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Jackie Colson-Miller

Jackie Colson-Miller
Direct - (813)629-5757
Toni Everett Company
5000 Bayshore Blvd
Tampa, FL 33611
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'Hurricane Preparedness'

        

Do You Need Flood Insurance in The Tampa Real Estate Market?

Filed under: Flood Insurance, Flood Zones in Tampa, Historic Tampa, Hurricane Preparedness, Moving to Tampa, Real Estate News, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

The Latest News on Moving to Tampa, Living in Tampa, or Buying Real Estate anywhere in the World…every day on The Real Estate Sizzle…

We are in Hurricane Season in Florida. Though Tampa has not been hit by a MAJOR storm in many years, we still need to prepare when a storm heads into the Gulf of Mexico.

One of the first questions every Homebuyer asks me, when they are moving to Tampa, is Do I Need Flood Insurance? The answer: YES. While a mortgage company may Bayshore_floodonly REQUIRE a homeowner to carry flood insurance in certain flood zones, , here are some facts every homeowner should know. Just a glimpse of flooded Bayshore Boulevard, where my office is located, tells the story

1.One in Four flood claims, are in a low -moderate risk zone! Chances are good that nearly 25% of those homeowners did not have flood insurance because it was not REQUIRED by their lenders.

2. A car can be swept away by just 2 feet of water!

3. Flash floods occur in all 50 states! Look at the tragedy of the flooding in Iowa and other midwestern states recently. Many of them had no insurance because the risk of flooding was very low.

4. Homeowners Insurance generally will not cover rising water . That coverage requires a separate flood insurance policy.

5. You must add contents coverage to a flood insurance policy, if you want your belongings to be covered.

6. Premiums in low-risk areas are very reasonable, but damage from a flood is costlydo you want to take that chance?

7. It takes 30 days for insurance to take effect, so do not wait until a storm is coming to call your insurance agent.

For more infomation on Flood Insurance, visit FloodSmart.gov.

If you enjoyed this article, you may want to read my series on Hurricane Preparedness:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

If you are buying a condominium, most of your insurance on the building is generally covered under your Monthly Maintenance Fees.

For information on the Tampa Real Estate Market, or any neighborhood in Tampa, please call me at 813.629.5757 or send me an email!

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   1 Comment »   |   06.30.2008

What Is THE Most Important Thing To Have During Hurricane Season? Tampa Real Estate Market News

Filed under: Buying a House in Tampa, Clearwater Beach Real Estate, Davis Islands Real Estate, Flood Insurance, Flood Zones in Tampa, Florida Real Estate, Hurricane Preparedness, Tampa MLS Listings, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Waterfront Homes in Tampa

Hurricane Season opens this week and Tampa homeowners will begin the annual purchase of flashlights, batteries, canned goods, duct tape and bottled water. Hopefully, we wont need to use ANY of them and we will escape another Hurricane Season unscathed! So, you have your hurricane box stashed in the garage and you THINK you are ready??

Think againthe single, most important thing, that every homeowner should have is a Home Inventoryan itemized list of everything (and its value) in your home!

You can read my thoughts on Hurricane Readiness in some of my earlier articles:

Why You Need a Home Inventory

What is Storm Surge and How Will it Affect My Home in Tampa?

Do I Need Flood Insurance?

Moving to Tampa? Do you have questions about Storms, or Insurance? What neighborhoods are safest in a storm? Where are the best School Districts? Send me an email!

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   1 Comment »   |   06.01.2008

Homeowner’s Insurance in Tampa…Are Your Rates Going Up…or Down?

Filed under: Flood Insurance, Flood Zones in Tampa, Florida Real Estate, Hurricane Preparedness, Insurance, Real Estate News, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Market

THE LATEST NEWS ON TAMPA REAL ESTATE, AND REAL ESTATE AROUND THE WORLD, EVERY DAY, ON THE REAL ESTATE SIZZLE…

If you are buying a home in Tampa, you will need to inquire about Homeowner’s Insurance Rates, and, possibly, flood insurance. An article in today’s Tampa Tribune details how homeowner’s may be affected with the ever-changing insurance rates.

So far this year, Florida has not experienced a tropical storm, or hurricane…very good news. Let’s see how that news may affect insurance in the State of Florida.

Here are some of my earlier articles on Storms and Insurance.

Do I Need Flood Insurance?

What is Storm Surge and How Will it Affect My Home in Tampa?

If you are buying a home in Tampa, or anywhere in the World, I can help. Contact me!

Tampa Neighborhoods including, South Tampa, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Arbor Greene, Hunter’s Green, Waterfront Homes in Tampa, Luxury Home Specialist, International Real Estate Specialist.

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   10.03.2007

Hurricane Preparedness….Part 3

Filed under: Florida Real Estate, Hurricane Preparedness, Project Blogger, Real Estate News, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Real Estate

8. BOOK A HOTEL EARLY

If you are planning to evacuate, you need to plan ahead. Every county has shelters available, so that is always an option.

I start watching the storm early on and scout out 2 or 3 possible locations away from the storm. I have pets, so I need to stay in Pet-friendly hotels. The Amerisuites chain is always my first choice. They are pet-friendly and kid-friendly! I book rooms in several places for 7 10 days and then make adjustments for time and location as the storm approaches. By the time the storm is 3 days out, most of the hotel rooms in the state are already gone.

9. PETS

Have travel supplies ready for your pet, too. I have a cat and a sweet, Ab_beylittle Yorkie who only barks when she is in a strange place, like a hotel room. A barking dog in a hotel is not very welcome, so she has a muzzle. She can drink while she is wearing it, but she doesnt bark and she wont disturb anyone.

8. LEAVE EARLY

I evacuate before the roads get busy, usually the day before anyone starts to panic.

10. TAKE YOUR YELLOW PAGES WITH YOUYellow-pages

After the storm, you may need a Restoration Company, Pool Clean-up, Electricians, Rug Cleaners, etc.

11. CONSIDER BUYING A GENERATOR

If your area is prone to storms and electrical outages, you make consider buying a portable generator. There are many sizes and models available, so it is best to consult with your electrician to see what size you need for the size of your home.

I hope you have found my series on Hurricane Preparedness helpful. If you have any other ideas, please leave a comment!

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   05.11.2007

Hurricane Preparedness…Part 2

Filed under: Florida Real Estate, Hurricane Preparedness, Insurance, Project Blogger, Real Estate News, Tampa

If you havent already seen it, please read Part 1 of my Hurricane GuideThe Insiders Guide to Hurricane Preparedness.

5. If you have a pool, drain it about 12 inches. Otherwise, your pool will overflow and contribute to the flooding!

6. GET WATER,CASH, GAS, NON-PERISHABLE FOOD and BE PREPARED FOR NO ELECTRICITY FOR 1 2 WEEKS OR MORE

The guides really underestimate how soon things will be back to normal. Banks, ATM machines, Gas Stations, Stores and Restaurants will be closed until there is electricity. I served food in a temporary St_ormkitchen in Arcadia after Hurricane Charley. It was the only food available in town and I met several local Real Estate agents who has no where else to eat. That was one week after the storm hit and some of the roads were still impassable. It was a humbling experience, but it gave me a glimpse of a real-life disaster.

Your power lines may be down, so have at least one phone in your home that uses a phone line, but not electricity. Have surge protectors on all of your electronics and appliances. The ideal is to have a surge protector on your Electrical Box. My electrician installed one for me, but some of the Electric Companies offer one, as well. Even some minor winds can cause electrical outages and fires.

7. MAKE PLASTIC BINS YOUR BEST FRIENDSBi_ns

Keep all of your photo albums and irreplaceable things in plastic bins with covers. It makes it easy to get them out of harms way or take them with you. During the summer of 2004, I rented a storage facility and left all of my art and photographs there for the entire hurricane season.

Stay tuned for “Part 3″ tomorrow…

Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   05.10.2007