An Umbrella Just in Time for Spring

An Umbrella Just in Time for Spring

Imagine driving home on a rainy night and running a red light, causing a crash. The other driver suffers severe injuries and sues for $750,000. Your auto insurance covers only $300,000, leaving you responsible for $450,000. Without an umbrella policy, you might have to drain savings, sell assets, or face wage garnishment.

With an umbrella policy, the extra $450,000 is covered, protecting your finances.

Other examples where an umbrella policy helps:

Slip-and-Fall at Home – A guest sues after slipping on your icy driveway.

Dog Bite Lawsuit – Your dog bites a neighbor, leading to a legal claim.

Social Media Defamation – Your teen’s post results in a lawsuit.

An umbrella policy provides affordable extra protection for unexpected liability claims that exceed your primary coverage.

Insurance Lapses Will Negatively Impact Your Insurance Score

Insurance Lapses Will Negatively Impact Your Insurance Score

For all of your insurance policies, it’s important to avoid insurance lapses because they will negatively impact your insurance score, which companies use to rate your premiums.

A lapse suggests you are high risk, which leads to higher premiums or difficulty obtaining coverage. Companies may decline to cover you, especially if you have multiple gaps in your history.  A lapse in your auto coverage may result in suspended license and fines.  If you’re uninsured during an accident, you will be personally liable for damages to peoples injuries and damaged property.

Reapplying for insurance after a lapse often results in higher costs and stricter terms. To avoid these issues, keep track of renewals, especially if you’re on auto-pay and just assume it’s paid. And if your Mortgage pays the Homeowners out of your escrow account, be sure you continue to pay the insurance after the mortgage is paid off. 

Protecting Your Home From Winter Water Damage

Protecting Your Home From Winter Water Damage

Gutter ice dams form when snow on a roof melts or when rainwater flows down to the eaves and refreezes, creating a barrier of ice.

This can cause water to pool behind the dam, leading to leaks and potential damage to both the roof and interior of the home. To prevent ice dams, homeowners should ensure proper attic insulation to maintain consistent roof temperatures, which helps prevent rapid melting of snow.

Regular gutter maintenance is also essential; gutters should be cleared of debris to allow for proper drainage. Installing heat cables along the roof’s edge can help prevent ice buildup, and using a roof rake to remove excess snow after heavy snowfall can further reduce the risk. By taking these proactive steps, homeowners can minimize the chances of ice dams and protect their homes from winter water damage.

Nothing Destroys Quite Like Water

Nothing Destroys Quite Like Water

Each year, 1 out of every 60 homeowners find that out the hard way.

Eighty-four percent of Homeowners have smoke detectors installed, fifty-one percent have Fire Alarms, forty-eight percent have security cameras, yet only seventeen percent have water sensors installed.  This is despite the fact that your home is 6-7 times more likely to experience water damage than it is a fire or a burglary.

Water sensors in your home are a valuable investment for several reasons and they’re very affordable.  Sensors help detect leaks early, preventing costly water damage and reducing repair expenses. By monitoring moisture levels, these sensors can alert homeowners to potential issues before they escalate.  The sensor will also enhance safety by preventing mold growth, which can lead to health problems. In the end, it helps turn a potentially major problem turned into a minor nuisance.

Why You Should Schedule Your Jewelry, Watches, Furs and Collections

Why You Should Schedule Your Jewelry, Watches, Furs and Collections

Homeowners insurance provides essential coverage, but it often falls short when it comes to high-value items like jewelry, watches, furs and collectibles.

Standard policies typically limit coverage for these items.  Scheduling these valuables ensures they receive proper protection. By adding a scheduled endorsement, or starting a separate policy, you can specify their value and receive coverage that reflects their true worth.

This means you won’t face the disappointment of underinsurance if a valuable piece goes missing or is damaged. Recent appraisals or bill of sale is usually requested to show details of item and value. Taking the time to schedule your valuables can provide peace of mind and financial security. Consult your insurance agent to ensure your prized possessions are adequately covered under your homeowners policy or give me a call and we offer stand-alone valuable  personal items policies.

Show Your Pride of Ownership

Show Your Pride of Ownership

My father would nicely have to say to our clients for many years, “your insurance policy is not a maintenance policy”.

Always be sure to show your pride of ownership on all of your property to avoid future headaches and also claims by being diligent in your maintenance plans. Here are some helpful tips:

Auto:

● Be sure defrosters work

● Ice scraper available

● Snow tires

● Test battery life at a local mechanic.

Homes:

● Clear leaves from gutters

● Fireplace cleaned & serviced by a professional

● Turn off exterior spigots & remove garden hoses

● Power wash to remove moss from siding

● Insulate pipes/keep cabinets open under sinks

● Trim branches near or above home

● Locate your water cut off valve

● Seal up skirting on homes- avoid unwanted critters from living below

Higher Deductibles

Higher Deductibles

Higher deductibles and cost sharing becoming a possible new normal in the insurance industry.

Higher deductibles encourage policyholders to be more cautious and proactive in preventing claims. When people have financial stake in the game, they are often more diligent in risk management, which leads to fewer claims and lower costs long term on both sides of the fence. Do not always react and call in a claim until you have some time to discuss it over with your Agent.

On the Homeowners side, the introduction of the ½ % and 1% deductibles was rolled out years ago and we may find ourselves seeing more of this trend throughout the industry. Some carry $1,000.00 for their collision deductible on the auto insurance for a $30,000 vehicle all while also carrying a deductible of $1000 for a $300,000 home. This is no longer sustainable. This is where the industry is going to shift to the 1%, meaning if your home is Insured for $300,000, you will then have a $3000 deductible. They believe this is in alignment with clients’ financial capacity.

So be aware of your deductible and remember that this will be your out of pocket cost if a claim occurred, so choose wisely for your future self!

Increasing Insurance Rates

Increasing Insurance Rates

Heads up neighbors!

During the first six months of 2023, $40 of the $53 billion paid claims were in the US. As you may have seen on the news, some large Insurance Companies are losing profitability and either shutting down operations altogether in some States or placing mandates on accepting any new business.

Instead, they are just looking to just ride out the inflation that is impacting payouts on both auto & home claims. It is an especially tough time for Kia & Hyundai owners and the Companies that insure them due to the high thefts recently with those vehicles & millions of paid claims.

It’s best right now to prepare for premiums across both auto & home to be on the rise for an extended period of time. Higher claims costs to companies mean higher premiums to you. With inflation impacting most all lines of insurance, hang on tight and be sure to maximize those discounts. Joanne Winkler lives in Fairview and is the owner of ESCO Insurance Agency.

Proper Coverage

Proper Coverage

It is always important to discuss with a professional to ensure you are properly covering your assets at all times.

Most consumers use the forbidden term in our industry “full coverage” but aren’t sure what that even means. North Carolina law requires that all registered vehicles must carry at least a minimum state requirement known as 30/60/25. This means that if you are found at fault for an accident that causes injuries, $30,000 would be the maximum paid out by your insurance company per person, with a maximum of $60,000 paid by your insurance company in total.

Many agents refuse to sell State Minimums. This is because if the injuries exceed the limits listed on your policy, you are then held responsible to cover the difference. This can mean personal lawsuits and/or garnishing of wages. Liability limits can range from State Minimum up to $1 million and are not a one-size-fits-all coverage. Best to always discuss with a professional to ensure you are properly covering your assets at all times.