Deborah Ward – Page 32

Why You Might Not Be Able To Get Homeowner’s Insurance In Clearwater Florida

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Looking for a great home in Clearwater? If you are moving from another state, one with much higher home prices, Florida real estate seems like a bargain investment. The problem comes in after you buy Florida real estate and try and procure homeowner’s insurance to protect your investment from fires, people hurting themselves in your home or theft.

Its not all Sunshine

Let’s face it, while the Sunshine State has plenty of sunshine, it also has some darker sides to it as well. Things like hurricanes that destroy properties, flooding and sinkholes that pop up all over the place. In fact, a few years in a row of rather destructive hurricanes sent many large insurance companies running. They had large losses paying homeowners for claims from the hurricanes. Then they packed up and left.

Smaller insurance companies

Now there are a number of smaller insurers who do insure in Florida. Premiums are high because of the risk involved. The smaller number of companies, along with a state run insurance program, are the only choices. In this case, competition is not keeping prices down, due to the smaller number of companies. Larger companies, who have brand recognition and the ability to spread the risk nationwide, bailed. They are now only 17% of the market in Florida.

How larger companies do it

Larger insurance companies have the ability to keep prices lower because they can have their customers share some of the risk. After Hurricane Isabel in 2003, many homeowners in areas that were not hit as hard found their insurance rates going up. For example, while parts of Maryland were hit hard, and areas like Baltimore City and Annapolis were badly damaged and flooded, other western counties only had minor wind damage.

However, those western customers had their rates raised the next time they renewed their policies… whether they had a claim or not. It may seem unfair, and it is, but it is one way that bigger insurers stay in higher risk areas and keep premiums for those customers reasonable.

Citzens Insurance Company

If you can’t get private insurance and you have a hard time finding a big carrier to insure your home, you can always check out Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Citizens was formed in 2002 from the merger of two other entities to provide both windstorm coverage and general property insurance for home-owners who could not obtain insurance elsewhere. It was established by the Florida Legislature in Section 627.351(6) of Florida Statutes as a not-for-profit insurer of last resort, headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida, and quickly became the largest insurer in the state.(1)

So Florida home prices may not be as high as some other places, and you CAN find insurance, but be prepared to have to look around to find coverage.

If you are thinking about buying a waterfront home in the Clearwater FL area and would like to learn more about some of these and other issues, give Deb Ward a call today! 727-410-0336

Super Neat Tool to Determine Homeowners Insurance Costs for Florida

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Finding the right homeowners insurance for your home can be tricky. Finding it in Florida adds some extra trickiness. Because of the constancy of hurricane season and sinkholes some companies have decided not to insure homes in Florida, but that still leaves a lot of insurers who do. Taking the time to contact each and get quotes is time consuming. How can you be sure that comparing the policy quotes are comparing apples to apples? Now, there is a tool for Florida homeowners that can help.

Different factors involved

The cost of homeowner’s insurance can and will vary depending on a few different factors. One factor is the type of home construction. Not only the style, but the materials. An all wood home will cost more to insure than an all brick or stucco. Another factor is the value of your home. Obviously if your home cost more to buy, it will cost more to insure. Why? Because it will cost more to replace if it is destroyed.

Factors that mitigate the cost

There are ways to lower your bill too. There are factors that will mitigate the cost, such as sprinkler systems, home alarm systems, multi policy discounts and the like. You can also lower your policy by agreeing to higher deductibles. Asking your agent about discounts is smart. The problem is, how many agents are you going to ask?

There is a way to narrow the field

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has a website where you can start getting information on homeowner’s insurance cost. The site allows you to choose the age range and closest value of your home, and county where your home is, and it will provide you with a list of companies and their rates. Then you can choose from the list and call an agent to further narrow the cost with mitigating factors and deductibles.

The site:

https://choices.fldfs.com/pandc/homeowners?_ga=1.177182373.1456784373.1437595413

is easy to use and will save you time and effort. What a win/win!

A History of Clearwater Florida

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Clearwater, Florida is in Pinellas County, Florida, on Tampa Bay. It has a long and interesting history. Its history goes back thousands of years to its original inhabitants and has always been an area that draws people to live and play.

The original inhabitants of the area were the Tocobaga Indians. These Indians lived in villages around Tampa Bay. Evidence of their existence is now found in the communal and ceremonial mounds that have been excavated in the area. While the biggest are found in neighboring Safety Harbor, they have been seen in the entire area.

Spanish explorers were next. They were attracted to the area by the natural mineral springs. In 1528 Panfilo de Narvaez, a Spanish explorer, landed in the area. Hernando de Soto followed in 1539, though de Soto is often credited with the “discovery” of the area. De Soto’s and his men were fascinated by the unspoiled beauty of the area and the mineral springs that the Tocobaga Indians used.

Around 1835 the US Army built Fort Harrison to be used as an outpost during the Seminole Wars. It was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor. It later became part of a development called Harbor Oaks (just the most BEAUTIFUL area to live!). Archeologists excavated the site after Mark Wyllie discovered an ammunition bunker while digging to plant a tree in his yard. Early settlers in the area included the Stevens, Stevenson and McMullen families, who farmed large tracts of land. The area has always been known in some manner as Clearwater, at one point it was Clear Water Harbor. This was probably because of the fresh water spring that flowed near where the present day City Hall building is located.

During the American Civil War, Union gunboats repeatedly raided the city’s supplies. Most here fought for the Confederate Army. Clearwater was incorporated in 1891, and its popularity as a vacation destination grew after railroad magnate Henry B. Plant built a sprawling Victorian resort hotel named Belleview Biltmore just south of Clearwater in 1897. During World War II, Clearwater became a major training base for US troops destined for Europe and the Pacific. Virtually every hotel in the area, including the Belleview Biltmore and the Fort Harrison Hotel, was used as a barracks for new recruits.

Today it is a great area to live, work and vacation!

You Should Ask Your Clearwater Realtor For A Home Evaluation BEFORE You List Your Home!

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Selling your home for exactly what YOU want is a snap, right? After all, you looked up what your neighbors were asking for their homes. You know what you paid for it and what the value REALLY is… or do you? Before you go listing your Clearwater home, you better get a Realtor to evaluate it.

So why is your number most likely too high?

So many reasons! First, your emotional connection to your home will make you almost automatically value it too high. Your emotional attachment has no bearing on price. It can’t be quantified and added into the actual value. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can be objective. You have either good feelings about your home or bad, you don’t have objective ones.

Factors to consider when calculating price

As for what your neighbors listed their homes for, it has no bearing on the value of your home. Seems like it should, but there are too many other factors involved. Let’s list a few of them. Your homes may seem like they are the same size, but square footage of living space can be very different. Is their attic finished? Is yours? Is their garage a garage, or a finished rec room? Have they updated their home? Have you? What amenities do they have? Do they have a pool or spa? Granite counters? New appliances? All of these differences change the value of their home and yours.

What you paid versus current value

The amount you paid for your home also has no bearing on its current value. It certainly will help you figure out your equity, but the value then isn’t the value now. It could be lower or higher, depending on updates and how your area has bounced back from the real estate troubles of the last decade or so.

Call a Realtor

So how do you find out the actual value? Call a Realtor. They know how to value your home and get you the best price possible.

Clearwater Relocation – How To Make Your Move To Florida Easier

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Moving to Clearwater, Florida? Relocating is never an easy thing, but there are easier and less stressful ways to move. Relocating across town can be a pain, so relocating from a long distance is certainly not something people look forward to doing. There are things you should be doing at each step to make moving easier: before your move, and during it.

Research

Before relocating be sure to do some research about your new community. Research things like school systems, crime statistics, health care and cost of living. Use sites like GreatSchools, FBI crime statistics, your health insurance company and other web resources for answers.

Check websites for LOCAL realtors

Then you need to find your new home. Research prices, types available, taxes, homeowners insurance rates and so forth. All of those things will affect your choices and budget. A great place to start is online. Be sure to check websites for LOCAL realtors. National websites have been shown to be inaccurate and unreliable. Your best bet is to immediately go to a local site, then contact a local Realtor. They know their communities much better than a national site ever could.

Stressful things

When moving, there is so much to think about! From the stress on your family from leaving what they know (even your pets!), to hiring a moving company, there is a lot to consider. That moving company? You’ve heard the horror stories. Companies charging fees, then holding property hostage demanding more, or breaking belongings and refusing to take responsibility. Packing yourself? Have you ever done that before? So much to do! There are plenty of places to look for good tips on packing, and renting a one way truck to move yourself is also an option. All of it can make your head spin.

Relocation specialist

So what can you do to make those decisions? Hire a Realtor like Deb Ward. Deb is a relocation specialist and along with helping you find your dream home, she can help you move to it! Give her a call today… 727-410-0336

Why the Heck do You Need Home Inspection When Buying a Home?

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

So why is a home inspection so important? Sometimes getting the home of your dreams is a challenge, and it might seem like a good idea to ensure getting the deal by dispensing with the home inspection. It will give you the edge, right? Maybe, but at what cost?

A Big Investment

Buying a home is the biggest investment any one person will make. Not protecting yourself when making that investment is silly. Unless you know exactly what is right or wrong with a home, giving up the ability to inspect a property before purchase can get you into hot water.

Getting one can mean being able to renegotiate the purchase price of the home, walk away from a problem home and protect your investment in the future.

Start with the Important Stuff

A home inspector will look for a lot of different things. He starts with the important stuff, the structure of the home. A home inspector climbs onto the roof, pokes at the foundation, and crawls into attic space looking for water condensation or penetration from the roof. They look for cracks in walls, ceilings and floors, evidence of mold and any signs of water leakage.

Outside, they look for any place that may allow water to seep into the home. They also look for things like broken glass seals, missing caulking, settlement cracks, loose or missing roofing shingles and flashing.

Plumbing and Electrical Systems

Inside they check all of the plumbing and electrical systems. Is there evidence of leaky pipes? Are sinks and tubs draining adequately? What about water pressure? Does the hot water heater work? If there is a sump pump, is it working? Is there a filtration or water softening system and does it work? Should there be a filtration or water softening system?

All the electrical components are examined to ensure they fit and are operating safely. Are there ungrounded outlets or switches? Is the electrical panel adequate for the size of the home and is it up to date? Are there working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?

Other Systems

Other systems like the heating and air conditioning working properly? Is the home adequately insulated and ventilated? The systems in the home can be expensive fixes if not working properly.

Don’t waive the home inspection. It could be a big mistake.