Author: AgentInsure

5 Ways to Lower Homeowners Insurance Costs in 2017

Posted on by AgentInsure

As your property increases in value, you may experience an increase in the cost of home insurance to compensate for the higher cost of home replacement or repairs. There are measures you can take, however, to keep home insurance costs at affordable prices for the new year. Here are just a few.

Shop Around

Comparison shop online to get an idea of home insurance costs in your area and companies that offer good deals. Some companies offer discounts for customer loyalty, bundling, claim-free history, etc.

When selecting an insurer, however, be leery of compromising service for low home insurance price. Working with a reputable company like The Insurance Shop USA in Sandypoint, ID, ensures you receive quality service at affordable costs.  

Raise Your Deductible

Raising your deductible will lower the cost of your insurance premium. The higher your deductible, however, the more you pay out of pocket when filing a claim. Before increasing your deductible, make sure you are financially able to cover your end of repair costs.

Upgrade Home Structure

In some cases, you may qualify for lower insurance rates by making structural changes that improve the safety and function of your home such as replacing old windows, installing storm shutters or fortifying the roof. By discussing home improvements with your insurer in advance, you can see if they qualify you for a reduced premium.

Enhance Home Security

Putting in smoke detectors and a burglar alarm system could also help to reduce your insurance premium as these measures enhance protection against theft and fire.

Bundle Insurance Policies

By bundling home, auto and life insurance policies, you could save money on home insurance costs; many insurers offer incentives for taking out multiple policies with their company.

A good home insurance policy will adequately cover the replacement of your home and its contents. For quality home insurance options at affordable prices, visit The Insurance Shop USA in Sandypoint, ID. 

 

Idaho in the Fall: What a Lack of Preparedness Could Mean for Your Home

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People living in Sandypoint, Idaho have a lot to look forward to when they enter the fall season. The changing of the leaves, the cooling of the air, and lots and lots of pumpkins. For all of the great elements that you can look forward to each and every year, fall – like any other season – has its fair share of faults as well. If you allow yourself to focus too much on the positives of the seasonal change, this may prevent you from seeing all of the dangers.

If you are not prepared for the cooling off of the weather or to deal with the leaves falling off of the trees, this could hurt your home in more ways than one.  For one, if you do not make sure that your windows and doors are all properly sealed to keep the outside weather out, not only could this require you to spend more money on heating your home in the winter, dry air could turn out to be murder on your woodwork and your furniture. If you do not have the appropriate insurance to deal with these potential follies, you may find that your wallet is being emptied by more than heating bills if you have to spend any money out of pocket in order to fix your woodwork and replace your furniture. It is especially a shame if the furniture you have to replace has any sentimental value, as while you can replace your late Grandfather’s chair, you cannot replace the memories and feelings that are associated with it.

If you are a Sandypoint, Idaho resident and want to be more prepared for the fall season, you can contact The Insurance Shop USA and we will figure out the best insurance plan for you.

How to Protect Your Car During the Winter

Posted on by AgentInsure

Residents of Sandypoint, ID deal with the harsh winter weather. Although the cold and ice are a nuisance, quite unpleasant and an inconvience, they’re much worse on vehicles. Residents can protect their car from damage, though.

1. Garage

Keep your vehicle in the garage when it’s parked. The snow, ice and salt will harm the paint and may even lead to rust. Not to mention, this alleviates the need to warm your car before leaving.

2. Always Warm Your Car

Start your car and allow it to warm up completely before you drive it in the winter. The cold is harsh on your engine and the other components of your vehicle.

3. Clean Your Car Off Totally

While it seems convenient to only wipe the snow and ice that’s obstructing your vision, you should clean all the snow and ice before you pull out. The snow is dangerous to other drivers when it falls off of the car. You don’t want to leave the ice and snow on the paint any more than you have to. It can damage the paint and ultimately lead to rusting. When cleaning off ice, always allow your car to heat up 10 to 15 minutes before tackling it. Allow as much of the ice to melt from the interior heat as possible. Only use the scraper on thick layers of ice and stop when the defrosters and heat are enough to melt it.

4. Remove the Salt

Wash your car regularly to remove the salt. Pay attention to the undercarriage of your vehicle. Many car washes offer this service. You should also opt for one that has steam cleaning. Keep in mind, the salt doesn’t just harm the finish; it promotes rusting.

To get insurance to protect yourself in the event of an accident on the slick roads, contact The Insurance Shop USA, serving Sandypoint, ID and the surrounding area, at 208-263-0888. 

 

 

Sandypoint, ID

 

How To Find The Right Life Insurance

Posted on by AgentInsure

When you live in Sandypoint, ID, you want to do right by your family. This means exploring life insurance and finding the right policy. This way, should something happen to you, the financial future of your family is safely intact. Finding a policy can be easier than you think.

Understand the Options

With life insurance, you can find various options. Term life insurance can be obtained for between 5 and 30 years. It is by far the most affordable option available. However, if you outlive the term of the policy, the coverage goes away.

Universal and whole life insurance is also available, and covers you through your entire life. It is more expensive, but there is a cash value associated with it, which can be used to help provide additional income during your retirement years.

Identify the Value of the Policy

How much do you want to leave your loved ones? Policies are generally between $10,000 and $1 million. You will want to factor in the cost of living increases over the years to ensure the money goes as far as you wish it to go. You also have to decide what you want to provide the money for and this is where it can be a very personal decision. Some people want to make sure that life insurance at least covers burial expenses while others want to help their family take care of college tuition, mortgage, debt, and various other things.

Finding the right policy is not something that has to be done on your own. Instead, you can work with an agent to research the possibilities and receive recommendations on what’s best for you, your family, and your budget.

At The Insurance Shop USA, our agents can help you find life insurance affordably. Learn more about available policies by contacting us today.

 

 

What Is A Business Owner’s Policy?

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What exactly is a business owner’s policy? It is an insurance instrument for small to medium-sized businesses.  A Business Owners Policy often referred to as a "BOP" provides coverage for property, liability, and business interruption. The Insurance Shop USA can help steer you through all the events that come with obtaining coverage, understanding insurance, and all of the questions that go with incidents and accidents. 

The BOP property covers products and operations, and the perils include fire, lightning, wind, hail, aircraft, riot/civil commotion, vehicle, explosion, smoke, vandalism, sprinkler leakage, sinkhole collapse, volcanic action, and transportation. 

The BOP Liability coverage includes bodily injury, property damage liability, personal injury liability and advertising injury liability. Business Interruption is the portion of the policy that protects the company from a fire or another incident that may have resulted in a loss of income or operation for the company. You can also customize BOP with additional endorsements also known as riders. 

What types of Supplemental Coverages are Available?

  • Accounts receivable  
  • Burglary and robbery
  • Debris removal
  • Employee dishonesty
  • Interior glass
  • Signage (outdoors)
  • Tools and equipment
  • Valuable records protection 

What kind of things doesn’t a Business Owner’s Policy cover?

  • Company-owned vehicles (auto accidents get covered under a General Liability policy)
  • Damage to a client’s property stored or services on your property.
  • Earthquakes or floods (natural disasters)
  • Group health
  • Life or disability insurance
  • Specialized liability risks (e.g., professional liability, directors & officers, and malpractice)
  • Workers’ compensation

What type of a business isn’t eligible for Business Owner’s Policy?

  • Auto repair 
  • Banks and other financial institutions
  • Camera shops
  • Carnivals
  • Large companies
  • Service operations

Still fuzzy as to what is in a BOP or who is ineligible? You don’t have to know all the ins and outs of insurance in Idaho, but you do have to get help from a trusted agency and broker such as The Insurance Shop USA. 

Top Reasons to Purchase an Umbrella Policy Today

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While many have been fooled into believing that only the wealthy need umbrella coverage, that couldn’t be more inaccurate. Essentially extra liability insurance, umbrella insurance provides an array of benefits to people from all walks of life. Are you considering purchasing an umbrella package but need a bit more convincing? The following is an overview of the top reason to purchase an umbrella policy today. 

Provides Coverage for an Array of Claims 

One of the top reasons to purchase an umbrella policy is that they protect you from an array of lawsuits. While most policies fall short, umbrella packages even cover lawsuits associated with slander, false arrest, and much more. 

Protect Your Assets

In addition to that, umbrella packages also indirectly help to protect your accumulated assets. This is due to the fact that costly lawsuits often come at a price that exceeds one’s general coverage. By purchasing an umbrella package, you are ensuring that your money and other assets are safe in the event that you are subject to a massive lawsuit of some sort. 

Inexpensive

Relatively speaking, umbrella packages are an inexpensive way to achieve coverage. Due to the nature of umbrella packages, they are fairly inexpensive in comparison to other packages because they are only used once your regular coverage has been exhausted. Moreover, given that they protect against some potentially costly lawsuits, the money you pay to maintain the policy is often miniscule as compared to the amount they may pay out.

Overall, if you are seeking a high quality umbrella package, The Insurance Shop USA is the way to go. Offering an array of customizable packages to fit budgets of all kinds. Contact hem today and see how they can help you gain coverage and save! 

You Insure Your Home,Why Not Your Boat?

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 Congratulations! You’ve added a beautiful new boat to your possessions.  You are looking forward to enjoying it for many years of cruising around on the lake. Life is good. You own a beautiful home, the kids’ education is taken care of, and you are reaping the rewards of hard work. However, when you signed on the dotted line for your latest luxury purchase, did you stop and add insurance from the Insurance Shop USA for it?

You Wouldn’t Leave Your Home Unprotected

The yacht sitting in the marina cost as much as a vacation home. If you bought a second house, you would protect the investment with home owner’s insurance. Boats are often perceived as extras or luxury items, but they empty banks accounts just as fast as a house when a storm damages it. It only makes sense to add boat insurance in case of vandalism, theft or accidents.

Repairing Boats Gets Expensive

Repairs to your new weekend toy are going to be more expensive than for a lawnmower or other small item. Repair shops require specially trained technicians that use unique parts and products. Why risk facing a huge repair bill after a fire sweeps through the marina when boat insurance can offer affordable deductibles in case of sudden loss. 

Operating a Boat Comes with Risks

On a holiday weekend, the lake is crowded with folks like you out to enjoy the sunshine. As the waters become harder to navigate, the possibility of sustaining damage due to a water collision rises. Your auto insurance protects you from fender benders.  Boat insurance offers the same kind of reassurance for your personal ship.

Protect your investment and your personal finances by investing in boat insurance with the Insurance Shop USA. Give them a call today.

 

What Does Umbrella Insurance Cover?

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Umbrella insurance is a type of insurance that most people do not know much about. It can have a lot to do with your auto insurance and homeowners insurance policies, though, so it may be worth looking in to. Not all people need to have an umbrella insurance policy so it is important to know what it is and what it can cover. Continue reading to learn more about umbrella insurance policies and learn if it is the right option for your needs. 

  • An umbrella insurance policy, when put in the most basic terms, covers your assets when your other insurance policies stop providing coverage. You may not have ever noticed it, but your policies have limits on them and if you have assets that are worth more than the coverage allows for on your auto an homeowners insurance policies, then getting an umbrella insurance policy to cover the difference is always a good idea.
  • It can also cover your savings accounts, checking accounts, and retirement accounts. Depending on how much you current have in them, you may want to opt for more coverage than the banks or other agencies can provide to you. They also usually have a limit to the amount of coverage they provide so you want to make sure all of your assets are protected.
  • An umbrella insurance policy protects you from personal injury such as libel, slander, false arrest, and wrongful conviction. This may not be something many people need to have but if you are a prominent member of your community, you may want to consider it.

If you are interested in learning more about umbrella insurance policies or taking a look at your current coverage and getting a new quote, be sure to contact us at The Insurance Shop USA today..

Know the difference between cash value and cost to replace

Posted on by AgentInsure

When buying insurance on your home, it is important to understand the terminology, and what is meant by various coverage. Usually people have the belongings insured as well, which insurance on the contents. Insuring the contents of your home may be part of, or could be separate from, the policy on the home itself. The kind of insurance you choose can affect the price you pay for your policy. Idaho has one of the lowest average prices for homeowners insurance in the nation.

That’s good news for customers in and around Sandypont, ID., and the Insurance Shop USA is here to help make sure you have the best homeowners policy for your situation.

When you get a policy, that includes insurance on your contents, you will have to decide between "cost to replace"  and "actual value" for coverage.  Basically replacement cost is what it would cost today to replace the item that was destroyed or stolen, without regard to its condition. Cash value would be the cost to replace, minus depreciation, which is the decline in value due to age or use.

Often it works like this.  Say you have a sofa damaged by a fire. If you paid $1,000 for the sofa five years ago, and the same sofa costs $1500 today, you would get a check for $1,500 if you had cost to replace coverage.  Some insurance companies pay the actual value at the time, and pay you the difference when you give them the receipt for the purchase.  If you had cash value insurance, and that $1,000 sofa from five years ago is worth $600 now, you would get a check for $600. A cost to replace policy costs more, so that might enter into deciding which one to get.

Come visit us at the Insurance Shop USA, and speak with one of our agents to help you make sure you have the coverage you need for your situation. Come by our offices, or give us a call, to make sure your coverage is up to date, or if you are needing insurance for the first time.

 

Your Life Has Changed; Has Your Insurance Caught Up?

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Life insurance serves the important purpose of covering funeral and other costs associated with the death of a loved one. One smart move is to get life insurance coverage while you are young. However, as your life changes, you may need to update the coverage of your life insurance. You don’t want to saddle family members with unexpected funeral costs that might have otherwise been covered. Consult with an agent at The Insurance Shop USA for a discussion of your life insurance coverage options. Serving the Sandypoint, ID area, we can provide quotes for affordable life insurance coverage that will serve your personal needs as well as those of your family. Funeral costs are high, and other financial obligations that you leave behind for your family to manage might include medical bills or other debt. You don’t want to do that to them. You can make sure your family is well taken care of when you are gone.

Family members depend on each other. If you or a spouse dies, how will this affect the survivors? How will income, debt management, personal care, and the general household be managed? Life insurance gives survivors the opportunity they need to grieve before they have to face such pressing questions. The Insurance Shop USA can help you plan accordingly so that dependents and other family members don’t have to face even bigger challenges than the ones that come naturally with the loss of a loved one.

While it’s important to have life insurance when you are younger, it’s important to review your policies regularly as your live changes. The Insurance Shop USA can discuss the best options available in coverage and rates to serve you and your family.

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