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How Personal Umbrella Insurance can protect You

2/8/2022

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Your auto and home or renters insurance is there to protect you in the event of an accident — but are you sure you have enough liability coverage? 
Adding an umbrella policy, which goes above and beyond existing policies, could be a smart decision.  
Learn more about an umbrella policy, including examples of when you might need one and how to get started. 
What is umbrella insurance?
Umbrella insurance provides extra liability protection on top of what your automobile, homeowners or renters policy covers.  
For example, if someone sues you for a covered event and the loss exceeds your policy’s liability limit, your umbrella policy can cover those extra expenses. 
What does umbrella insurance cover?
Here’s another example: You’re driving home when a cyclist swerves out of the bike lane — and you can’t react fast enough to avoid hitting them. 
The cyclist sustains injuries and sues for medical expenses and lost wages. Unfortunately, your auto insurance policy maxes out in liability coverage, and the cyclist is seeking payment. Fortunately, you have an umbrella policy, so you don’t have to worry.  
Not only will an umbrella policy help in a situation like this,  you’ll have the same benefits if someone is injured while visiting your home. 
Who needs umbrella insurance?
Umbrella insurance can be a valuable tool if you have assets to protect. 
It can also provide quite a bit of coverage relative to the price, because you may need to carry the maximum liability coverage available for your auto, homeowners or renters policy before you can purchase an umbrella policy. 
​Get in touch with our agency today to discuss adding an umbrella policy or anything else.
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Why You Should Insure Your Mobile Home

8/2/2021

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It's important that mobile home owners understand they have different insurance coverage requirements. We provide mobile home insurance policies for all types of manufactured and mobile home owners. When you choose our agency, you will receive the following:
  • Customized coverage options for your mobile home insurance policy
  • Liability coverage if you are responsible for an accident on your property
  • Coverage for your mobile home insurance additions
Insurers commonly provide coverage for mobile/manufactured homes by modifying a conventional homeowner policy with provisions called endorsements. The endorsements change key definitions and other elements of a conventional policy to fit a mobile or manufactured home situation. The result is a modified homeowner package that protects the home, outbuildings (unattached garages, sheds, etc.) and personal property. They also provide insurance for personal liability. Regardless of the type of home you own or live in, it is important that you learn about the coverage options that are available. You may find that different policies vary considerably in coverage and price.

Coverage for mobile/manufactured homes is generally offered using two approaches. Some policies include a laundry list of items (or perils) that may cause a loss. Other policies protect your home against everything EXCEPT for a host of specified perils. Either approach includes liability coverage that protects you for injuries or losses to others which you accidentally cause.
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Our agency has very affordable policies with great coverage. Contact us today to see how much we can save you on your insurance needs.
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1 in 3 lie on auto insurance applications?

7/30/2021

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  • Most people agree that honesty is the best policy, but when it comes to filling out insurance applications, many consumers are willing to fudge the truth to get a better rate. According to a recent study, an estimated 35 million Americans have lied on an insurance application.
  • Almost one in three (29 percent) of the people who have lied on an insurance application have done so for car insurance. That amounts to 10.2 million Americans who were willing to lie to get the best coverage for the road.
  • Following car insurance, false information is most likely to appear on applications for health insurance (22 percent), life insurance (21 percent), income protection insurance (8 percent), travel insurance (7 percent), home and contents insurance (7 percent) and pet insurance (5 percent).
  • More men lie than women, but women are more likely than men to lie on an application in five of seven categories: health insurance, income protection insurance, travel insurance, home and contents insurance and pet insurance. Men lead women when it comes to lying on car insurance and life insurance applications.
  • Taking creative liberties on your insurance application may seem like an innocent white lie, but it’s actually considered fraud, and the repercussions can be serious. If found out you may be charged a higher premium, denied a policy, or even charged with fraud, requiring you to pay a fine or even do jail time.
There are numerous legitimate ways to save money on car insurance without lying. Let our agency do the for shopping around for you.
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When do I need Commercial Auto Insurance?

7/28/2021

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You need commercial auto insurance for any vehicle that your company uses for business purposes, any vehicle that has a commercial license plate or tag and any vehicle that is registered as a commercial auto.
You must also get commercial auto coverage if your employees will be driving or using vehicles in the course of doing business, whether making deliveries, driving people to the airport or running errands on behalf of the business.
If you use your vehicle for any of the following functions, you may also be required to get commercial coverage:
  • Using the vehicle to carry equipment
  • Transporting flammable or hazardous material
  • Transporting housekeeping equipment for business use
  • Using, carrying or transporting cranes, or a winch or plow
  • Hiring your vehicle out to tow other vehicles
  • Delivering any goods such as pizza or any form of wholesale or retail products
  • Delivering newspapers
  • Trucking and freight transportation
  • Transporting people as a chauffeur, limousine service or taxi service
Some situations and certain occupations may be covered under personal auto policies, but you should always ask our insurance agency if your vehicle use warrants a commercial policy.
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Do I need Renter's Insurance and How do I get it?

7/26/2021

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​Renters insurance may not be required, but having a policy is certainly a smart idea. Here are some reasons why you should have renter’s insurance.
Why you might need renter’s insurance
Avoid paying out of pocket for stolen or damaged goods.
Having to pay out of pocket for damaged or stolen personal items in your rented apartment, condo or house is not ideal for most tenants. Additionally, your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover your personal belongings, making a separate renters insurance policy necessary for full coverage.
Protect yourself from liability
Keep in mind that renter’s insurance doesn’t just apply to your belongings. It can also protect you from liability in a situation such as a guest being injured in your home. If you don’t foresee having the funds to cover expensive medical bills or legal fees on your own, renters insurance can come in handy.
How to get renters insurance
Estimate the value of your personal property
The monetary value of your personal belongings in your rented space may be more than you think. Take an inventory of every item in your space – from electronics to art to home goods to clothing. Estimate the current value of these items (not what you paid for them) and tally them up. This is a good way to approximate how much insurance you will need in the event your belongings are stolen or destroyed.
Get a renter’s insurance quote
Just call one of our experienced insurance agents to help determine the best coverage and plan for your financial situation. Remember that a higher deductible means a lower insurance premium and a lower deductible means a higher premium – plan your renters insurance budget accordingly.
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​Insurance Checklist Before Disaster Strikes

7/21/2021

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1. Verify your home is insured for its current value.
  • The biggest risk you may face if your home suffers major damage during a severe storm or tornado is being underinsured. With changing costs of construction materials and labor, home insurance reconstruction costs have increased over the years.
  • Some policies include guaranteed replacement cost, but the limit may be capped. Inquire about policy endorsements available to you to guarantee you are fully covered in a major loss.
2. Find out what kind of home insurance policy you have.
  • Do you have an All Risk or Open Perils policy to ensure the maximum protection for your home and personal property?
3.  Find out if you have a specific deductible in the event of a tornado or windstorm.
  • Higher risk areas may impose higher deductibles.
4. Understand the claims process before you have to make a claim.
  • Find out what the basis of claims payment will be. Do you have Replacement Cost, Actual Cash Value (ACV) or a Replacement Value with Cash Out Option? Cash Out options are less common and only available for high-end insurance policies.
5. Does your policy have any special limits or policy features?
  • You may want to purchase additional protection for valuable items, such as jewelry or collections.
6. Prepare an inventory of the contents in your home, including contents in additional structures like tool or garden sheds.
  • Take video while you walk around your property or take photos and store these in a safe place, ideally with copies off-site or in the possession of someone you can trust.
7. Find out what kind of coverage you have if there is a power failure.
8. Find out what your limit is for Additional Living Expenses (ALE) and how you can expect the coverage to work.
  • During a devastating loss, like damage to your home from a major windstorm or tornado, you may not be able to live in your home while repairs are done in the area, or to your property. This coverage will be vital in major losses. Homeowners who have a mortgage will still be expected to pay that loan back while the home is being rebuilt.
  • Additional living expenses cover the increased cost of living due to the displacement, and this includes that extra rent you will have to pay for your temporary home or the higher costs of food if you have to eat out because you don’t have a kitchen to make your meals in for a while.
9. Make sure your car insurance includes comprehensive coverage, for damage such as hail, falling objects and windstorms.
  • Vehicles are at risk to all kinds of damage in storms.
10. Ask if you have coverage for a rental car is your car needs repairs.
  • It’s nice to have insurance coverage that replaces or repairs the vehicle, but the time you spend without a car while you wait to get your vehicle back can be challenging. If you need your car during that time, it could cost you a lot of money to rent one. Coverage for a rental loaner, while your car is repaired, is not expensive to add to your policy.
11. If you have a vehicle in “storage” make sure you haven’t forgotten about coverage (or deleted coverage) while it’s in storage.
  • Liability coverage will not protect your car from physical damage that often occurs during storms and tornadoes.
12. If you sustain storm damage, contact your insurer as soon as possible and start the claims filing process.
  • After tornadoes and other disasters, insurance companies will reach out to those with the worst losses first.
13. Do you have flood insurance?
  • The risk of flood is substantial and it’s constantly and rapidly changing. Currently, only about 6% of the U.S. population is insured for the perils of flood.
  • Choosing flood insurance used to be a relatively simple decision. Property owners had two options: no insurance or one-size-fits-all, government-issued insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
  • Now, there are more choices. Private flood insurance is growing more robust, bringing new and relevant options that were never available before, such as coverage for additional living expenses, enhanced basement coverage and increased limits for various risk classes.
Our agency welcomes the opportunity to go over this checklist with you even if you are insured elsewhere. Don't wait until it's too late. Call us today.
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I'm going away on vacation!

7/21/2021

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  • When you leave your home empty, it is hard not to feel even more at risk for something to happen. In order to enjoy your time away on vacation, the best thing you can do is to leave your home knowing you have the proper home insurance coverage if something were to happen.
  • While there are some ways to avoid a break-in, like keeping some lights on or having a neighbor take in your mail and mow your lawn, you home is still susceptible to break-ins. This makes it a great time to check up on your coverage limits, such as the protection you have for your personal belongings, especially the valuable ones. Our agency can discuss scheduling these valuable items on a policy specific to the item, such as jewelry insurance or fine art insurance.
  • Another great insurance tip is to take a home inventory. Keep a list of items (with photos if you can) or simply take a video tour of your home to show your belongings. These are the best ways to be able to prove to your insurance company after a break-in, or other insurance issue, what you own. Talk with one of our agents to ensure your current coverage is enough.
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Why are car insurance rates going up?

7/19/2021

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​A common question asked of insurance agents is "Why are car insurance rates going up?"
This graphic shows the top 5 reasons.
​Are you ever guilty of one or more of them?
Fortunately, our agency represents many companies and uses software to find the best coverage to fit your budget.
​Call us today and see how much money you could be saving on your auto insurance.
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Auto Insurance Considerations for Boomers & Seniors

7/16/2021

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​There are benefits to growing older! At this life stage, you may be able to take advantage of several age-related discounts.
  • For example, as a mature driver (typically age 55 – 70), you may be eligible for discounts. After age 70, the incidence of serious accidents escalates significantly, so the discounts might cease.
  • Discounts may also be available for seniors who limit the amount of driving they do – for example, to less than 7,500 miles per year – or agree to only drive during daylight hours. When you retire or change jobs and work or stay closer to home – and, therefore, need to drive less – you should inform your insurance company. You may be able to get lower rates.
  • If you have worked for the same employer for many years, let your insurer know. Those who show stability in their employment may qualify for an auto premium discount.
  • If your children have turned 18, left home and are regularly not driving your vehicle, alert your insurance company, as your auto premiums may decrease.
  • Consider taking a senior driving refresher course, such as AARP’s 55Alive or a program run by the National Institute of Highway Safety or AAA. Participation in these programs may help you qualify for a discount.
  • Since your net worth may still be growing, or is at its highest at this stage of your life, consider whether it makes sense to purchase an “umbrella policy” to raise your auto liability coverage, for example to $1 million, in order to protect your assets.
  • If you are driving an older vehicle not worth much in current book value, consider dropping collision insurance. With older cars, the cost of collision coverage can exceed the value of the car.
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Life is unpredictable. It pays to know your stuff.

7/14/2021

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​Home insurance is important for both homeowners and renters. Homeowners need to purchase insurance to protect their homes and personal property. Those who rent need insurance to protect their furniture and personal property. Everyone needs protection against liability for accidents that injure other people or damage their property.
Whether you live in tornado alley, wildfire zones or along coastlines prone to flooding and hurricanes – now is the time to properly insure your home and possessions.
In recent years severe weather disasters across the country have inflicted more than $43 billion in damage. But research suggests more than half of consumers do not have an inventory of their possessions. Now is the time to make sure you have properly insured your 'stuff.'
Creating a simple home inventory helps you track what you own and what it is worth, making important insurance decisions easier.
How to create a home inventory
  • Group your possessions into logical categories, i.e., by hobby, by room in your home, etc.
  • Your list should include celebration purchases like jewelry and art, as well as everyday leisure items such as televisions and guitars.
  • Don't forget items you use rarely such as holiday decorations, sports equipment, tools, etc.
  • Pull together copies of original sales receipts and/or appraisal documents. Also note model and serial numbers.
  • Carefully photograph or videotape each item and document a brief description, including age, purchase price and estimated current value. Download a home inventory checklist (PDF).
  • Store your home inventory and related documents in a safe, easily accessible place online, on your computer or in a fire-proof box or safe deposit box. Consider sharing a copy with friends, relatives and your insurance provider.
    • The NAIC’s free myHOME Scr.APP.book downloadable app lets you quickly photograph and capture descriptions of your possessions room by room, then store your inventory electronically for safekeeping. The app is available for Android devices. Click here to watch the demonstration video.
A home inventory can be invaluable when deciding how much insurance coverage fits your life situation and makes sure you are adequately protected should you need to file a claim. Let our agency help you in making this decision.
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