Home Insurance
Your home may be your single greatest investment. We want to make sure you are protected. We can insure a single family home, condominium unit, mobile home, duplex, triplex, 4plex, and virtually any kind of residential dwelling. We insure homes that are owner occupied, tenant occupied, vacant and under construction.
Having a hard time finding coverage for your property because of age, claims history, exposure to brushi fire zoning? No problem! We are appointed with many insurance companies, and will find you coverage no matter what your situation is.
We can even provide coverage if you have a wood shake roof, an unacceptable dog breed, a trampoline, or more!
Contact us now for a quote!
Hayek Insurance
3205 Old Conejo Rd, 2nd Floor
Newbury Park, CA 91320
(805) 496-8835
Fax (805) 496-8572
info @ hayekinsurance.com
California Department of Insurance 0F09609
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my home insurance cover mold?
Technically, no, but the ensuing water damage may be. Our case history illustrates a situation involving a plumbing leak within a raised foundation. The insurance company was denying coverage, because mold was present, and it was deemed a "wear and tear" issue. However, upon discussing the case with our adjuster, we were able to have them agree to pay for the cost to access the broken pipe. After all, it is their responsibility to perform discovery, and determine the cause of loss. Ultimately, much of the claim was covered, simply by understanding the contract language, and asking the right questions.
Need help with your claim? Call Now! We'll walk you through the process and offer advice at no charge! 800 860 8835
Actual Cash Value v. Replacement Cost.
If you suffer a water leak and your insurance company has agreed to pay for the damage, you must consider how they funds will be allocated. If you decide not to rebuild, you may not receive nearly as much as you would if you did. As an example, a small area of your wood floor is damaged, but you can live with it, and opt for collecting your settlement and not rebuilding. You may have just missed out on a substantial amount of compensation! Unless you actually rebuild, you will only be compensated for the actual cash value (depreciated), and not necessarily compensated for all the work that my result from actually removing and replacing the floors- like the baseboards, and the walls, and the recoverable depreciation when you discover that the cost of the job was a lot higher than estimated.
If you need help with your claim, call us now! We will guide you even if you're not a current client.
Finding Insurance for a home in a brush zone or fire zone
If you own or are purchasing a home in a brush zone or high fire zone, expect to pay more for your home insurance, and also be prepared to have insurance with the California Fair Plan, and/or a non admitted insurance company like Lloyds of London. Being close to the brush zone is a lifelong problem, but having the peace and tranquility of a private lot, may be worth the difference. If you're having trouble finding insurance, give us a call. We can help!
How do insurance companies establish their Base Premium Rates for Fire, Wind/Hail ,Theft, Water, Other and liability?
Factors to determine base rates are location, age of home, construction material, roof type, burglar and fire alarm systems, presence of smoke detectors, fire sprinklers, swimming pools, spas, trampolines, pets, brush proximity and more specifically the fire line score. There are others, but these are the main drivers. Some factors can be altered to reduce costs (get rid of the trampoline, change your wood shake roof to tile...) while others cannot not be helped (proximity to brush).
What are the factors that make dwelling rates so expensive?
If you've ever had even minor work done by contractors, the costs can escalate quickly. Ground up construction may include debris removal, permits, building ordinance compliance, etc. Many of our home policies however, will include an extended replacement cost endorsement of 125% or 150%, which means the maximum payable is 25% or 50% more than the dwelling amount selected. The cost difference for the higher amount of dwelling coverage can be offset by a higher deductible. I always recommend having a sufficient amount of dwelling coverage. to avoid being uninsured. Check with some contractors about ground up construction. It costs more than you think
Why do my zip code rates for fire, wind, hail or water differ from other homes in different zip codes?
Often insurance companies consider and weigh certain characteristics differently compared to their competitors which can cause differences in rates. If you think your insurance company has higher than necessary rates, we would be happy to find you the best coverage as we represent a dozen insurance companies like Travelers, Safeco, Civil Service Employees, Progressive, etc.
Why are fire and liability established rates higher for older houses if no claims are filed?
Older plumbing and electrical systems pose a higher risk. Present proof that the systems have been completely replaced, and you'll see substantial credits
Why have the dwelling rates in 2019 increased 4.3% despite cost per square feet to build a home decreasing from 2018 to 2019?
Cost per square feet may have decreased, but the price of most factors, such as labor and material, have increased explaining the rise in dwelling rates. In addition, the insurance companies paid out tons in fire claims- they're trying to recoup their losses with rate increases.
Home insurance companies are re-evaluating their fire line scores, which means that some homes that were insurable in the past, may no be considered in a high fire zone. Call now to discuss. Fire Line Scores