Why You Should Understand Your Homeowner’s Insurance Before Storm Season

Most homeowners don’t think about their insurance until something goes wrong. The problem is that storms, hail, and roof leaks bring enough stress on their own. The last thing you want is to learn the details of your policy in the middle of an emergency. Taking a little time now to understand your homeowner’s insurance can save you money and a lot of frustration later.

Know Your Deductible

Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket on a claim. Many homeowners in Texas have a separate wind and hail deductible, and it can be a percentage of your home’s insured value instead of a flat amount. That means your deductible could be several thousand dollars.

A few things to check:

• Do you have a wind or hail deductible?

• Is it a dollar amount or a percentage?

• Do you know what that number would be if you had damage today?

It’s also important to know how deductibles actually work during a roof claim. In Texas, you pay your deductible directly to your contractor as part of the replacement cost. One key thing every homeowner should know: Texas law requires you to pay your deductible. Contractors cannot waive or absorb it. Any contractor offering to do so is breaking the law and will put you at risk of claim denial or insurance fraud.

ACV vs RCV: Why It Matters for Your Roof

One of the biggest factors in your out of pocket cost is whether your policy is ACV or RCV.

Actual Cash Value (ACV) policies only pay what your roof is worth today after depreciation. An older roof means lower value. The insurance company subtracts that depreciation and homeowners often end up paying a large portion of the replacement cost themselves.

Replacement Cost Value (RCV) policies cover the full cost of replacing your roof with new materials, minus your deductible. There is no depreciation taken out. You get more coverage and usually pay less during a claim.

If you’re not sure which one you have, check your declarations page or call your agent. This detail makes a huge difference when it comes to storm damage.

Review Your Coverage Before the Weather Turns

Texas weather can shift fast, and once a storm hits, the claims process gets busy.

Reviewing your policy beforehand helps you:

• Understand your deductible

• Confirm if you have ACV or RCV

• Check for any exclusions

• Know what documentation you should keep

• Avoid surprise costs

Storm claims go much smoother when you already know what your policy covers.

Protect Your Home and Your Wallet

As a roofing company, we see homeowners every year who are caught off guard by deductibles, ACV coverage, or exclusions they didn’t know about. A quick policy review now can save you thousands later.

If you ever need a roof inspection or want help understanding storm damage and how it relates to your insurance, call us at 512-354-9254. We help homeowners across the Austin area stay prepared before the next storm rolls in.