Proper insurance coverage for your summer activities

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Insurance for your summer activitiesSummer is near! With the start of a new season, you may be looking forward to the activities that are typically enjoyed during the summer season. Whether you plan to take road trips, use your dirt bike or ATV, swim at your home or spending time on your boat, you may wait all year to enjoy these activities to the max.

Before summer season officially kicks off, it may be a nice time to discuss your insurance coverage for the most common summer activities.

Road Trips

If you plan to rent a car, it is important to understand what your personal auto insurance covers and what it doesn’t cover. If you aren’t sure, speak with an agent in our office. If your personal auto insurance policy contains comprehensive and collision coverage you can typically transfer that coverage to a temporary replacement like a rental vehicle.

One coverage you would be missing is loss of use coverage. If you get into an accident in the rental car, the rental car agency can charge you for loss of use while their vehicle is being repaired. You can purchase coverage for this through the rental agency.

If you only carry a liability policy on your personal auto insurance policy, you may have to purchase additional coverage to simply rent the car from the rental agency. Collision and comprehensive coverage will cover damages to the rental vehicle and are required to rent a car. If your policy doesn’t contain these coverages, you’ll need to purchase them from the rental agency.

Dirt Bikes, ATV, Boats, Electric Bikes and More

Some people wait all year to use these summer toys. These vehicles should have their own insurance policy and we can help you find affordable coverage.

Protecting yourself with an insurance policy that is specific to the vehicle you’re driving is important as you cannot rely on your insurance coverage from your home insurance, renters insurance or auto insurance policy if you get into an accident or injure someone while operating one of these vehicles.

Other Summer Activities

If you like to host parties at your home, are throwing a large event this summer like a wedding or your kids like to have their friends over to swim, you should know these activities can increase your risk for a liability claim.

Talk to an agent in our office about special event insurance policies for things like baby showers, bah mitzvahs, birthday parties and weddings. This is also a great time to discuss our next topic: Umbrella Insurance.

Umbrella Insurance

Purchasing an umbrella insurance policy offers you above and beyond insurance protection on your vehicle and homeowners policies all at an affordable price. Accidents happen and the total damage can add up quickly, exhausting your limits on your vehicle or home insurance policy.

Umbrella insurance offers another layer of protection if this happens. Talk to us about your insurance options. There are countless scenarios where this coverage can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Contact Our Agency for an Insurance Review

It’s our job to help ensure you have the best insurance coverage for your needs. Give us a call if it is time to review your auto, home, umbrella or specialty vehicle insurance.

Homeowner’s insurance discounts

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Home Insurance DiscountsWhether you are looking to purchase a new home or if you find your current home insurance premium is too high, our local, independent insurance agency can help. We represent the top home insurance carriers in the country. In one click, we can provide you with quotes from all of our carriers at once!

Here are the most common home insurance discounts you can receive:

Bundle your auto insurance with your home insurance: Bundling your auto and home insurance policies together with the same insurance carrier is our first discount we search for. If you have an existing auto insurance policy already, we can quote your home insurance with the same carrier. We can also provide you with a new quote for auto & home insurance with our other carriers.

Pay in Full: if you opt to pay your home insurance once a year, many insurance carriers will lower your premium. This also is the same for your auto insurance policy.

Longevity: Stay with the Same Insurance Carrier Year after Year: Many insurance carriers give a loyalty discount. If you have been with the same insurance carrier for years, you may be able to receive a lower home insurance premium. Talk to an agent in our office to see if you are qualify for a loyalty discount.

No Claims? Get Rewarded: You may see insurance carrier commercials promoting claims-free discounts. This is true! Each insurance carrier has their own set of criteria for rewarding their customers with discounts for being claims-free. Many times this means receiving a check in the mail throughout the year.

Military or Retired Discount: If you are in the military or recently retired, talk to an agent in our office to see if your insurance carrier can provide you with a discount.

Invest in Smart Home Devices: Many insurance carriers like it when homeowners invest in the safety of their home. This could include sensors for leaks or being able to lock your home when you’re off your property. Talk to us to see what your insurance carrier may provide.

Go Green: Many homeowners are investing in solar panels and it is earning them a home insurance discount. Other ways to earn a discount – upgrading your windows or appliances to being more energy efficient such as your windows, heat pumps or other appliances in your home.

Other ways to lower your premium:

Adjust your deductible: The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly or yearly home insurance premium. Yes, you would have to pay more out of pocket if you experienced a home insurance claim. However, if you see yourself as lower risk, it may be better for you to earn a monthly discount on your premium instead to save more money in the long run.

Keep your Credit Score High: Insurance carriers can view a good credit score as less risk. This can earn you a lower home insurance premium.

If you Live in an Old Home, Upgrades Can Lower Your Premium: some old homes have knob and tube wiring, which can increase your risk for a home fire. If you’ve upgraded your home electrical system, be sure your agent knows this was completed. It can lower your premium.

Call Our Agency for a Home Insurance Quote or Re-Quote

We want to make sure you are getting the best rate and coverage on your home insurance. Contact us to shop our home insurance rates.

8 Tips to Plan a Beautiful Summer Wedding

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Summer weddings are popular! If you’re one of the many people planning a wedding at this busy time of year, these tips can help.

Closeup view of the hands of three bridesmaids in pink holding pink and white floral bouquets.

June and August are two of the most popular wedding months. Warm weather and flowers make weddings more fun and more beautiful. Summer can be challenging, while reserving the venue and other services can be tricky.

Knowing how to manage the many challenges of planning a summer wedding can help make your big day a success. Here’s what to know about planning a beautiful summer wedding.

1. Set Your Budget

Spending too much on your wedding is easy, especially in the summer. Getting married at a time of year can mean paying more for photography, catering, and the venue. Set a budget before signing any contracts or choosing a venue. Once you know how much you can spend, you’ll be better positioned to decide what you can afford.

2. Start Planning In Advance

Venues and services get booked far in advance for summer weddings. Start planning your wedding at least one year ahead of time to get the venue and other services you want.

3. Be Flexible About Your Date

It may take a lot of work to get the venue you want on the date you want, especially if you’re aiming for a Saturday wedding. If you’re flexible about your wedding date, it may be easier to get your event on the schedule.

4. Prepare for Heat or Rain

It might be hot on the day you get married. Or, it might rain. Or both things could happen at once! If you’re planning an outdoor wedding or reception, heat and rain can impact everything from your hair to the quality of your food. Be prepared in advance for all types of weather.

5. Provide Shady or Indoor Locations

You might be planning an outdoor wedding, so provide your guests with sheltered areas where they can escape if the sun is burning or a misty rain falls. You might provide a tent, an indoor facility, or both.

6. Have Your Wedding During the Cooler Parts of the Day

Midday might seem like a logical time to get married, but it might also be the warmest. Planning your wedding for the morning or evening will allow you to escape the worst of the heat, so you can focus more on the ceremony and less on how hot it is.

7. Dress for the Weather

Some outfits are more comfortable in hot weather than others. Here’s what to watch for when choosing a dress or suit for the day:

  • Skip the train. The train on your dress may weigh it down and make you less comfortable. Avoid dresses with too much fabric.
  • Wear lightweight (and light-colored!) fabrics. Breathable fabrics will allow you to stay cool without sweating through your clothes, while light-colored fabrics will reflect the heat into the air rather than absorbing heat throughout the day.
  • Wear a crown of paper flowers (not real ones). If it’s too hot for a flower crown (which might wilt in the summer heat), consider a crown of paper flowers – or a tiara instead.

8. Consider Wedding Insurance

You can benefit from multiple types of wedding insurance at your summer wedding. Some types of wedding insurance cover injuries and others reimburse for cancelations or postponements. Both can be beneficial under certain circumstances. Call your insurance agent today to learn more.