I N S U R A N C E F A Q ' S

How do I file a claim?

In the event your home sustains damage, please contact the Claims Department of your Insurance Company to immediately notify them of your loss.

American Integrity Insurance Group - 866-277-9871
American Strategic Insurance Company – Claims: 866-274-5677866-274-5677
Argus Fire and Casualty Insurance Company – Claims: 305-521-0400
Ark Royal Insurance Company – Claims: 866-274-3299
Cabrillo General Insurance Agency – Claims: 866-482-5246
Citizens Property and Casualty Insurance Company – Claims: 866-411-2742
Gulfstream Insurance - Claims: 866-485-3004 Option 3
Homeowners Choice Insurance Company - Claims: 866-324-3138
HomeWise Insurance Company – Claims: 866-496-1782
Landmark One Insurance Company – Claims: 866-243-5163
Liberty American Insurance Company – Claims: 888-993-8911
Magnolia Insurance Company – Claims: 877-828-2149
Northern Capital Insurance Company – Claims: 800-396-1840
Security First Insurance Company – Claims: 877-581-4862
Southern Oak Insurance Company – Claims: 877-900-2280
Southern Fidelity Insurance Company – 866-874-7342
St. Johns Insurance Company - Claims: 800-748-2030
Sunshine State Insurance Company - Claims: 877-563-0150
Tapco Underwriters – Claims: 336-538-0094
Tower Hill Insurance Group (Tower Hill Preferred, Prime and Select, Hillcrest, Omega, and Lloyd’s of London) – Claims: 800-216-3711
United Property and Casualty Insurance Company – Claims: 800-861-4370
Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Company – Claims: 800-218-3206
USF&G Specialty Insurance Company - Claims: 800-631-6478

What do I do after a hurricane?

1. First and foremost, notify us of the loss. If temporary repairs must be made, please save all of the receipts as your insurance may cover some of these costs.

2. Prepare a list of damaged items. This will be easier if you've already prepared an inventory of personal property before the loss and secured it at another location. DO NOT throw out damaged items before the adjuster has had an opportunity to inspect them. The claims process will move along much easier this way.

3. Attempt to identify structural damage and obtain written bids from reliable contractors. Be aware of fly-by-night contractors who move into a disaster area to prey on its victims. Be sure to verify their licenses before they begin repairs.

H O M E O W N E R S

How do I figure the replacement value on my house?

First of all you want to make sure you insure your house and not the land. The land under your house isn't at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in your homeowner’s policy. So don't include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you'll pay a higher premium than you should.

Often a mortgage lender will ask that the insurance policy provide coverage equal to the mortgage amount. However, the mortgage value is equal to the value of the house and the land (typically called the market value). The lender wants to make certain their interest is protected in the event of a total loss. As long as the home is insured for its full replacement value the lender’s interest is protected because they still have a mortgage on the land. The Florida Administrative Code prohibits a lender from requiring insurance in an amount that exceeds the replacement cost of the home. Please refer to 69O-167.009 Mortgage Fire Insurance Requirements Limited.

Also, when you insure your home, you should insure your home for the total amount it would cost to rebuild your home if it were destroyed. If you don't have sufficient insurance, your insurance company may only pay a portion of the cost of replacing or repairing damaged items.

There are three ways to insure the structure of your home:

1) Replacement Cost: Insurance that pays the policyholder the cost of replacing the damaged property without deduction for depreciation, but limited to a maximum dollar amount.
2) Guaranteed Replacement Cost: Insurance that pays the full cost of replacing damaged property, without a deduction for depreciation and without a dollar limit. This coverage is not available in all states and some companies limit the coverage to 120 percent of the cost of rebuilding your home. This gives you protection against such things as a sudden increase in construction costs due to a shortage of building materials.
3) Actual Cash Value: Insurance under which the policyholder receives an amount equal to the replacement value of damaged property minus an allowance for depreciation. Unless a homeowner’s policy specifies that property is covered for its replacement value, the coverage is for actual cash value.

For a quick estimate of the amount to rebuild your home, multiply the local building costs per square foot by the total square footage of your house. To find out the building rates in your area, consult a local contractor, get an appraisal or contact your agent for a Replacement Cost Evaluation.

Factors that determine the cost to rebuild your home:

• local construction costs
• the square footage of the structure
• the type of exterior wall construction -- frame, masonry (brick or stone) or veneer
• the style of the house (ranch, colonial)
• the number of bathrooms and other rooms
• the type of roof
• attached garages, fireplaces, exterior trim and other special features like arched windows.

Also be sure to check the value of your insurance policy against rising local building costs each year. Ask your insurance agent or company representative about adding an "INFLATION GUARD CLAUSE" to your policy. This automatically adjusts the dwelling limit when you renew your policy to reflect current construction costs in your area. Also, be sure to increase the limit of your policy if you make improvements or additions to your house.

Why should I use an Independent Insurance Agent?

Most people have their first contact with an insurance company through an insurance agent. The agent is there to provide individuals, families, and businesses select insurance policies that provide the best protection for their lives, health, and property. Insurance agents who work exclusively for one insurance company are referred to as captive agents. Telephone Representatives offer you the insurance of one company and only on the phone. Independent insurance agents, or brokers, represent several companies and place insurance policies for their clients with the company that offers the best rate and coverage.

There is a difference in where you buy your protection, so shop wisely.

An Independent Insurance Agent can provide you with excellent service and competitive prices because they can access insurance coverage from more than one company. Unlike other agents, they are not tied to any one company. Therefore, you don't need to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change. An Independent Insurance Agent can offer you a choice of insurance plans and programs, as well as, finding the best combination of price, coverage and service. They also provide one-stop shopping for a full range of products-home, renters, auto, business, life and health.

What is covered under my homeowner's policy?

Your homeowner's policy is a package that has five main areas of coverage: the main dwelling, fences and other structures, personal belongings, loss of use, and personal liability.

How does First Heritage Insurance Services arrive at the amount of coverage for my home?

The amount of coverage in our quote is based on the approximate amount that it would cost to rebuild your home if it were totally destroyed. This includes debris removal and other costs associated with rebuilding. It does not include the cost of your land.

Do I need special insurance for my jewelry, fine arts, etc.?

All homeowner's policies have limits for certain types of personal property including cash, jewelry, and business property. Some companies also have limits on fine arts and computers. The dollar limits on these items vary by company and policy. If you need greater coverage for any of these items than is provided in the standard policy, we can often provide you with the opportunity to purchase additional coverage.

How do we pay for our new policy?

If you are purchasing a new home or refinancing your existing home, your first year premiums are usually paid through the settlement agent or escrow company. The payments for subsequent years can be billed to you directly or to your mortgage company. Installment billing is also available.

A U T O

What Information Do I Need to Have Ready When I get an Auto Quote?

You need to know what coverages you want, what limits of liability you require, and what deductibles you desire. Also, you need to have the following basic information available on all drivers in your household:

1) All drivers' names, ages, sex, and marital status;
2) Driving record (accidents and moving violations);
3) Annual mileage; and
4) The following information on all cars:

• full vehicle identification number
• year of vehicle
• cost of vehicle
• special equipment

What’s the difference between collision and comprehensive auto coverage?

Collision coverage pays for the damage to your car in an accident. Comprehensive coverage covers the damage caused by other factors such as vandalism, glass breakage, fire, flood, theft, falling objects, hitting animals or birds, and just about any other physical damage that is not covered by collision. In all states both of these coverages are optional. However, if you took out a loan to buy your car or if you’re leasing your vehicle, the lender or dealer will require that you purchase collision and comprehensive coverage.

What is uninsured motorist coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage pays you if an uninsured motorist hits your car and you are injured. Underinsured motorists coverage similarly protects you if the driver who crashes into your car has coverage, but not enough.

What does auto liability insurance cover?

Perhaps the most important type of auto insurance to have is liability coverage. If you cause an accident with your car and injure someone or damage something, auto liability insurance will pay the injured person’s medical and repair expenses. Auto liability, technically known as "bodily injury liability" and "property damage liability," protects you if you are held responsible for an accident. It’s not unusual for liability protection to account for more than half of an insurance policy’s cost. Without adequate protection, you could easily lose everything you own (and possibly even a large amount of your future earnings) if you come out on the losing end of a major lawsuit.

What is a no-fault insurance state?

In no-fault insurance states, automobile drivers must pay their own costs in a car accident regardless of who was responsible for the crash. In most no-fault states, your ability to file a lawsuit after an accident is strictly limited.

For additional information or helpful tips
please visit our Insurance Tips page