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Homeowners Insurance: Covered or Not Covered?

5/28/2021

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​What is Covered
Your coverage will not kick in unless you experience a loss that is caused by a specific peril, or reason for loss, that your policy covers. For most policies, the list of covered perils includes:
  • Fire, smoke, wind, hail, lightning, explosions.
  • Theft or vandalism.
  • Trees and other falling objects.
  • Weight of ice, snow and sleet.
  • Damage from an aircraft, car or vehicle.
  • Water damage caused by a ruptured pipe.
What is Not Covered
Some common perils occur with such frequency and predictability in certain areas that they are subject to exclusion from basic coverage. The most notable excluded perils include:
  • Floods or sewers that back up into the home.
  • Land movement, including earthquakes, landslides and mudflows.
  • Damage from pets, birds, rodents or insects.
  • Pollution damage.
  • Deliberate damage to the home.
  • Normal wear and tear.
Most of these are fairly clear-cut perils, but many people get confused by the types of water damage perils, as defined by insurance companies. They make a clear distinction between sudden water damage caused by a ruptured pipe (covered) and gradual water damage caused by rising floodwaters that seep into a home (not covered).
Pulling It All Together
For far too many homeowners, insurance is just another piece of paper that is signed and filed away, rarely to be thought of again. That is, until the worst happens. People who wait until they experience a loss before analyzing their own policies are not getting the full value – maybe little value – out of their countless premium payments.
Homeowners insurance is a financial covenant, but it should also be treated as a living, breathing entity to be nurtured over time. Only by reading the policy carefully, knowing your coverage limits and updating the property inventory can you ensure that your hard-earned dollars will keep that roof over your head – and another, stronger one after that. Our agency welcomes the opportunity to help you achieve that goal.
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What the Flood! An Online Quiz on Flood Insurance

5/26/2021

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The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) released an online quiz, “What the Flood!,” as part of its #YourRiskIsReal campaign, an ongoing effort to educate consumers about flood risks and the need to consider purchasing flood insurance.
The short, interactive quiz presents several insurance concepts in easy-to-understand terms. Sample questions include: “Is damage from a busted bathroom pipe and a burst levee covered by the same policy?” and “If a hurricane floods your car, do you file a claim with auto or home?”
Some erroneous beliefs about flood insurance commonly held by consumers include:
  • Myth: Homeowners insurance covers damage from floods.
  • Reality: Most homeowners and business insurance policies do not cover damage caused by flooding.
  • Myth: FEMA assistance is just as good as an insurance policy.
  • Reality: Not everyone will qualify for FEMA assistance after a disaster, and grants (averaging less than $8,000) are not enough to cover all costs after a flood.
  • Myth: Flooded homes are fine once they dry out.
  • Reality: Flooding can damage the foundation of a house, as well as the walls and subfloors, causing mold and other problems. Fixing the damage is expensive.
Take the quiz: https://naic.org/what_the_flood/index.html
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​How to build a Emergency Kit for your family

5/24/2021

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After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.
Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with the items on the checklist below. Download a printable version to take with you to the store. Once you take a look at the basic items consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or seniors.
More information at https://www.ready.gov/kit.
The safety of you & your family is first and foremost. Houses can be rebuilt especially if you have the proper insurance in place. Our agency can help you customize coverages to fit your insurance needs. Call us today, please don’t delay.
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Are You prepared for a Disaster?

5/21/2021

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Is your business ready to survive a disaster? Weather-related disasters cost the U.S. economy $91 billion in 2018 alone. In addition to hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires, you need to prepare for smaller-scale disasters, such as a broken pipe that floods your business or an electrical fire that destroys your inventory. Any of these catastrophes can put your small business out of commission—possibly for good. 
According to FEMA, between 40 and 60 percent of small businesses that close due to a natural disaster never re-open. Fortunately, taking some simple steps to prepare yourself, your store and your employees can help your business weather the storm (both literally and figuratively).
Proper insurance is your best assurance of being able to survive a disaster. Feel free to contact our agency for a no-obligation review of your business insurance needs.
Download this eGuide to learn how to create and implement a disaster plan for your retail business.
Click here to download eGuide
​
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Grilling Safety Tips

5/19/2021

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​When the warmer weather hits, there’s nothing better than the smell of food on the grill.
Seven out of every 10 adults in the U.S. have a grill or smoker*, which translates to a lot of tasty meals. But it also means there’s an increased risk of home fires.
In 2013-2017, fire departments went to an annual average of 10,200 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year, including 4,500 structure fires and 5,700 outside or unclassified fires. These fires caused an annual average of 10 civilian deaths, 160 civilian injuries and $123 million in direct property damage.
Grilling Safety Tips
https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Public-Education/Resources/Safety-tip-sheets/Grilling_safety_Tips.pdf
One more tip: it's time for an annual review of your insurance needs. We are great at finding coverage gaps and discounts that you deserve! Feel free to contact our agency from the comfort of your home.
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Home is where the Heart is ...

5/17/2021

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If you have just married or will soon, you are likely facing some complex insurance decisions. Getting smart about the insurance implications of combining lives and households can help you secure "happily ever after," and perhaps even save money. To get smart about insurance together without tearing each other apart, you need resources.
Home is where the heart is …
  • New home or fixer-upper: A renovation investment of $5,000 or more can change a home's replacement value and your insurance needs. As you research coverage for your first home together, think about what the structure offers today... and tomorrow.
  • Where to live: Location, location, location doesn't only affect a home's resale value. Your address also impacts insurance rates, as does your home's construction type and square footage. Do your homework before crossing the threshold.
You have enough details to worry about without adding to the stress by searching for insurance. Let our agency do the searching for you. We represent many fine companies and can find affordable coverage customized for your insurance needs.
PLAY "I Do Adventures, Know Your Stuff"
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Those are not Christmas lights!

5/12/2021

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We Love to help Uninsured Drivers!
No Insurance?
Insurance Canceled?
Too Many Tickets?
They don't want you? We Do!
​We love helping Uninsured Drivers get legal.
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Warmer Weather calls for Boat Insurance

5/10/2021

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Essentially insurance is offered on a package basis, meaning that there is coverage for physical property as well as protection against the legal and financial consequences of injuring others or damaging property that belongs to others.
Property Coverage - Typically a boatowners policy covers:
  • Boats - Refers to property designed to travel on water and includes sails, its permanent equipment, spars and fittings.
  • Boating Equipment - Includes a wide variety of property that is used in conjunction with boats and it includes accessories. Items considered as equipment are property used for communication (radios), navigation, sonar, radar, outboard motors, dinghies, skis and sports equipment (recreational flotation devices) that are towed by boats and similar property. As a rule of thumb, the more related an item is to the ownership and use of a boat, the greater the justification to classify it as boating equipment.
  • Boat Trailers - Trailers used (and designed) for transporting boats (as defined by the policy).
This property must be owned by the person who is named as the policyholder. There are limited instances when such property that is temporarily in the policyholder’s possession also qualifies for coverage.
Items and situations that aren’t covered include boating property that is used in business activity, losses that involve races or competitions (an exception is made for sailboats) and boats that are used, full-time, as residences.
Liability Coverage - Besides protecting boating property, a boatowners policy also responds to claims or lawsuits caused when another person is injured, and /or when another person’s property is damaged or destroyed. An example would be a collision where the owner of a large speedboat collides with a person on a jet ski, seriously injuring the rider and demolishing the jet ski. The policy would handle both portions of such a loss. The liability portion would also provide a legal defense against lawsuits.
Another important coverage under the liability section is medical payments. This provides reimbursement for, typically, emergency or immediate medical treatment expense. Consider a person who slips on a boat deck and needs transportation to an emergency for treatment of a broken bone or concussion. Such costs would qualify under medical payments.
As is the case with property coverage, there are liability situations that are NOT covered by a boatowners policy, including losses that involve business activity, transmission of communicable disease, unauthorized operation of boating property, intentional acts, and criminal activity.
Boating property is a substantial investment and boatowners coverage is an efficient, affordable way to guard against accidental losses. Our agency has just the insurance you need. Call us today!
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​Why do I need Boat Insurance?

5/7/2021

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https://youtu.be/f9hL07XEt_s
There is nothing quite as relaxing as boating.
Boating can be a great summer activity, especially for people who live near lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
Because of the many dangers that are exposed around water, it is important for boat owners to make sure they are covered, when the unexpected happens.
Let us help you keep worry free, so that you are able to relax and enjoy the water, knowing you are well protected.
We have access to several products, enabling us to help you find the best coverage for you, with your specific needs in mind.
Here are just a few of the types of watercrafts that we can help provide coverage for: Small Boats, House Boats, Yachts, Mega Yachts, and Many More.
Let us help you give you peace of mind knowing your investment is well protected.
Please contact our agency today for a no obligation review of your insurance needs.
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Do You Need Flood Insurance?

5/5/2021

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​Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States, affecting every state. Flooding can be caused by storms, dams or levees breaking, new development changing how water flows above and below ground, snow-melt and much more.
Do You Need Flood Insurance?
Here are some important facts to keep in mind:
  • FACT: Homeowners and renters insurance does not typically cover flood damage.
  • FACT: More than 20 percent of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk flood zones.
  • FACT: Flood insurance can pay regardless of whether or not there is a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
  • FACT: Disaster assistance comes in two forms: a U.S. Small Business Administration loan, which must be paid back with interest, or a FEMA disaster grant, which is about $5,000 on average per household.  By comparison, the average flood insurance claim is nearly $30,000 and does not have to be repaid.
It’s easy to see that having flood insurance provides important recovery help.
Our agency can help you understand more about this important coverage. Stop by or call … we’re here for you!
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