hail-related damages but not for water damage caused by flooding. 

Contact Us Today

As you can see, having flood insurance, especially if you live in the state of Texas, is extremely important. But if you’re considering purchasing flood insurance, you’ll need to determine your risk of flooding. Your flood risk is determined by the climate of your region as well as factors specific to the exact location of your property, e.g., low vs. high ground. 

Thanks to FEMA and the NFIP, there’s a wealth of resources available to help you evaluate the general risk of flooding in your area. To determine whether your property is in a flood plain, you can use the Legal Service Corporation (LSC) flood zone lookup. 

Although the NFIP issues most flood insurance policies, you can also purchase flood insurance through private agencies such as Boss Insurance Agency, which serves the Kingwood, TX area and other parts of Texas. For a free, no-obligation consultation and overview of our services, contact us at 832-955-7288 or email one of our agents. 

I’m young, healthy, and don’t have a family. Do I need heath insurance?

Health insurance has many benefits. Beyond the obvious benefit of providing direct access to healthcare, health insurance also makes healthcare more affordable. Regardless of your age, healthcare is important. Fortunately, there are a wide array of healthcare options available to most people. Our team at Boss Insurance Agency understands that navigating health insurance can be confusing. This is why we’re here to help our Kingwood, TX residents understand their health insurance options.

What are the Benefits of Health Insurance for Young Adults?

The first obvious benefit of health insurance for young people is affordability. Although young people tend to be healthy and may not utilize or need healthcare as much as older people, health insurance can greatly decrease the cost whenever they are in need of it. Also, health insurance can help young people manage their health via routine visits and access to a personal doctor or nurse practitioner. Many employers offer health insurance to their employees. This makes attaining health insurance easier for young people because they can acquire it through their employer. 

What Happens if a Young Person Doesn’t have Health Insurance?

Age is a non-factor when it comes to the need for access to quality healthcare, or healthcare period. Often, young people opt out of healthcare and will go without insurance for medical needs that may come up unexpectedly. As a result, emergency room visits are often used to cover their healthcare needs due to a lack of health insurance.

Contact Boss Insurance Agency Today

If you’re a young person that’s interested in learning more about the benefits of health insurance for young adults, give us a call in  Kingwood, TX. We’d be happy to discuss your options and help you come up with a solution that works for you.

Auto Insurance FAQs

Automobile insurance is a unique type of expense. It is probably one of the only expenses you pay that is required by law. Because of the heavy consequences associated with auto insurance, it is imperative that you make smart insurance choices. At Boss Insurance Agency, serving Kingwood, TX, we make it our business to help clients make good insurance moves. Keep reading to learn more. 

Auto Insurance FAQs

What Happens If I Don’t Have Auto Insurance?

If you allow your insurance to lapse, or if you do not carry insurance at all, you could face stiff legal consequences. In most states, you are required by law to carry a minimum of liability coverage. If you fail to do this, it could affect your ability to hold a license in your state. 

If you are in an accident when you do not have insurance, you will be held personally responsible for the damage to other vehicles involved and for medical expenses for the other drivers. You may even face more legal consequences if the other drivers choose to pursue legal action against you. 

What Does Auto Insurance Provide?

Auto insurance will provide money to pay for the cost of damage to other vehicles in the event of a car accident in which you are at fault. It can also provide money for medical bills for those other drivers. 

Auto insurance can also provide money for expenses incurred on your vehicle in an accident. If your vehicle is damaged another way, such as a hail storm, the policy will also pay for that. 

If you would like to learn more about auto insurance, or any of our other insurance services, please contact us at Boss Insurance Agency, serving Kingwood, TX and the surrounding areas. 

Whole Life Insurance vs Term Life Insurance In Texas

When you’re searching for life insurance in Kingwood, TX the two major types of life insurance you need to consider are term life insurance and whole life insurance. Here’s what you need to know about these types of life insurance policies and their benefits.

What Is Whole Life Insurance?

Whole life insurance is insurance that provides coverage for your entire life. The premium for whole life insurance will remain the same, but the premium for this insurance is higher than the premium for term life insurance. There is an investment component in whole life insurance policies known as "cash value". The cash value of this type of policy grows at a steady, guaranteed rate throughout the life of the policy. Over time, you can borrow money against this policy or surrender the policy for its cash value.

What Should You Consider When You Are Shopping for Whole Life Insurance?

When you are shopping for whole life insurance, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration:

  • How much money your family will need to maintain their current lifestyle if something were to happen to you
  • The amount of cash value each policy will accrue over time
  • Considering if you have a beneficiary who will require the security of the death benefit throughout your life

With whole life insurance, you will be able to receive annual dividends from your insurance companies, such as Boss Insurance Agency.

What Is Term Life Insurance?

Term life insurance is an insurance policy that provides a death benefit payment to the beneficiary if the policyholder passes away within the insurance policy term. The terms of this type of life insurance policy are 10, 20, or 30 years.

One of the benefits of term life insurance is that this type of insurance premium is inexpensive, making it easier to purchase more coverage at once. Like whole life insurance, the premium for term life insurance will remain the same throughout the policy term.

What Should You Consider When You Are Shopping for Term Life Insurance?

When you are shopping for term life insurance, consider these three factors:

  • The length of term that best fits your family’s needs
  • The amount your family would need to maintain their current lifestyle if you passed away
  • What you will do once your insurance policy expires

In Kingwood, TX, it is important to have a life insurance plan in place to cover funeral expenses and provide for your family when you pass away. At Boss Insurance Agency, we provide a variety of insurance policies. Contact us to learn about our insurance policies and how we can help you.