Gainesville FL Real Estate Blog

Enjoy the fall weather in Gainesville with a bike ride along the Gainesville-Hawthoren State Trail.  As you travel along the 16 miles of paved trails you will see the wonderful Paynes Prairie Preserve and also the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area.  Some of the wildlife you might see along the way include bald eagles, osprey, fox squirrels, sandhill cranes and many other birds.  The trail begins at Boulware Springs Park and takes you over to Hawthorne. 

 Be mindful as you are riding of other cyclist, horses, and pedestrians who also use this wonderful trail to enjoy the beauty of Gainesville.

This third portion of your guide to homeowners insurance gives you information you hope you’ll never use–dealing with damage to your Gainesville FL real estate. Most likely your policy will explain how to file a claim, but here are the basic steps:

• If a crime has been committed, report it to the police. You should get a copy of the police report.

• Contact your insurance agent or company immediately.

• If necessary, try to protect your property from further damage. Save your receipts.

• Don’t dispose of damaged items until the adjuster has seen them.

• Prepare a list of damaged items. Take pictures of the damage. (Now aren’t you glad you made an inventory list/video?)

• Get the appropriate claim forms and fill them out completely. Return them within the time limit.

If you encounter problems (such as denial or inaction within a reasonable period of time) settling your insurance claim for your Gainesville FL real estate, you can follow these steps:

• Make sure you can support your case with documentation. Be prepared to send copies with any letters. Keep the original documents, such as estimates and receipts and only send copies. Also keep copies of all letters.

• Be prepared to document each phone call. Note the date and time of each conversation and name of each person you talked to.

• Review your policy to see if it contains information on resolving disputes or appealing a claim denial.
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Enjoy the natural wonders of Gainesville, at the Payne’s Prairie Preserve State Park.  This great park offers 20 different biological areas which include habitats for alligators, bison, wild horses and many different migratory birds.  From the 50 foot-high observation tower you will have a panoramic view of the preserve.  The visitor center offers audio-visual programs that go over the area’s natural and cultural history.  You can bring your horse and travel over one of the eight trails that take you through the preserve. 

Bring your fishing pole and catch some fish on the Lake Wauberg.  You can even bring your non gas powered boats to take out on the lake.  After a day of exploring the preserve you can camp at the full-facility campsites.  Take some time to enjoy fall in Gainesville at Payne’s Prairie Preserve.

Just because you have purchased insurance for your Gainesville FL real estate, don’t think that your responsibility has ended there. It is important that you inventory your possessions and keep that list up to date, at least annually. In addition to making a list of items, it is wise to also photograph them–and even better, videotape entire rooms! (And do remember to keep the list, photos, and/or tape in a place where they can not be destroyed by fire, flood, etc. A bank safety deposit box would be ideal.)

Suggestions for making a Gainesville FL Real Estate inventory include:

• Organize it by room.

• Describe each item, including make and model, and where it was bought. Record the serial number, if the item has one.

• Attach sales receipts, purchase contracts, and appraisals to your list.

• For clothes, count each type of item, such as pants, shoes, shirts, coats, etc. Particularly note those that are valuable.

• Supplement your written list with photographs. Make sure you label the photos. *If you have a video camera, videotape each room. You can also add a narration as you tape.

• Don’t forget items that are in drawers, closets, attic, and basement.

• Use your computer. Make your list, scan in receipts, photos, and other papers. Keep these in a fireproof box. Make a copy of your inventory and photos and store them away from the house.

• Add valuable new items (such as a new entertainment system) to the inventory when you purchase them. Review and revise the list annually.

What is generally covered? Under the HO-3 policy type (the most popular), damage caused by perils and hazards such as fire, lightning, smoke, windstorm (in certain parts of the country), hail, vandalism, falling objects, theft, weight of snow or ice, vehicle striking the structure, building collapse, water damage from bursting pipes, and structural damage from an electrical surge are covered.

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Visit a rain forest right in Gainesville at Devil’s Millhpper Geological State Park.  You will travel down 120 feet into the bowl shape cavity where lush vegetation thrives, even in on a hot, dry Gainesville summer day.  The sides of the sinkhole are limestone and there is a small stream that flows down the sides and into the ground.  People from all over the world come to see this natural wonder and to learn more about the natural history of Florida.  Fossils belonging to sharks, marine animals and the remains of extinct animals have been found in the sinkhole.

This is a great family adventure that will leave everyone talking about the interesting things that they learned through the interpretive displays.  Don’t forget to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in this wonderful place.

For you, as for most Americans, your home is your largest and most important investment. Homeowners insurance, required by mortgage lenders, protects you from losing the value of your Gainesville FL real estate if disaster strikes and enables you to repair or rebuild the structure. It covers damage to your home (real property) and your personal belongings (personal property) for the hazards specified in your policy. It also covers your liability for any injuries and property damage that you or your family members (including pets) cause to other people.

Types of homeowners insurance:

• HO-1 is very basic coverage, insuring against fire or lightening damage

• HO-2, called “broad coverage,” also covers loss of or damage to property resulting from windstorm or hail, theft, explosion, smoke damage from vehicles and aircraft, glass breakage, removal of property endangered by covered peril such as fire, vandalism, malicious mischief, and riot or civil commotion. HO-2 also covers building collapse, freezing of or accidental discharge of water or steam from within plumbing, heating, or air-conditioning, falling objects, weight of snow, ice, or sleet, and rupture or bursting of steam or hot water heating system

• HO-3, called the “special” form, insures your home and detached structures against loss or damage from any peril except for those specifically excluded in the policy. This is the policy most homeowners purchase. It is important for you to read your policy carefully to see what is excluded—you may want to cover exclusions with special endorsements.

• HO-4 is a tenant’s policy and insures your household contents and personal belongings against the perils of the HO-2 policy. It also covers additional living expenses if needed, medical payments, and also liability protection.

• HO-6 covers a condominium unit-owner who wishes to insure items not insured by the association policy, as well as the personal property inside the unit and personal liability protection.

• HO-8 is the “older home” policy. Having an older home may preclude your being able to buy a replacement policy; you may have to buy a modified replacement policy instead. This means that instead of replacing such older home materials as plaster walls for example, the policy will pay for standard building materials and processes in use now.
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Experience the excitement of drag racing and street legal racing in Gainesville this week.  This is a fun evening for everyone.  On Wednesday night at 6:30 come out and see the “Test-n-Tune”, with street legal and grudge, at the Gainesville Raceway.  For your Saturday night enjoyment you can see NO BOX racing with ¼ mile race.  The race track also offers once a month Friday night street legal racing to encourage people not to race illegally on the streets of Gainesville.   The raceway is home to the GatorNationals races in March, which has been held at the raceway since 1970.

There is something most weekends until December, so check out the Gainesville Raceway as a fun family outing.