Before you need it

    Before You Need It: The What-If House

    Walk through a fictional house and find the questions worth asking a licensed agent.

    The yard

    Your neighbor’s tree falls onto your fence. Who pays?

    Select a detail in the scene to read what it raises.

    Three things that decide this claim

    Cause: a healthy tree in a storm is an act of nature, and the claim stays on your policy. A tree the neighbor knew was dangerous can shift it.

    What it hit: a fence or the house usually opens both repair money and a little removal money. Open grass usually opens neither.

    Deductible: comes off first, and can be larger than the fence repair.

    Questions you may want to ask your licensed agent

    • If a neighbor’s tree damages my fence, what limit and deductible apply to the fence?
    • What does my policy pay to remove a fallen tree, and does it matter whether the tree hit something?
    • If a neighbor’s tree was dead or leaning before it fell, how would my policy handle the claim?

    That explains the situation. What does your policy say?

    A CoverageDecoder report takes your answers, and your policy if you upload it, and explains, without the insurance jargon, what it addresses, what it limits, what it leaves out, and what you pay first. Your questions for the agent come written, with an email ready to send.

    Start My ReportSee a sample report

    Works for homeowners, renters, condo and townhouse owners, and first-time buyers. No policy yet? The report works from your answers alone.

    Read the full fallen tree guide

    Sources for review:

    Texas Department of Insurance, FAQ: Homeowners insurance and disaster claims (updated September 15, 2025) https://www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/storms/home-damaged-faq.html

    Texas Department of Insurance, Does insurance cover fallen tree branches? (January 24, 2026) https://tdi.texas.gov/blog/fallen-tree-branches-and-insurance.html

    (link opens in a new tab). Sources are for review and general education.

    CoverageDecoder is educational only. It does not sell insurance and does not give advice about your specific policy. Your actual policy and a licensed agent control any decision.