If You’re a Homeowner in Texas, Check Out These Seven Websites!
The state of Texas is home to millions of homeowners. If you are one of them, consider yourself lucky. Owning a home is a quintessential part of the American dream, a great investment, and can help you take pride in your community.
Homeownership also comes with a variety of challenges and responsibilities. Some of these obstacles are simple, such as what color to paint the kitchen as your current coat begins to fade.
Others involve helping your household stay aware of potentially harmful weather or general upkeep with your home’s electrical or plumbing.
Thankfully, the Internet is here!
There are more resources than ever for homeowners that can help a first-time buyer as much as a seasoned property owner.
Freedom Insurance Group has been helping Texans insure their homes since 2005 and is proud to be a resource in a variety of ways. We know what Texans need and help homeowners like you get the most out of their homes.
Take a look at some of our favorite websites every homeowner in Texas will want to bookmark below!
1. Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)
Okay, hear us out. We know that this may feel a bit biased, but if there’s one thing we know it’s this—homeowners insurance is important, but it’s also very complex.
You may have the best of intentions and retain great home insurance coverage and then run into an issue when it’s time to submit a claim. Perhaps you are simply looking for tips and tricks about home insurance.
There are many different scenarios for which the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) may be of assistance, and it’s a great site to keep in mind. As a bonus, TDI encompasses not only home insurance, but many forms of protection including auto insurance, umbrella insurance, and more.
Another important point is that homeowners have rights. Texas law will protect homeowners in the event there are particular disputes or wrongdoings.
A huge point of importance for any homeowner is to be sure that the home insurance company you are enrolling with is a top-rated coverage provider.
Insurance brands are rated by independent companies to determine their ability to pay on time and in full after a claim. Failure to do so can result in difficulties for you as a homeowner looking to restore your loss.
TDI can help you understand your rights so that you can proceed according to the law and hold your insurance provider accountable.
Freedom Insurance Group is proud to offer our clients a range of 25+ top-rated insurance carriers for their needs. Homeowners are also welcome to contact us or directly ask an agent about all things insurance, as our experts are here to help.
2. Ready
Preparation is important for anything in life. The one thing we can count on is that disasters will eventually strike in some form or another. It is an unfortunate part of life, however, staying ready can help you and your household handle such adversities and overcome them.
The Ready campaign is a national public service campaign focusing on helping Americans stay informed and prepared for things such as severe weather, wildfires, flooding, winter weather, and much more.
If there is a disaster or emergency that you can think of, Ready is there to help you stay prepared. You can receive helpful hints on making plans for your home, opportunities for training and giving back, and there are even kid-friendly resources to keep everyone on the same page.
3. HomeAdvisor
Homes require a lot of maintenance. This is amplified for homeowners who are living in older homes, and in the state of Texas, our extreme weather doesn’t make things any easier.
HomeAdvisor is a great place to find professionals who are qualified to not only do the job but get it done right the first time.
It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned contractor, or barely capable of changing an air filter, there are many different components to your home.
Having the right expert on hand is a great idea for complex and unfamiliar jobs. Find a local, trusted handyman for everything from plumbing to roofing to landscaping and everything in between.
Whether you are in the heart of Hill Country, reside in North Texas, or are nestled near the Texan-Mexican border, you can search by zip code for any of your projects.
4. This Old House
For decades, This Old House has shown a plethora of home improvement projects across a litany of homes. Everything from important repairs to chic decorating tips can be found here, and it is a great stop for any DIYer.
There are other similar resources out there, more on that later, but elevating your house into a home and knowing how to handle small repairs are great tools for any homeowner.
Watch old episodes, learn home improvements from A-Z, or listen to podcasts covering a range of topics.
5. National Weather Service (NWS)
These days, everyone has their favorite weather app or a site in the palm of their hand. There are many different opinions and options. Local favorites near El Paso, Midland, Corpus Christi, and Amarillo are likely to vary.
However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service delivers important, official weather mandates that can come in handy, especially for extreme weather.
For example, your favorite radar may show bands of storms and rain passing through, but the National Weather Service and its many facets can help you better understand the hurricane you are living through.
Or evacuating from, because the National Weather Service has informed you it is time to leave. Either way, NOAA’s NWS is a great resource for you and your family.
6. Magnolia
It is impossible to think of Waco, Texas, these days without images of Chip and Joanna Gaines popping into your head. This Baylor University power couple started breathing life into older homes and won the hearts of viewers around the world.
Today, there are plenty of infamous destinations under the Magnolia brand as well as a flourishing network that helps anyone get in tune with their home renovation side.
Online, the Magnolia brand has amazing blog posts filled with tips and tricks, and even individual workshops that can be purchased to help you with home improvement and decorating projects.
Fans can also enjoy watching various shows from the Magnolia Network. If you are looking for ways to make your house a home, look no further than Texas’s own to help you along your journey.
7. Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
Last, but certainly not least, is the TDHCA. This Texas state agency helps homeowners maintain affordable housing. There are programs, resources to help you understand your rights, real estate analysis, and more to take advantage of.
This is an underrated tool that many homeowners may never give another thought, but in a time of need, the TDHCA can help you in tremendous ways.