March marks the start of spring storm season in South Carolina, and for homeowners in the Upstate, that can mean heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and occasional severe weather.
While most of us focus on preparing our homes physically — cleaning gutters, checking roofs, and securing outdoor furniture — it’s just as important to understand what your homeowners insurance actually covers before a storm hits.
Here’s what Upstate homeowners should know as we move into the stormiest months of the year.
What Homeowners Insurance Typically Covers During Storms
Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover damage caused by sudden and accidental weather events, including:
Wind damage High winds can damage roofs, siding, fences, and windows. If a storm causes a tree branch to fall onto your home or garage, that damage is usually covered.
Hail damage Hailstorms can damage roofs, gutters, and vehicles parked outside. Even small hail can cause roofing damage that may not be obvious immediately.
Fallen trees If a tree falls on your home due to wind or lightning, homeowners insurance generally covers removal and repairs.
Lightning strikes Lightning can damage electronics, appliances, and even start fires. Most policies cover both the structural damage and personal property loss.
What May Not Be Covered
While homeowners insurance protects against many storm-related issues, there are some important exceptions.
Flooding Flood damage is typically not covered under standard homeowners insurance. This includes rising water from heavy rain, overflowing creeks, or drainage issues.
Even homes outside traditional flood zones can experience flooding during strong storms — which is why some homeowners choose to add flood insurance for additional protection.
Gradual maintenance issues Insurance usually won’t cover problems that result from long-term wear and tear, such as an aging roof or poorly maintained gutters.
Regular home maintenance plays an important role in preventing storm damage.
Storm Preparation Tips for Upstate Homeowners
Taking a few preventative steps now can help reduce potential damage when storms roll through the Greenville area.
Consider:
• Inspecting your roof for loose shingles • Cleaning gutters and downspouts • Trimming tree branches near your home • Securing outdoor furniture or decorations • Checking that sump pumps and drainage systems are working properly
These simple steps can go a long way toward protecting your property.
Document Your Home Before Storm Season
One of the most helpful things homeowners can do before storm season is document their home and belongings.
Take photos or videos of:
● Each room in your house
● Major appliances and electronics
● Furniture and valuable items
This documentation can make the claims process much smoother if you ever need to file one.
A Quick Coverage Review Can Make a Big Difference
Spring storms are unpredictable, but having the right insurance coverage in place ahead of time can provide peace of mind.
March is a great time to review:
● Your dwelling coverage limits
● Personal property coverage
● Deductibles for wind or hail damage
● Whether flood insurance might make sense for your location
Prepare Now for Storm Season
If you haven’t reviewed your homeowners insurance in a while, now is the perfect time.
Contact Edwards Insurance today for a free coverage review and make sure your home is protected before spring storm season ramps up across the Upstate.
Our team is happy to walk you through your options and help ensure your policy fits your home, your budget, and your peace of mind.
Umbrella Insurance Explained: Extra Protection When You Need It Most
Umbrella InsuranceWhen most people think about insurance, they think about the basics — auto, homeowners, maybe renters. But what happens when a claim goes beyond those policy limits?
That’s where umbrella insurance comes in.
For many families and individuals in the Upstate, umbrella coverage is one of the most overlooked — yet most valuable — ways to protect everything you’ve worked hard to build.
What Is Umbrella Insurance?
Umbrella insurance is a type of extra liability coverage that sits on top of your existing policies, like your auto or homeowners insurance.
It helps cover costs that exceed your standard policy limits, such as:
Think of it as a financial safety net — one that kicks in when your primary coverage runs out.
Why Standard Coverage Isn’t Always Enough
Let’s say you’re involved in a serious car accident and are found at fault. Medical bills, legal fees, and damages can quickly add up — sometimes well beyond the limits of a typical auto policy.
Or imagine someone is injured on your property and decides to sue.
Without additional coverage, you could be responsible for paying the remaining costs out of pocket — putting your savings, home, and future income at risk.
Umbrella insurance helps protect against those worst-case scenarios.
Who Should Consider Umbrella Insurance?
Umbrella coverage isn’t just for the wealthy — it’s for anyone who wants to protect their financial future.
You may want to consider it if you:
With continued growth in areas like Greenville and surrounding Upstate communities, more people are building assets — and that makes additional protection even more important.
Real-Life Scenarios Where Umbrella Insurance Helps
Here are a few examples of when umbrella coverage can make a major difference:
Auto accident with serious injuries
If damages exceed your auto policy limits, umbrella insurance can cover the remaining balance.
Injury on your property
If a guest slips and is seriously injured, liability costs can escalate quickly.
Legal claims
Umbrella policies can help cover legal defense costs, settlements, and judgments.
Is Umbrella Insurance Expensive?
One of the biggest surprises for many people is how affordable umbrella insurance can be compared to the level of protection it provides.
For a relatively low cost, you can add millions of dollars in additional liability coverage — making it one of the most cost-effective ways to protect your assets.
How It Works with Your Existing Policies
Umbrella insurance doesn’t replace your current coverage — it enhances it.
It typically requires:
This is why it’s helpful to review everything together, rather than treating each policy separately.
Add an Extra Layer of Protection
Life is unpredictable — but your coverage doesn’t have to be.
Umbrella insurance offers peace of mind knowing that if something major happens, you’re protected beyond the basics.
Contact Edwards Insurance today for a free umbrella policy review and find out if adding this extra layer of protection makes sense for you.
Our team can walk you through your options and help you build coverage that protects not just where you are today — but where you’re going.
Renters Insurance 101: Why It Matters More Than You Think
UncategorizedIf you’re renting a home or apartment in the Upstate, it’s easy to assume your landlord’s insurance has you covered.
But here’s the truth: your landlord’s policy only protects the building — not your belongings.
That means everything inside your space — your furniture, clothes, electronics, and personal items — is your responsibility. The good news? Renters insurance is one of the most affordable ways to protect what you own.
Let’s break down what it is, what it covers, and why more renters in Greenville, Taylors, and surrounding areas are choosing to add it.
What Does Renters Insurance Actually Cover?
A standard renters insurance policy typically includes three main areas of protection:
1. Personal Property Coverage
This covers your belongings if they’re damaged or stolen due to events like:
So whether it’s a break-in or a kitchen fire, your policy helps replace what you’ve lost.
2. Liability Protection
If someone is injured in your home or you accidentally cause damage to someone else’s property, renters insurance can help cover:
For example, if a guest trips and gets hurt in your apartment, liability coverage can step in.
3. Loss of Use (Additional Living Expenses)
If your rental becomes unlivable due to a covered event, your policy can help pay for:
This can be especially helpful during unexpected situations like fire or major storm damage.
Common Misconceptions About Renters Insurance
“I don’t own enough to need it.”
Most people underestimate the value of their belongings. When you add it all up — furniture, clothes, electronics — it can easily total thousands of dollars.
“It’s too expensive.”
Renters insurance is often surprisingly affordable — sometimes less than the cost of a few coffees each month.
“My landlord has insurance already.”
Your landlord’s policy protects the building structure, not your personal items or liability.
Why It Matters in the Upstate
While Greenville isn’t known for extreme weather year-round, we still see:
Living in growing areas like Greenville and surrounding communities also means higher population density, which can increase the risk of things like theft or shared-property damage.
Having renters insurance adds an extra layer of protection in situations you can’t always predict.
When Should You Get Renters Insurance?
The best time to get renters insurance is as soon as you move in — but it’s never too late to add coverage.
It’s especially important if you:
Protect What You’ve Built
Even if you don’t own your home, what’s inside it matters.
Contact Edwards Insurance today for a free renters insurance quote and see how easy (and affordable) it is to protect your belongings and your peace of mind.
Our team will help you find a policy that fits your lifestyle — without overcomplicating the process!
Spring Storm Season in the Upstate: What Your Homeowners Insurance Covers
Homeowners Insurance, UncategorizedMarch marks the start of spring storm season in South Carolina, and for homeowners in the Upstate, that can mean heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and occasional severe weather.
While most of us focus on preparing our homes physically — cleaning gutters, checking roofs, and securing outdoor furniture — it’s just as important to understand what your homeowners insurance actually covers before a storm hits.
Here’s what Upstate homeowners should know as we move into the stormiest months of the year.
What Homeowners Insurance Typically Covers During Storms
Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover damage caused by sudden and accidental weather events, including:
Wind damage High winds can damage roofs, siding, fences, and windows. If a storm causes a tree branch to fall onto your home or garage, that damage is usually covered.
Hail damage Hailstorms can damage roofs, gutters, and vehicles parked outside. Even small hail can cause roofing damage that may not be obvious immediately.
Fallen trees If a tree falls on your home due to wind or lightning, homeowners insurance generally covers removal and repairs.
Lightning strikes Lightning can damage electronics, appliances, and even start fires. Most policies cover both the structural damage and personal property loss.
What May Not Be Covered
While homeowners insurance protects against many storm-related issues, there are some important exceptions.
Flooding Flood damage is typically not covered under standard homeowners insurance. This includes rising water from heavy rain, overflowing creeks, or drainage issues.
Even homes outside traditional flood zones can experience flooding during strong storms — which is why some homeowners choose to add flood insurance for additional protection.
Gradual maintenance issues Insurance usually won’t cover problems that result from long-term wear and tear, such as an aging roof or poorly maintained gutters.
Regular home maintenance plays an important role in preventing storm damage.
Storm Preparation Tips for Upstate Homeowners
Taking a few preventative steps now can help reduce potential damage when storms roll through the Greenville area.
Consider:
• Inspecting your roof for loose shingles • Cleaning gutters and downspouts • Trimming tree branches near your home • Securing outdoor furniture or decorations • Checking that sump pumps and drainage systems are working properly
These simple steps can go a long way toward protecting your property.
Document Your Home Before Storm Season
One of the most helpful things homeowners can do before storm season is document their home and belongings.
Take photos or videos of:
● Each room in your house
● Major appliances and electronics
● Furniture and valuable items
This documentation can make the claims process much smoother if you ever need to file one.
A Quick Coverage Review Can Make a Big Difference
Spring storms are unpredictable, but having the right insurance coverage in place ahead of time can provide peace of mind.
March is a great time to review:
● Your dwelling coverage limits
● Personal property coverage
● Deductibles for wind or hail damage
● Whether flood insurance might make sense for your location
Prepare Now for Storm Season
If you haven’t reviewed your homeowners insurance in a while, now is the perfect time.
Contact Edwards Insurance today for a free coverage review and make sure your home is protected before spring storm season ramps up across the Upstate.
Our team is happy to walk you through your options and help ensure your policy fits your home, your budget, and your peace of mind.
Love Your Coverage: How Your Credit & Driving Habits Affect Auto Insurance
UncategorizedFebruary is all about relationships — and while flowers and chocolate are great, there’s another relationship worth checking in on this month: your auto insurance policy.
Many drivers across the Upstate don’t realize how much factors like credit history, driving behavior, and policy structure can influence their rates. February is a great reminder to show your policy a little love — and make sure it’s working for you, not against you.
How Credit Impacts Auto Insurance Rates
In South Carolina, insurance companies are allowed to consider credit-based insurance scores when determining premiums. While this isn’t a traditional credit score, it’s influenced by similar factors such as:
If your credit has improved over the last year — maybe you paid down balances or avoided late payments — your auto insurance rate may be able to improve too. But insurers don’t automatically update this unless a review is requested.
Driving Habits Matter More Than You Think
Your daily routine plays a role in your coverage needs and pricing:
With traffic continuing to grow around Greenville and the surrounding areas, making sure your coverage reflects how and where you drive is more important than ever.
Bundling: One of the Easiest Ways to Save
One of the most common opportunities we see during policy reviews is bundling auto insurance with home or renters coverage.
Bundling can:
It’s a simple way to strengthen your coverage and your budget.
Winter Driving & Coverage Considerations
While Upstate winters are usually mild, we’ve all seen how icy mornings and severe weather can affect our roads! These factors lead to increased accidents this time of year. February is a good time to confirm:
A small adjustment now can make a big difference if the unexpected happens.
Show Your Policy Some Love This Month
Auto insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all — and as your life changes, your coverage should change with it.
Schedule a free auto insurance review with one of our agents today to see if you’re receiving every discount you qualify for and ensure your policy fits your current lifestyle.
A little attention now can lead to better protection — and real savings — all year long.