Three Things to Know About Insuring a New Sailboat

Owning a new sailboat brings the promise of new adventures on the water. Amidst the excitement of getting a new boat, however, it’s important to take a moment and make sure the boat is properly protected. Here are three key things about adequately insuring a new sailboat with boar insurance.

1. Protection Against Damage: Sometimes Required

One of the most important aspects of boat insurance is protecting your vessel, especially when it’s new. 

You’ll likely be required to insure against vessel damage if you’re financing your boat. Most lenders require this when underwriting boat loans to ensure the vessel used as collateral against a loan is protected. However, it’s broadly recommended that you get damage coverage regardless of whether you’re required to.

2. Coverage for Onboard Gear: Protecting Your Equipment

In addition to protecting your boat against damage (and theft), it’s also important to protect what’s on it. Make sure any tackle, safety equipment, electronics, and other gear is protected against fire, theft, and other perils. This coverage is usually distinct from damage coverage.

3. Trailer Coverage: Safeguarding Your Transport

If you’re getting a trailer for towing your sailboat, you’ll also want to insure the trailer against car accident damage, theft, and other risks. This third protection is usually distinct from what a boat insurance policy offers for your sailboat and gear.

If you’ll only occasionally trailer your boat locally around the Sandpoint, ID area, we at Selkirk Insurance Services can help you find basic trailer coverage that’ll meet your needs. Of course, we can also assist with more extensive trailer coverage if you regularly tow.

Get Boat Insurance for Your New Sailboat

If you’re getting a new sailboat this season and will keep it around Sandpoint, ID, let us at Selkirk Insurance Services help you set up a boat insurance policy to protect it well. Contact us today to get a policy.

Protecting Your Condo Begins with Insurance

Protecting the place we call home is something everyone thinks about, and for condo owners, the first step usually begins with condo insurance. It doesn’t matter if you live in a mansion, a single-room apartment, or a luxurious condo with all the amenities. Home can look different for everyone. However, protecting the place we call home looks very much alike to everyone. If you are a condo owner in the Sandpoint, ID area and have questions about condo insurance, the friendly and professional team at Selkirk Insurance Services can help.

Condo Insurance for the Place You Call Home

In many ways, a condo is as susceptible as a traditional home in terms of concerns about safety and protecting your home. From theft to liability claims and more, condo owners share many common concerns with other homeowners. It isn’t surprising that people who call home everything from an apartment to a house to a condo use insurance as a first line of defense to protect the place they call home.

At Selkirk Insurance, our team can help owners find condo insurance solutions that fit their needs, condos, and budgets. Protecting your home is important, regardless of where you live, and protecting your condo begins with the right condo insurance solutions. 

Condo Insurance in Sandpoint

If you are a condo owner in or around the greater Sandpoint, ID, area and have questions or want to learn more about condo insurance, our professional and trusted team at Selkirk Insurance Services can help. Contact us today to find out more and get the condo insurance you need to protect your place of residence.

Why every renter should have renters insurance

Owning a home isn’t for everyone. Many people opt for renting and letting someone else maintain and worry about the building. Only about 60 percent of renters actually have renters insurance, which is risky. At Selkirk Insurance Services in Sandpoint, ID, we ensure our customers understand the value of insurance on their rental. 

If you have any assets, renters insurance provides liability insurance that can protect your assets. If someone is hurt in your rental or by a family member away from your rental, it will provide coverage to pay for legal fees and a judgment against you. This can give you the peace of mind you need.

As a renter, you may assume that your landlord’s insurance protects your personal property, but that would be a mistake. The landlord’s insurance only covers what belongs to them, not what belongs to you. Renters insurance will provide the coverage that you need to protect all the things that you own. It covers theft as well as loss through a covered hazard. You can cover the items for their replacement cost or their current value. 

In addition to liability and personal property coverage, renters insurance may have a loss of use coverage. If your rental becomes uninhabitable, loss of use coverage will pay to stay in a hotel or temporary rental, and if you are unable to cook, it will pay for meals. 

If you live in or near Sandpoint, ID, Selkirk Insurance Services is your local independent insurance agency. We are here to help renters understand the benefits of having renters’ insurance. Give us a call to set up an appointment to discuss your needs. 

Religious Institute Insurance: For Your Clergy, Staff, and Parishioners

We pass by them every day, in every town, everywhere. Sometimes, these towering works of architectural wonder are testaments to the glory and reverence of the divine. Sometimes, these are quaint, beautiful, and pristine structures that are emblematic of the wonder, awe, and love of a humble King. Unfortunately, these religious institutions, like any other home, office, or establishment, are still subject to several risks. On the other side of the coin, however, religious leaders from in and around Sandpoint, ID can rely on religious institute insurance options from the caring team at Selkirk Insurance Services for protection from risks and unexpected events.

Protecting Your Religious Institution

Those who lead churches are members of religious institution boards, and others in the clergy always strive to care for their staff, other clergy members, and their beloved parishioners. That is also a big responsibility that religious institute insurance plans can help cover. 

Additionally, buildings of religious significance and worship are no less susceptible to events like theft, flooding, storm damage, or fires. These are among the few considerations the right insurance solutions for your religious institution can help protect. From large religious institutions to small church buildings, religious institute insurance can help restore stolen items, repairs, and more. 

Contact Selkirk Insurance Services Today

If you are a leader or belong to the leadership staff of a religious institute in or around Sandpoint, ID, and are considering insurance options that fit your needs, we can help. Our experienced and professional agents at Selkirk Insurance Services can help assess and protect your religious institution. Contact us to learn more and get the insurance solutions you need to protect your clergy, staff, parishioners, and religious institute today.

Insurance Coverage Guidelines for Farming Essentials

Seek adequate insurance coverage for the farmland that you recently purchased. Have an assessment of your property conducted first. The assessment will help you determine how much insurance is needed.

Preparations

An insurance representative will assess your farmland, determining your risk level and whether any changes need to be made to the land or its existing structures.

Prepare your property before the assessment is conducted. Make sure that the insurance representative can access each area where they will be conducting the assessment. 

Land Assessment

The insurance representative will view the outdoor property. The drainage conditions and layout of the land will be assessed during this process.

The representative will consider whether soil erosion or flooding could be a concern. Notes may be taken during the assessment, which will pertain to the present condition of the farmland.

Equipment

An assessment of your farming equipment will be done. Machinery, vehicles, and any other possessions used to operate your farm will also be inspected now.

Structures

The buildings that are on your land will be examined. The condition of the structural materials will be inspected. The representative will look for signs of damage. They will also determine if any of the structural materials are weak and at risk of becoming damaged in the future.

Reach out to Selkirk Insurance Services

You will be provided with the results at the end of the inspection process. These results will indicate if you need to make any repairs to your property.

Once your farmland is in adequate shape, contact one of our agents who represent Sandpoint, ID. A Selkirk Insurance Services agent will prepare your farming insurance documents.

Selkirk Insurance Services Rebrand

We are excited to share some important news about the future of our company. After 15 years of serving the North Idaho community as Insurance Shop USA, we have made the decision to rebrand our company as Selkirk Insurance Services. This new name better reflects our local focus and dedication to serving the unique needs of our community. It’s a name that speaks to our roots in this region and our commitment to continue growing alongside it.

We want to assure you that this rebranding does not affect the ownership, management, or the way we operate. Our team remains the same and as dedicated as ever to providing you with the excellent service you have come to expect from us. The only change is in our name, a change that more accurately reflects our identity and our commitment to the community we proudly serve.

As Selkirk Insurance Services, we renew our commitment to you, our valued clients. We will continue to offer the same high-quality insurance products and personalized service that have defined our business for the past 15 years.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. We look forward to serving you under our new name and continuing our journey together.

Sincerely,

Travis Smith
President
Selkirk Insurance Services

Expecting the Unexpected: Why Wedding Insurance Matters

Weddings are expensive, and while the time leading up to the wedding is full of excitement and joy, it’s normal to feel stressed. Protecting your investment is critical, and here, we’ll take a look at how wedding insurance can help you rest assured that you’ll be in the clear if something goes wrong at the last minute. 

Illness

Many wedding insurance plans protect against the illness of the couple or the illness of their immediate family members (including their parents). Typically, policies only cover unexpected issues, not pre-existing conditions. 

Weather

If you’ve planned a gorgeous outdoor wedding that’s brought to a halt due to extreme weather conditions that prevent the couple, wedding party, immediate family, or the majority of guests from being unable to make it to the wedding, your wedding insurance policy will allow you to reschedule the wedding. An important note: many policies require that you pay for the policy in full at least two weeks before the wedding to be eligible to file weather-related claims.

Wedding Site Issues

Sometimes, unpredictable issues with the wedding site, such as a fire or a flood, require event postponement. Wedding event insurance will allow you to recoup your investment if unexpected conditions have caused your wedding site to no longer be available for your event. 

The Insurance Shop USA: Serving Sandpoint, ID Customers with Wedding Insurance Policies

You’re spending months, or even years, planning for your big day, and your investment and hard work must be protected. Reach out to The Insurance Shop USA, serving Sandpoint, ID, for more information about how we can help you relax and remember that you’re protected before your wedding day.

Bridging the Gap: How Umbrella Insurance Secures Your Sandpoint Lifestyle

The Insurance Shop USA in Sandpoint, ID, understands the unique needs of residents who want to protect their homes and property in this idyllic environment. 

Getting umbrella insurance can help you add a layer of financial protection and coverage to your home and auto insurance policies to ensure that all your favorite assets are secure.  

Why Sandpoint ID Residents Need Umbrella Insurance

Safeguard Against Outdoor Activities and Recreational Risks 

Sandpoint is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts passionate about boating on Lake Pend Orville, hitting the slopes of Schweitzer Mountain, and hiking in the vast wilderness. 

Accidents can happen in even the most serene environments, leading to costly liability claims or lawsuits. While primary insurance policies for home and auto can provide a limited level of coverage, they are not enough to fully protect your assets against a major lawsuit. 

Idaho umbrella insurance acts like a safety net, covering the costs of claims exceeding your primary policies’ limits. 

Hosting Events and Liability 

The vibrant local cultural scene often involves hosting events that range from small music festivals to massive private gatherings. Umbrella insurance can help cover unexpected accidents or Personal injuries if a guest is injured on your property and decides to sue. 

Get umbrella insurance to protect your home and assets against major legal claims and liability that can cause irreparable damage to your finances. 

Find Umbrella Insurance in Sandpoint, ID

The knowledgeable and friendly insurance agents at The Insurance Shop USA in Sandpoint, ID, can answer your questions about umbrella insurance and offer advice based on your needs. 

Contact an agent to learn more about extending the limits of your current home and auto insurance with umbrella insurance today! 

Why All Boaters Need Boat Insurance

If you own a boat, you know how freeing it can be to get out there on the water. You’ve invested a lot into your boat, so it’s vital to ensure your boat is taken care of if there is an accident or other incident. To do this, you need specific types of boat coverage. No boat owner should be without it because of the high cost of accidents. When you need boat insurance, call us at The Insurance Shop USA in Sandpoint, ID to learn more.

Boat Liability Coverage

Like an auto insurance policy, your boat policy should include liability coverage. This coverage can take care of the costs of accidents that you cause. No one intends to have an accident, but plenty of accidents on the water do happen. When you cause harm to someone else’s watercraft or cause them to be injured, this coverage can pay for those bills. Make sure you have plenty of this coverage so that you’ll be covered even if the accident is serious. 

Other Boat Coverage

Boats often have a lot of personal property and expensive equipment on them. Boat insurance can cover your personal property so that you can get your items replaced if they’re destroyed in an accident. It’s also a good idea to get collision coverage in your policy. This covers the damage the accident caused to your own boat. In addition, comprehensive coverage covers the costs of other incidents that can happen to your boat when it isn’t on the water. 

Get Your Boat Insurance 

If you’re buying a boat or want to protect the boat you already have, call us for a policy. You can contact us at The Insurance Shop USA in Sandpoint, ID.  

How Does Condo Insurance Differ From Home Insurance?

When insuring your residence, it’s crucial to understand the differences between condo insurance and home insurance. Here are some of the key differences provided by The Insurance Shop USA, serving the greater Sandpoint, ID area. 

Condo Insurance

Condo insurance is designed for individuals with condominium units within a larger building or complex. It typically covers the condo unit’s interior, personal property, and liability. Condo insurance policies often include:

  • Interior Coverage: This protects the interior structure of your condo, including walls, floors, ceilings, and fixtures. It may also cover upgrades and improvements you’ve made.

  • Personal Property: Condo insurance covers your personal belongings, such as furniture, electronics, and clothing. It safeguards these items against theft, fire, or other covered perils.

  • Liability: Liability coverage protects you if someone is injured while in your condo and you are found responsible. It also covers damage you may cause to other units in the building.

Home Insurance

Home insurance, also known as homeowner’s insurance, is intended for those who own standalone houses. It provides a broader range of coverage, including:

  • Dwelling Coverage: This insures the entire structure of your home, including the roof, walls, and foundation. It covers damage from various perils, such as fire, vandalism, and natural disasters.

  • Personal Property: Home insurance also includes coverage for your personal belongings, much like condo insurance.

  • Liability: Liability protection is similar to condo insurance and covers injuries on your property or damage you may cause to others’ property.

While condo and home insurance protect personal belongings and liability, they differ in the scope of coverage. If you want to purchase condo insurance in Sandpoint, ID, the Insurance Shop USA team can help. Call us now for an estimate.