admin | Blog | City Centre Insurance Agency

Power Outages and Home Insurance: What’s Really Covered?

Posted on June 30, 2025June 24, 2025 by admin

Texas has experienced 31 power outages lasting an average of 740 minutes (12 hours and 20 minutes) so far in 2025. This marks the second-highest number of power outage events and the longest average duration in the country. With frequent and prolonged outages, you may wonder if home insurance covers these situations. Agents at City Centre Insurance Agency LLC have uncovered the answer.

Does Home Insurance Reimburse You After a Power Outage in Houston, TX?

Many people assume their insurance company will compensate them after providing proof of a power outage, but that’s not always the case. Home insurance policies are selective about what they cover. Common coverage includes:

Food Spoilage

Most insurance carriers offer coverage to replace spoiled food caused by a power outage. The average reimbursement is $500, although this amount can vary depending on the policy; however, the cause of the power outage is a factor. Events like high winds, fires, snow, ice storms, and lightning strikes are typically eligible. On the other hand, outages caused by a blown transformer, electrical grid failure, water-related events, utility shutoff notices, or a broken refrigerator are not covered.

Frozen Pipes and Pipe Bursts

Winter power outages can cause water to freeze, expand, and burst inside pipes. Home insurance often covers the cost of repairing or replacing damaged pipes. However, coverage may not apply to aging pipes, vacant homes, or cases of negligence.

Other coverage possibilities include:

Damaged electronics caused by a lightning strike
Living arrangement costs if the home becomes uninhabitable
Storm-related damage that leads to an evacuation order

If your current carrier doesn’t offer adequate coverage, let City Centre Insurance Agency LLC review your policy. Our agents can discuss home insurance coverage during power outages and present matching policies to help you find the best options. You decide whether to add coverage or switch providers, and we’ll support your decision. Contact our Houston, TX office for more information on home insurance.

Types of Auto Insurance for Business Owners in Houston

Posted on May 30, 2025May 28, 2025 by admin

As a business owner in Texas, it’s crucial to provide adequate coverage for your entity, whether you offer local services to a small clientele or are expanding regionally. From using vehicles for operations to providing retail goods, understanding which insurance policies are best for your current and future ventures is essential. At City Centre Insurance Agency LLC, we assist business owners throughout Houston, TX, in determining which types of auto insurance policies are right for them year-round.

Types of Commercial Auto Insurance in Texas

When managing a business in Texas, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the various types of commercial auto insurance available, such as:

Mandatory Liability Coverage: Mandatory liability coverage protects against bodily injury and property damage involving your business or a commercial entity. State minimum requirements mandate you to hold a policy that provides a minimum of $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and at least $25,000 for potential property damage.
Physical Damage: This coverage includes collisions and provides comprehensive protection for non-collision issues, such as vandalism, theft, and natural disasters (in some cases).
PIP/Personal Injury Protection/Medical Payments: This insurance covers medical expenses for both drivers and passengers, regardless of who is at fault.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Offers protection for those involved in an accident with another driver who is not currently insured.

The more familiar you are with auto insurance options available for commercial business owners in Texas, the easier it will be for you to find policies that reflect your operations and coverage needs. If you’re starting a new business in Houston, TX, don’t leave your insurance up to chance. To eliminate the guesswork involved in finding the best policies for your needs, contact City Centre Insurance Agency LLC for more information and for your individualized consultation with professionals you can trust and rely on today.

What Types of Businesses Can Benefit from Short-Term Liability Insurance?

Posted on April 30, 2025April 23, 2025 by admin

Owning a business requires more than knowledge of your products, services, and customer base. If you’re located in Houston, TX, obtaining the right short-term liability insurance may be necessary, depending on your particular industry. At City Centre Insurance Agency LLC, we’ll work with you to find and build a policy that reflects your exact needs year-round.

When is Short-Term Liability Insurance Recommended?

Although most individuals and business owners may not need short-term liability insurance year-round, there are a few exceptions when it is necessary. Short-term liability insurance can be helpful during special events, short-term contracts, or high-risk projects. Reviewing short-term liability options with your preferred agency is ideal to ensure you’re optimally covered.

What Does Short-Term Liability Coverage Protect?

Short-term liability insurance can protect you from property damage, legal fees, and third-party bodily injuries that are not covered by standard business insurance. Short-term liability coverage is commonly referred to as general liability insurance.

Types of Businesses That Benefit From Short-Term Liability Coverage

For those living and working in Houston, the following business types may benefit from short-term liability coverage:

Freelancers: Protects against property damage and/or lawsuits
Contractors: Working in plumbing, HVAC, or electrical work requires additional coverage by building owners and general contractors.
Vendors and Event Planners: Coverage for property damage and potential guest injuries when planning and/or hosting events.
Food Truck Owners: Permits access to venues (that require permits).
Artists: Protects against property damage, especially when work is shared in a public space.

Understanding which businesses may benefit from short-term liability insurance is crucial for anyone managing a venture in Houston, TX. If you’re in Houston and want to optimize your coverage, speaking with an agent you can trust is always a good idea. To learn more about short-term liability and when it’s ideal for businesses in Houston, contact City Centre Insurance Agency LLC today.

Reasons to Update Your Life Insurance Policy After Relocating

Posted on March 28, 2025March 26, 2025 by admin

Embarking on a new journey by moving to a new home is thrilling, yet it comes with an extensive checklist. While tasks like updating your address and setting up utilities are apparent, one crucial step that often gets missed is reassessing your life insurance policy. At City Centre Insurance Agency LLC in Houston, TX, we assist individuals and families in aligning their coverage with their new circumstances.

Changes in Coverage Needs

Relocation can influence your financial situation. If you’ve acquired a larger home or assumed a bigger mortgage, you may need to enhance your life insurance coverage to shield your loved ones from potential financial burden. Conversely, if you’ve downsized, you might contemplate adjusting your policy to match.

Variations in Cost of Living

The cost of living fluctuates from one location to another, impacting everything from housing expenses to healthcare costs. If you relocate to an area with a higher cost of living, your family may require additional coverage to sustain their current lifestyle if something were to happen to you.

Regulations Specific to States

Insurance laws and tax implications vary by state, which could affect your policy. Some states have distinct rules regarding beneficiary designations, estate taxes, and policy payouts. Reassessing your policy ensures you remain compliant and that your loved ones receive the benefits you planned.

Revise Beneficiaries and Contact Information

Relocating is an excellent opportunity to reassess your beneficiaries and make any necessary revisions. Also, ensure your insurance provider has your updated contact information to avoid missing crucial policy updates or billing notices.

If you’ve recently relocated, now is the ideal time to reassess your life insurance policy. Contact City Centre Insurance Agency LLC in Houston, TX, today to ensure your coverage aligns with your new needs.

Health Insurance – Family Coverage Guidelines

Posted on February 28, 2025February 25, 2025 by admin

Are you prepared to handle a medical emergency? Not having adequate health insurance could be detrimental. Consider your family’s needs, and then research health insurance policies that provide coverage for each family member.

Existing Conditions

Consider existing medical conditions that will require recurring healthcare services. If you are currently responsible for out-of-pocket costs, you may eventually encounter a situation in which you won’t be able to afford care services. Medical bills can accumulate quickly, causing great financial distress. A family care plan that includes coverage for existing conditions may provide the relief you need.

Future Medical Care Needs

Even if you and your family are not currently facing any health issues, this may not be the case in the future. As you and your loved ones get older, medical care needs may change.

If a concern such as aging has come to mind, obtaining a family care plan may be beneficial now. A family care plan will provide adequate coverage for any medical needs that arise when you least expect them.

Family Composition Changes

If you expand your family, your family’s healthcare needs will change. Adding a new baby to your family will increase the amount of medical services that need to be provided. Right now is a good time to pursue health insurance coverage that will suit the changes your family will go through in the future.

Get An Insurance Agent’s Guidance

Are you ready to compare family health plans? Give one of our agents who serve Houston, TX a call. An insurance agent from City Centre Insurance Agency LLC will ask you some questions about your family’s current and future medical needs. The agent will advise you and prepare your family health insurance policy.

What is Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability?

Posted on January 31, 2025January 29, 2025 by admin

A component of commercial insurance that is often overlooked is Directors and Officers (D&O) liability insurance. While it may seem unnecessary, it’s extremely beneficial when needed. Managing an organization involves a lot of work, and having directors and officers who fail to meet requirements or face false claims will need coverage. If you’re considering including this in your commercial insurance policy in Houston, TX, our City Centre Insurance Agency LLC agents can assist.

Understanding D&O Liability Coverage

D&O liability covers claims such as mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentation, and employment practices. These policies also include regulatory violations. Incorporating these into an insurance plan is important, as the policy can help cover legal defense costs, settlements, and regulatory investigation expenses.

Exclusions From D&O Insurance

D&O insurance often has an exclusion list that you should be aware of. They often will not cover any illegal acts, such as criminal activity or fraud. They also will not cover gains obtained illegally. Any wrongful acts will also not be covered under D&O insurance policies. Understanding your policy’s limitations is essential, as you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are expecting coverage and don’t have it.

How We Can Assist

D&O insurance coverage is complex and often varies depending on the provider. You should discuss terms with a qualified agent to ensure that you’re getting what you need. At City Centre Insurance Agency LLC, we’re here to help. If you live in the Houston, TX, area, we’re ready to assist you and guide you through your different policy options.

Insurance Coverage You May Need While Installing a Residential Deck

Posted on December 31, 2024January 4, 2025 by admin

Securing the right insurance coverage is crucial before starting a residential deck installation project. When updating your home insurance policy, keep the following details in mind.

Planning Your Residential Deck Project

Installing a residential deck increases your living space and enhances your home’s overall value. Before you update your home insurance policy, prepare detailed plans for the deck installation.

Make a list of the deck materials and tools you’ll be using for the construction. Consider how often you’ll use the deck and note down the types of items that will be stored on it. Plan the layout of the deck’s entryway. All these planning processes should be reviewed when you’re ready to update your home insurance to cover the decking materials.

Liability Protection

Liability protection is a type of insurance that covers you during the deck installation. It provides protection in case someone gets injured while the deck is being installed or if personal property is damaged during the installation. When seeking a liability insurance plan, consider the complexity of the decking project. A complex deck project requiring many steps may need more liability protection than a basic deck installation project.

Material and Tool Coverage

Personal possession coverage will protect the decking materials and tools you’ll use to complete the project. It also protects against vandalism, theft, and damage from natural disasters.

Contact an Agent in Houston, TX

Contact an agent from City Centre Insurance Agency LLC to discuss your deck project. An agent will advise you on the types of home insurance coverage suitable for your project.

How Is Comprehensive Auto Insurance Different From Full Coverage Auto Insurance?

Posted on November 27, 2024November 26, 2024 by admin

If you drive a car, then you need to have insurance. Almost all states require basic liability auto insurance. As a driver, you may opt to get a few optional auto insurance types. In this article, we’ll review comprehensive and full-coverage auto insurance.

Comprehensive auto insurance is optional and can supplement your basic liability insurance. Full coverage auto insurance is a type of insurance policy that includes many insurance types, including liability and comprehensive auto insurance. The professionals at City Centre Insurance Agency LLC, servicing Houston, TX, can help you determine which type is right for you. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Comprehensive Auto Insurance?

Comprehensive auto insurance is a type of auto insurance that will pay to repair or replace damage to your vehicle that is not caused by a collision. An example of this would be if your car burned up in a wildfire. Under these circumstances, comprehensive auto insurance would pay to repair or replace your vehicle. Comprehensive auto insurance can also pay to replace your vehicle if it is stolen.

What Is Full Coverage Auto Insurance?

Full coverage auto insurance is a type of auto insurance that includes basically all types of auto insurance policies, including basic liability and comprehensive auto insurance. It will pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision, no matter who is at fault.

Full coverage auto insurance will also pay to repair or replace a damaged vehicle if you cause a collision. It also includes all the protections that come with comprehensive auto insurance (described above).

Are you not sure which type of auto insurance is right for you? Contact the professionals at City Centre Insurance Agency LLC, servicing Houston, TX. We can help!

Situations That Warrant Short-Term Liability Protection

Posted on October 28, 2024October 25, 2024 by admin

Short-term liability insurance offers adequate protection when conducting scheduled services that won’t take long to complete. Consider some situations that warrant carrying this type of insurance coverage.

Contractor Jobs

A business contractor typically handles jobs of varying levels of complexity. Each job may not take long. The circumstances of an independent contractor’s work may change so often that their insurance needs to change, too.

Obtaining short-term liability protection offers contractors a flexible way to customize the insurance coverage that is needed. They can base the coverage on the actual job they will be performing and the type of setting where the work will take place.

Liability protection will cover tools and equipment used from the onset of a contracting project. It will also cover accidental injuries and damage to property used at the location where contracting duties are being executed.

Remote Jobs

Photographers, wedding planners, and caterers are some examples of professionals who often perform work duties in remote locations.

Because job duties and settings change each time a new job is done, a professional’s liability concerns will likely change, too. A short-term liability protection plan will cover damage and injuries in each work setting.

Professionals can acquire short-term coverage whenever they are planning to schedule a new job. The coverage will protect against unforeseen events resulting in property damage or injury to a person.

Get Insurance Advice on Short-Term Liability

Meet with one of our agents who serves Houston, TX. An agent from City Centre Insurance Agency LLC will inquire about the types of jobs that you are typically hired for. After determining your risk level, they will formulate a short-term liability plan to protect your best interests.

Can You Take Out a Life Insurance Policy For Your Parents and Are There Benefits to Doing So?

Posted on September 30, 2024September 30, 2024 by admin

At City Centre Insurance Agency LLC, which provides life insurance in the Houston, TX, area, we often encounter questions about the feasibility of procuring life insurance for parents. It is indeed a thoughtful consideration, and a better understanding can help you make an informed decision.

Is it Feasible?

The answer is yes. You can acquire a life insurance policy for your parents. However, there are a few steps involved. Firstly, you’ll need their permission—they must consent to the coverage. Additionally, you’ll need to demonstrate an insurable interest: their demise financially impacts you.

Advantages of Insuring Your Parents

Ensuring a life insurance policy for your parents offers several benefits. Primarily, it can aid in covering end-of-life expenses like funeral costs. These costs can represent a significant financial burden during a grievously tricky time. This insurance ensures that you can concentrate on honoring their life instead of grappling with financial concerns.

Another advantage involves dealing with existing debts or medical bills. If your parents have substantial loans or healthcare costs, a life insurance policy can furnish the funds required to handle these liabilities, preventing them from becoming your responsibility.

Planning for the Future

When contemplating life insurance for your parents, it is imperative to evaluate both their and your financial situation. Open discussions on these topics can lead to a better comprehension of their wishes and the best ways to support them.

If you’re considering this option, contact us at City Centre Insurance Agency LLC, serving the Houston, TX area and its surroundings. Our team is prepared to assist you in exploring the best policies tailored to your family’s needs, ensuring peace of mind for everyone involved.