​Watch and Learn:  Want more tips to save time and get the most from your auto coverage? Test-drive our video, “The I’s on Insurance: The Claim Game—Auto Insurance.” 
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Homeowner (HO) insurance coverage, which protects against damage to household property and provides liability protection, is quite standardized. In other words, different insurance companies offer HO coverage in, essentially, the same manner.

A key issue for coverage is that the policyholder must live at the residence premises. Such premises are commonly defined in policies. Wording used in many HO forms define the residence premises as the dwelling “where you reside.” These three words create substantial consequences.

There are several instances where a named insured’s living arrangement may result in a loss of HO protection. Consider the following:

• A home with a person residing there as the result of a trust agreement
• A home’s owners are permanently residing at an assisted living facility and their children live in the home.
• A home is sold; the owners move to their new home, but permit the buyers to live in the previous resident until the closing.

In such situations, the named insured does not live at the location described in the policy. While some insurance companies treat these instances as a matter of whether the homes are still desirable to cover, other companies have denied claims. The basis for denial is that, at the time of loss, the named insured was not a dwelling resident.

It is important that agents be aware of changes in living circumstances and that policyholders report these changes promptly. Coverage gaps may be handled in various ways such as the use of a trust endorsement, voluntary acceptance of the living arrangement by an insurer to maintain coverage or replacing an HO with a dwelling fire policy. However, a basic dwelling policy lacks liability protection, so it would have to be arranged separately.

As mentioned above, coverage for losses depend upon “residence,” a term that often has a special definition. A common definition used by many homeowner insurance companies is a requirement that the policyholder be actively residing in the home. However, there has been confusion over WHEN such residency is required.

Over the years, many losses have been denied due to homeowner residency, creating litigation. Courts have not been consistent in clarifying things. Insurers, on their part, have been seeking stronger, clearer policy language. In response, policy language has been introduced in the hope of creating better understanding of how HO coverage applies with regard to residency as well as to offer options to deal with different residency situations.

Insurance language is now being added to policies that define residency to mean that, at the time of a loss, the policyholder must have been living in their home at the inception (beginning) of a policy term. A real problem occurs if, for some reason, at the policy period’s start, the policyholder was not in the home (say the home was under construction or the home was just closed on in a sale and the new owners have yet to move in).

However, insurance companies are also beginning the use of options that can be added which changes the residency definition in different ways. For instance, one option changes the requirement to the policyholder residing in the home at the time of the loss. Another option allows reference to a specific time period to define residence. That option would allow a policyholder to share residency situations with an insurer in order that both are aware of what is happening with the home. For instance, the residence definition can be changed to accommodate a temporary status, such as a policyholder’s temporary residence in a rehab center or prolonged hospitalization.
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Of course, there could still be instances in which coverage may be endangered because of an unanticipated residency change, but the wider definition options should allow policyholders a better chance to make certain that coverage is available when a loss occurs. Now more than ever, it is VERY important to read your policy and, if needed, get the help from one of our insurance agents.

​Advertisements for cheap car insurance seem to be everywhere. Is this good enough for you?
​It is a misconception that all auto insurance policies are the same. For some people, the least expensive policy is good enough. However, it is best to customize the policy to meet the specific needs of your vehicle and your lifestyle. How do you know what is too cheap and what is just right for you then?
What Your Policy Needs to Do for You
When choosing car insurance, there are a few key things to look for to determine if it is the right one for your needs. Put price aside for a moment. Only after you consider coverage, then you can compare providers to determine which offers the best price for that amount of protection. Here are a few things to consider.
Do You Have a Loan or Are You Leasing the Car?
Those who have a lease or loan on their vehicle may have a requirement from the title holder to carry full coverage. This generally includes:

• Comprehensive coverage
• Collision insurance
• Liability insurance
• Underinsured and uninsured coverage

These policies protect the value of the car. This is the value the title holder cares about. They don't want to lose their investment in your vehicle, after all.
Does the Vehicle Have Value?
​If you do not have a loan or lease, consider the value of the car. If the car was not possible to repair in an accident, could you easily replace it? If it would cause financial hardship for you to lose the car like this, it may be worth considering collision insurance and comprehensive coverage. Collision insurance covers damage to your car if you hit something. Comprehensive covers the vehicle from losses such as fire and theft.
How Much Liability Insurance Do You Need?
​One of the ways some companies offer very low-cost auto insurance is by providing you with just the state minimum requirement. However, this is a big risk. A simple accident can cause significantly more damage than this basic policy can cover. In an accident, the lowest car insurance may not cover all of the losses you need it to. This means you may have to pay out of pocket for it.
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Is cheap car insurance a good thing? It can be if you do not have a lot of value in the vehicle. However, a customized auto insurance policy is best. Work with one of our agents to obtain one.

You generally only need give the other driver your name and information (name & phone number of your insurance company).

• Would you give a stranger your driver’s license number?
• Would you let a stranger photograph your driver’s license?
• Would you give a stranger your home address?
• Would you give a stranger your home phone number?
• Did you know that some accidents are staged just to steal your personal information?

Take steps to protect yourself, your property and your identity
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has developed a mobile application – “Wreck-Check” to help you take the guesswork out of what information to share. It’s free and available for both iPhone & Android smartphones. 

​WreckCheck App for Smartphones
In the course of your lifetime, an auto accident is bound to happen. When it does, take some of the guesswork out of a tense situation with the NAIC's WreckCheck™. This free mobile app for iPhone® and Android® smartphones outlines what to do immediately following an accident and walks users through a step-by-step process to create their own accident report.
Don't have a smartphone? Download a printable accident checklist and other tips for staying calm, safe and smart on the road.

​Storms can be intense, causing damage to the structure of your home. You may walk outside to find your patio table shattered into pieces or it may be in the neighbor’s backyard. When this type of damage occurs, contact your home insurance agent. Your agent will work closely with you to better understand what occurred. You may be able to file a claim for it. When does it apply?
When Does Home Insurance Cover?
Home insurance does not provide coverage for normal wear and tear on these items. If your patio table suffers a crack as a result of age, that will not have protection. It also does not apply if someone in your home causes the damage. This might include a child hitting it, for example.
Rather, it applies in unexpected events including storms. It should provide financial protection for your patio furniture if it suffers damage due to lightning, fire or wind. If large hail hit the structure of your patio table shattering the glass, your coverage applies here, too.
What About Your Deductible?
Before you can obtain compensation for the losses, you must consider the deductible. Home insurance policies nearly always have one. This is the amount you are responsible for paying before the insurance company kicks in to pay the rest.
The key here is to know what your deductible is. Then, consider the value of your patio furniture. If the value isn’t significantly below the deductible, there is no benefit in filing a claim. You will not receive funds for it.
How Much Is Your Patio Furniture Worth?
Whether you have a wicker patio set or an elegant set of Adirondack chairs, your home insurance policy usually pays out based on the value of the items before the storm occurred. This takes into consideration depreciation since you purchased them. If your policy offers replacement cost coverage, on the other hand, they may pay enough for you to purchase a new piece of furniture similar to the one you have now.
When an event like this occurs, take pictures of what happened. Then, contact our insurance agency. We will walk you through the process of determining if you have coverage, what your deductible is, and how much you could receive for the loss. Storm damage is a typical type of coverage for most policies.