Recently-added laws should help many fire survivors of the Southern California wildfires.

Did you know that most homeowners insurance policies do not offer protection against flood losses? Standard homeowners policies will cover the damage a storm might cause to your home and possessions, but exclude damages from what is known as "rising water." Why? Insurance is essentially a device to spread risk, and few homeowners really need or would purchase this coverage. 

Try this game. Sit in the kitchen with a pen and paper. Without looking, try to write down the entire contents of your living room. Now, check to see how many items were missed. Did you remember the drapes…the carpet…the rugs? Now try it again with every other room in the house. It may be surprising to see how many items you have overlooked. 

Shopping for your dream house? It’s important to keep insurance in mind throughout the home buying process. Most lenders won’t provide a mortgage without insurance coverage. Your insurance company or agent, together with your Realtor, can help you get what you want – a good home that is properly protected. 

If your house burns down or is destroyed by a violent windstorm, or if your possessions are stolen, you don't want to suddenly find out that your homeowners insurance policy pays less than you thought it would.