Frequently Asked Questions

Damages caused by windstorms, hail, hurricanes and tornados are covered in all homeowner's policies, unless specifically excluded. However, some carriers may limit coverage of homeowners residing in hurricane prone areas. Additional coverage may be purchased for accumulating snow or ice as they may not otherwise be covered. Flood damage is not covered in any homeowner's policy and flood insurance must be purchased separately.

It depends on the type of policy you selected. But in general, unless you buy additional coverage, you won't be compensated for losses due to floods, earthquakes, nuclear accidents, wars, intentional damage, and normal wear and tear. Other exclusions may also apply.

Most individuals with insurance claims receive contact from the insurance adjuster within 48 hours after the claim is reported. The resolution period of a claim will vary, depending upon on the extent of the damage and the affected geographic area of a catastrophe. Generally, the insurance adjuster will schedule a time to meet with the homeowner and adjust the loss.

Just like homeowner's insurance, renters face risks of loss. Sure, since a renter does not own the dwelling unit, they do not have a responsibility of losing the structure itself. As a renter, the greatest risk is damage to or loss of personal property. Renters can also be liable to third parties who are injured while at the residence. If you rent, insurance acts as a risk transfer device to protect you against a catastrophic loss. In exchange for payment of a premium, you transfer the risk of property loss and liability to third parties like an insurance company.

Insuring a condominium is different from insuring a house because of the way ownership is structured. A homeowner's policy covers against losses, and you can only suffer a loss if you have ownership. Because there are areas of common ownership in a condominium complex, your homeowners association may have a master policy. The extent of the coverage you buy will depend on what the master policy covers. The standard homeowner's policy for condominiums is called HO-6. It will likely cover your personal property, shield you and your family from some types of liability, plus pay to repair any portion of the unit you own under the terms of the condominium or cooperative documents.

Absolutely! You might use Airbnb, Vrbo, or one of the many other online platforms to rent out your property – and all are perfectly fine to use.

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A limitation to obtaining a DP-3 landlord policy, however, is the property must be rented for a minimum of 7 days and must be managed by a management company. Talk to your agent to find out whether the DP-3 is right for you.

Absolutely! DP-3 policies specialize in providing coverage for just this type of scenario. To better understand if DP-3 coverage is the right choice for you, insurance agent today.

Yes! If you lose expected rental income after a covered loss, this policy can reimburse you, at fair rental value, for rental income you would’ve earned while the property is being repaired.

A DP-3 policy provides broad protection against most adverse events, such as hurricane-force winds, lightning, hail, fire, vandalism, theft, and more.

Well, for starters, the DP-3 will often be less expensive. This is because, in a landlord policy, our carrier partner insures roofs at stated value – an agreed-upon price when the policy is bound. This is why a DP-3 is suited for property owners with older roofs who may have difficulty qualifying for insurance due to the age of their roof.

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Another primary difference between the DP-3 and HO-3:  the DP-3 policy is ideal for anyone with a property rented to others. This type of policy is a great option for those who own property deeded in the name of an LLC, Trust, Partnership, or Corporation.

A DP-3 landlord insurance covers theft of property from your rental, investment, or other property. This covers stolen items such as appliances, lighting, furniture, and more within the insured property. (Check the policy for exclusions).

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DP-3 landlord insurance also offers liability and medical payments to others, which provides legal and medical reimbursement should you be found liable for personal injury or property damage occurring on the premises.

A DP-3 policy provides broad protection against most adverse events, such as hurricane-force winds, lightning, hail, fire, vandalism, theft, and more.

DP-3 insurance policy, is sometimes referred to as a landlord policy. It is a type of insurance policy serving two main functions: to provide coverage on homes used as rental or investment properties and to provide protection on homes with older roofs more than 10 years old and in good condition, which can otherwise be difficult to insure.

Equipment Breakdown Coverage has a coverage limit of $100,000 per occurrence with a $500 deductible.

Coverage may be added to the policy at anytime with agent assistance.

No,  as regular equipment age-related wear, deterioration, or corrosion is not covered. However, if wear and deterioration cause the covered equipment to have an “equipment breakdown,” it may be covered.

Flood insurance is highly recommended for every. Over 1/3 of all individuals seeking Federal Disaster Assistance for flood events do not live in a designated flood area.

Federal assistance is not guaranteed and requires an approval process. Additionally, federal assistance is almost always extended in the form of a low interest rate loan which must be repaid.

No, storm surge is considered “rising water” and damage resulting from storm surge is only covered by a flood policy, not a homeowner’s policy. If you live near a body of water which often rises when a storm threatens, a flood policy is a must.

No, a standard homeowners policy does not cover damage resulting from flooding, often referred to as rising water.

Yes, if the flood policy is purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) a 30-day waiting period applies. Should you qualify for a private policy, the rate can be significantly lower with no waiting period.

The average cost of a flood insurance policy is $562 per year, when purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program. The cost of a flood policy is dependent on the location and elevation of the property, building materials, and distance to a lake, river, levee, or ocean.

Unlike the coverage offered by many financial institutions, identity theft coverage pays for you to recover your identity (including a case manager or consumer fraud specialist) which is the long-term effect of this crime. Your financial institution can quickly recoup any monies you may have lost within a few days once your bank or credit card company are notified in most instances.

Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information in an attempt to commit fraud. An identity thief will typically open credit cards or lines of credit, file taxes, or get medical services in your name without your knowledge. These activities will damage your credit and cost you time and money to rectify.

Identity theft insurance provides restoration services in the event your identity is stolen and provides coverage to pay for many of the expenses incurred from resolving the breech, unlike identify theft protection.

An Identity Theft policy reimburses the policyholder for money spent on reclaiming and repairing their financial identities and credit rating. These costs often include legal assistance, phone bills, and office expenses leading to thousands of dollars.

Prior to your renewal date, making changes to your policy such as mortgagee changes or coverage changes can be made by contacting your agent or Citizens directly. Once you have received a renewal package from one of our carrier partners, changes can still be made via your agent orby calling the carriers’ customer service department.

Private-market carriers, such as our carrier partners, are all provided with the same information and data when selecting policies from Citizens for Takeout/Assumption. It is possible for a policyholder to receive multiple offers from different carriers. This provides you an opportunity to speak with your agent about which company is best for you.  Only one carrier may assume the policy.

A Takeout/Assumption occurs when an authorized private-market carrier acquires or selects policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp.(Citizens). Private-market carriers are approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation prior to participating in a takeout. In addition, our carrier partners have taken steps to notify your agent that your policy has been selected for assumption.

Designed to be the “insurer of last resort”, Citizens only offers coverage to policyholders who cannot otherwise secure coverage with an admitted, private-market carrier. Citizens Property Insurance routinely will partner with private-market carriers to assist policyholders in finding alternate coverage whenever possible. It is very common for authorized private-market carriers to request and participate in Takeouts/Assumptions, in an effort to reduce the amount of Citizens policies.

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Learn More About The Takeout Selection Process

Should a loss occur prior to the assumption date, Citizens will be able to assist you with filing the claim.  After the assumption date you may file your claim with the designated carrier partner on their website.

Your agent will remain the same, as our carrier partners have confirmed they are contracted.  In addition, they will continue to earn commissions as your selected agent.

The interested carrier partner will mail a copy of your renewal to the designated lender/mortgage company listed on your policy with Citizens.  It is always a good idea to review the renewal offered issued by our carrier partners to ensure all the information is updated and accurate.

Accepting one of our carrier offers is easy, you may either contact your agent directly and ask for their assistance or make your selection online at www.citizensfla.com/online-choice.

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Notes:

• If you are making your submitting your choice online, please have your Citizens policy number and the registration code listed on the enclosed Policyholder Choice Offer Form on hand.
• If you do not make a selection, Citizens will assign your policy to the private-market carrier of their choice, on your behalf.

Windward Risk Managers has operated successfully since 2005. During this time, our carrier partners have helped thousands recover from major hurricanes and losses.  Our carrier partners have succeeded by allowing Windward Risk Managers to use their experience to and ensure the calculation of reinsurance needs, forecast claims losses and predict industry trends to pivot as necessary and continue to offer best in class coverage options.

Windward Risk Managers’ carriers have been serving and protecting families since 2005. In addition to repairing homes from common occurrences like pipe breaks and theft; our carrier partners have helped thousands of families recover from major hurricanes and losses since inception. Our carrier partners specialize in home insurance and understand the risks faced by homeowners. Our team of dedicated professionals and comprehensive coverage options along with our years of experience make our carrier partners the right choice for your family and home.

Any payment due prior to your Citizens policy expiration date, should be paid to Citizens. Your agent is the best source of information if you are unsure of where to send a payment. You may also contact Citizens’ customer service for payment questions. Once you have received a renewal package from one of our carrier partners, payments can be made online at the carrier’s website upon registering your policy and creating a username and password. You may also contact the carriers’ Customer Service Department or your agent for assistance in processing your payment.  Our carrier partners accept all major credit cards and have 4 convenient payment plans available to meet your budgetary needs.

Assumption date refers to the date one of our carrier partners assumes responsibility for managing any losses affecting the insured property. Until you receive a renewal from our carrier partners, you should contact your agent or Citizens for policy changes and payments.

Depending on the type of policy, you may be required to pay a minimum premium, or the premium may be fully "earned." In other instances, if you replaced your coverage with a different company, during the policy term, you may be subject to a "short-rate" penalty. You might also have some premium due for recent changes in coverage.

Replacement Cost is the amount it would take to replace or rebuild your home or repair damage with materials of similar kind and quality without any deduction for depreciation.

The amount of coverage you need depends on what it would cost to replace your home in the event of a total loss. The amount of coverage you purchase for your home can best be determined by a licensed and experienced insurance agent. They will calculate your premium based on the size and building type of your home, your liability protection needs and any endorsements or riders to be added to your policy.

Dwelling coverage (Coverage A) is the portion of your home insurance policy covering the cost of rebuilding /repairing your home in the event it is damaged or lost in a covered peril such as wind, hail, lightening or fire. Separate policies are needed for damages and losses caused by earthquake and flood insurance as these are not covered under standard home insurance policies. The amount of dwelling coverage you should purchase should be enough to cover the cost of rebuilding your home in the event of a complete loss. Do not confuse this amount with the market value of your home, as the market value includes the value of your land. Remember, in the event of a disaster, your land will not be lost, only the buildings standing on it. To determine the replacement value of your home please contact your agent.

You should consider insuring your new home during construction. Otherwise you may be exposing yourself to a great deal of risk if a fire, theft or other event damages or destroys your partially completed home.

The cost of homeowners insurance can vary tremendously depending on the amount of coverage you purchase and the part of the country you live in. The amount of coverage you purchase for your home can best be determined by a licensed and experienced insurance agent. They will calculate your premium based on the size and building type of your home, your liability protection needs and any endorsements or riders needing to be added to your policy.

You will need enough home insurance to cover the cost of the following:

1. The structure of your home: To estimate the amount of insurance you will need to cover the structure of your home please contact your agent.
2. Your personal possessions: To determine the value of your personal possessions and belongings you should perform a home inventory.
3. Additional Living Expenses: In case your home is damaged and you must live somewhere else while repairs are performed you will need coverage for those costs. A home insurance agent can help you determine the amount of additional living expense coverage you may need.
4. Liability: Your liability to others for accidents occurring at your home. A home insurance agent can help you determine the amount of liability coverage you need.

Asking a licensed home insurance agent is always a great way to determine how much home insurance you need. They can help you determine specific coverage levels and discuss appropriate deductibles.

Experts recommend you review your policy each time it comes up for renewal. Additionally, it’s a good idea to reevaluate your coverage as a result of the following situations:

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• Following a home renovation
• When an occupant moves in or out
• After purchasing a high-end luxury item

Homeowners insurance is necessary when you have a mortgage lender, however, should the unthinkable occur, this coverage will provide you peace of mind and financial stability knowing you can rebuild.

Generally, homeowners insurance will cover replacing your home and personal property up to certain limits. Most disasters are covered, but not earthquakes or flooding, and homeowner's policies do not cover the normal aging of your house. Homeowner's insurance also may include liability coverage, which covers personal injuries to other people occurring due to your negligence.

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On the declarations page provided by your agent, and within your policy, you will see the various coverage types identified as follows:

• Coverage A - Dwelling — Pays for damage or destruction to your house and attached structures, such as a screen enclosure or carport.
• Coverage B - Other structures such as a garage, deck or swimming pool.
• Coverage C - Personal Property — Covers the contents of your house, including furniture, clothing and appliances, if they are stolen, damaged, or destroyed.
• Coverage D - Loss of Use — Pays for additional living expenses if your home is uninhabitable due to a covered loss. Most standard Florida Homeowners Insurance policies pay 10% to 20% of the amount of your Dwelling coverage.
• Coverage E - Liability — Protects you against financial loss if you are sued and found legally responsible for someone else's injury or property damage.
• Coverage F - Medical Payments — Covers medical bills for person(s) injured on your property.

Homeowners insurance is an insurance policy protecting you financially in the eventyour home and property are damaged in a covered peril, or in the event of a covered lawsuit. Perils typically covered by a standard home insurance policy include fire, wind, lightning, hail and theft. While no one plans on losing their home or possessions to any of these perils, it unfortunately happens every day. Ask yourself this: If your home was ever destroyed in a fire, for example, how would you pay to rebuild your home? This is where your homeowner's insurance comes in. Homeowners insurance protects the investment you have made in your home by providing you with coverage for specific hazards. But your home insurance doesn't stop there. In the event someone was filing a lawsuit against you for accidental damage you caused to their property, how would you pay for the costly legal fees? Standard homeowners' insurance also contains liability coverage protecting you and your family against lawsuits where another party finds you liable for damage to their property or person. Typically, a standard home insurance policy includes the following coverage:

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Standard Home Insurance Coverages ‍

• Coverage A – Dwelling
• Coverage B – Other Structures on Your Property
• Coverage C – Personal Property/Contents
• Coverage D – Loss of Use
• Coverage E – Personal Liability Protection
• Coverage F – Medical Payments

You will need enough home insurance to cover the cost of the following: The structure of your home: To estimate the amount of insurance you will need to cover the structure of your home use our home insurance calculator. Your personal possessions: To determine the value of your personal possessions and belongings you should perform a home inventory. Additional Living Expenses: In the case your home is damaged and you must live somewhere else while repairs are performed you will need coverage for those costs. A home insurance agent can help you determine the amount of additional living expense coverage you may need. Liability: Your liability to others for accidents occurring at your home. A home insurance agent can help you determine the amount of liability coverage you need. Asking a licensed home insurance agent is always a great way to determine how much home insurance you need. They can help you determine specific coverage levels and discuss appropriate deductibles.

A little preparation goes a long way; and at Windward Risk Managers, we want your coverage plan to fit your needs.  Investing a little of your time making a list of possessions, staying abreast of local building costs, and remembering to meet with your agent annually to review your policy, can help you customize a policy fitting your needs.

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Here are a few things to consider when outlining your coverage plan:

• Have local building costs risen?
• Has your home been remodeled or expanded?
• Do you know what your insurance deductible is?
• Do you have money set aside to cover the deductible if you have a loss?
• Do you have an inventory of your possessions?
• Do you need additional coverage for assets like jewelry, art collections, fur coats or other expensive items?
• Do you need coverage for additional living expenses after a disaster?
• Do you need flood coverage in the event water rises into your home from a lake or storm surge?
• Do you require animal liability protection should your pet injure someone?
• Do you need an umbrella or excess liability policy?

If you own an item of specific value, you can add an endorsement, called ScheduledPersonal Property (SPP), which acts like a mini-insurance policy on the specified and listed item or add Extended Coverage, which increases protection on jewelry, watches and furs (up to an aggregate limit for all of these items together which is specified on your policy). Both provide all-risks coverage (except for a few exclusions). Many people get extra protection on jewelry, cameras, coin and stamp collections, fine arts, furs, golfing equipment, guns, musical instruments, outboard motor boats, and silverware/goldware.

Yes. Inspections are conducted in an effort to identify any possible dangers or risks to the homeowner.  Any issues detected will be communicated to the policyholder and agent to ensure the proper steps are taken to maximize the safety to the homeowner and their family.  Our carrier partners coordinate inspections at no cost to the insured.  In the event an interior inspection is needed, a mutually agreeable time and date will be coordinated with the owner.

In general, a homeowner's policy will have a named insured, which is usually the owner or tenant named on the deed or lease. The named insured's spouse is covered as well, even if he or she is not named on the policy declaration. Other users and residents also may be covered to a lesser extent by the personal propertyand liability provisions in the policy.

The replacement cost of your home is how much it would cost to replace your home and its contents with new materials at current market prices in the event of a loss. Actual cash value (ACV) is the value of your property at the time of a loss. ACV is calculated as the replacement cost minus depreciation.

Replacing your home and your furnishings, clothing and other possessions could be very expensive. Contents replacement cost is a critical part of your homeowners coverage. Why? If your television is stolen, your standard homeowners policy would cover the purchase price less depreciation applied to the stolen set. Under a policy with replacement cost coverage you are covered for the cost to replace the set. You do not have to worry about depreciation or inflation. Most of your personal property may be covered. However, antiques and rare items are subject to the actual cash value provisions of the policy.

Regardless of who is at fault, this coverage pays medical expenses for others accidentally injured on your property. Medical Payments coverage does not apply to you or members of your family who live with you. Like Personal Liability it also does not apply to injuries arising out of the operation of an auto or from activities involving your at-home business.

Your home insurance coverage should match the value of your home. Homeowner's insurance cannot cover the land your home is on, only the structure. This means the insurance amount could be less than the purchase price or loan amount. If you insure your house for $300,000, it’s the most you will get if it is destroyed, even if it would cost more to replace it. The Declarations Page on the front of your policy shows how much coverage you have. Talk with your agent or company representative if you have any questions about your insurance limits.

Regardless of who is at fault, this coverage pays medical expenses for others accidentally injured on your property. Medical Payments coverage does not apply to you or members of your family who live with you. Like Personal Liability it also does not apply to injuries arising out of the operation of an auto or from activities involving your at-home business.