Get Ready for Winter: Checklist

Although the first lake effect snow storm is around the corner – it’s never too late to ensure you are ready for winter! These simple steps can help reduce your chances of damage or other related issues that come with the fun of winter weather!

If you have any other tips and tricks for winterizing your home – we’d love to hear from you! Send an email to [email protected]!

Back-to-School Insurance Checklist

As the back-to-school season approaches, it’s not just school supplies and textbooks that you need to prepare. Ensuring your family’s safety and security should also be a top priority. From auto insurance to cybersecurity protection, safeguarding your family, home, and assets with the right insurance coverage is essential for a worry-free school year.

Auto Insurance

Ensure your child’s well-being and financial stability for the new school year. Enroll them in a safe driving course and thoroughly assess your auto insurance for complete coverage. Modify policies for unused vehicles and explore comprehensive collision coverage for college-bound drivers. By taking these proactive measures, you can provide essential protection and peace of mind while they focus on their education and new experiences ahead.

Cybersecurity Insurance

Investing in identity theft protection is a prudent decision in this age of technology and prevalent online platforms. Look for plans offering comprehensive features such as credit monitoring, fraud alerts, and assistance in identity theft. By taking these precautionary steps, you can safeguard your personal information and mitigate the risks associated with identity theft, ensuring a safer digital experience.

Health Insurance

Safeguard your family’s well-being and enjoy peace of mind by securing the right health insurance coverage, especially if your child is heading off to college. Ensure they have a comprehensive plan that extends its protection to wherever they are studying, protecting their health and safety regardless of the distance. Taking this essential step will provide you with the confidence that your loved ones are adequately cared for, even when they are away from home pursuing their educational journey.

Home/Renters Insurance

Ensure your home/renter’s insurance covers laptops, tablets, and valuables adequately by reviewing and increasing limits as needed. Keep a documented inventory for seamless claims processing. College students should strongly consider renters insurance for off-campus living, while also taking security precautions such as locking their rooms and leaving high-value items at home. These measures will protect your family’s belongings and provide peace of mind during the college years.

Liability Insurance

If your child is living in a rental property or off-campus, it’s highly advisable to secure renter’s insurance that includes liability coverage. This essential coverage will protect them in the event of accidents or damages to the property they are renting, offering valuable peace of mind and financial security during their living arrangements.

Navigating Rising Insurance Rates

Have you noticed a fluctuation in your insurance rates, despite making any policy changes? These changes can occur due to labor costs, economic changes, shifting weather patterns, and other external factors. Discover why your insurance rates have changed and how to save on your Premiums.

Why do Insurance Rates Rise?

Policy Changes

Reporting increases in your home’s value or adjusting policy limits, can lead to higher premiums as it makes your home more expensive to insure, increasing your coverage responsibility.

 

Material Costs

The cost of building supplies can increase due to supply chain problems, inflation, or other economic factors, resulting in higher insurance costs when repairing or restoring your home or vehicle after a loss.

 

Labor Costs

As skilled laborers raise their rates, the cost of repairs also rises, contributing to the overall increase in insurance premiums.

Severe Accidents

Rising accident rates drive insurance premiums higher, regardless of your personal driving record. Living in areas with high accident rates also impacts premiums.

 

Relocating

Relocating to areas with higher accident rates or increased traffic can influence insurance premiums based on location-based risk levels.

 

Uninsured Drivers

Accidents involving uninsured drivers can lead to more financial responsibility for you and your insurance provider, potentially resulting in rate hikes. These combined factors contribute to the overall increase in car insurance costs.

Bad Weather:

Severe weather significantly impacts insurance policies, covering incidents like tornadoes, hailstorms, and wildfires. The U.S. has witnessed 10 or more billion-dollar disasters annually for the past eight years, affecting both home and auto insurance rates. As climate changes continue, insurance premiums nationwide are adjusting to managing the rising risks associated with extreme weather events.

How to Save on Insurance Premiums

Review Your Policy

Update your policy to ensure appropriate coverage and avoid paying for unnecessary items.

 

Increase Your Deductible

A deductible is the amount you pay after a loss. By increasing your deductible, you take on more responsibility after an accident. However, it can lower your monthly insurance costs if you are a safe driver unlikely to cause at-fault accidents.

 

Prevent a Loss

Prevent insurance rate increases by installing safety features in your home and car. Consider safe driving devices and take a defensive driving course. Take proactive measures to reduce risks and potentially qualify you for insurance discounts.

 

Ask About Discounts

Insurance providers commonly offer discounts for safe driving, loyalty, and multi-vehicle policies. Speak with an agent to help you find and enroll in all available discounts.

 

Pay in Full

Save on auto insurance premiums by choosing payment options wisely. Insurance providers often offer discounts for paying in full upfront and setting up auto-pay can also lead to potential savings.

 

Bundle Your Policies

Save on insurance by bundling policies with one provider. Keeping homeowners, commercial, auto, and other coverage together rewards loyalty and simplifies claims while offering potential cost savings.

Common Insurance Needs for Summer Months

Whether you plan to take the summer off or your business is entering one of its busiest seasons, both individuals and business owners must protect themselves against unforeseen hazards that arise when the weather gets warmer. There are common insurance needs in the summer months that should be considered in the interest of mitigating risk and protecting your business and other valued assets from costly damage or claims.

FLOOD INSURANCE

Summer storms can cause major flooding during the warmer months. Because standard homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover damage caused by flooding, one of the most popular insurance needs in the summer months is supplemental flood insurance.

LIABILITY INSURANCE

From swimming in pools to jumping on trampolines, outdoor play increases during the summer months and so does the risk of accidents. Taking safety precautions like never letting children swim or play unattended and building gates around these play areas are important. But it’s also essential to ensure adequate liability coverage or umbrella insurance as part of your homeowners’ policy in the event that something goes wrong.

SHORT-TERM & LONG-TERM RENTAL INSURANCE COVERAGE

If you plan to rent out your primary residence or vacation home this summer, you should consider added protection. Adding a rider to an existing insurance policy and purchasing a business or landlord policy are just some of the ways you can protect against claims related to property damage, personal property theft or damage, or other costly events when renting your property.

HULL INSURANCE

Hull insurance covers damage to any remote control models or drones. This can include recreational usage or business usage (such as drone photography). Additionally, On-Boarding Insurance would cover damage to anything these devices would be carrying (such as a camera).

You may also want coverage to protect yourself from liability, should your vehicle damage any person or property.

Does Home Insurance Cover Foundation Problems?

If you have damage to your home’s foundation, you may think that your home insurance covers it since home insurance protects your home. Like other insurance claims, it depends on what happened.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

The best way to think about home insurance is that it covers you for disasters and sudden mishaps. Think things like a tornado or a fire. Home insurance does not cover maintenance issues. That’s things like a faulty AC or a roof developing a leak due to age.

Where Does Foundation Damage Fit Into Your Home Insurance Policy?

To figure out if you can file a claim for foundation damage, you need to figure out what happened. Cracks and other defects due to old age are generally not covered as a maintenance issue. Tree roots pressing into your foundation are also typically a maintenance issue since you can monitor your trees and proactively prevent root damage.

The following types of disasters are usually covered by your home insurance policy, so any resulting foundation damage would typically be covered.

•             Water damage from a broken pipe or water backup. You would need to carry coverage for the specific type of water damage that caused damage to your foundation.

•             Falling trees or any other objects that impact your foundation.

•             A covered structural collapse that cracks or separates your foundation.

•             Gas explosions and fires.

If you want to be covered for an earthquake or other earth movement, you probably need to add earthquake coverage to your main home insurance policy or buy a separate earthquake coverage. Most home insurance policies exclude earthquake damage.

Similarly, foundation damaged caused by floods due to storm surge, rain or overflowing rivers typically isn’t covered by a basic home insurance policy. You’d need to carry flood insurance.

What if You Need to Move Out for Repairs?

Foundation repairs often involve major structural work to your home that could cause you to temporarily have to move out. If your home insurance covers your claim for the repairs, it may also help with any additional living expenses. Some policies include additional living expenses by default, and others allow you to add it as an additional option.

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