Category: Home Insurance

Homeowners coverage guidance for Chicago and the North Shore.

  • Roof Insurance in Chicago: Hail Claims, Deductibles, and Hard-to-Insure Roofs

    Roof Insurance in Chicago: Hail Claims, Deductibles, and Hard-to-Insure Roofs

    When comparing roof coverage, read the settlement terms and wind or hail deductible alongside the premium. Roof age, materials, and policy endorsements can change how much an insurer pays after a covered loss.

    How Storm Chasing Changed Roof Claims

    The root of Chicago’s roof insurance crisis lies in a pattern of abuse that emerged over the past decade. After major hailstorms swept through the region, unscrupulous contractors began what became known as “storm chasing.” These operators would canvass neighborhoods, offering free roof inspections and promising homeowners brand new roofs at no cost through insurance claims. The scheme was straightforward but costly. Contractors would identify minor hail damage on roofs, sometimes damage that was years old or even questionable, then file insurance claims on behalf of homeowners. They’d push for full roof replacements when repairs would have sufficed, inflating costs and sometimes even creating or exaggerating damage to justify their claims. For homeowners, it seemed like a windfall. For insurance companies, it became an epidemic of fraudulent and inflated claims. Insurers found themselves paying for complete roof replacements on homes where the existing roof had years of serviceable life remaining. The fundamental insurance principle was violated: carriers were paying to upgrade old, depreciated roofs rather than restoring homes to their pre-loss condition.

    The Market Response: Higher Premiums and Reduced Coverage

    The insurance industry’s response has been dramatic and, for many homeowners, painful. Faced with mounting losses from roof claims, insurers have taken several steps to protect themselves:

    • Premiums have risen fastest in neighborhoods with high claim volumes, including for homeowners who never filed a claim.
    • Coverage restrictions have become the new normal. Many insurers now exclude certain roof types entirely or offer only actual cash value coverage, which depreciates the roof’s value rather than providing replacement cost coverage.
    • Increased deductibles may be the biggest change. Some carriers serving the Chicago area now use percentage-based wind and hail deductibles. On a home insured for $300,000, a 2% deductible is $6,000, against a new roof that might cost $15,000 to $20,000. Some carriers set the percentage higher, which moves more of a roof claim onto the homeowner. Our guide to storm damage that is not covered walks through the percentage math and the other gaps that leave homeowners paying out of pocket.

    Good News for Responsible Homeowners

    Despite these market challenges, quality coverage remains available for homeowners who’ve maintained their properties responsibly. At Longmeadow Insurance, we work with multiple carrier partners who recognize that not all roofs represent the same risk. If your roof is well maintained or recently replaced, we can take it to carriers that price roofs on age and condition and show you the settlement terms and deductibles each one offers. Insurers are willing to offer competitive terms when they can verify that a roof is in good condition and hasn’t been the subject of questionable claims. The key is documentation. If you’ve replaced your roof in recent years, keep all receipts, permits, and contractor information. For existing roofs, periodic professional inspections can document their condition and support your case for better coverage terms.

    Special Challenges: Wood Shake, Flat, Slate, Tile and Metal Roofs

    Wood shake roofs and flat roofs are harder to insure than they were a few years ago. Many standard carriers have stopped insuring these roof types entirely, viewing them as higher risk for both damage and claims. Wood roofs face concerns about fire risk and durability, while flat roofs have historically generated more leak-related claims than pitched roofs. However, coverage isn’t impossible to find. We can take these roofs to specialty markets that evaluate each property on the roof’s age, condition, and maintenance history. If you have a wood or flat roof, expect the insurance process to be more involved. You may need a professional roof inspection, and premiums will likely be higher than for standard asphalt shingle roofs. However, with the right approach and documentation, adequate coverage is achievable.

    Slate, clay and concrete tile, and metal roofs are less common in the Chicago area, and insurers view and price them differently. Some carriers treat a long-lasting slate or tile roof favorably. Others charge more for it, or limit how they pay roof claims, because repairs need specialized materials and roofers. If your home has one of these roofs, ask how each carrier treats it before you compare prices.

    A Strategic Option: Self-Insuring Newer Roofs

    A newer roof can also open a hail option. Consider the math. If you installed a new roof two years ago with a 25 to 30 year expected lifespan, what’s the real risk of needing a full replacement from hail damage in the next several years? While hail can certainly damage a roof, catastrophic damage requiring complete replacement is relatively rare, especially on newer installations. By accepting a higher deductible for hail, or excluding hail for a period where the carrier and your mortgage lender allow it, you may lower your premium. If hail is excluded, any hail damage during that period is yours to pay, so compare the savings with the cost of a roof claim first. Ask for the premium difference in dollars before deciding. This approach makes the most sense if you have adequate savings to cover a roof replacement if needed and if your roof is new enough that you’d be paying for protection you’re unlikely to use.

    Shopping Roof Coverage Across Carriers

    We quote roof coverage with more than one carrier and compare settlement terms and wind and hail deductibles along with the premium. If your renewal came back with ACV roof terms or a higher deductible, or you have a wood shake or flat roof that is hard to place, send us your declarations page and we will show you the options.

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    Call 847.242.1040 or request a quote online.

  • Insuring a Home or Car Owned by a Trust or LLC

    Insuring a Home or Car Owned by a Trust or LLC

    Titling a home or vehicle in a trust or LLC can change how a personal insurance policy should be written. You own your house and your car, and you insure them. Moving the title into a trust or LLC for estate planning or asset protection can complicate that. Let’s break down how different ownership structures affect your insurance coverage and what you should expect when working with your insurance agent.

    Living Trusts: Usually No Big Deal

    A revocable living trust is one of the most common estate planning tools, and for good reason. It helps you avoid probate, maintain privacy, and simplify the transfer of assets to your beneficiaries after you pass away. The good news? Transferring your home or vehicle into a living trust typically doesn’t create major insurance headaches. Because you maintain complete control over a revocable living trust during your lifetime (you can modify it, revoke it, or transfer assets in and out) insurance companies generally treat property held in a living trust the same as property you own personally. You’re still the beneficial owner, and the trust is essentially just a legal wrapper around your assets. That said, you should always notify your insurance company before transferring property into any trust. Most policies require this, and failing to update your policy can create coverage problems later.

    Irrevocable Trusts: More Complicated Territory

    An irrevocable trust changes the ownership arrangement, but the settlor’s, trustee’s, and beneficiaries’ rights depend on the trust documents. The insurance needs to recognize the property owner, occupants, and other insured interests correctly. Have the agent and estate attorney review the arrangement before changing title. Common questions include:

    • Higher premiums or more limited coverage options. Not all insurance carriers are comfortable insuring property in irrevocable trusts, which can limit your choices and potentially increase costs.
    • Additional documentation requirements. Your insurance company will likely want to review the trust document itself to understand the arrangement, who has what rights, and how claims would be handled.
    • Loss of certain discounts or policy features. Some insurers offer discounts or special provisions for owner-occupied homes that may not apply when property is in an irrevocable trust.
    • Potential issues with mortgage requirements. If you still have a mortgage on the property, your lender will need to approve the transfer, and they may have their own insurance requirements that complicate matters further.

    If you’re considering putting your home into an irrevocable trust, talk to your insurance agent before you do it. What seems like a smart estate planning or asset protection move could create insurance complications that undermine those benefits or add unexpected costs.

    Montana LLCs for Vehicle Registration: The Hidden Costs

    Putting a vehicle in an LLC changes who owns it, even when one person uses it for personal driving. Before transferring title, confirm which insurers accept the arrangement and how the policy should name the LLC and drivers. Registration, actual garaging location, and use must be reported accurately. Questions to compare include:

    • Whether the insurer accepts LLC ownership on a personal, specialty, or commercial policy, and how the total premium compares
    • Additional liability coverage, because commercial policies often have different minimum requirements and exclusions than personal policies.
    • More complex claims processes, since you’re now dealing with commercial underwriting and claims departments that may have different procedures and timelines.
    • Potential coverage gaps, if you’re not careful about how the policy is structured and who’s listed as drivers.

    And if your insurance company discovers that you’re actually using the vehicle personally in a different state than where it’s registered, you could face policy cancellation or even denial of claims. Misrepresenting where a vehicle is principally garaged can be treated as insurance fraud and can leave you without coverage for a claim.

    Working with Your Insurance Agent

    Talk to your insurance agent before you change how you hold title to a home or vehicle. A living trust is routine and usually needs only a policy update. An irrevocable trust or LLC ownership takes more documentation and often costs more, so weigh that cost against the benefit you want from the change. If an estate planning attorney or financial advisor is involved, bring us in at the same time so the policy matches the new title. We are glad to work with them directly. See how we work with advisors, attorneys, and CPAs.

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    Call 847.242.1040 or request a quote online.