Can you not get Texas windstorm through USAA? I have all of my insurance through them, but I don't have to have windstorm.. not too many hurricanes here in GA.
You know I underwrite insurance so if you ever have any questions feel free to drop me a line. I underwrite casaulty insurance (workers' compensation, general liability and commercial auto) for National Accounts, so it's not personal lines - but I can tell you when your being fed a plate of poop.
USAA will pay up and most times it's no questions asked - you get the estimate and they pay. I had hail storm damage on my roof which is 6 years old this past May. They sent a guy here from Texas to estimate damages and he added stuff on there that I wasn't expecting. Total check came out to be $16K, and the roof replacement was $5400... I ended up pocketing almost $10,000. I called them to tell them that I didn't need that much, but they said to make sure I do all that the guy said needed to be replaced.
The first year I bought this house - May 2007 - I had lightning hit my AC condenser. They paid $2000 for a new unit, no questions asked. I expected my rates to go up, but each year they keep coming down. And I insure my house 20% more than what they think it will cost to rebuild. So if they think I have a $220,000 rebuild price - I set it to $264,000 and only pay about $50 more per year. When you go to rebuild (hopefully it never happens), all they know is the square footage, materials used (floor coverings, outside coverings, number of floors, etc..) and the cost of materials on that date. So the more you have insured, the more money you have to get the house closer to the way it actually is and how much it will cost to rebuild. You also have a little wiggle room with the contractor to even redesign the house the way you want it.
