Frequently Asked Questions

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How Things Work

Category: How Things Work

We can quote your property with some basic information – address, property type, year built, square footage and year of updates to major components like the roof and plumbing.  If you’re a new client, click here to request a quote. If you’re an existing client, you can click here to request a property be added. You can also contact your realprotect account management team, email us at service@realprotect.com or give us a call between 8AM and 5PM EDT.  Our phone number is 800-579-0652.

Category: How Things Work

We explain this in more detail in the dedicated claims section of our FAQ’s, but the first step is to let us know something has happened! Claims happen and we’re here to help. We take all claims submissions via our website, so click here to start the process

Category: How Things Work

Realprotect offers several ways you can make a change to your policy. You can click here to submit a change request via the website, email your account manager or simply give us a call at 800-579-0652 and a realprotect representative will be happy to assist!

Category: How Things Work

Yes, absolutely! Depending on which of our insurance company partners we have you with, we may write a brand-new policy for you, or we may add your new location to your existing policy. If you’ve got multiple properties you’d like to get covered, be sure to ask about setting up a portfolio policy!

Category: How Things Work

This may be our most frequent request. If your lender needs an updated copy of your policy, simply let us know.  You can contact us, email us at service@realprotect.com or give us a call and we’ll provide your lender what they need.

Category: How Things Work

We hate to see any of our clients go, but we understand that you sometimes sell your property or want to insure with someone different. In the event you need to cancel your policy, you can submit a request via our website, email us at service@realprotect.com or give us a call at 800-579-0652. We will typically have a form for you to sign and many of the insurers we represent will refund you most of your unearned premium.

Category: How Things Work

We get this question a lot as well, and we address it in more detail in the Billing section of our FAQ’s.

Sometimes, it is easiest just to give us a call at 800-579-0652 or reach out via our website. You can also email us at service@realprotect.com. If you’ve paid your bill but still receive an invoice, it is often the correspondence crossing in the mail. However, the realprotect team will help you clear up any billing questions you may have.

Category: How Things Work

Number 1…Don’t panic! Lenders change all the time, and there’s a good chance your lender has also reached out to us. However, if you receive correspondence from your lender, you can send us a copy of what you receive, and we’ll update our records to reflect the current information. You can email those requests to us at service@realprotect.com.

Coverage

Category: Coverage

One of the great things about working with realprotect is the flexibility we offer our policyholders. Most of the insurers realprotect works with allow you to pick the amount of coverage you’d like on your property, subject to their minimum requirements. We also can run a replacement cost estimator so that you can see what it would cost to replace your property(ies) with like kind and quality. Keep in mind that replacement value is independent of market value, so we may sometimes want to insure your property for a lot more than you paid. Market conditions vary across the country and fluctuate depending on the economy, so it is a good idea to review your coverage at least annually to make sure you’re properly insured!

For more information on replacement cost and the various ways realprotect can assist, please visit our Risk Management Toolbox.

Category: Coverage

We make every effort to offer policies that are compliant with your lenders requirements. The realprotect brand was built on assisting lenders and borrowers in obtaining loan-compliant coverage at affordable rates. Be sure to let realprotect know about any lender you’re working with so that we can design your policy to be compliant!

Category: Coverage

In general, if you have selected this coverage for your policy and you have a property insurance loss that makes your property uninhabitable, then your policy will pay you for the loss of income you suffer as a result of the loss. Most insurance companies will want a copy of a valid lease and/or a payment log that shows your tenant has been paying their rent on a consistent basis. Be sure to ask your claims adjuster about this when you’re discussing your claim with them.

Category: Coverage

Yes, however, we will typically need a bit more information to get this quoted. Be sure to let us know your property is a short-term rental so that we can include the necessary coverages to make sure you’re as fully protected as possible!

Category: Coverage

Your coverage can change depending on the occupancy status. Some realprotect insurers will not change your coverage or rates if your property is vacant, but others will change your coverage, depending on how long the property is vacant. It is important that you read your policy and understand how all parts of it work.

Have questions? Your realprotect representative is happy to help. Just contact us, email us at service@realprotect.com or give us a call at 800-579-0652 and we’ll walk you through your policy.

Tag: vacancy
Category: Coverage

Unfortunately, this is something you’ll need to handle with your previous insurance company. However, we like to make things as smooth as possible, so if you have any questions about the transition process, please let us know!

Category: Coverage

Be sure to talk with your realprotect agent or service representative about your coverage and pricing options. Generally, the more properties you have, the more options we have to help you meet your goals!

Claims

Category: Claims

The first step in the process is to file the claim via the realprotect website. Be sure to include as much information as possible when you file your claim, but if you don’t have certain information, that’s ok. The important thing is to make the initial filing. Keep in mind that any pre-existing damage is not covered, and if your tenant isn’t paying their rent for any reason other than a covered property loss, that is not a claim. 

Once your claim is filed, then you can expect to be contacted by your insurance company within 24-48 hours. Under the insurance contract, it is your obligation to prevent any further damage from occurring, and if your claim is covered, typically your policy will pay the cost to prevent further damage from happening. Be sure to take good pictures and keep samples of any damaged property, if possible. Once the field adjuster inspects the damage, then that information is turned over to the insurance company inside adjuster for review and payment. The whole process can take several weeks to several months, depending on multiple factors, including the complexity of the claim, the catastrophic nature of the claim and many other circumstances. You can always reach out to realprotect for an update, and our office will do our best to answer any questions and to facilitate you being paid what is owed, as quickly as possible.

Category: Claims

Yes, your claims history can have a direct impact on your rates. Be sure to check your policy deductible before filing your claim. If the cost to repair is less than your deductible, then we don’t suggest you file a claim.

Category: Claims

The best way to get an update is to contact your field adjuster or the company’s inside adjuster. If you need help finding this information, feel free to reach out to realprotect via our website (link to contact us), service@realprotect.com or via phone at 800-579-0652.

Category: Claims

When you initially submit your claim online, you can upload any documents you have via the claim submission form. Any documents you have subsequent to the initial filing can typically be emailed directly to your adjuster(s).

Category: Claims

You are always welcome to give us a call at 800-579-0652 and one of our realprotect representatives can assist.

Category: Claims

If your property does have an active mortgage, then in addition to you, any current mortgage holder will be listed on your check. This is an obligation under the insurance contract and in your mortgage. Typically, your lender will provide you with an address to send the check to and they will endorse it and send it back to you. It is very important that you let your lender know if you have a claim. If you have any questions about this process, we suggest you contact your lender.

Category: Claims

Just because a tenant decides to not pay rent and defaults on the lease does not mean that you have a claim under your realprotect policy. If you have selected loss of rental income coverage, this typically only pays in the event that a property is uninhabitable due to a covered insurance loss.  

If you’re interested in insuring your tenant default risk, then realprotect has partnered with Get Covered to help you insure this risk. Click here to check out Get Covered and their coverage and pricing options!

Tags: renter, tenant

Billing

Category: Billing

The answer to this question depends on the insurer we have your coverage with. Most of our carriers will accept ACH or all major credit cards. Keep in mind that some fees may apply, especially on credit card payments. If you have a monthly billing option, then most carriers will set you up on an automatic ACH or debit, but some of our carriers will also accept paper checks. Of course, you can always call realprotect at 800-579-0652 or send us an email at service@realprotect.com.

Category: Billing

Again, this depends on the insurer that writes your coverage. If you have a policy with one property only, then more than likely we only offer an annual bill option. Keep in mind that many of our insurers do offer a premium refund if you have any unearned premium; we often see this if you’re fixing and flipping a property.  

If you’ve got a portfolio policy, then we can often offer a monthly payment option. Be sure to speak with your realprotect agent or account manager for more information!

Category: Billing

Your insurer likes to keep you in the loop to make sure you’re aware that the billing has gone out. Sometimes, you’re simply copied so that you know your lender is being billed; however, if your lender doesn’t pay the bill, or if there’s not an escrow account set-up, it is ultimately your responsibility to make sure your premium is paid so that coverage can continue. If you ever have any questions about a bill, we highly recommend you call our office at 800-579-0652 and one of our team members can assist!

Category: Billing

We suggest that you reach out to your mortgage company as quickly as possible to make sure they’ve received our invoice and have what they need to pay the bill. Sometimes, there is something that needs to be corrected on our end, and sometimes there may not be an insurance escrow account set-up. Ultimately, you as the policyholder are responsible for making sure the premium is paid, but we at realprotect will do everything we can to help you and your mortgage company get the invoice remitted. Please understand that your lender may not provide realprotect details on your account as it relates to insurance payments, so you as the account holder will need to contact them.

As always, you can contact us, email us at service@realprotect.com or give us a call at 800-579-0652 if you need additional assistance.

Category: Billing

This depends on your insurer, but typically all refunds are processed and returned within 90 days of cancellation. Most of our carriers are much faster than that, but sometimes there it can take a while. Rest assured, realprotect wants to help you get your refund as quickly as possible!

Tag: refunds

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Hurricane satellite view

Immediate binding restrictions are being implemented by our carriers for Tropical Storm 18 which will restrict the issuance of new business and coverage changes to all existing business. These restrictions will cover suspensions in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi at this time and could impact the other areas in the near future. 

Please check with your account manager or sales executive for your particular area. Quotes on new business will also be halted in these areas. We will continue to monitor these restrictions and will post updates on our site as they are lifted.

For more information, please visit the National Hurricane Center’s website at www.nhc.noaa.gov.