Fatherly Insurance Advice

My father loved football. At 5’3” he was built more like a chest freezer than an actual football player but it didn’t seem to deter him. One of my favorite stories involves a group of his football buddies rounding the corner one day to find him with a flat tire on a flatbed full of ice. They asked if he needed help. He told them that he would lift the truck if they could just put the tire on. He was tough. Few people crossed him and he was very effective if you were on the receiving end of his belt. Here’s the thing. When he spoke, we listened. He talked a great deal about football, fishing and, more practically, insurance. He often repeated the adage that “the time to get insurance is when you don’t need it.”

If you have been on the Big Island long enough, you know that insurance changes can be unpredictable. When a disaster occurs, we’ve learned to expect some kind of change about a year later. Finding proper coverage can be challenging. Some years ago, finding coverage in lava zones 1 & 2 became almost impossible. Values today far exceed the $450,000 limit on the old State guaranteed plan created to fill this void. Owners must choose expensive alternative coverage…if you can find any.

In zone 3 (Hilo, Keaau to Ainaloa) my own carrier, USAA, traditionally among the most liberal, stopped writing new policies years ago. Heck, I can recall when State Farm and Allstate would write policies in lava zones 1 & 2. Not gonna happen! Condo owners should be aware that a Hawaii law requires insurance for the interior of your unit. For a long time, it was difficult to find hurricane insurance for single wall homes not retrofitted with hurricane straps. Many carriers aren’t licensed in Hawaii but so far lenders have accepted the coverage.

Remember, flood and hurricane coverage require a waiting period. If a disaster is imminent, a freeze will be placed on new policies. This affects upcoming closings. No one wants to see a sale fall apart because of confusion regarding insurance. Check availability early! So take some timely advice from the star guard of the 1932 Columbia County Tigers, William Edward “Shorty” Sheppard, “Don’t wait until the day you need coverage to apply!” Miss you Pepa! Happy Father’s Day.