Avoiding Insurance Pitfalls: A Guide for Texas Property Managers

Managing properties in Texas comes with its share of challenges—from fluctuating weather conditions to tenant disputes and building maintenance. As a property manager, your job involves juggling these risks while keeping owners, tenants, and vendors happy. But one area where many property managers unintentionally fall short is insurance. Overlooking key details can leave your business exposed to significant financial and legal consequences.
At Strive Insurance, we work closely with Texas property managers to help them identify and avoid common insurance pitfalls. Here are five major ones to watch out for:


1. Underinsuring the Property
One of the most common mistakes is underestimating the cost to rebuild after a loss. With construction costs rising across Texas, your policy limits from a few years ago may no longer be adequate. If a fire or storm destroys part of the property, you could be stuck covering the difference between the insured value and the actual rebuild cost.
Solution: Schedule regular insurance reviews with your agent to update property valuations and ensure your policy keeps up with inflation and material costs.


2. Neglecting Liability Risks
Slip-and-falls, tenant injuries, or even crimes on the property can lead to lawsuits. Liability claims are not only expensive—they can also damage your reputation.
Solution: Make sure you have robust General Liability coverage and consider adding Umbrella Liability Insurance for additional protection. Also, verify that contractors working on your property carry their own liability insurance and workers' comp.


3. Gaps in Coverage for Tenant-Caused Damage
Some policies won’t cover damage caused by tenants, leaving you responsible for costly repairs. Whether it’s an unauthorized pet, a kitchen fire, or water damage, these exclusions can catch you off guard.
Solution: Ask your insurance agent to review your policy exclusions and recommend endorsements that fill in these gaps. Encouraging or requiring tenant renters’ insurance is also a smart move.


4. Skipping Cyber Insurance
Many property managers rely on digital systems for rent collection, maintenance requests, and tenant communication. If your systems are hacked or data is compromised, your liability and recovery costs could be massive.
Solution: Invest in a Cyber Liability Insurance policy. It’s affordable and helps cover recovery costs, legal fees, and notification requirements after a data breach.


5. Assuming the HOA’s Insurance Has You Covered
If you manage condos or townhomes, don’t rely on the homeowners’ association’s policy to protect your interests. HOA policies often only cover common areas, leaving you exposed.

Solution: Clarify responsibilities between your policy and the HOA’s master policy. Your agent can help make sure you’re not caught in a coverage gap.


Final Thoughts
Texas property managers face a complex insurance landscape, but the right guidance can make all the difference. At Strive Insurance, we specialize in helping property managers identify risks, close coverage gaps, and gain peace of mind.
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If you're unsure whether your current insurance setup is protecting you fully, let’s schedule a quick consultation. We’ll help you avoid the pitfalls—and build a stronger foundation for your business.