TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The start of the year is often a good time to examine your home and car insurance policies and make necessary repairs, according to an insurance professional. <\/p>\n
Carl Fuqua with Fuqua Insurance said right now is also a good time for people to look for better car insurance rates with other companies. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want to get too complacent with one company,\u201d Fuqua said. \u201cYou might want to shop it, especially the first of the year, to see if rates have gotten a little bit better.\u201d <\/p>\n
He said the current competition is beneficial for Florida residents right now. \u201cSeveral major carriers have lower rates compared to what people saw in the last couple years, so shopping for your car insurance can really pay off right now,\u201d Fuqua said. <\/p>\n
As for the home insurance industry, Fuqua said the market \u201cisn\u2019t perfect, but it\u2019s stabilizing.\u201d <\/p>\n
More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n
Depending on the age of your home and your roof, Fuqua said it could be a beneficial time to replace it. \u201cOnce you get a new roof, you can get something done called a wind mitigation certification that can potentially lower your rate significantly,\u201d he said. \u201cI tell people that put off getting a new roof, \u2018You\u2019re paying for the roof in premiums, just go ahead and get the new roof.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Even though we didn\u2019t have hurricanes during the past season, Fuqua said you should still prepare your home and your property. \u201cIt\u2019s much easier to take care of a problem before it becomes a claim, and having a roof with a tree in it is definitely not what you want to have to deal with.\u201d <\/p>\n
When examining your home insurance policy, it\u2019s also important to get clarity on whether or not you have flood insurance. \u201cNot everyone needs it, but if you do need it and water enters your home from rising water, it won\u2019t be covered,\u201d Fuqua said. \u201cStay on top of things so you\u2019re prepared when things are at their worst.\u201d <\/p>\n
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