2016 | Boizelle Insurance Partnership - Page 2
3 Services Great Business Insurance Policies Offer
The very best business insurance policies offer you more than just a piece of paper outlining what they do and do not cover. They also offer valuable services that benefit your business in a variety of ways. These services should not only take care of you when something goes wrong but help you avoid it in the first place. Do you have a great business insurance policy? Find out for sure by thinking about how well it measures up when it comes to the following services.
1.Trusted advice: This is where your insurance agent should shine. Whether it’s quote time, claim time or anytime in between, your insurance agent should be someone you can count on. They should understand your business and its unique risks so they can recommend the right coverage. This matters because the last thing you want is a coverage gap that could put your business at financial risk.
How ERIE measures up: ERIE is represented by independent agents in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Like you, each agent is a local business owner who cares about the community. Your Boizelle Insurance agent will take the time to get to know you and your business so they can recommend the coverages your business really needs to be fully protected.
2. Risk control services: A good business insurance policy doesn’t just help you when bad things happen—it also helps you prevent bad things from happening in the first place. That’s where a risk control consultant comes in. Risk control consultants who work for an insurance company help business owners by evaluating potential hazards and recommending measures to help a customer reduce risks. Just a few of the ways they do that is by assisting with resources for the development of disaster recovery plans, conducting workplace surveys, providing resources to help a customer become aware of OSHA regulations that impact the business and more.
How ERIE measures up: As a part of many ERIE policies, you have access to a locally based risk control consultant who can evaluate potential risks in your business and recommend measures to help you reduce those risks. ERIE—which was the first insurance carrier to fly a drone to investigate a claim—was the first insurer to outfit commercial risk control consultants with Google Glass. ERIE recently conducted a test program of risk control consultants who used Google Glass during typical business visits.
3. Great claims services: Quick to act, compassionate, knowledgeable—these are all things that you want from your insurance company when it comes time to file a claim. Unfortunately, many people find out too late that their insurer’s claims service is less than stellar after going through a claim. To get an idea of whether your insurer will stand by you, talk to current customers who’ve been through a claim with that company. It’s also a good idea to check out ratings from respected research companies like J.D. Power.
How ERIE measures up: ERIE’s award-winning claims service has a reputation for getting customers back in business fast. That responsiveness is part of the ERIE mission of being Above all in Service®. It also helps that ERIE has claims offices in every state in which it does business, meaning help is never too far from home.
Not entirely convinced your business insurance policy is up to snuff? Then talk to Boizelle Insurance. We can evaluate your current policy and tell you more about the great services you should be getting in addition to great coverage.
By: Amanda Prischak, Erie Insurance
Read more3 Reasons to Get the Right Coverage, Right Now
Let me share a story with you about a friend of mine. Let’s call him “Brandon.” Recently, Brandon bought a new car, but opted out of certain coverages like gap insurance to save a little money on his monthly premium.
Unfortunately, he got into an accident and his car was deemed a total loss, less than a year after he bought it. He owed more than the car was worth and had to actually pay money to get out of his loan. Had Brandon been properly insured, his coverage would have helped him out so that he could have been less financially impacted.
Moral of the story? Being properly insured is something that everyone—even young adults—should think about. Here are three reasons why:
Peace of mind
No one ever wants anything bad to happen to them. However, sometimes not-so-great things come when we are least expecting it. The right amount of insurance coverage can help get you through tough times.
For me, the peace of mind that insurance brings helps me worry less about unexpected large bills.
Protection
You may say to yourself, “I’m young … what could I possibly have to insure at this point in my life?”
The answer is “a lot.” You have yourself (think liability insurance for when you drive, life, health, etc.), your car if you have one, your home or apartment–even your belongings that you’ve worked hard for, like your electronics, clothing, furniture and more.
Just because you can’t see the benefits of insurance right away like you can a tangible object, if you gamble and go without insurance, you could cost yourself more in the long run. By paying smaller amounts now through your insurance premium, you protect yourself from higher costs that may happen in the future. Think of it as a way to budget for the tougher times in life.
Support
When you buy insurance, you’re also getting an advocate to help you through a trying time.
An insurance company may be able to help you get the money related to an accident, find a mechanic, get through a travel problem, and more. Insurance professionals are experts in helping people through difficult situations.
Insurance is there to help you manage whatever life may throw at you in the future. Think of it as a way to budget for the tougher times that inevitably find us all at certain times.
By: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, Progressive Insurance
Read moreInsuring a Vacation Home
A vacation home can be a wonderful luxury and sometimes even a good investment, but there are some important factors to consider before making the leap into second-home ownership—such as insurance costs. Just like your primary home, you’ll need to insure your vacation home against burglary, fire, weather damage, liability and other risks. Because insurance can add significantly to the price of buying and owning a vacation home, you may want to consider the likely insurance costs before deciding on a specific property.
Key Factors Impacting Vacation Home Insurance Costs
For a number of reasons, insurance for a vacation home can be more expensive than the coverage on your primary residence. Notably, your second home may often be unoccupied, putting it at greater risk for theft, vandalism and undetected damage, like burst water pipes. When you shop for a vacation home, it’s important to recognize that the following factors will impact your insurance costs:
Location—The location of any home is always a factor in pricing insurance policies, but it can be especially significant for vacation homes. The very location that makes a vacation home desirable may also make it more expensive to insure. For instance, a ski house or hunting lodge in a remote or mountainous area could be at greater risk for damage due to wildfire. A beach house may be more exposed to wind damage or storm surge from a hurricane. These location-based risks will impact the price of coverage, and in some cases may even incur higher deductibles.
In addition, if the home is located in a flood zone, you’ll be required to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. Flood damage is not covered by standard homeowners insurance policies, but coverage is available from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and from some private insurance companies (like Boizelle Insurance). The cost of NFIP flood insurance for second homes has been increasing and there are also special surcharges that you will be required to pay. You can check the cost of flood insurance for a specific location by going to www.floodsmart.gov. You can also lower your insurance costs by choosing a location with less risk—for instance, further from the beach, down the mountain or in a gated community where there is security.
Type of Property—As is the case with any house, a vacation home’s age and types of building materials used will impact the cost of insurance. In addition, these costs will vary depending on whether your second home is a single-occupancy house, a condominium or a townhouse. A condominium, for instance, may have lower insurance costs because the homeowners association maintains and insures the exterior of the property and may provide security. Generally, the cost of insuring the structure of the unit will be included in the monthly maintenance fees. Your personal condo insurance will cover your belongings and specific areas of the unit listed in the policy.
Amenities—If your vacation home has a pool, hot tub or other special amenity that adds risk, you may pay a higher insurance premium. You may also want to purchase more liability protection as these items are considered “attractive nuisances” that lead to a higher probability of liability claims being filed.
Ways to Save on Second Home Insurance Costs
While the price of insurance will increase the total cost of ownership of a second home, there are steps that you can take to help make insurance more affordable:
- Bundle Your Policies—If you insure your second home with the same insurer that provides coverage for your primary residence, you may be able to save 5 to 10 percent.
- Install an Alarm System—A centrally monitored alarm system that detects both fire and break-ins can help lower the cost of insurance on your second home.
- Shop Around—Get at least three quotes for coverage on your second home. It pays to shop around, both when you first purchase a policy and before you renew your policy each year.
Will You Rent Your Property?
If you plan to rent your vacation home to others, your homeowners insurance costs will likely increase, and you may need to purchase additional coverage. Your insurance needs will depend on how often you rent out the property and for how long. For a one-time short-term rental, you may be able to add a simple extension (an “endorsement”) to your existing homeowners policy. On the other hand, if you plan to regularly rent out your second home, you may need separate business coverage or a landlord policy. While some rental services, such as Airbnb and VRBO, offer coverage for homeowners, it’s important to read the fine print to determine limits and exclusions.
Because renting your second home entails additional, more complex risks, it’s a good idea to consult with your insurance professional. Call Boizelle Insurance today!
Originally posted by: Insurance Information Institute
Read moreReduce Your Car Insurance Premiums
Writing a check for car insurance isn’t your favorite thing in the world. We get it. Here are a few tips to help you get great auto insurance coverage—while paying less:
- Drive Safely: Seems obvious, but it’s true. If you get into fewer accidents, your premiums are lower. We also offer First Accident Forgiveness so one little mishap won’t send your payments through the roof. Talk to us for details.
- Bundle: When you insure more with ERIE, we’re able to cut you a break on your premiums to thank you for your loyalty. Whether that means insuring multiple cars with us or buying life insurance with us, buying in bulk saves you money.
- Discounts: Ask us about what discounts you qualify for—you might be surprised. From discounts for college students and drivers 55+ to safe driver discounts, you can save in many ways.
- Lock it in: With ERIE Rate LockSM, your low, locked-in premium will never change—even if you submit a claim—until you add or remove a vehicle or driver, or change your primary residence.
At Erie Insurance, it’s our job to keep you safe and covered—but great coverage doesn’t have to break the bank.
Contact Boizelle Insurance to find out how you can reduce your premiums while keeping the level of protection you have learned to expect.
Originally Posted by: Erie Insurance
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