Who can give me a straight answer on insuring my high-value Austin home?

Quick answer: You'll talk to a licensed agent, not a call center. When you send your information, I look at it myself and tell you plainly whether I think your home is a fit for the high-value carriers I work with, mainly Chubb and Liberty Mutual. I can't promise a price or that a policy will be issued until underwriting reviews it.

My specialty is high-value homes and high-net-worth individuals and families. I’m based in Colorado, licensed in Arizona and Texas. I work with homeowners in Austin and nearby areas, including West Lake Hills, Lakeway, and Round Rock.

Why responsiveness matters in Austin

Austin's housing market moves fast. People buy, close, and renovate on tight timelines, and insurance often turns into the last-minute item holding up a closing or a refinance. If you own or are buying a higher-value home here, you need someone who's responsive and knows what questions to ask so nothing gets missed.

My work rests on two things: being responsive and being straight with people. Home and auto are the lines I know best, and for most Austin households those two policies make up most of the coverage that matters.

What I actually do, step by step

1. You send the basics. Use the short Texas form below. Approximate home value and your current carrier are enough to start.

2. I reach out personally. I'll aim for the time you said works best.

3. I review what you have now. If you share your current declarations pages, I go through the dwelling limit, the deductibles, liability limits, and the endorsements and exclusions that tend to cause trouble later.

4. I tell you whether it's worth shopping. Sometimes what you have is fine, and I'll say so.

5. If it's worth it, I take it to market. I'll explain what each carrier needs (often an inspection or valuation for higher-value homes) and what the options would look like.

6. You decide. No pressure, and nothing gets bound until you approve it and the carrier accepts it.

Carriers I typically start with

For higher-value Austin homes, I usually start with Chubb and Liberty Mutual. Liberty Mutual can work for homes up to roughly $2 million in value. Other markets are also available through our agency network. Which carrier fits depends on the home, its claims history, and underwriting.

Texas questions worth asking out loud

I'm based in Colorado, licensed in Arizona and Texas. A few things come up with Texas homes that I make a point of raising:

• Mold. Mold coverage on Texas homeowners policies is often limited, excluded, or sold as a separate endorsement. Don't assume it's included. I'll show you exactly what your policy says, what the limit is, and whether an endorsement is available.

• Pools. Plenty of Austin homes have one. A pool raises your liability exposure, so I look at your home's liability limit and whether a personal umbrella policy makes sense on top of your home and auto.

• Home and auto together. Coordinating your home, auto, and umbrella liability limits so they line up keeps you from having gaps between policies.

• Flood. Standard homeowners policies generally don't cover flood. I write flood insurance in Texas too, and I'll go over whether it makes sense for your property.

• Rebuild cost versus market value. What a home would sell for and what it would cost to rebuild are two different numbers. For custom or higher-end homes, the rebuild figure is what drives your dwelling limit.

What high-value review can turn up

Here's a general example from my own work. It was a Colorado home, not a Texas client. The home was insured for $6 million, and the owner believed it couldn't be rebuilt for under $9 million. After a move to a high-value carrier, that carrier's own valuation came back at $9.9 million. Your numbers will differ, but it shows why I don't just copy the old dwelling limit onto a new quote.

The honest fine print

• I can't guarantee a price, a discount, or that a policy will be issued. All coverage is subject to underwriting, eligibility, and carrier availability.

• Nothing is bound until a carrier confirms it in writing.

• I write property and casualty insurance only: home, auto, umbrella, flood, and scheduled valuables. I don't offer life, health, or disability coverage.

Get your Austin home reviewed

Fill out the short form below or call 719-309-6439. You'll talk to a licensed agent, and I'll tell you honestly whether I can help.