Home Insurance Rating Myths

Waiting to find out your home insurance rating and subsequent premium information can be nerve-racking. The annual or monthly premium amount that you will be charged is so important, it can even mean the difference between buying the home of your dreams and settling for less.

But home insurance rates don’t have to be mysterious and mystical. You can actually get a sense of your potential premium if you know what actually does and doesn’t matter when it comes to premium rating. In order to help you get better acquainted with the rating system, let’s debunk a few myths surrounding home insurance rating.

1. Pets have nothing to do with premium: It’s true that Fluffy, Rover and Goldie may have absolutely no impact on your home insurance rating, but if those names belong to certain breeds of dog, it actually may. Some dogs, with the reputation for extreme owner protectiveness, may be viewed by your home insurance company as a greater potential liability and thus may drive your rates higher.

2. If I’ve had claims, my premiums will rise: Whether you are facing home insurance renewals, or a brand new policy on a new residence, you might automatically assume that your past claims will affect your premiums. In truth, that isn’t always the case. If your past claims indicate that you might be a higher risk due to your lifestyle or behavior, then yes, your rates may be affected. But claims that arise from natural events or incidents you could not prevent or guard against may not affect your rates at all.

3. The claims experience of other homeowners has nothing to do with my rates: Insurance companies must look at you as an individual when underwriting your home insurance policy. They will take into consideration things such as your experience, the age and location of your home and the features of your home (such as swimming pools and outside buildings). In many ways, underwriting a home is like trying to divine the future, and one way to accurately do that is to look at the claims of other homes in the area. While certain owner-specific claims experience isn’t applicable, environmentally prompted claims, as in hurricane or wind damage, can indicate the future claims experience of others in the area.

When planning your home insurance moves and working on budgeting in your premiums, remember that it’s best to deal with concrete facts than hearsay. Contact your agent and talk to him or her about your home insurance rating concerns and let them help you separate fiction from finance-impacting fact.


Let Evans, Ewan & Brady Insurance Agency get you the best rates for your Austin Home Insurance today!

How Your Car's Title Affects Your Insurance Coverage

This could be the world’s shortest blog post if we simply addressed the subject of the title, because the way your car is titled has no affect on the type of auto insurance coverage you need. But we are going to go a step further and tell you why.

An automobile does not need to be owned by a business in order for it to be used for business purposes and, therefore, need commercial auto insurance coverage. Many business owners use their own cars for business-related travel, and even get tax write-offs for wear and tear. The IRS isn’t asking for titles to be in the business’ name because sometimes, a business doesn’t actually need an entire vehicle as an asset.

When you have your personal automobile covered by personal auto insurance only and you use the vehicle for business purposes, then you are flirting with disaster because if you suffer an insurable incident while driving for business purposes, your insurance company can deny the claim.

Commercial auto insurance is designed to protect both personally owned and business-owned vehicles while they are operated on a business basis. Anything from running errands, carrying client property, or travel to meetings can qualify as a business purpose. In addition, it covers the liability created by transporting business or client property.

If you want to get a blended policy that has more flexibility in coverage, you can get one that covers your auto for both personal and business use and includes certain members of your family. This way, you can cover your car for both personal errands such as grocery store runs, and business errands like picking up a client from the airport.

Having the proper insurance is vital in ensuring that you are paying for protection that you will actually be able to utilize. When you have the wrong auto insurance, you are paying for coverage that is likely to result in denied claims and leave you financially exposed and liable out of your personal or business pocket for accidents and injuries. Instead of leaving yourself open to this potential damage, get the right protection on your vehicle and drive with confidence.


Contact us today and be sure you have Austin Car Insurance coverage that fits your needs!

Agent vs Online Quote

Agent vs. Internet—Which One Gets the Best Deal on Auto Insurance?

The internet gives consumers access to multiple insurance quoting systems that can help them save time and money when shopping for auto insurance. Often, consumers assume that these valuable quote algorithms give them access to the same service as a local agent and choose to use them instead of an insurance professional. Unfortunately, this is probably a mistake.

Discovering Opportunities for Discounts

An insurance agent can interact with you, find out about your life and driving habits, and help identify possible discounts that you are qualified to get. This one-on-one contact better allows an agent to ferret out these important discounts, something that an internet algorithm simply can’t do. Each day, insurers are developing new opportunities for discounts including for items like cell phone apps that can be employed while driving to keep a driver’s focus on the road. Online algorithms don’t stand a chance against an agent when it comes to keeping up with these developments.

Reviewing and Understanding Coverage Options

There are many different coverage options that you can choose from when shopping for auto insurance, and each will affect your quote and risk exposure differently. When sitting at home, trying to navigate online quote systems, it can be next to impossible to figure out what coverages you need, what limits to choose and what deductibles are reasonable. Agents can help you go through the coverage options and tweak limits and deductibles so you get a policy that is both affordable and helpful in the event of an accident.

Working with Various Companies

The algorithms you use online for auto insurance quotes have access to a limited and fixed number of insurance companies. This does not give you the broad range of options that your local auto insurance agent will. In addition, because agents work with these companies on a one-on-one basis every day, they know how each company handles its underwriting and this can help get you matched up with a company that is going to get you the best rates for your situation.

Auto insurance is an important and often required coverage to carry. In order to get multiple quotes and the best price for you, there’s no need to rely on websites. Instead, you can get the service of a live and thinking agent who knows how to get you the best deals on insurance and where to put your policy so you can afford the premium.


Be sure you're getting the best deal on your Austin Car Insurance from Evans Ewan & Brady Insurance today!

Austin Car Insurance - Adjusting Your Car Insurance Policy

A car insurance policy is not a static line of coverage. Oh sure, it can be, but it really shouldn’t be. After all your life changes, as do the medical and liability expenses that can accompany an accident.

This means that you must make an effort at least annually to make adjustments to your car insurance policy in order to ensure that it is as effective and accurate as you need it to be.

Annual Car Insurance Adjustments to Consider

Adjust your average annual miles driven: Your insurer needs to know about how many miles you drive per year in order to assess what kind of risk you pose to them. Every year, make sure you report any major changes to them.

Take advantage of applicable discounts: You can get discounts when you add anti-theft devices to your car, such as alarms and steering wheel locking devices. In addition, some apps—like the State Farm iPhone app, Steer Clear—offer drivers discounts when they are downloaded and utilized. And don’t forget the discounts you get for taking defensive driving classes. Every year before you renew, consider which of these discounts you might now qualify for.

Learn more about some of the other things in your current life that could affect  your car policy.

Austin, Texas

Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in the nation from 2000 to 2006. Austin has a population of 790,390 (2010 U.S. Census). The city is the cultural and economic center of the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metropolitan area, with a population of over 1,716,291 (2010 U.S. Census), making it the 35th-largest metropolitan area in the United States.

Evans, Ewan & Brady Insurance Agency, Inc has been serving the needs of Texas drivers since 1928.  There are many options when it comes to car insurance and our agency can help tailor a policy to fit your specific needs. Now is the best time to get your car insurance information to us. Regardless of the renewal date of your current policy, we always recommend you submit your information to us and allow us to comparatively quote your car insurance. Better price is just a click away!

Call us today at (512) 869-1511 for a free Austin car insurance quote.

Understanding the Difference between In-Network and Out of Network

Between deductibles, limits, maximums and co-insurance percentages, it can be pretty challenging to understand all the ins and outs of your health insurance policy. But in order to utilize the policy properly and make health care decisions that your policy affords you coverage for, you need to take the time to understand all of these terms. By far, one of the most confusing concepts is that of in-network and out-of-network providers, but it’s also one of the most important when it comes to choosing health care providers.

In-Network Providers
Your insurance company has worked with a group of medical treatment providers and facilities to deliver treatment to insurance policyholders at a pre-negotiated price. When you see one of these individuals or go to one of these centers, it is considered to be an in-network visit. This entitles you to in-network coverage which will have a lower co-insurance cost and lower overall service price than an out-of-network visit.

Out-of-Network Providers
In some insurance policies, you might have no coverage at all if you see an out-of-network provider unless it’s an emergency and there was no in-network option available. Some policies allow for a reduced co-insurance payment if you see an out-of-network provider.

Find out more about your Round Rock Health Insurance options from Evans, Ewan & Brady today!

Recovering from a Fire

Putting your life together is difficult after any traumatic event, but after a fire it can be especially challenging. Not only will you need to deal with the emotional aftermath of the event, but you also need to organize the belongings that you have which are salvageable while arranging a place for your family to live for as long as it will take to make your home livable again. When you understand all the steps you need to take after a fire BEFORE it happens to you, you might be better prepared to deal with the aftermath. Here is a list to help you in the event that you are affected by a fire.

1. First, make sure you and your family have a safe place to stay. Make sure you have a place to sleep, clothes to wear and a place to bathe. If you need certain medications that you no longer have access to or you need eyeglasses, prosthetics, food or any other basic living essential, contact your local charitable and emergency management organizations like the Red Cross and they should be able to offer you a temporary supply or contact information to a group that can.
2. Notify your loved ones about where you will be so that they know you are in a safe place. Your fire might make the evening news, and leaving your friends and other loved ones to find out about it that way is probably not a good idea. Make some calls and ask others to spread the word for you so that no one in your circle is unduly concerned about your family’s well being.
3. Do not linger on the premises until you get the all-clear from the police and fire department.
4. Call your insurance company to have an adjuster come out as soon as possible. You should do your best to leave the site intact until the adjuster arrives. Do not sort through the rubble or begin any cleanup efforts until after the insurance adjuster has met with you and completed the list of personal effects that are missing or damaged. You should also give your adjuster copies of any pictures you have of your home and contents taken before the fire.

Read the full story. For more details about how to safely handle yourself after a fire, you can visit the U.S. Fire Administration website.

Call us at 512-869-1511 for more details on home insurance in Round Rock, Georgetown or Killeen Texas.

Homeowners Insurance Covers more than Your Home

When many people think of their homeowners insurance policy, they think simply of the actual home itself; of the structure whose roof rests over their head each night. But your homeowners insurance policy, when understood properly, is so much more than just simple protection for your dwelling and attached structures. In fact, it contains many different categories of coverage that you may eventually find useful.

1. Loss of use: Have you ever considered where you would go if there was a fire in your home that made it uninhabitable until repairs were completed? And who would pay for the temporary dwelling you must inhabit? Your homeowners policy, if it has loss of use coverage, would pay for the hotel, apartment or other suitable dwelling you need to run to for safety after an insurable event.
2. Liability: Sure, a pool party sounds like a lot of fun, but you never know whether or not one of your guests might get hurt during a backyard brouhaha. And it isn’t just parties that keep you exposed to injury liability—a neighbor tripping on your walkway or a stray branch falling on someone’s car can also result in a costly claim against you. Your homeowners insurance liability portion can protect your personal finances against these claims.

If you are unsure of all the different items your Round Rock homeowners insurance protects, find out more at Evans, Ewan & Brady today.