Two insurance issues could affect your clients and your transactions right now: a pause on new homeowners insurance in the Spokane area, and claims support for anyone whose property has been damaged. Here’s what you need to know to keep deals on track and help affected clients.
Since August 1, most carriers have stopped issuing new home insurance policies, binders, and in many cases even quotes, in Spokane and surrounding areas, including Nine Mile Falls (zip 99026), due to active wildfire risk. The restriction will lift once evacuation orders are cleared and the fires are contained, which could take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
There is currently no statewide moratorium in Washington. This affects Spokane and its immediate surroundings only; other parts of the state are unaffected.
Zip codes affected change daily and vary by carrier. With more than 2,000 insurance carriers writing policies in Washington, there is no single database of who is restricted where. Each carrier sets its own criteria, and a commonly used guideline is a moratorium within roughly 5 miles of an active fire, though that’s a general reference point, not a fixed rule.
Always confirm directly with the carrier for a specific property.
One carrier’s current moratorium list includes:
99021, 99026, 99131, 99137, 99138, 99205, 99208, 99212, 99217, 99218, 99224
This list will not match every insurer.
If a buyer already has a binder for a pending transaction, that binder is likely no longer valid under the current restrictions.
If they instead have a commitment, they may still be able to move forward to closing with insurance in place. Confirm which one your client has before assuming a deal is at risk.
If you have a pending transaction that requires new homeowners insurance to close, loop in your client’s lender and insurance agent early to confirm whether they hold a binder or a commitment, and check the zip code directly with the carrier. Closing could be delayed until restrictions lift. We’ll pass along updates as we receive them.
If a client’s home wasn’t damaged but they still lost income or incurred costs because of a sustained evacuation order, they may qualify for Civil Displacement coverage (or Additional Living Expenses/ALE), which many carriers offer. Encourage them to check with their insurance carrier directly to see if this benefit applies to their policy.
If your clients have suffered damage to a home, vehicle, or personal property, or have been displaced by evacuation orders, Alliant Insurance Services is available to help with the claims process.
(509) 325-3024
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Clients can also report claims directly to their carrier using the contact information below.
If a client’s carrier isn’t listed here, search “(Carrier Name) Claims” online.
1. Safety first. Don’t return to a property until authorities confirm it’s safe.
2. Report the claim promptly, with the policy number on hand if possible.
3. Document the damage with photos and video before making repairs or discarding damaged items.
4. Prevent further damage where it’s safe to do so, such as tarps or boarded windows, and keep receipts for any emergency repairs.
5. Save receipts for hotel stays, meals, and other living expenses. Many policies cover Additional Living Expenses (ALE) when a covered loss makes a home uninhabitable.
6. Start an inventory of damaged or destroyed belongings, with descriptions, purchase dates, and estimated values where known.
Clients with coverage questions, or who can’t reach their carrier, can also contact Alliant directly. They can advocate on the client’s behalf and help guide them through the process.