Is Vandalism Covered By Your Car Insurance Policy?

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The most common type of damage that auto insurance companies pay out is damage caused by auto accidents. However, this isn’t the only type of damage that is covered. Here at Selkirk Insurance Services, serving the greater Sandpoint, ID region, we want to help you understand what is and is not covered. Here’s more information about whether your car insurance policy covers vandalism.

What Is Vandalism?

There are many ways that an automobile can be vandalized. Some of the most common include windows being broken out or shattered, the body being keyed or scratched, spray paint being used on the car, or tires being slashed. Your vehicle is also considered to have been vandalized if someone attempted to break in to steal it but failed, potentially damaging elements in your car, like the steering wheel column.

Does Your Car Insurance Policy cover Vandalism?

If you carry comprehensive coverage, sometimes called full coverage, your vehicle is protected against vandalism. If you have state minimum insurance, also known as liability-only policies, your vehicle will not be protected against vandalism. If you have a loan out on your car, your lender requires you to carry full coverage, and you will be covered. If you’re unsure if your policy covers vandalism, your insurance agent can read through your policy and help you better understand what is and is not covered.

Ready to Get the Auto Insurance Coverage You Need? Call Selkirk Insurance Services Today

Here at Selkirk Insurance Services, serving the greater Sandpoint, ID area, we want to help you find the insurance products you need. Call us today to discuss your auto insurance needs.

How Umbrella Insurance is Beneficial for Sandpoint’s Small Business Owners

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If you’re a small business owner in Sandpoint, ID, protecting your investment and commercial property against unexpected risks is essential to maintaining financial stability. Umbrella insurance can help provide an additional layer of liability coverage to cover high-cost incidents and extend beyond standard policy coverage solutions. If you’re interested in adding more protection and coverage to your business, Selkirk Insurance Services can help.

The Importance of Umbrella Insurance for Small Business Owners in Sandpoint, Idaho

If you’re a small business owner living in Sandpoint, Idaho, it’s important to know why you need umbrella insurance, whether you’re running a start-up or looking to grow an existing small to medium-sized business. Here are a few reasons why small business owners need umbrella insurance in Sandpoint:

  • Large Settlement Coverage: If you’re facing high settlement costs, it’s vital to have an umbrella insurance policy that can help cover what you may not be able to afford out-of-pocket. This can include lawsuits involving defamation, personal injury, or even property damage.
  • Protection: If you’re dealing with a lawsuit of any kind, umbrella insurance policies can provide additional protection and peace of mind by offering protection beyond standard insurance policies for businesses.
  • Risk Management Solutions: Whether you offer services as a professional freelancer or you own a retail store, umbrella insurance can support various small businesses in most industries today. The right umbrella insurance policy from Selkirk Insurance Services can cover liabilities that general commercial insurance policies don’t.

Assessing the specific challenges your particular business faces and may encounter is crucial when obtaining a suitable umbrella insurance policy that’s right for you. At Selkirk Insurance Services, we’re here to help protect your hard work by finding the right umbrella insurance policy that always offers adequate protection. For your quote and to learn more about umbrella insurance policies for your Sandpoint, ID business, contact Selkirk Insurance Services directly today.

Winter Storage Tips: Protecting Your Boat During the Off-Season

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As the boating season winds down, it’s time to consider safely storing your vessel for the winter months. At Selkirk Insurance Services, serving the community in and around Sandpoint, ID, we understand that proper storage is crucial to protecting your investment and ensuring smooth sailing next season.

Preparing Your Boat for Winter

The first step in winterizing your boat is a thorough cleaning. Remove any dirt, grime, and salt to prevent corrosion. Draining all water from the engine, pipes, and any onboard systems is essential to avoid freezing damage. Applying a coat of wax to the hull can provide an extra layer of protection against moisture.

Choosing the Right Storage Option

Deciding where to store your boat is a significant consideration. Indoor storage is ideal for maximum protection against the elements, but a high-quality cover is essential if that’s not possible. Ensure the cover is snug and secure to prevent any water from seeping in. Outdoor storage should include a sturdy frame to support the cover and prevent snow accumulation.

Maintenance During the Off-Season

Even while in storage, your boat needs occasional attention. Check on it periodically to ensure the cover remains secure, and there are no signs of pests. Ventilation is also important to prevent mold and mildew, so consider using a dehumidifier or moisture-absorbing products.

Let Us Help You Protect Your Boat Year Round

Protecting your boat during the off-season is vital for its longevity and performance. At Selkirk Insurance Services, we provide boat insurance in the greater Sandpoint, ID region. We offer comprehensive boat insurance to safeguard your vessel year-round. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help keep your boat safe and ready for your next adventure.

What Type of Liability Events Does Renters Insurance Cover?

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As a renter, you could be financially responsible and liable for certain situations. Even if you don’t own the property, you could be held liable since you’re renting the property. In these cases, the liability portion of your renter’s insurance comes in handy and helps you cover these expenses so you don’t have your assets frozen.

Pet Attack

One of the most common situations that happens with renters is pet attacks. If you’re a pet owner and you have visitors coming to your home, the potential for a pet attack is high, especially if your pet doesn’t do well with visitors or that person brings a pet onto your property. You can cover any medical expenses or personal property damages resulting from your pet attack with liability coverage.

Falling

If you have guests over, ensuring your home is tidy and that you’re in a secure area is essential. If your guests happen to fall because you were negligent with your property, like leaving furniture out or not mopping up spills, you could be found liable for someone falling and getting hurt while visiting.

Theft or Damage

If the home you’re renting is vandalized or stolen while someone is visiting, you could be held liable for replacing their property. As a tenant, you have the guest over, which means you’re responsible during that visit and could be held accountable in court for damages. This is where you’ll need liability coverage from your renter’s insurance, even if it wasn’t your fault.

These events may make you question whether you want guests, but don’t let that deter you from enjoying your life. With a renter’s insurance policy, you can have financial protection should an incident happen where you could be found liable. If you rent in the Sandpoint, ID area and surrounding communities, contact us at Selkirk Insurance Services today for more information.

Insurance Coverage for First Time Condo Owners

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Are you getting ready to move into a new condo that you have recently purchased? If so, consider the condo insurance coverage you may need throughout your ownership.

Temporary Living Expenses

If you encounter a situation that will require you to live outside the condo on a temporary basis, you will be responsible for the cost of securing an alternate residence. Your condo insurance policy can cover temporary living expenses. The insurance coverage will reimburse you for the cost of staying in a hotel or another type of dwelling. It will also cover out-of-pocket costs for food and other essentials you need while you are unable to occupy your condo.

Structural Materials

As a new condo owner, you will need to familiarize yourself with the responsibilities of the condo association that oversees the property where your condo is located. The paperwork the association furnishes you with will outline the property for which the association is responsible. Interior walls, flooring, and ceiling materials that comprise your condo may be your responsibility. The structural materials that you are responsible for maintaining should be added to your condo insurance policy.

Personal Possessions

Furniture, clothing, and household goods can be added to your condo insurance policy. Before your insurance documents are prepared, inventory the items you plan on storing within your condo. Take into account if any of the items are at risk of being stolen or vandalized. Assess the risk of a weather event destroying your possessions. Plan on insuring items of value that would be difficult to repair or replace.

Condo Insurance Plans in Idaho

Contact an agent who serves Sandpoint, ID. One of our agents at Selkirk Insurance Services will prepare your new condo insurance policy.

How to Customize Your Farm or Ranch Insurance

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Farmers and ranchers have unique needs, and this is especially true in Sandpoint, ID. This is why the insurance policy that protects your property and its operations should not be the same as those used by neighboring properties. Customizing your insurance policy is crucial in getting suitable protection for your operation. Selkirk Insurance Services is here to assist you.

Primary Areas of Protection

While all policies may differ based on individual needs, there are four main categories of coverage for a farm or ranch policy. These are:

  • Your personal home, its contents, and other buildings for personal and family use
  • Ranch work-related buildings
  • Property housed inside ranch structures
  • Liability

The home portion of your policy will provide some liability coverage for guests within that structure. However, this provision is distinct from the liability coverage for your farming and ranching operations. In addition to your home, remember to account for all other buildings, including barns, silos, and the like, associated with your farming operation. This section also covers equipment like tractors, plows, balers, etc. Insurance coverage for these high-value items is crucial should they get damaged.

Add Provisions That Address Your Operations

Many farming operations in Idaho have substantial livestock counts. Additionally, crops also need coverage. Basic policies won’t include them, but raising livestock or growing crops aims to sell them for profit. Adding a rider will enable you to cover specific risks to horses, cattle, chickens, and more or have crop-specific coverage. You might also want to consider including a disruption of farming operations provision to cover loss of income and expenses related to a covered loss. Finally, farming and ranching equipment pose considerable dangers. Adding an umbrella liability policy can help save your business from a catastrophic event.

Let the experts at Selkirk Insurance Services, serving the Sandpoint, ID community, and surrounding areas, help you customize your farm or ranch policy. Don’t delay. Contact us today to get started.

Religious Institute Insurance: What to Expect

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Many owners of religious establishments don’t realize that there’s insurance tailored specifically for their needs – religious institute insurance. This specific type of insurance bundles several coverages to meet the requirements expected from a religious institution’s protection needs. If you’re in the Sandpoint, ID area, we encourage you to contact one of our professionals at Selkirk Insurance Services for a detailed explanation of what this insurance can offer. Here’s an overview of what a typical religious institute policy covers.

What is Religious Institute Insurance?

Religious institute insurance is a specialized policy designed to meet the unique needs of religious establishments. It provides safeguards against a range of risks, from physical property damage to financial liabilities. However, it’s worth noting that religious institute insurance may not be suitable for every institution.

What Does it Cover?

Religious institute insurance is a comprehensive policy providing wide-ranging protection for institutions. Instead of purchasing separate coverage for each kind of risk, this insurance offers full-spectrum protection, ensuring your institution is entirely covered. While the specifics of coverage vary between insurance providers, they generally cover the basics. Here is some potential coverage provided by this insurance:

  • Liability
  • Medical
  • Property damage
  • Fine art
  • Business automobile
  • Employment practice liability

What Type of Institutions Are Covered

While churches might be the first type of establishment that comes to mind when thinking of religious institutes, religious institute insurance aims to be inclusive. It covers a wide array of institutions, including temples, mosques, synagogues, and even schools. Essentially, any institution operating on a religious premise qualifies for this coverage, further validating their valuable societal contributions.

The Bottom Line

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re in the Sandpoint, ID area. Our representatives at Selkirk Insurance Services can help you determine if religious institute insurance is the right choice for your institution. All you need to do is contact us today.

How Do Auto and Umbrella Insurance Work Together?

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Umbrella insurance is well-known for protecting against unforeseen legal and court costs, and its primary role is covering liabilities that surpass the limits enforced by your standard policies. If you encounter unforeseeable events causing liabilities beyond your home or auto policy’s constraints, umbrella insurance steps in. We invite you to contact our team at Selkirk Insurance Services, proudly serving Sandpoint, ID, to explore how umbrella insurance can offer protection for you and your loved ones.

Addressing Your Potential Liabilities

Let’s delve into the interactions between umbrella insurance and the liability limits of your auto insurance policy. Typically, when an auto policyholder is accountable for damages following an incident, the aggregate liabilities are beneath the limits of their auto policy. However, in rare circumstances, accidents result in debilitating injuries or other damages, driving up liabilities beyond the coverage that the insurance company has agreed to pay. In these situations, you are personally liable for the remaining amount, potentially compromising your savings, home, and other assets.

Significantly, umbrella insurance covers the liabilities that exceed your auto policy’s limits in situations like these. Admittedly, umbrella insurance may not always be necessary as it primarily covers "worst-case" scenarios. Despite this, the majority of policyholders seldom need to file a claim against their umbrella insurance, thereby keeping it relatively inexpensive. While umbrella insurance principally covers rare incidents, it endows you with peace of mind through the protection it provides to you and your family.

Cooperating with Selkirk Insurance Services

Umbrella insurance provides protection against unexpected events with potential financial impacts. Whether you live in or around Sandpoint, ID, and are considering umbrella insurance or any other kind of insurance protection, our team at Selkirk Insurance Services is eager to assist. Call us today at 208-263-0888 to acquire the insurance protection that best suits your needs.

Infestations and Your Homeowner’s Insurance

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At Selkirk Insurance Services of Sandpoint, ID, we receive many inquiries about homeowners insurance coverage. Often, these questions come from individuals who have encountered damage to their homes from infestations such as mice, rats, wasps, bees, termites, squirrels, and the like.

Would these be covered?

Home insurance typically covers unforeseen and accidental damage. It is not intended to cover damage resulting from a lack of maintenance. Infestations are regularly seen as preventable issues that regular inspections and maintenance could counter. Hence, damage from infestations is typically not covered under home insurance.

In certain instances, pest control firms may offer their standalone warranties.

Preventing Infestations and the Resultant Damage

Observing potential damage from rodents and insects is crucial in maintaining your home. This is akin to checking for leaks from the roof or pipes, examining windows for cracks or other damage, and looking for rotting siding. All these tasks are part of diligent home maintenance practices.

Inspect your home seasonally for possible ways pests could infiltrate your living space. These could include gaps in the siding, cracks in the foundation, low-hanging branches touching the roof, or broken or defective vents.

A thorough inspection of these areas is critical to ensure that pests have not already made their way in, and if they have, they are immediately removed. Any detected gaps or potential entry points should be promptly addressed.

Contact Selkirk Insurance Services For Questions

If you are a homeowner in the Sandpoint, ID area and have any questions regarding your home insurance, please get in touch with us at Selkirk Insurance Services. We are here to review your policy and provide a quote. Don’t hesitate to contact us today for assurance and peace of mind.

Understanding Policy Riders in Life Insurance

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Policy riders in life insurance are extra benefits added to a standard life insurance policy to tailor the coverage better to an individual’s needs. These riders can offer enhanced protection, added benefits, and greater flexibility in managing a life insurance plan for people living in and around Sandpoint, ID.

Types of Policy Riders

There are several common types of policy riders that policyholders can consider. One such rider is the Accidental Death Benefit Rider, which offers an additional payout if the insured dies as a result of an accident.

The Waiver of Premium Rider waives the policyholder’s premium if the individual can no longer work. This ensures that the life insurance policy remains in effect even if the policyholder can’t make payments due to disability.

The Accelerated Death Benefit Rider offers policyholders the option to gain access to a small portion of their policy death benefit while still alive if they are diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Benefits of Adding Riders

Riders allow for greater customization, enabling policyholders to tailor their coverage to specific needs and circumstances. They also offer additional financial protection in various scenarios, such as accidents, disability, or terminal illness, providing peace of mind and security for the policyholder and their beneficiaries.

Cost Considerations

While riders can enhance a life insurance policy, they also come at an additional cost. The price of riders varies depending on the type of rider, the insurance provider, and the underwriting process. Policyholders should carefully consider their needs and budget when selecting riders to ensure they receive the best value and coverage.

Selkirk Insurance Services Is Here For You

The team at Selkirk Insurance Services is here to help you when you need insurance information. Our services are available in the Sandpoint, ID, and surrounding areas. Call us today.

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