- Been through this with a wind claim a couple years back. Percentage-based deductible was locked in—no wiggle room, even when I tried to negotiate.
-
100% agree. The sticker shock is real, but at least you know what you’re facing up front.“It’s a pain, but it beats finding out after the fact.”
- Only “flexibility” I saw was if you had endorsements or special riders, but that’s gotta be set before the storm hits.
- Honestly, insurers don’t budge much once the contract’s signed. Not fun, but at least there aren’t surprises... just big bills.
That “no wiggle room” thing is spot on. I tried to push back on a wind deductible a few years ago—no dice, even though I’d been with the same company forever. They just pointed at the paperwork and shrugged. I get why they do it, but it’s still a gut punch when you see that percentage applied to your home’s value.
“Only ‘flexibility’ I saw was if you had endorsements or special riders, but that’s gotta be set before the storm hits.”
This is key. If anyone’s reading and hasn’t checked their policy in a while, now’s the time. I learned the hard way that you can’t add or change coverage once there’s a named storm out there. It’s frustrating, but at least you know what you’re up against.
One thing I’d add: sometimes agents will quietly suggest higher deductibles to keep premiums down, but they don’t always spell out what that means in real dollars after a loss. It’s worth running the numbers yourself before you sign anything. Not fun, but better than sticker shock later.
“It’s worth running the numbers yourself before you sign anything. Not fun, but better than sticker shock later.”
That’s the truth. I learned that lesson after Hurricane Irma—my deductible was way higher than I realized, and it wiped out my emergency fund. I wish agents would be more upfront about what those percentages actually mean in dollars. It’s easy to get caught up in saving on premiums, but the trade-off can sting when you need it most.
- Not sure I totally agree with “saving on premiums” being the main culprit.
-
“It’s easy to get caught up in saving on premiums, but the trade-off can sting when you need it most.”
- Sometimes, the real issue is the roof itself. After Irma, my neighbor’s metal roof barely needed repairs, while my asphalt shingles were a mess—insurance or not, that was a huge difference in out-of-pocket costs.
- Upgrading to impact-resistant materials might cost more upfront, but it can mean lower deductibles and less damage long-term.
- Just something to consider before focusing only on the insurance numbers.
Upgrading to impact-resistant materials might cost more upfront, but it can mean lower deductibles and less damage long-term.
That’s been my experience too. I get why people focus on premiums, but honestly, after a couple of bad hailstorms, I started thinking more about what my roof could actually handle. Metal was pricier at first, but my neighbor’s asphalt shingles were shredded while mine barely had a scratch. Insurance only goes so far if you’re constantly patching things up. If you’re in a storm-prone area, the math changes pretty quick.
