How do I know my insurance company is reputable?

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You have all heard the horror stories, or maybe even had one happen directly to you.  A claim isn’t paid due to a very vague interpretation of the policy.  A great deal on a new policy that turns out to be a scam. A policy you thought you had signed up for turned out to have never been issued because the agent pocketed the money instead of issuing the policy.

It seems to be far too common in the insurance and financial realm.  Regulations have greatly increased over the past few years to help encourage the success of reputable agencies and companies, but it is next to impossible to remove them all.

So how do you know you have a reputable insurance company?  A reputable insurance agency?

Here are some tips to help you discern the good from the bad:

  • Check with the Better Business Bureau to find out what complaints have been filed, if any.  You can further see if and how they were resolved.
  • Verify with the state insurance department that the agency or company is licensed and in good standing
  • Research online the agency or company in question to see what articles or complaints appear.  Pay special attention to the words ‘scam’ and ‘ripoff.’ Again, you can also see how the company responds as well.
  • Check the company’s rating with AM Best, Standard & Poor’s, and Moody’s
  • Choose an independent agency that can work with multiple carriers, and takes the time to explain the coverage, the processes, and questions you may have about the company

Regardless whether you’re purchasing home and auto, business, ministry, or life insurance, the same rules still apply.  Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions!

We can help you to get the insurance you need to protect your investment. Reach out to us to get a quote today.

 

 

The Best Hotel Insurance in Indiana and Ohio

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What’s the best hotel insurance plan in Indiana and Ohio?

If you own a hotel – and especially if you own several – you know that the insurance market for hotel insurance has changed drastically in the past ten years.  Many owners have likely seen their costs rise considerably because of these changes.  So with that in mind, how are you supposed to find the best hotel insurance plan?  Where do you start?  What do you look for?  How do you cut costs?  And when will you have any time at all to research this?

This is going to be a starting point to finding the right plan.  Every hotel is unique, so each one will have different needs than the next.  Some have restaurants.  Some are franchised.  Some have valets.  Some are bed and breakfasts.  Some have conference halls.  Keeping these things in mind, I’ve tried to keep this article focused on things that may affect all hotel owners.

We’ll start with a few things you’ll want to look for in a policy, agency and company, then we’ll move into some ways to save money.

Hotel Insurance Necessities
  • Property and Liability Insurance – Of course these would be listed!  If the building burns to the ground, how quickly can you get it rebuilt?  If a guest trips over a cord left out by the staff while cleaning, are you protected?
  • Equipment Breakdown – If the heating, air conditioning, or even laundry machines broke down unexpectedly, you could have a huge problem.  To keep the doors open, you’ll want to have these items repaired or replaces as quickly as possible, and the costs could be very high.  Equipment breakdown coverage would offer protection in this type of scenario.
  • Food Spoilage Liability – You do all you can to find reliable vendors and suppliers for your food, drinks and snacks, but if a sandwich is left on the shelf a bit too long and an unknowing customer buys it, there could be a problem. Do what you can to prevent that from happening, but be sure that when it does that you’re covered.
  • Liquor Liability – If you sell alcohol, you already know how important this is. You’re already doing all you can to prevent possible claims, but make sure you’re protected when and if something should happen.
  • Crime and Vandalism – For many, unfortunately this is a huge risk. Installing alarms, cameras, and implementing safety procedures is an excellent first step, but you’ll want to be ready in the event of burglary, robbery, vandalism, and employee theft.

Now let’s look at a few ways to save some money on your business insurance policy.

Ways to Save Money on Gas Station Insurance
  • Positive Google Reviews – Yes, this is actually becoming a factor now.  Insurance companies are paying more and more attention to the online community and what they have to say about your service.  Make sure those reviews are looking good, and do what you can to improve them and your insurance company may take notice.
  • Building improvements – Insurance companies want to make sure everything is in excellent shape, so when you update the roof, or the plumbing, or the heating, etc, make sure you notify the insurance company.  If you notice that the building is showing signs of wear, it may be a good time to invest in repairs.
  • Loss Control – Most insurance companies look back a total of 3 years for your losses. No losses are obviously the best if you want the best price, but quite a bit of credit can be given if you’ve taken steps to avert further losses.  If you were robbed, but then put in a security system, that would be reason for the company to meet you in the middle.
  • Pay in Full – Many companies give significant discounts if you can pay your insurance on an annual basis. It’s always worth asking for more credit when you’re able to, so plan ahead so you can take advantage of this.
  • Multi-policy discounts – Most people know this is true for homes and autos, but did you know it works for commercial accounts as well? Always ask!
  • Experience – Credit can also be given if you’ve simply put in the time and paid your dues. You may not only qualify for better discounts, but better programs entirely if you have 3 or more years of experience as a business owner
  • Insuring Everything with One Company – Just like buying in bulk, there are many carriers that will give more and more discounts if you place everything with them, much like the multi-policy discounts as mentioned above. If you own several stores, make sure to look into placing them with one carrier.  If you operate in multiple states, it’s worth looking into whether or not your carrier can work for every location that you own.

Again, this is meant to simply be an introduction to some quick ways to find the policy right for you.  Be sure to check with your agent for additional coverage and discounts that apply specifically to your business.  Of course, you can always contact us here for a quote as well and we can discuss what sort of plan would fit your business best.

Should I Keep Insurance on a Car in Storage?

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It’s the middle of October and the weather is beginning to change.  You’ve enjoyed months with your beautiful convertible and now you’re planning to (regretfully) put it in the garage for the winter.  Now that you’re not driving it – do you need to keep coverage on it?

Whether it’s the convertible scenario above, or a car that is in the middle of being restored, or simply a car that will just sit for a period of time while your son or daughter moves back home to figure out what to do with their life, you might find that you’re paying insurance on a vehicle that won’t be driven for months.  What are the options?  What insurance do you need?

The short answer is to leave only comprehensive coverage on the car. This would protect the vehicle just as ordinary comprehensive coverage would, including theft, vandalism, weather, fire, etc.

So basically, the things you’d be most worried about with a car in storage.  The car would not be legal to drive by any means, but you would save significant costs and the car itself would have some protection.

Now, some very important notes of caution before doing this:

  • If the vehicle will driven at any time, state law dictates that you must carry liability insurance on the vehicle.  So even if you are only planning to drive the vehicle very sparingly, it needs to have at least the state minimum in liability protection.
    • Example:  The car you regularly drive is in the shop, so you decide to drive the car in storage to the store to buy some groceries.  As you’re leaving, you back into another vehicle.  This would not be covered.
  • There would not be coverage for anything off road either.
    • Example:  You have a truck that you’ve put in storage for the winter.  You have a dead tree stump in your yard that you want removed, so you and your neighbor decide to use your truck to pull it out.  As you pull, a chain comes lose and strikes your neighbor in the face.  There would be no coverage for this.
  • One very big potential issue is forgetting to contact your insurance company when the car is able to be driven again.
    • Example:  You regularly put your convertible in storage for the winter, and you always notify your agent before and after putting it in storage.  It’s now June and you accidentally hit a sign in your convertible, only to realize that you never contacted your agent earlier in the spring.  No coverage.

You’ll want to check with your insurance company on this, though.  Every company does this a little different, and you’ll want to be sure this is something they’re willing and able to do and that there are no additional games in coverage that you should be aware of.

As you can see, there are some big risks in doing this.  Try not to look at it as a way to ‘save money,’ but know that less coverage = a lower price.  Make sense?

So what do you think?  Does it make sense to you to put your vehicles on a comprehensive-only coverage basis?

We can help you to get the insurance you need to protect your investment. Reach out to us to get a quote today.

What To Do After A Car Accident

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If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s not something you forget and it’s not something you’re anxious to do again.  But when it happens, who needs to be involved at the scene, and what should or should not be done while you’re there?

There are nearly 10 million car crashes in the US each year, big and small combined.  This isn’t something you spend a lot of time thinking about until you’re in that situation, but once you’re there, it’s critical.

So here are some easy steps for what to do after a car accident to get you through it:

 1. Call 911 and/or the police – if needed.

First and most importantly, if there are any injuries, get help ASAP.  Make sure you’re not in anymore immediate danger and call for help if needed.  Give as much detail as possible so they can send the right people your way.

Second, it’s always a good idea to call the police and file a report.  The police do not determine who’s fault the accident is, but they can give a factual report of what happened.  Otherwise it could end up your word against the other party’s, and obviously that could be problematic.

You are required to report the incident to the police if:

  • there is an death or injury
  • the accident results in damage amounting to $1,000 or more
  • one of the drivers is uninsured
  • a criminal act caused the accident

If the accident takes place in a parking lot or on private property, the police may tell you that they don’t need to file a report since it didn’t happen on a roadway.  It’s still advisable to have a report filed anyhow to cover your bases.

*Make sure you take down the police report number so that you can report it to your insurance company.

2. Assess the damage.

Be very careful here.  Your first instinct may be to move the car off the road as soon as possible, but you’ll want to do a few things first:

  • Take some pictures of the accident as is
  • Check for leaking fluids. If you see quite a bit, DON’T MOVE IT.
  • Check for flat tires. Moving it with a flat or two could do further damage.
  • Check for strange smells or noises. If you find any, best to leave it alone.

If you find that the car appears to be movable, continue to monitor things but you are legally allowed to move the car off the road.  Otherwise, better call roadside assistance.

3. Exchange information with any other party involved.

It’s always a good idea to exchange information.  This speeds things up considerably once you have it.  You’ll need:

  • Names, addresses, and phone numbers of all drivers involved
  • Year, make, model and license plate of all drivers involved
  • Insurance company names and policy numbers of all drivers involved

Be careful of implicating yourself, of course.  The police report will help the insurance company determine fault, so you don’t need to open yourself up to being viewed as the at-fault driver, particularly when you very well may not have been.

If you feel threatened by the other party, be cautious and/or do not engage.

If the other party prefers to settle with cash instead of running everything through the insurance company, do not accept.  This could lead to numerous liability problems down the road, it’ll be your word against theirs, and you won’t be able to go back and file a claim on it.  Do it right the first time.

4. Document, document, document.

Take good, quality photos of the scene to accurately show what happened.  Again, this makes things run much smoother when the insurance companies begin to sort things out.  Show the entire vehicle on each side, and get closeups of the damage.  If possible, get photos of the other party’s license and license plate as well.

5. Call your insurance company.

Call it in as soon as you can.  You’ll want to do this while everything is still fresh in your memory.  They’ll want to help you through this as best they can as well.  If you have an agent, call them.  If not, you may call your company directly.  What information should you give your insurance company?

  • Name, address and phone number of each driver
  • Policy numbers and insurance companies of each driver
  • Year, make, model and license plate of each car involved
  • Photos
  • A brief description of what happened
  • Police report number, if applicable
  • Witness contact information, if applicable

From here, your company will begin to sort things out with you and anyone else involved.  If you are found to be at fault, your company will work things out for everyone.

If the other driver is at fault, then their company will pay for your repairs and injuries.  You may begin the process with your own policy if you’d prefer to get started on it immediately – though you may be responsible for the deductible first.  It would be reimbursed by the other company at the closing of the claim.

Finally, reporting an incident and filing a claim are not necessarily the same thing.  There may be some instances in which it would be better not to file a claim at all, though some insurance companies require that their customers to report all incidents, so you’ll want to double check on that as well.

Obviously, no two accidents are the same.  It might be simple and straight forward.  You might need a lawyer.  Each situation needs to be assessed, of course, but the thing that remains consistent is this:  always be safe.

 

What is an Insurance Protection Class for a Homeowners Policy?

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What is an insurance protection class and how does it affect my homeowners insurance price?

An insurance protection class is developed by ISO (Insurance Services Office) and ranges between 1 and 10.  Also known as a ‘Fire Protection Class,’ it is based on your distance to a water source, how quickly the nearest fire department can respond in the event of a fire, and what equipment they have.

Here are some of the things they’ve historically looked at:

  • What kind of trucks do they have?
  • How many trucks?
  • How much water can the trucks hold?
  • How much water can they pump per minute?
  • How close is the house to a fire hydrant?
  • How many firemen are employed?
  • Are they employed or is it volunteer?

They have evaluated the layout of the land in the past and has scored each area accordingly.  Depending on what area your home is located in, that will determine your score.  Changes happen from time to time as towns and cities expand, but it’s been a stable concept.

Prices generally increase as you move from Protection Class 1 to 10.  Classes 9 and 10 tend to indicate that you are in the country, meaning it may take a little longer for the fire department to get there so your insurance rates may be higher as a result.  In fact, there may be some insurance companies may shy away altogether from Classes 9 and 10.

That said…

Is this really the best way to be scoring things anymore?  Hasn’t technology improved to a point where we can get faster response?

Some insurance companies are looking very closely at this.  They are considering other factors to determine the real risk of a total loss and weighing them along with the Protection Class to determine the true risk.  They understand that as technology, data and information improves, so does speed and precision.

These companies are using alternative means to calculate the risk level by evaluating the distance to the primary responding fire station and the quality of the water supply.  One company our agency works with has come up with their own system by doing this.  Instead of rating the location by classes 1-10, they have only three ratings that are to be applied to the property:  Protected, Partially Protected, and Unprotected.

The idea is to be more accurate in calculating the likelihood of a severe fire loss.  The Insurance Protection Class is still listed on the policy forms, but only as a ‘backup’ rating element for analysis and for situations where the new rating cannot be returned.  Overall, since this company decided to switch to this method, it’s been more beneficial to those on the outskirts of a town or city, or just out far enough that under the PC class they may have been classed as a PC-9, but are now listed as ‘Partially Protected.’

Not every insurance company has made the decision to consider other factors into their rating systems yet regarding insurance protection classes, but it’s something to keep your eye on – especially if you live in the country and have no intention of every moving into the city.  These things are always changing so it’s good to review your policy with your agent every year to see what the best situation is for you.

Course of Action:  Check with your agent to see if your homeowners insurance carrier is using traditional Protection Class valuations to determine your home’s level of risk, or if they’ve started incorporating other factors into their protection ratings.  Find out which is best for you.  If you’re unsure or if you’d like to reevaluate entirely, click here for a quote with our agency.

The Best Gas Station Insurance in Ohio and Indiana

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What’s the best gas station insurance plan?

If you own a gas station or convenience store – and especially if you own several – how are you supposed to find the best gas station insurance plan?  Where do you start?  What do you look for?  How do you cut costs?  And when will you have any time at all to research this?

This is going to be a starting point to finding the right plan.  Every store is a little different, so each one will have different needs than the next.  Some sell alcohol, some share space with franchised fast food restaurants, some have a bigger commercial base, and don’t forget the car wash.  Keeping that in mind, I’ve tried to contain this to the basics.

We’ll start with a few things you’ll want to look for in a policy, agency and company, then we’ll move into some ways to save money.

Gas Station Insurance Necessities
  • Gas tank and awning coverage – It’s common knowledge that you’ll want to cover any buildings and the contents inside, but the canopies, smoke stacks, underground piping and connections, and gas tanks are not covered as an extension of the building. You’ll want to make sure that each of these things are covered.  Some companies are much more comprehensive in their coverage of these things than others, so you’ll want to talk to your agent about this.  In fact, some offer a blanket extension to list all of these things under one coverage.  You’ll want to make sure you know how much it’s all worth, then find a company willing to insure it correctly.

  • Pollution Liability – If there’s a gas spill tomorrow, what are you going to do? You’re going to have enough to worry about on the PR side without having to wonder who is going to remove the pollutants.  Make sure this is included.
  • Food Spoilage Liability – You do all you can to find reliable vendors and suppliers for your food, drinks and snacks, but if a sandwich is left on the shelf a bit too long and an unknowing customer buys it, there could be a problem. Do what you can to prevent that from happening, but be sure that when it does that you’re covered.
  • Liquor Liability – If you sell alcohol, you already know how important this is. You’re already doing all you can to prevent possible claims, but make sure you’re protected when and if something should happen.
  • Crime and Vandalism – For many, unfortunately this is a huge risk. Installing alarms, cameras, and implementing safety procedures is an excellent first step, but you’ll want to be ready in the event of burglary, robbery, vandalism, and employee theft.

Now let’s look at a few ways to save some money on your business insurance policy.

Ways to Save Money on Gas Station Insurance
  • Positive Google Reviews – Yes, this is actually becoming a factor now.  Insurance companies are paying more and more attention to the online community and what they have to say about your service.  Make sure those reviews are looking good, and do what you can to improve them and your insurance company may take notice.
  • Loss Control – Most insurance companies look back a total of 3 years for your losses. No losses are obviously the best if you want the best price, but quite a bit of credit can be given if you’ve taken steps to avert further losses.  If you were robbed, but then put in a security system, that would be reason for the company to meet you in the middle.
  • Pay in Full – Many companies give significant discounts if you can pay your insurance on an annual basis. It’s always worth asking for more credit when you’re able to, so plan ahead so you can take advantage of this.
  • Multi-policy discounts – Most people know this is true for homes and autos, but did you know it works for commercial accounts as well? Always ask!
  • Experience – Credit can also be given if you’ve simply put in the time and paid your dues. You may not only qualify for better discounts, but better programs entirely if you have 3 or more years of experience as a business owner
  • Insuring Everything with One Company – Just like buying in bulk, there are many carriers that will give more and more discounts if you place everything with them, much like the multi-policy discounts as mentioned above. If you own several stores, make sure to look into placing them with one carrier.  If you operate in multiple states, it’s worth looking into whether or not your carrier can work for every location that you own.

Again, this is meant to simply be an introduction to some quick ways to find the policy right for you.  Be sure to check with your agent for additional coverage and discounts that apply specifically to your business.  Of course, you can always contact us here for a quote as well and we can discuss what sort of plan would fit your business best.

Do I have to rebuild in the same spot if my house is destroyed?

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“If my house is destroyed, do I have to rebuild in the same place?  Can I cash out and move?

This is a very big question when you’ve just had a major loss to your home.  If you’ve suffered significant damage to the point of needing to move out, you may be asking whether or not you’d really like to stay in the same neighborhood.

Maybe you never liked the location.

Maybe you’d been thinking of moving for a while anyhow.

Maybe you got new neighbors and you can’t stand them.

Regardless, you’re ready to move on.  The question is, can you?

The short answer is that yes, you can.  However, the amount you get from the insurance company depends on what type of policy you have.  There are some policies out there that have the option to cash out, but you will want to verify that by checking with your agent or insurance company.

The information below will help you determine what type of coverage is on your policy:

  1. Locate your homeowners policy and find out if you have your home listed at Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value.
    • Replacement Cost:  If the house is totally destroyed, this is the amount it will take to completely rebuild it.  If it takes $350,000 to rebuild your house today, you’ll want to insure for that amount.  This amount is usually determined by a replacement cost estimation, typically calcuated by the insurance company or the agent.  This is very important because if you have too little coverage, you may not have enough to rebuild.  FAR too little and you may even face an additional penalty on top of that for not properly insuring your property!  On the other hand, too much coverage and you will have found yourself overpaying for your insurance.  If your $350,000 house is insured for $900,000… sorry, you’re only getting $350,000.  Talk to your agent today and make sure this is an accurate amount.
    • Actual Cash Value:  This is the replacement cost minus depreciation.  In the event of a loss, the company will take into account the age and condition of the home to determine the payout as result of a claim.
  2. Let’s say you’ve found that your home is insured at Replacement Cost.  Now you will want to determine whether you have a standard policy or one with a Cash-Out Option.  The Cash-Out Option is exactly that, and should be worded very plainly.  This is the determining factor as to whether or not you can cash out at full value.  Word of caution:  This is NOT Guaranteed Replacement Cost.  That is a completely different coverage.
  3. If you are unable to determine whether or not you have this coverage, it’s time to find out.  Your agent or insurance company should be able to tell you what you have.  They can also tell you if a Cash-Out Option available at all through their carriers, as only a select few companies offer it.

If you have the Cash-Out Option, congratulations!  If you face a total loss, you will receive the replacement cost amount on your home whether you decide to rebuild there or not.  If you do not, you will only receive the replacement cost amount if you decide to rebuild in the same spot.  If you decide to cash out and move, you will receive the depreciated amount.

If this is something that sounds interesting to you, be sure to check with your agent and see if it’s a coverage that can be provided.  Otherwise you can always contact us here for a quote at the link below and we can discuss what this sort of plan would look like for you.

We can help you to get the insurance you need to protect your investment. Reach out to us to get a quote today.

Why Do My Auto Insurance Rates Keep Going Up Even Though My Car Keeps Getting Older?

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Why do my auto insurance rates keep going up even though my car is getting older?  At Ovation Insurance, many of our clients ask this question so I would like to address it from a couple of angles.

First things first, even though it’s called car/auto insurance, it covers more than just your car. It should technically be called “auto-owners” insurance, similarly to how home insurance is actually called “home owners insurance”.

It’s important to understand that there are a lot of variables that go into insurance premiums, and with auto insurance, it’s no different.

The insurance company is much more concerned with you crashing into someone and causing them (or yourself) bodily harm, or death, than they are about your car. A car is a material possession which can be replaced.

A human life is not.

When is the last time you looked at your auto insurance policy?
If you look at it you’ll notice there are a lot of different coverages on your auto policy.

Bodily injury
Property damage
Un-insured motorist
Under-insured motorist
Medical Payments
Loss of Income
Funeral Expense
Loss of use
Rental Reimbursement

These are all things that you are covered for on your auto policy. How many of them have to do with your car?

None.

How many of them have a price next to them on your policy?

All of them.

Your car isn’t the only thing you’re being charged for on your policy
That’s because auto insurance covers far more important things than your car as mentioned above.

Let me re-phrase that: your car insurance rate isn’t just based on your car.

You’re not the only one…
It’s also important to understand that you are not the only person your insurance company insures. You are one fish in an ocean of other fish, sharks, and sea creatures, all who have different characteristics and risk profiles.

Insurance is all about spreading costs over a large number (risk pool) of people, which each person paying their fare share. That risk pool is constantly changing, and is impacted by a ton of different things, including the overall economic climate.

This means that you are sharing in the cost of millions of other people, many of whom may have poor loss history and/or credit.

That’s what insurance is though — sharing in the cost.

The next time your auto insurance rates go up, take a look at the big picture. Make sure you’re looking at ALL of the coverages, and corresponding rates.

Hope this helps!  If you would like to know more about Car Insurance be sure to visit our page dedicated to it.

Will my credit rating change my insurance rates?

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I was recently asked this question by one of our  clients, and thought I would share the answer here for our readers.

There are a lot of things that go into homeowners and auto insurance rates, one of them being credit. I’ve heard a lot of complaints from people who don’t like the fact that insurance companies use credit in their underwriting.

Some people have absolutely no idea that it’s used in the rate at all.

At the end of the day, there’s not much we can do about it though. Insurance companies have been using credit in their rates for decades, and that’s not likely to change.

By the way, insurance companies don’t pull your credit like a mortgage company or credit card company does. There is no negative impact on your credit as a result of an insurance company looking at it.

When I say “pull” what I mean is that the insurance company is doing what’s called a soft inquiry, which is not the same thing as having your credit pulled (hard inquiry).

When does credit play a role in insurance rates?
It’s important to understand that insurance companies don’t continuously check or monitor your credit. Usually, they only check it when you first get a quote and/or sign up with them in the very beginning.

This means that if your credit score increases (or decreases) your insurance company does not automatically know about it.

So, to my customers question of whether or not his increased credit score will lower his rates, the answer is not automatically.

What has to be done on our side as the agent is contact the carrier the insurance and ask them to do what’s commonly referred to as a “re-score”. This is when the insurance company can re-run the person’s credit (soft inquiry) to see if there is any positive bearing on the rate.

This isn’t something that the insurance company is going to let the agency do every single year, so it’s not worth even asking unless there has been a significant change in your credit score, and only you as the customer would know if that was the case.

If you’d like to get a better handle on your credit rating, it could be helpful to setup credit monitoring. We hope this was helpful! As always, leave us comment below if you have any questions.