Taylor Agency Staff

The Umbrella Policy: 3 Reasons You Should Have One

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“It is better to walk in the sunshine with an umbrella than to walk in the rain without one.” -Taylor Agency

Owning a business, home, car, or boat can bring lots of fun and great memories. But the more you have, the more you have to lose. Unfortunately, lawsuits have become the norm in our society. They are on the news, in the paper, and even blasted on social media. Businesses can experience a workers’ compensation claim or employment discrimination incident that can trigger a lawsuit. At home, a pool or auto accident can end with you getting sued.

You hope it won’t happen, but how do you protect yourself in the event of a lawsuit? An umbrella policy is extra liability coverage that can be added to your homeowner’s, commercial, auto, or other insurance. This is an additional layer of protection for your assets in the event that you or your property causes damage to another person.

To break it down, here are three major reasons to have an umbrella policy for a home, auto, or business:

  1.  Added protection
    1. This policy adds protection to business or personal assets. The policy kicks in when the limits on your original policy have been exhausted, which is not hard to do in a lawsuit. Instead of having your home or car seized, your umbrella policy will pay the price up to its limits.
  2.  Broader protection
    1. It also has broader coverage for a general liability claim that your general liability policy does not cover. Discuss the details of your general liability policy with your agent to find out how an umbrella policy will benefit you specifically.
  3. Affordable protection
    1. Most carriers will require you to carry a certain amount of liability insurance on your policy before selling an umbrella policy to you; however, when it is time to purchase an umbrella policy, it is less than $400 per year for $1 to $2 million of protection (Trusted Choice).

Talk to your agent today to find out how you can make sure that you and your assets are adequately covered with the addition of an umbrella policy!

Hurricane Coverage: The Answers You Are Going To Need

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Meteorologists have projected that this hurricane season will have average to above average activity. That may not seem so bad at first, but it only takes one storm to cause damage, disruption, or devastation. With hurricane season here, it is the time to make sure that your home is properly protected. Here are some things to remember:

Call your agent! Every homeowner’s policy is different because no two homes are alike. Different policies include different coverages. It is best to call your agent to make sure what is covered and what is not.

Know that Wind and Hail coverage and Hurricane coverage are similar, but have their differences. Wind and Hail coverage will cover any type of storm with wind or hail. Hurricane coverage will only provide coverage for named storms or hurricanes. They also have different deductibles. Taylor Agency will automatically include wind and hail or hurricane coverage in your policy.

Don’t forget a flood policy! Hurricanes and named storms can bring heavy rains and flooding. Just last year, Hurricane Harvey hit the United States causing $125 billion in damage (National Hurricane Center) coming only second to Hurricane Katrina in costs. Flood policies are not included but must be added if you want protection. The standard FEMA flood policy requires a 30 day waiting period. Unfortunately, a flood policy cannot be bound if a named storm or hurricane has developed before or during the 30-day waiting period. Even if you are not in a flood zone, keep in mind that if it can rain, then it can flood.

Talk about deductibles! Prior to a named storm or hurricane making landfall, be sure to find out what kind of deductibles your policies have. Depending on the extent of the damage, it may end up being less expensive to make the repairs yourself rather than paying the deductible. In the event that you have damage, talk to your agent to see what the best plan of action is for you and your family.

Fun in the Sun: Pool and Grilling Safety

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The first day of summer, June 21, is swiftly approaching. The pool begins to beckon and the grills get fired up. With the weather promoting these activities, we decided to share some tips and guidelines to help you play safely!

 

The Pool Party

While pools can keep you cool during the summer and give the kids something to do, they also increase your liability risk. The first thing you should do when purchasing a house with a pool or making plans to install a pool is to talk with your insurance agent. Ask about an umbrella policy as an added layer of protection. To find out more information, call Taylor agency today to speak with

one of our agents.

Some safety tips for your pool are as follows:

  • Establish safety rules! Everyone sees the rules posted at a public pool. Why wouldn’t you post safety rules at home?
  • Educate yourself on swim safety. Learning rescue skills and CPR can be the difference between life and death someday.
  • Installing a fence can help prevent unwanted pool guests or deter moseying toddlers from entering the pool unsupervised.
  • Account for the weather. Just because the pool water is cool doesn’t always mean that it is safe to be outside. Stay hydrated and monitor the temperature when swimming. Don’t stay in the heat for too long to avoid heat stress.

 

The Cookout

Fire is responsible for some of the most severe damages to homes and other structures according to the Insurance Information Institute. In particular, grill fires are responsible for millions of dollars in damages, about 100 injuries, and around 10 deaths annually. Nearly 60% of grill fires occur during the summer months of May, June, July, and August with the leading cause being mechanical failure or malfunction. (U.S. Fire Administration).

Here are some safety measures you can take:

  • Maintain your grill! Checking for leaks, blockages, or other broken elements can help prevent malfunctioning equipment.
  • While using your grill, keeping it on a level surface and not moving it can help prevent the grill from tipping over and causing a fire.
  • Be sure that you have the proper tools on you or nearby. Wearing protective gear like mittens and an apron can help prevent burns while keeping a fire extinguisher nearby can assist in putting out an unwanted fire.
  • When you have finished with your grill, make sure that it has completely cooled before storing it away. See your specific grill instructions for proper storage.

As always, speak to your insurance agent about the coverage you have concerning pools and grills. After you have established safety measures and protective plans, enjoy your summer!

Homeowner’s Insurance: Six Points To Keep In Mind

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Owning a home brings lots of different joys and challenges. You can paint the walls the color that you want, but you also have to fix the stove when it breaks down. There are all kinds of things to figure out, but one important aspect to never leave unattended is your homeowner’s insurance. Each home is unique in its insurance needs and every homeowner’s policy is different. Talking to your agent about the specifics is the best way to find out more about your policy, but we’ve rounded up a few key points that can help you determine if you need more coverage.

Named Storms, Hurricanes, or Wind & Hail

Hurricane Season is upon us. With hurricane season quickly approaching, the time to check what kind of coverage you have is now! Once a storm is on its way it is too late to make any changes to your policy. Checking to see what kind of deductible you have on your policy is a good place to start. To be absolutely sure, it is best to call your agent to verify information and get any questions answered. Being proactive is the best way to protect your biggest asset: your home.

Earthquakes

According to seismologist Steve Jaume of College of Charleston, Charleston is the bulls-eye for earthquakes on the East Coast. Since earthquakes cannot be predicted, the only thing you can do is to be prepared for one.  Earthquake coverage is not included in a typical homeowners policy, but it can be added in order to protect your home. Many carriers offer earthquake policies that you can add to your homeowner’s policy. By calling your agent, you can find out your options to best protect your home in the event of an earthquake!

Keeping An Inventory

Losing the contents in your home after a peril (i.e. fire, named storm, theft, etc.) can be heartbreaking.  We always recommend taking video, pictures, or writing down an inventory of the items in your home.  While this is not a requirement for insurance, it will assist you in recouping your lost items.  Save this information to a disc or flash drive. Then, give it to a family member, or save it at work.  The little things are not missed until they are not there. Do what you can to take note of the things you enjoy in your home now before it is too late.

High-Value Items

Do you love to collect antiques?  Did your grandmother leave you a family heirloom? Does your husband love buying you beautiful jewelry? Coverage for high valued items can be limited in a homeowner’s policy.  The best way to protect these precious items is to schedule them separately on your home policy or on a separate policy.  Call us to make sure you have coverage for these items that not only hold a high value but also mean so much to you.

Dogs

Dog bites are one of the highest claims for homeowners.  If your current policy does not already include it, contact your agent to find out about adding dog or animal liability to your policy. It is inexpensive and worth having, if you have a furry friend in the family.

Home Improvements

Be sure to contact your agent if you are making any improvements to your home.  Improvements or additions to a home can affect rates and coverage. Home improvements can range from replacing plumbing or wiring, adding a pool or bedroom, or getting a new HVAC system. In any case, give your agent a call the next time you are ready to make any major updates to your home.