Hurricane Dolly is now just a weak Tropical Depression.  Still being tracked by the National Weather Service she is no longer a threat to home owners in Southeast Texas.  Her weakened condition also means she is no longer a threat to the insurance companies in Texas and they are once again writing insurance policies.

Did you know you can’t get insurance for your home or change your policy when a hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico?

The Texas Windstorm Binding Procedures go into effect.  No new policies.  No policy changes.  Buying a new home?  You can’t close without insurance.  If there is a storm in the Gulf when you are supposed to close – guess what- the closing is delayed.  That’s why its a good idea to have your policy in place a few days ahead of closing.  This is even more true during hurricane season.

This is still the start of hurricane season.  If you have not checked your homeowners policy lately, now is the time.  If you have done any of the following you need to update your policy:

• added an additional to your home
• made renovations to the inside of your home
• built new barns or out buildings
• added a pool

Anything you have done that increased your home’s value calls for an update to your insurance policy.  The policy you took out when you bought your home is probably for the original purchase price or maybe just the mortgage amount. 

That isn’t enough coverage to rebuild your home or replace additions that aren’t covered on your policy.  I confess. My husband and I are guilty of not updating our insurance too.  We added a six stall horse barn since last summer.  Its not on our coverage yet.  We got lucky with Dolly.  She went the other way.  As the hurricane season continues storms get more intense and there is a good chance another one will come close to Southeast Texas before the season ends.

Now that Dolly’s gone.  Its time to update our insurance.