Why Is the Home Insurance Provider Asking…?

When you are looking to obtain a new home insurance policy, the insurance company may ask several questions. When asked some of these questions, you may immediately understand why the insurance company is asking. However, there are other questions that you may be asked, and you may not understand why. At Guy Hurley McNeil, serving the Rochester Hills, MI area, one of our customers asked why their home insurance provider is asking how far away the nearest fire hydrant is from their home. Read along as we explain why an insurance company would be asking you, the homeowner, this question. 

How Far Away Is the Nearest Fire Hydrant?

While it may seem like a strange question, your home insurance company is asking how far away the nearest fire hydrant is to determine how quickly a fire department can start to douse your home if a fire happens. The closer you are to a hydrant, the faster firefighters can begin to put out the fire. This may minimize or limit the spread of the fire and, thus, limit or reduce the damage that the fire does to your home.

A home insurance company may ask specific questions to determine how much risk they are taking when insuring you. If you are in the market for a new home insurance policy in the greater Rochester Hills, MI area, Guy Hurley McNeil would love to help you get the insurance you need. We can also help answer any questions the insurance company may ask you. Reach out to us now to get started. 

Three things you need to know about home insurance reform

If you’re in the market for a home insurance policy in Rochester Hills, MI, you should research home insurance reform efforts that impact your policy options. Guy Hurley McNeil can answer your questions about home insurance and home insurance reform.

The following are three things you need to know about home insurance reform. 

Home insurance reform may bring down premium costs for consumers.

Home insurance reform may regulate the costs that insurance providers can charge property owners.

This ensures that home insurance stays affordable for property owners in the state or community where home insurance reform measures have been implemented. 

Home insurance reform may also reduce the number of lawsuits considered frivolous.

Frivolous lawsuits cost money and may push up the costs of home insurance. Certain home insurance reform measures may prevent frivolous lawsuits that cost both home insurance providers and consumers money. 

Home insurance reform efforts may also involve regulations regarding the financial reserves of home insurance providers.

Home insurance providers need adequate financial reserves to honor their policyholder’s file claims. Home insurance reform efforts can specify a certain amount of financial reserves that home insurance providers need to have in order to offer home insurance policies in a given area.  

Financial reserves make the policies offered by an insurance company more secure and ensure that a home insurance provider will have adequate funds available when a claim is filed. 

We can help you get answers to your questions about home insurance reform in Rochester Hills, MI. Contact us at Guy Hurley McNeil if you’d like to know more about meeting your home insurance needs. 

Home Insurance News from Around the United States.

According to researchers, Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s new home insurance reform bill could positively impact policyholders. The bill is said to bring more competition to the market and make it easier for consumers to shop around for the best rates.

The new bill will also make it easier for policyholders to file claims and get their claims paid out promptly. This is good news for Florida homeowners dealing with insurance companies that are slow to pay out on claims or deny claims altogether.

What Reforms Were Enacted?

The Florida Legislature passed a bill in 2022 that reformed how insurers can calculate premiums for homeowner’s insurance. The reforms aim to make premiums more fair and affordable for policyholders. Some of the key reforms that were enacted include:

  • No attorney fees for assignees
  • Adjustment of claims
  • Pre-suit notice before policyholders can file suit
  • No attorney fee multipliers

How Will These Reforms Impact Policyholders?

The most significant impact of these reforms will be felt by those paying higher than average premiums. Many of these policyholders may see their rates go down due to the reforms.

For example, if you have been paying higher than average premiums because you live in a high-risk area, you’ll no longer be penalized for that risk factor. Insurers can now use different risk factors when determining rates, which means your premium could go down.

Conclusion

The new home insurance reform bill in Florida could be good news for policyholders. The reforms enacted should make premiums more fair and affordable. They’ll also make it easier for policyholders to file claims and get their claims paid out on time.

If you’re a homeowner, contact Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI, today to learn more about how home insurance can benefit you and to get a quote on a new policy. Our team is here to help you navigate the Michigan home insurance market changes so that you can make the best decision for your family.

What Michigan residents need to know about home insurance reform

If you live in the greater Rochester Hills, MI area, you may be wondering about home insurance reform. The team here at Guy Hurley McNeil is here to answer your questions and address the concerns that you may have. Give us a call or stop by today to learn more about our area’s home insurance options.

Home insurance reform

After the state passed auto insurance reform measures, many Michigan residents wondered if there would soon be changes coming to home insurance. As of the writing of this article, there have been no such measures taken. This is an area that many people are paying attention to, and there is no doubt that if it does become an issue, there will be plenty of press coverage. 

While we await home insurance reform, it is a great opportunity for residents to take a closer look at their current policies. Many home prices in our area have increased significantly in recent years, and it’s vital that your homeowner’s policy also keeps pace with those increases.

If it’s been a while since you’ve had a review of your insurance portfolio, now is a perfect time. Our insurance needs can change, and we often don’t address those changes immediately. If we wait too long to make adjustments, we may end up with gaps in our insurance protection. Why not take the time now to ensure that all of your ducks are in a row?

We are here for you!

The community of Rochester Hills, MI can count on Guy Hurley McNeil as its insurance resource. We are here for you, whatever you need! When it comes to insurance, you can count on us. Call or stop by our office today.

What Michigan residents need to know about home insurance reform

Rochester Hills, MI area residents may be familiar with all of the recent changes due to auto insurance reform. These policies were enacted in 2020 after being introduced in 2019. These reforms have gotten a lot of people wondering if other insurance reforms may occur in the future. The team at Guy Hurley McNeil is staying on top of the situation to keep our clients informed.

Home insurance reform

Presently, there are no home insurance reform measures in place. Of course, we all know that this can change in the future, but there is nothing active at this article’s publication.

If you are concerned about insurance reform and how it could impact you and your current policies, we are here to tell you not to worry. When it comes to governmental change, these things take time. You will surely hear about any attempts at reform long before they become enacted into law.

There is always a time for discussion after reform is introduced, and those talks usually receive a lot of attention. If you are worried, there’s no need to be, as any change that does occur will take time. And, even after reform is introduced, discussed, and becomes law, the changes will not be immediate. 

Any change voted into law will not be enacted until a future period, and the public will be given plenty of notice. 

Give us a call today!

Guy Hurley McNeil is here to provide the greater Rochester Hills, MI area with the insurance guidance it needs. If you have any questions or concerns about insurance, give us a call or stop by our office today. We are here to help you!

Is homeowner’s insurance reform relevant to MI residents?

Residents in the greater Rochester Hills, MI area may have heard some recent rumblings about home insurance reform. While this is not happening now, you can rely on Guy Hurley McNeil to pass on any pertinent information if these changes do occur.

Is home insurance reform happening in MI?

Some states are beginning to pass home insurance reforms. These changes are similar in nature to the auto insurance changes that went into effect in 2020. At this time, there is no homeowner insurance reform happening in Michigan. We advise all of our clients to keep in touch throughout the year. If you are speaking to your agent on a regular basis, likely at renewal time, you will stay informed of any relevant changes or reforms that may occur.

Our team prides itself on staying up-to-date on all of the insurance reforms and changes that affect our clients. If there is any reform that occurs in MI, it will likely take some time to pass the legislation. And, once the measures cross this hurdle, it would take some time for the measures to be enacted.

The short answer is that there are no reforms to home insurance happening right now in the state. This does not mean that these changes can’t happen in the future. Maintaining communication with your insurance agent can help you stay on top of the information that you need to know. Count on us for all of your insurance needs.

We are here to answer all of your insurance questions!

If you are a resident of Rochester Hills, MI or the surrounding area, you can count on Guy Hurley McNeil for all of your insurance needs. We are here to answer any questions that you may have. Give us a call today!

Why You Need an Updated Home Inventory

If you haven’t taken a look at your home inventory recently, here’s your reminder to update it today. A good home inventory is a complete account of all your possessions, with a visual record, description, receipts or appraisals of worth, and necessary details like serial numbers, make, model, and other relevant information.  This task is easy to overlook but a vital one for a few reasons.

Protect Your Assets

You can’t protect what you aren’t aware you have. An updated home inventory allows you to make a knowledgeable assessment of how much your property is worth. You can make adjustments to your insurance and talk to your agent about additional coverage for items of particular worth if you have a solid understanding of the value of your property. The only way you can do that is to keep an up-to-date list of your possessions. 

Don’t Leave Money on the Table

If you need to make a claim, not having an updated home inventory could cost you money. You don’t want to rely on your memory after a loss to determine what you had. Nor is that the time you want to be scrambling to find proof of what you owned and what it was worth. An updated inventory makes the claims process easier, faster, and ensures you’ll get all the money you deserve. 

Sufficient Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage

It’s easier to do now than it’s ever been before. Cell phones make documenting your items a breeze with a built-in high-quality camera and free and simple apps designed to help you create, maintain, and easily update a home inventory. Plus, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing your inventory is secure and stored remotely. If you are in Rochester Hills, MI and ready to go over your newly updated list, call or stop by Guy Hurley McNeil today and we can help ensure your homeowner’s policy meets your needs.

Michigan Homeowner’s Guide to Insurance Reform

With recent changes to auto insurance for Rochester Hills, MI residents and our neighbors around the state, you might be wondering if any potential changes are on the horizon for other important policies like your homeowners’ insurance policy.

When to Worry about Insurance Reform

At Guy Hurley McNeil, we think it’s always a great time to learn more about insurance, but there is a limit to how much information will impact the average person’s experience with insurance. As long as you know your current policy – especially its renewal date – you should be fine. The amount of time between renewals will be different between providers and policies, but it’s usually 12 months. A little before your renewal is the best time to check in with your insurance provider. The provider may contact you about changes that would affect your plan or reminders about your renewal before then, and you can contact them if you have additional questions or just forgot something.

That said, the most impactful policies will likely be in the news while they’re still in the formulating process, and the actual implementation may take a year or more. For example, the auto insurance reform was signed in May of 2019 and took effect in June of 2020. If someone had no other outside contact except to check on their insurance around its renewal dates, they would have found out about the upcoming changes.

The best way to alleviate your worries is by having a quality provider for your insurance. The people of Rochester Hills, MI and the surrounding Metro-Detroit area can count on Guy Hurley McNeil to help you find one.

3 Reasons Why You Should Prioritize Home Insurance in 2021

Most people brush off the importance of having a homeowner’s insurance policy, but if you want to protect your home against damages, be wise and get it. Homeowner’s insurance provides coverage for hazards and perils, including vandalism, fire, theft, riots, windstorm, and hail’s property damage. If you are in Rochester Hills MI, Guy Hurley McNeil Agency provides a range of coverage options for homeowner’s insurance.

Reasons Why You Should Get Home Insurance in 2021

Insuring your home from damages is essential to protect you from financial strain and the emotional impact of damages that need expensive repairs and to add value to your home. The following are reasons why you need to prioritize home insurance in 2021.

Emergencies Are Hard To Plan For

Home insurance protects your home from damages caused by natural disasters like cyclones, tornados, fires, or hurricanes. If any of this happens, or you get robbed, you need insurance to help with reimbursement for damages. Emergencies are unforeseen, so it’s best to be prepared and invest in protecting your home and hard-earned assets.

Repairs are Costly

In the event of a fire to your home, the repairs needed could be very costly. Home insurance helps cover personal liabilities, property damage, medical expenses, and additional living expenses. If your home is inhabitable due to damages from a covered loss, you get reimbursement for additional living costs.

For Peace of Mind

Home insurance is a crucial expense that offers you peace of mind knowing that you are ready for whatever disaster might strike your home. It is a proactive way to protect your home from unforeseen calamities and uncertainties that cause financial strains.

Some things are beyond your control as a homeowner, so give your home the protection it needs with homeowner’s insurance. If you are looking for a home insurance policy in Rochester Hills, MI, contact Guy Hurley McNeil Agency Inc. for affordable quotes or call for consultation on the different types of policies.

How is Homeowners Insurance Reform Relevant for Michigan Homeowners?

By law, Rochester Hills, MI homeowners do not have to carry homeowners insurance, nor are there any regulations of rates. However, lenders often require homeowners to purchase insurance coverage to protect their investment in your home. But, again, without any state regulation, insurance companies can set their rates without following any established guidelines. 

While waiting for reform, call the experts at Guy Hurley McNeil, who understand the importance of homeowners insurance and help get you the coverage you need. 

Relevance of Home Insurance Reform

Many states, such as Florida and Colorado, have created changes in how insurance companies operate. Changes include regulating how much homeowners pay for their insurance coverage. However, Michigan does not have many guidelines or requirements in place for purchasing home insurance policies. Ultimately, insurance companies are not regulated by the state, and because of this, Michigan residents may not be as impacted by insurance reform as residents in other states. 

Michigan Homeowners Insurance Laws

Homeowners insurance is not required by law in Michigan. Because of this, insurance agents must guide and advise Rochester Hills, MI, residents about the different types of coverage to fit their homeownership and insurance needs. However, those financing a home, townhouse, or condominium may be required by the lender to carry a homeowners insurance policy. 

Possible Changes

Possible changes associated with home insurance reform include new regulations to protect both lenders and homeowners. Protection for lenders may impose penalties for borrowers who do not carry a homeowners insurance policy while mortgaging their home. Protector for homeowners may include premiums being regulated, including setting an amount policies can increase each year. 

Those with questions about home insurance reform should call the experts at Guy Hurley McNeil to determine how they could be affected.