SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Our windy weather the last couple of days might have you thinking about storm season and making sure you’re protected.
Stormy weather can sometimes feel like it happens in the blink of an eye and all of a sudden you’re scrambling to get your family, home and car to safety.
Ryan Reiner, an insurance agent with State Farm, says it’s important to have a plan to reduce damage and lessen costs.
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“You know, do you have dead branches cut off your houses, you know, is there any hanging over your roofs? Do you have your garages cleaned out so you can get your cars parked in the garage? You know, bringing inside your patio furniture or laying down an umbrella so it doesn’t get caught in the wind,” Reiner said. “Just some quick things you can do to help prevent a loss. Nobody wants to have a claim. Nobody wants to have strangers come and fix your roof on your house or not have a car for a couple weeks as the hail damage is getting fixed.”
When it comes to covering the roof on your home, Reiner says they are seeing a lot of the industry going towards actual cash value on the roof.
“So what that means is you’d get paid replacement costs minus the usefulness life of your roof. So your depreciation,” Reiner said. “So if your roof is 20 years old, they might say you’ve used half the value of your roof or even ten years — so say it’s a thirty-thousand dollar roof, you’d get paid $15,000 minus your deductible.”
Finding the right coverage fit for you and your family starts with a conversation.
“We’re blessed here in South Dakota, we have a lot of great agents, great local agents,” Reiner said. “I’d really recommend you go sit down with your agent, find out what’s covered, what’s not covered.”
Reiner says having impact-resistant shingles is another way you can prevent a claim and you could even qualify for a discount on your homeowner’s insurance if you have them.
