A List of the most common questions asked about our services:

Questions are "Anchor Linked" Click on a question to automatically scroll down to the answer.

1. Can I bind a flood insurance policy?

2. How do I determine when a flood insurance policy will go into effect?

3. Are there exceptions to the 30 day waiting period?

4. Where can I get additional information regarding effective dates?

5. When is the Replacement Cost required on the flood insurance application?

6. How do I calculate the replacement cost?

7. On the application it asks if the building is the insured’s principal residence. How can I tell?

8. How can I tell if the building is Pre-FIRM or Post-FIRM?

9. When a building is in the course of construction, how do I determine the rating information?

10. Can I write a building in the course of construction on the Residential Condominium Building Association Policy?

11. When is an elevation certificate required?

12. Where do I get an elevation certificate?

13. Can the property owner or a representative of the property owner complete the elevation certificate?

14. If a surveyor does not fill in all of the necessary information on the elevation certificate and refuses to do so, what can we do?

15. I have old elevation certificates completed prior to 10-1-2000 when the new form became required. They do not have the diagram number or the lowest adjacent grade. Do I have to get and provide this information?

16. The community officials are using the old elevation certificates certifying the elevation data collected and placed in the community records prior to October 1, 2000, but the certification date being used is on or after October 1, 2000. Are we allowed to use these certificates?

17. When are photographs of the building required with a flood insurance application?

1. Q: Can I bind a flood insurance policy?

A: No.

Agents do not have the authority to bind flood insurance policies. Companies cannot give them this authorization. The only person that can bind a flood insurance policy is the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administrator.

2. Q: How do I determine when a flood insurance policy will go into effect?

A: There is a standard 30 day waiting period for new applications and for endorsements to increase coverage. If the application or endorsement form and the premium payment are received by us within 10 days of the agent sign date or if mailed by certified mail within 4 days of the agents sign date, then the waiting period will be calculated from the application or endorsement date.

If, however, the application or endorsement form and premium payment are not received within 10 days or are not mailed via certified mail within 4 days of the agents sign date, the waiting period will be calculated from the date we receive the application or endorsement and premium payment.

3. Q: Are there exceptions to the 30 day waiting period?

A: Yes.

If a new policy is requested in conjunction with the making, increasing, extension or renewal of a loan, the policy shall be effective at the time of loan closing, provided that the policy is applied for and the presentment of premium is made at or prior to loan closing. This applies to all buildings regardless of zone.

If the new policy is applied for as a result of a lender determining that a loan exists for a building in a Special Flood Hazard Area that does not have flood insurance and should be protected by flood insurance, coverage will go into effect upon completion of the application and the presentment of premium. In this case, the application and premium must be received within 10 days of the agents sign date or mailed via certified mail within 4 days of the agents sign date.

If the initial purchase of flood insurance is in connection with the revision or updating of a flood map, and the map revision now determines the property to be located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (previously it was not in a SFHA) coverage can go into effect for a 13 month period following the date of the map revision with a one day waiting period.

4. Q: Where can I get additional information regarding effective dates?

A: This information is located in the General Rules Section of the NFIP Flood Insurance Manual.

5. Q: When is the Replacement Cost required on the flood insurance application?

A: The estimated replacement cost of the building is required for all policies where there is building coverage. This includes condominium unit policies.

6. Q: How do I calculate the replacement cost?

A: This is the estimated cost to replace the building. It is not market value and does not include the cost of the land. It is strictly the estimated cost to reconstruct the building. The replacement cost should be calculated using the acceptable industry practices for other insurance lines.

7. Q: On the application it asks if the building is the insured’s principal residence. How can I tell?

A: The insured must reside in the building 80% of the year in order for the building to be considered their principal residence. If the insured has owned the building less than a year, they must have resided in the building 80% of the time since they took ownership.

8. Q: How can I tell if the building is Pre-FIRM or Post-FIRM?

A: Ask these questions:

a. Is the construction date of the building or the date of substantial improvement prior to 12-31-1974? If the answer is yes, the building is Pre-FIRM. You do not have to go any farther.

b. If the answer is no, determine the FIRM (Flood Insurance Rate Map) date for the community in which the property is located.

c. Is the construction date of the building on or after the FIRM date? If the answer is yes, the building is Post-FIRM. If the answer is no, the building is Pre-FIRM.

9. Q: When a building is in the course of construction, how do I determine the rating information?

A: The policy should be written using the plans. If the plans indicate there is to be an enclosure, the policy should be rated “with enclosure” unless there is documentation for compliant venting.

10. Q: Can I write a building in the course of construction on the Residential Condominium Building Association Policy?

A: A building in the course of construction cannot be written as a RCBAP unless the condominium association has been established and at least two units sold. Until this occurs, the building should be using “other residential” as the building occupancy on the General Property Form. One to four family buildings are written on the Dwelling Policy Form.

11. Q: When is an elevation certificate required?

A: Elevation Certificates must be submitted with flood insurance applications for properties of Post-FIRM construction located in Flood Zones A-1 through A-30, AE V, V-1 through V-30 and for buildings located in AO, AH and A unnumbered zones if the buildings have basements or enclosures.

12. Q: Where do I get an elevation certificate?

A: The information may be on file with the local building permit official in the community where the property is located. The builder (if known) may have the certificate. If the elevation certificate cannot be located, the insured may have to hire a licensed surveyor or engineer to complete the certificate.

13. Q: Can the property owner or a representative of the property owner complete the elevation certificate?

A: If the property is located in an AO zone or in an A un-numbered zone where there is no base flood elevation established, the property owner or a representative of the property owner may complete the elevation certificate. In all other instances the certificate must be completed by a licensed surveyor or engineer or a community official.

14. Q: If a surveyor does not fill in all of the necessary information on the elevation certificate and refuses to do so, what can we do?

A: Send the information to your NFS Customer Service Representative. They can notify the NFIP Bureau Underwriting Department. The Bureau will initiate contact with the surveyor on behalf of FIMA to make the surveyor aware of the importance of the information and to get the needed information.

15. Q: I have old elevation certificates completed prior to 10-1-2000 when the new form became required. They do not have the diagram number or the lowest adjacent grade. Do I have to get and provide this information?

A: Yes.

16. Q: The community officials are using the old elevation certificates certifying the elevation data collected and placed in the community records prior to October 1, 2000, but the certification date being used is on or after October 1, 2000. Are we allowed to use these certificates?

A: Yes . However, the community official must note on the elevation certificate that the information was collected before October 1, 2000.

17. Q: When are photographs of the building required with a flood insurance application?

A: Photographs (at least one of the front and one of the back) of each condominium building, clearly showing the rating floor must be submitted with the application. Also, photographs are required for “submit for rate” buildings.