Security First Insurance

Florida has a higher risk of sinkholes than any other state in the country and it's important you have the right coverage for your home. Below are answers to questions you should be asking when considering the sinkhole coverage.

What's included in Security First Insurance's
base policy?

Our policy automatically includes coverage for damage to your home due to a "catastrophic ground collapse." Florida law affirms that catastrophic ground collapse does not occur until all of the following four conditions have been met:

• There is an abrupt collapse of the ground cover;
• There is a depression in the ground cover clearly visible to the naked eye;
• There is structural damage to the building, including the foundation; and
• The structure is condemned and ordered to be vacant by the local government agency responsible for issuing condemnation orders.

Are there additional coverages I should consider?

For an additional premium, and subject to a satisfactory inspection, you may purchase Optional Sinkhole Loss coverage for damage to your home from settlements called sinkhole activity. This includes movement or raveling of soils, sediments or rock material into underground voids (if the voids have been created by the effect of water on limestone or other rock formations). Damage to your home from other types of earth movement or settlement is not covered by this endorsement or the Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse coverage.

What do I need to do to purchase the additional Optional Sinkhole Loss Coverage?

Our sinkhole inspection program applies to all Florida homeowners requesting Optional Sinkhole Loss coverage and requires an interior and exterior inspection of your home. To start the process of obtaining this coverage the following steps must be completed by you and your insurance agent:

1. You must first pay your Security First Insurance policy premium.
2. You and your agent must sign our Optional Sinkhole Loss Coverage Disclosure Form.
3. Your insurance agent will order an inspection from SDII Global Corporation (SDII) by filling out an online application on the SDII Web site. Are you looking for an insurance agent? Click here.
4. The total cost of the inspection is $140. This is a one-time, non-refundable fee. You are required to pay $70 upon the order of your inspection. Security First Insurance will pay the remaining $70.
5. A representative of SDII will contact you for an appointment.
6. SDII will mail or e-mail a copy of the inspection to you and our Underwriting Department.
7. We will evaluate the inspection and notify you and your agent whether or not the coverage is available. If approved, you will receive a billing statement for the additional premium amount for the coverage and we will mail you revised policy documents.
8. If Optional Sinkhole Loss Coverage is not available, you may cancel your policy and your unearned policy premium will be refunded. The inspection fee is non-refundable and has no cash value.

When will the coverage become effective?

If the inspection is approved, the Optional Sinkhole Loss Coverage becomes effective on the date the inspection was conducted. The process will begin when the inspection has been paid and we've received the policy premium. The entire process may take up to 45 days.

What is included in the inspection?

The inspection is a comprehensive review of the condition of your home, your property, and to a limited extent, neighboring properties. The issues we look for are listed on the Optional Sinkhole Coverage Inspection Disclosure Form.

Please note that in the process of reviewing your sinkhole inspection, other underwriting issues may be brought to our attention including:

• Any violation of our underwriting guidelines
• Valuation discrepancies - an example of this is the Coverage A (Dwelling) amount on your policy. If after inspecting your home we determine that the coverage amount on your policy is not accurate, then this is a valuation discrepancy. This is just one example; other coverages on your policy apply.
• Existing damage due to any factor.
• Credits and discounts - we check to see if the discounts and credits visible in the inspection match those included in your policy.

For more information please call us toll-free at 877-333-9992.