FAQs

Yes. Bundling home and auto with the same carrier typically saves 10–25% versus buying separately, and many carriers stack additional discounts for adding umbrella, life, or condo to the same household. Because we represent multiple A-rated carriers, we compare bundle discounts side-by-side and quote the combination that delivers the best total value. Sometimes a “split” placement (one carrier

Your deductible is what you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Raising your deductible from $1,000 to $2,500 typically reduces premium 10–20%, and going to $5,000 can save 20–30%. The trade-off: you’re self-insuring smaller losses. A few considerations: Hurricane, wind, and hail deductibles are often percentage-based (1–5% of dwelling coverage) and apply only to those perils. A $500,000

Yes. A standard policy covers your personal property “off-premises” anywhere in the world — in your car, on vacation, at work, or at college (for dependent students). A few things to know: Off-premises limits are usually 10% of your personal-property coverage. If you have $100,000 personal property, you have $10,000 off-premises. High-value laptops, cameras, and jewelry often exceed this. Theft

There are three different “values” homeowners often confuse, and only one is the right answer for insurance: Replacement cost — what it would cost to rebuild your home today, with current materials and labor. This is what your dwelling coverage should be set to. Market value — what the home would sell for. Usually higher than replacement cost because it includes the

Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. In the DC metro, flood risk varies by neighborhood — properties near the Potomac, Anacostia, Rock Creek, and Patuxent watersheds have meaningful exposure, and FEMA flood zones change over time. Even outside designated high-risk zones, roughly 25% of NFIP flood claims come from low- or moderate-risk areas, often from heavy rain

A standard HO-3 homeowners policy (the most common) covers six main areas: Dwelling — the structure of your home Other structures — detached garage, fence, shed, pool Personal property — your belongings (furniture, electronics, clothing) Loss of use — additional living expenses if you can’t occupy your home after a covered loss Personal liability — injuries on your property or damage you cause to

In most cases, an at-fault accident or moving violation will increase your premium for 3–5 years, depending on the carrier and severity. A DUI can increase rates 50–100% or more, and some carriers won’t write a new policy with a DUI in the past 3–5 years. The advantage of working with an independent agency: because we represent multiple

Most personal auto policies extend coverage to any vehicle you drive with the owner’s permission, including rental cars — but with limits: Liability typically follows you, so you have coverage for damage you cause. Collision and comprehensive on the borrowed vehicle generally only apply if you carry those on at least one vehicle on your own policy. Your limits are the

Because we’re independent and represent multiple A-rated carriers, we compare available discounts across companies — and which combinations produce the lowest total premium varies by driver and vehicle. Common auto discounts include: Multi-policy bundle (home + auto, condo + auto, renters + auto): typically 10–25% Multi-vehicle: 10–20% for two or more cars on the same policy Safe driver / claims-free: rewards 3–5+

Yes - in all three jurisdictions, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is required by law at the same limits as your liability coverage, and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is also required in Maryland and Virginia. Even where it’s required, the legal minimums are usually too low. A serious accident caused by an uninsured driver can leave you covering medical