We Insure : Insurance Unlimited

05/27/2026

HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS IN LESS THAN A WEEK

NOAA's outlook for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30, is forecasting a total of 8-14 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher).

For my Realtors and Mortgage Reps: As I’m sure you know, when a storm is projected to impact Florida, the insurance carriers are very quick to shut down binding authority, which means no coverage can be bound until the storm is no longer a threat to Florida (which can sometimes be up to 72 hours after it has passed Florida). This of course, can put a major crimp in your closing. Especially during hurricane season, it is very import to secure the required quotes and inspections to get coverage bound for your buyer ASAP. Together, we will make sure everything is properly in place to avoid the closing being delayed or falling through.

For everyone:
As Floridians, we tend to be very nonchalant when it comes to hurricanes. Been there-Done that. However, as Milton and Helene showed us, when it comes to hurricanes, you need to expect the unexpected.
Now is the best time to not only stock up on those hurricane supplies, but it is definitely time to ensure your insurance is all set and to get your insurance documents together so you have the information you need in the event of a claim. You don’t want to be trying to contact your agent when there is no power; if you do not have power, they likely do not have power as well.

Therefore, I highly suggest:
• Emailing yourself a copy of your current insurance declaration page(s). This way, you will have all your policy details, coverages and deductibles in the palm of your hand no matter where you are.
• Create an “Insurance” contact in your phone that lists the carrier, policy number and claims phone number. Your agent is unable to file a claim on your behalf, so you do not want to waste time waiting for the middle man when it comes to getting your claim process started. If you know you have damage that you want to file a claim for, contact the carrier’s claims office directly so they can get the process started. Please note: when there is not an emergency situation and you have a question about a potential claim, definitely feel free to contact your agent first.

As always, feel free to contact me with any insurance questions or for any quotes you need.

Pete Botto @ WeInsure
727-610-9983 [email protected]

05/22/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

If you are selling a home and the owner (or another potential buyer that did not complete the purchase) has a 4-point Inspection dated within the last 12 months or a Wind Mitigation Inspection done within the last 5 years, you can use those inspections for insurance for your buyers? The inspection does not need to be in the current buyers name, as long as the 4-pt is no more than 1 year old and the Wind Mit is no more than 5 years old.

05/22/2026

I just found out I was nominated for "Best of the Bay" under Insurance Services, and I’m completely blown away. Since we work so closely together, I wanted to share the news! If you have a quick second and would not mind casting a vote, I’d be incredibly grateful. Here’s the link: https://guidetoflorida.com/saint-petersburg/financial-insurance-services/we-insure-insurance-unlimited If so inclined, you can cast your vote daily through July 31st. Please let me know if you have been nominated as well and I will be happy to cast my vote for you also.

05/22/2026

I just found out I was nominated for "Best of the Bay" under Insurance Services, and I’m completely blown away. Since we work so closely together, I wanted to share the news! If you have a quick second and would not mind casting a vote, I’d be incredibly grateful. Here’s the link: https://guidetoflorida.com/best-of/vote/financial-insurance-services If so inclined, you can cast your vote daily through July 31st. Please let me know if you have been nominated as well and I will be happy to cast my vote for you also.

05/12/2026

The Florida insurance landscape is currently seeing significant shifts in May 2026, primarily characterized by stabilizing rates and new legislative incentives for homeowners.

Homeowners Insurance Updates

The market is showing signs of recovery following major legislative reforms over the last two years.
• New "Homeowner Savings and Premium Reduction Act": A major piece of legislation (HB 775) is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. This will mandate premium reductions for homeowners who remain claim-free for 36 months. REMEMBER: If you call the claims office, even with a “question”, it may be logged as a claim. Call your agent with claims questions.
• Condo Financing Changes: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are updating project review standards. For loan applications starting August 3, 2026, many Florida condo projects will face stricter "Full Reviews" regarding their reserves and insurance coverage.

Auto Insurance Updates

For the first time in several years, Florida drivers are seeing a reversal in rate trends.
• Widespread Rate Decreases: The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) noted that some insurance carriers are averaging an 8% rate decrease for 2026.
• Legislative Status: While there were significant efforts to repeal the "No-Fault" Personal Injury Protection (PIP) system earlier this year (SB 522), the bill died in committee in March 2026. For now, Florida remains a No-Fault state. My opinion: THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE! The bad part of this is not that your PIP coverage must pay before the at-fault parties Bodily Injury pays, the bad part is that many insurance carriers hold PIP claims against you when it comes to eligibility for coverage.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me with any insurance questions for any insurance quotes.

Pete Botto @ WeInsure
727-610-9983 [email protected]

05/07/2026

DOES YOUR RENTAL HOME HAVE THE COVERAGE IT NEEDS?

Many times, especially when it comes to a home held for rental, when someone asks me to shop their rate, I find out they only carry a DP1 policy. Unfortunately, this happens many times when:
• Someone requests the “basic” coverage- not understanding what that truly means OR
• I have seen many agents that quote the basic, DP1, policy to gain business because the rate looks more appealing.

Anyone who has ever worked with me knows that I am going to get you and your customer the best policy, with the best coverage, at the best price. If they choose to go “basic” from there, I then go over their options as to what can be changed or removed. However, you pay for insurance so you have coverage in the event of a claim. You should know what you are getting, or losing, for your money.

Choosing between a DP1 and a DP3 policy in Florida is essentially a choice between "bare-bones" protection and "comprehensive" coverage. Because Florida has unique risks like hurricanes and humidity, the gaps in a DP1 can be quite significant. The primary difference lies in the Burden of Proof: with a DP1 (Named Peril), you must prove the damage was caused by one of the few specific things listed in the policy, whereas a DP3 (Open Peril) requires the insurance company to prove the damage was caused by a specific exclusion, otherwise, it is covered.

In terms of specific coverage gaps, the DP1 typically excludes vandalism, theft, water damage (such as sudden pipe bursts), falling objects like trees, and even the weight of ice or snow, all of which are generally included in a DP3. Furthermore, a DP1 excludes liability coverage and "Fair Rental Value" (loss of rent), while a DP3 usually includes both, ensuring lost income is covered during repairs. Finally, the Loss Settlement differs significantly: a DP1 pays based on Actual Cash Value (ACV), while a DP3 covers the Replacement Cost (RCV).

As always, never hesitate to contact me with any insurance questions or for any quotes you need.
Pete Botto @ WeInsure
813-930-7630 [email protected]

04/30/2026

Does the age of a Water Heater impact insurance?

Most insurance carriers, especially on a new purchase home, only allow the water heater to be no more
than 15 years old. If the water heater is in the garage, a couple carriers will allow it to be up to 20 years old.
If the water heater is over 20 years old, the only carrier that is likely going to offer a quote (if the water
heater is in good condition) is Citizens Insurance.

Unfortunately, as with other items that may be outdated, insurance carriers will not allow coverage to be
bound under the condition that it will be replaced after closing. The home, including the water heater, must
be insurable prior to coverage being bound. Of course, there are some high-risk carriers that may allow this,
but the premium is going to be higher than that of a standard policy and the 􀆟me frame to prove it was
done is limited.

Therefore, if you are selling or buying a home that has a water heater over 15 years, replacing it can make a
huge difference in the price and availability for insurance coverage for you or your buyer.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me with any insurance questions you have or for any quotes you need.

Pete Botto
WeInsure
813-930-7630 [email protected]

04/22/2026

WILL OCCUPANCY OR VACANCY CAUSE YOUR CLAIM TO BE DENIED?

Your insurance policy does not automatically insure your home because your address shows on the policy. There are 3 main items, that many people do not seem to know, which will determine if your policy will cover a claim:
1. Name on the policy
2. Occupancy listed on the policy and
3. Vacancy

I have addressed the name on the policy in prior posts, so I will not elaborate on this one. Short Version: The Named Insured on the policy MUST show exactly as it does on the deed of the home. The name on the deed is the owner of the home. If that is not the name that shows on the insurance declaration page then there is no coverage for the owner; therefore, no coverage for the home. This includes if the home is in the name of a Trust, LLC, Etc.

The second item is occupancy. The main types of occupancy are:
• Primary
• Secondary/Seasonal
• Home held for rental (Even if the person occupying the home is not paying rent. If the person living in the home is not the person on the deed of the home, it is considered a rental).
• Vacant home (in-between tenants, home up for sale, “out of the state/country” for an extended period of time.

Your insurance declaration page will state the occupancy the policy will provide coverage for.
Primary Residence:
To substantiate that a home is a primary residence, especially for underwriting or claims purposes, carriers look for:
• Homestead Exemption: Filing for the Florida Homestead Exemption is the strongest indicator of a primary residence.
• Voter Registration: Being registered to vote at that specific address.
• Driver’s License: The address listed on your Florida state ID.
• Utility Usage: Consistent, year-round utility patterns rather than seasonal spikes.

If you have more than one home, you need to confirm with your insurance agent as to the occupancy which needs to show on the policy to ensure you will have coverage in the event of a claim.

As stated prior, which is extremely important- if anyone, whose name is not on the deed of the home, is occupying the home, then that is considered a home held for rental. The length of time they occupy the home will determine if it is an annual or short-term rental. This is also very important as a home held for rental policy much show the valid rental term for cover to apply.

The final item is Vacancy. If your home is going to be vacant for 30 days or more (for ANY reason), you need to address this with your insurance agent to ensure you can obtain proper coverage for the vacancy. If your home is vacant at time of a claim, depending on the reason for vacancy, you will have either no coverage or limited coverage.
If a loss occurs and the dwelling has been vacant for 30 consecutive days prior to the date of loss, there is no coverage for vandalism, sprinkler leakage, glass breakage, water damage, theft or attempted theft, even if they are a covered cause of loss.

Your insurance policy is a contact between you and the insurance carrier. If the items stated in the contract are not valid at the time of a loss, the insurance carrier is not obligated to honor the contract/policy. When you sign an insurance application, you are normally signing directly under the portion that states, “All the information in the application is true…..” The policy which is mailed to you, which is the full copy of the “contract” outlines your responsibilities which includes notifying the carrier, immediately, upon any changes to the information contained in the application which was signed.

Whether you are insuring your home to protect your personal investment or simply to satisfy a lender's requirement, the goal remains the same: ensuring you have reliable coverage when a claim occurs. Since insurance options exist for nearly every scenario, it is vital to verify that your specific policy is correctly tailored to protect your interests.

As always, feel free to contact me with any insurance questions you have or for any quotes you need.
Pete Botto @ WeInsure
727-610-9983 [email protected]

04/16/2026

SHOCKING TRUTH: A previous owner's claim could get YOUR claim denied!
Many people don't realize that insurance claims are tied to the property address, not just the person buying the home. If the prior owner filed a claim for a flood, roof leak or pipe burst but didn't properly document or complete the repairs, your insurance company might flag your new claim as "pre-existing damage."
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. Before you buy, ask for the property’s C.L.U.E. Report. The current owner can obtain this report for free. It’s like a Carfax for your house and shows the last 7 years of claim history.
2. Ensure all prior "open" claims were properly closed.
3. Obtain proof of repairs (or check permits) from the current owner.
4. Keep records of all upgrades you make to prove the home's current condition.
Don't let your closing be jeopardized by claims of owners’ past.
As always, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or for any quotes you need.
Pete Botto
WeInsure 727-610-9983 [email protected]

260 likes, 47 comments. “Why her $100k flood claim was DENIED (not her fault) 🤯”

04/07/2026

CONTACT #: 727-610-9983. Please update my contact phone number to this one, as this is the only number that will allow you to send me a text as well. The 813 number is valid, but is treated as a landline and will not allow texts to come through. Thank you. Of course, my email is: [email protected]