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Old 11-18-2014, 09:27 AM
 
50 posts, read 54,911 times
Reputation: 36

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We own a house built in 1981 located in Sarasota (between Fruitville and University). House is currently rented out for the next year and 1/2 until we move into it. When we closed last December, we were unable to get anything other than Citizens, which we obtained thru a broker in St.Pete.

We replaced the roof in April, as well as the garage door, all now meeting Dade code. New four point inspection and wind mit and life's good. The house is very well built, 3200sf total with a hip roof, altho we can't get that discount due to a small "flat roof" section (lanai) connecting the roof with the pool cage.

Just got the renewal notice and I don't have an issue with the premium cost ($1700/yr) but we are wanting to get away from Citizens since they treat you like a DMV customer and constantly look for reasons to cancel your policy. Broker says they can't get me anything any better for the money so advises to stay put for now.

Seems like the insurance companies in Florida have the upper hand since the storms in 2004 but we were never treated this way when we lived in Jacksonville, although Allstate left Florida after we moved away in 2007.

Should we continue to look for a policy with a "real" (non government) company or bite the bullet and stay with Citizen's?
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Old 11-18-2014, 09:48 AM
 
Location: SW Florida
14,955 posts, read 12,162,044 times
Reputation: 24842
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bizjetpilot View Post
We own a house built in 1981 located in Sarasota (between Fruitville and University). House is currently rented out for the next year and 1/2 until we move into it. When we closed last December, we were unable to get anything other than Citizens, which we obtained thru a broker in St.Pete.

We replaced the roof in April, as well as the garage door, all now meeting Dade code. New four point inspection and wind mit and life's good. The house is very well built, 3200sf total with a hip roof, altho we can't get that discount due to a small "flat roof" section (lanai) connecting the roof with the pool cage.

Just got the renewal notice and I don't have an issue with the premium cost ($1700/yr) but we are wanting to get away from Citizens since they treat you like a DMV customer and constantly look for reasons to cancel your policy. Broker says they can't get me anything any better for the money so advises to stay put for now.

Seems like the insurance companies in Florida have the upper hand since the storms in 2004 but we were never treated this way when we lived in Jacksonville, although Allstate left Florida after we moved away in 2007.

Should we continue to look for a policy with a "real" (non government) company or bite the bullet and stay with Citizen's?
In your shoes, I'd probably look around to find a local independent insurance agency and see what they might have to offer in the way of homeowner's policies to replace your current policy with Citizens'. That's what we did on the house we had built, completed in 2008, after a couple years with Citizens'. We were offered three policies ( with "takeout" companies, I don't know of a major insurer who will write new homeowner's policies in Florida), and found the Citizens' policies to be the most expensive, by several hundred dollars. We went with a company that offered the most coverage in Florida, and in Louisiana as well- National Federated, although none of these companies truly have a track record for claims since they're not that old.

Hopefully your choice of insurance won't be limited to Citizens', with the improvements you've made. That was the problem we had with our house in Miami-Dade County. That house was located east of US1, in an area for some reason labeled as "higher risk" for whatever ( they never could decide whether the risk was for storm surge, ( even several miles from the coast and located behind a natural ridge), rising water, or wind damage ( which aren't really any more of a risk than anywhere else in the county), but businesses and residences in that area were blackballed by the insurance industry, and all we could get was Citizens'- windstorm only policy since our previous State Farm homeowners' coverage remained, sans windstorm and exponentially rising rates over the years.

In any case, good luck with finding an insurance policy that will meet your needs.
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Old 11-19-2014, 09:03 PM
 
Location: LWR CCE Belleisle
62 posts, read 96,617 times
Reputation: 71
If you'd like to be treated honestly and well, give Gail Gold a call --

"For insurance call our office at 244-0804 or send Gail an email at ... gail@whitcoinsurance.com
OR visit our website at ... www.gailgoldinsurance.com"

Gail and her husband Sam are tennis-playing friends of ours, and extremely reputable.

-- Larry
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Old 11-22-2014, 07:54 AM
 
Location: Sarasota, FL
132 posts, read 153,053 times
Reputation: 82
After getting 3 quotes (all using the same insurance - UPC) I settled with Nate at Lutgert when I bought here in Sarasota. He beat all quotes by 300-400.00 with a current wind mit. All offered the same coverage. Nate was really good. I've recommended him to several people. Include him in your search.

Nate Kochilaris
Account Executive
Lutgert Insurance
The Plaza at Five Points
50 Central Ave
Sarasota, FL 34236
Office 941-308-6541
Fax 941-366-6177
nkochilaris@lutgertinsurance.com
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