Archive for year: 2014

One of the fastest growing markets today is the home-based business. Residential policies do not provide coverage for businesses operating from home. We offer home office insurance extensions to eligible business classifications to bridge the gap between your residential policy and the needs of your small, commercial business.

Most standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover vacant properties, despite the fact that vacant homes and buildings are a common occurrence in many neighborhoods.

You might be surprised to learn that an insurance company could cancel your policy if a dwelling you own becomes vacant. Empty homes are riskier to insure because they are considered an “attractive nuisance” that appeals to vandals and thieves. Vacant homes also present numerous liability issues, such as the risk of injury to trespassers.

As a homeowner looking to insure a vacant home, you typically have two options: buy an endorsement to your existing homeowner’s policy or purchase a separate vacant-home insurance policy. We can place a short term policy on your vacant dwelling that will protect your investment until it sells or becomes occupied.

If your home is soon to be vacant, it’s important to notify your existing insurance agent of the change in the home’s status.

Tenant’s insurance protects your belongings and personal liability that your landlord’s policy does not cover. Even if you are renting on a temporary basis, tenant’s insurance will replace the contents of your rental unit in the event of an insurable loss.

As a tenant you could be held liable for damage caused to any part of the building you are renting. If you are found responsible and do not have insurance coverage, you could be faced with significant repair costs. Many landlords require that you have insurance to prevent this type of situation from occurring.

Tenant’s insurance also contributes to a claims-free history. Many insurance companies offer a discount if you have several years of insurance history without a claim.  A tenant’s policy can help you establish that insurance history.

Rented and seasonal dwellings are usually insured as a second location under your primary dwelling policy. Sometimes, however, these can be written as stand-alone policies. Although coverage is usually more limited than a homeowners policy, we have several markets that offer excellent coverage packages for vacation home insurance and rental insurance.