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The risk of being hit by a major weather event or natural disaster looms over different parts of the country at various times of year. On the east coast, hurricane season usually begins in late summer, while wildfires tend to rage out west and tornadoes wreak havoc in the Midwest a few months earlier. In all these cases, though, homeowners will have to know if, when, and how they're protected on their insurance policies well in advance so they're not caught off guard by the claims process. Agents who take the time to review policies with their clients of these potentially dangerous times of year will likely be well-regarded by those consumers as a result.

One of the biggest issues in the home insurance industry is that, after a disaster strikes, consumers might be shocked to learn that some of the damage wasn't covered under their policies, according to a report from Oklahoma City television station KFOR. The other problem is that even if people have reviewed their policies in advance, they might not know what everything actually means, or what they can do to increase their protections.

What else should they do?
In addition, they might want to start putting together some documentation - preferably with video or photo evidence - of what's in their homes in the unlikely event that they end up being impacted by a disaster, the report said. They may also want to make sure that they have a plan in place if something damages their home so badly, or the risk of harm becomes so great, that they can't stay there. Finally, it might be wise to go around their properties and ensure that anything that could lead to significant damage (fire hazards, clogged gutters, damaged roofs, etc.) are taken care of in advance.

The more agents can do to help people understand what their home insurance policies do and don't cover, the better off both parties are likely to be going forward. That's partly because consumers forewarned of the potential issues can make necessary changes to their policies well in advance of the seasons of increased risk. Meanwhile, agents can rest assured knowing that their clients are more likely to be satisfied with their coverage thanks to the open lines of communication and increased knowledge. That, in turn, will typically lead to higher retention rates.

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