Home and Auto insurance were relatively straightforward for yesterday’s ‘typical American household” – Mom, Dad, and the kids. Today, economic pressures are leading more and more adults to move back in with their parents, double up with other families, or make room for elderly relatives. These multi-generational households and other nontraditional living arrangements can raise serious insurance issues.
In most states, when family members move in with relatives who have Homeowners (HO) insurance, their belongings will be covered under the relative’s policy. However, if the individuals who move in are not related to their policyholder, their belongings probably won’t be insured.
With a rented apartment or house has Renters insurance, the coverage rules are different. In these cases, the policy won’t cover the property of a person who moves in with the renter, regardless of whether the two are related.
In a multigenerational household, or when multiple families live under one roof, whether or not you’re the homeowner, it makes sense to supplement standard Liability coverage under a your HO policy with a relatively inexpensive Personal Umbrella policy.
If you’re in a multiple-living situation, let your Auto insurance company know even if the other drivers have their own coverage and won’t be driving the cars your policy covers. Some car owners who house other drivers with checkered histories behind the wheel might wind up paying higher premiums, On the other hand, a roommate with a clean driving record could lead to multiple car discounts or other benefits.
Whether it’s Auto, HO, or Renters insurance, please let our agency know before you find yourself in an expanded or multigenerational household.
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Running a farm is a different kind of business with unique insurance needs. Farmland isn’t just a place to work, but a place to call home as well. Having the right kind of coverage depends on the situation of each family.
Although it may not give all of the benefits of a Farm Owners Policy, a Farm Dwelling coverage might just do the trick to keep you and your family protected.
Farm Dwelling Insurance can help pay for damages that occur to the building your living in and any attached structures, even if they’re rental properties. You may also get additional coverage to protect personal items and living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable.
Liability coverage and Medical Payments coverage may not be included in your policy. If your looking for a bit more coverage than what a Farm Dwelling Insurance will provide, you might look into getting a comprehensive Farm Owners policy.
Talk to an agent at Scurich Insurance to find out more about insurance solutions for your agribusiness.
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When it comes to buy Homeowners insurance in California, it’s easy to become confused by the wide variety of deductibles out there. If you’re stressing out over picking the right deductible, these basic guidelines can help you make a wise decision:
Homeowners often choose a deductible on their property as a percentage of its “insured value.” If this value is $100,000 and you choose a 2% deductible, you would pay the first $2,000 of any claim. Bear in mind that the dollar value of this percentage deductible will vary with any change in the insured value. The higher this value, the higher your deductible.
A split deductible gives homeowners the option of selecting a dollar value for different types of hazards. For example, you might choose to pay the first $500 of a fire damage claim, but only the first $300 for a loss from vandalism or theft. This lets you set priorities based on what types of damages you believe are most likely to occur. For example, if you live in an area that’s prone to fire or hailstorms, you might select a higher deductible for these potential hazards.
The size of the deductible depends on your circumstances and the type of policy you purchase. Choosing a higher deductible will reduce your premiums significantly. If you’re confident that you can afford small-scale claims (between $250 and $500), increasing your deductible will mean that you’ll pay a far lower premium that will coverage big-ticket losses (say, $1,000 and up).
Our Scurich Insurance Services Personal Insurance specialists would be happy to offer their advice on tailoring Homeowners deductibles to your needs. No charge, of course.
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Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn today and make sure that you also subscribe to receive our latest Blog Posts to your inbox.
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You’re facing a deadline to complete work under a major contract – when a voltage spike surges through your electrical lines, burning out computers and telephone equipment. How would you pay for replacing or repairing the damaged equipment, taking the steps needed to get back in production, and replacing lost income?
In today’s high-tech electronic world, more and more companies are buying Equipment Breakdown policies (formerly known as Boiler & Machinery insurance) to protect themselves against losses from a variety of mishaps that are sometimes unpredictable and often unavoidable: everything from mechanical failure or electrical short circuits to “arcing” (faulty wiring or motor burnout. The rapid growth of Internet marketing and “just in time” inventory make businesses more dependent than ever on computers – while critical data often exists only on the Internet or online databases that can’t be accessed when equipment breaks down.
Depending on their size and sophistication, some businesses include this coverage in their Property insurance, while other purchase it as an endorsement to the policy.
A comprehensive Equipment Breakdown policy should include:
- Reimbursement for the cost of repairing or replacing damaged equipment (Some policies also cover green construction, disposal and recycling methods)
- Replacement of income lost from downtime (“Business Interruption” or “Service Interruption” coverage)
- Assistance from your insurance carrier, ranging from maintenance guidelines and checklists and crisis planning templates to identifying sources for repairs, unusual parts, or replacement equipment that can be obtained quickly.
Our Business insurance experts would be happy to help you obtain a cost-effective Equipment policy that’s tailored to your needs. Just give us a call.
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Nearly six million traffic accidents occur in the U.S. every year – more than 16,000 a day (or one every 10 seconds).
If your company owns, operates, or uses motor vehicles – or if you have employees who use their cars for business purposes – you need Commercial Auto Insurance to provide financial protection against losses from mishaps that occur behind the wheel.
This valuable policy provides these coverages:
- Bodily Injury Liability pays the cost of bodily injury to others from accidents for which you are responsible. If you’re sued, it also pays your defense and court costs.
- Property Damage Liability picks up the tab for property damage to others for which you are responsible, as well as defense and court expenses.
- Personal Injury/Medical Payments usually covers medical and funeral expenses for bodily injury from an accident that involves an insured vehicle.
- Collision pays for a covered vehicle that is damaged by a collision with another vehicle or object.
- Comprehensive Coverage pays for a covered auto that is stolen or that is damaged by causes other than collision or reckless driving.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists covers injuries and, in some cases, property damage, when you’re involved in an accident with another person who either doesn’t have Auto Insurance or carry enough coverage.
Before you purchase or renew your Commercial Auto Insurance ask yourself these questions: 1) how much Liability Coverage you should buy, and 2) how large of a deductible should you choose?
We’d be happy to help you choose the most cost effective policy for your needs. Just give us a call at Scurich Insurance Services Today!
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