Planning On Renovating? You Might Need More Home Insurance

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Like many homeowners, you’re probably eager to make some changes to make your home more attractive or to increase the value of your property, but do you know how those changes could affect your current homeowner’s insurance policy? If you’ve been thinking about adding some square footage to your Green Valley, AZ home or upgrading it with new features, you’ll need to consider how those upgrades and renovations could affect your homeowner’s insurance policy.

How Big Is Too Big?

Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover remodeling projects that exceed a certain dollar amount. If your renovation plans include major additions such as adding another room or changing the building’s structure dramatically, you will need what is called builder’s risk insurance. Construction of any type generally carries risks – an electrical mishap could cause a fire, or materials or property may become accidentally damaged. Builder’s risk policies protect your property from damage during the construction process that aren’t covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. Talk to your Insurance Center of Green Valley agent to determine what additional forms of insurance may be required.

Are You Adding Value?

If your renovation project will be adding significant value to your property, check your limits. It is possible your new patio or upstairs master bedroom suite addition could add tens of thousands of dollars in value to your Green Valley, AZ property. Your homeowner’s insurance policy comes with a property value limit. Before you start construction, make sure any new additions will be covered by your current policy. If the value has increased considerably and your limits are exceeded you may need to raise your limits.

For more information about how your new dream kitchen or living room addition could affect your current homeowner’s insurance policy, contact the Insurance Center of Green Valley today. We’ll make sure you’re covered before your project begins.

What to do When Your Car’s Check Engine Light Comes On

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You might freak out or begin to panic the moment you see the “check engine” light appear. You start to think of all of the costs that could go along with it. The Green Valley, AZ agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley would like to ease your mind by letting you know what you should do when that dreaded light comes on.

Don’t Panic

Unless smoke is coming from the engine or sparks are shooting from the hood, don’t panic. Your on board engine’s computer is simply letting you know that there is some sort of malfunction. It may be something such as a sensor that needs to be replaced. If you’re handy with vehicles you can change the sensor yourself.

Get it Diagnosed

Take your vehicle to a mechanic so they can diagnose the issue. Those who’d like to do-it-yourself can purchase a code reader. Once the code is deciphered, then you can decide if the issue is something that either you or your local professional should handle. Some check engine lights illuminate when you have a faulty or cracked gas cap. It may seem like a small concern, but gas caps that leak can release vapors that alter the fuel system.

Fix the Problem

Just because you don’t panic right away, doesn’t mean that you should ignore the problem. Issues that build up over time can cause more damage. You could spend more money fixing a problem that was compounded with time. For example, if you ignore the light for several months and the issue was the catalytic converter, then your car will eventually stop running.

In Green Valley, AZ, the Insurance Center of Green Valley has expert insurance agents that are available to help you with a new policy or adjust your current coverage.

Commercial Insurance for Small Businesses

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It takes a lot to run a small business. You don’t want your company to stop flowing because you didn’t have enough finances to cover you after an accident. There are several different types of liability insurance that you may need for your small business. Insurance Center of Green Valley in Green Valley, AZ has some information you should consider when looking for commercial insurance for your small business.

General Liability Insurance

Your company should think about having general liability because it protects businesses from lawsuits as a result of an injury, accident, or negligence. If your restaurant is responsible for causing several patrons to become ill and they file a lawsuit, you may be responsible for lawyers’ fees, medical expenses, and other costs adjudicated by the court.

Product Liability Insurance

Defective products that are manufactured or sold by your company could make you liable if the product causes injury to a customer. Product liability insurance can be helpful by protecting your business from financial losses.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance covers your business as a result of malpractice, negligence, or errors. Some states require physicians to maintain a minimum amount of malpractice insurance.

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance covers business property from a variety of hazards.

  • All-risk policy – covers everything except what is written in the policy.
  • Peril-specific policy – covers every peril written in the policy.

Home-Based Business Insurance

Many small business owners operate from their homes. Homeowners insurance may not cover items relating to the business.

Check with the independent agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley in Green Valley, AZ to see if your homeowner’s policy covers your business property. You can also get more information on additional commercial insurance added to your current policy or begin a new one.

3 Ways to Avoid Personal Injuries by Visitors During a Holiday Party at Home

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Having friends and family members over for holiday events at your Green Valley, AZ is always a good time. However, if someone gets hurt at the party, it can definitely put a damper on the festivities. Plus, you may be facing a big home insurance claim to cover the costs of their injuries. To make sure someone is not injured at your holiday party, make sure you remember these simple rules.

Limit where guests can roam in your home. 

Instead of keeping your entire home open and accessible for every guest at the party, it is a better idea to keep guests contained to only certain areas. For one, this keeps the guests easier to keep tabs on so they do not get into a dangerous predicament, which can be especially worrisome if your guests bring children along with them. You don’t necessarily have to make this an obvious thing; simply lock up doors where guests should not be and use a safety gate to block off stairways to different levels of the house. 

Make sure steps and walkways are free from hazards. 

Slip and fall cases are common with homeowner’s insurance claims, and they are more likely to happen outside of your home in the winter than any other time. In the winter, make sure you use deicing agents on steps and walkways where guests will be walking to get in and out of your home. It is also a good idea to keep the driveway clear of ice and snow. 

Find a sitter for your pets. 

Pets can be a big concern, especially dogs who may get uncomfortable with a bunch of strangers in the house. Therefore, it is a good idea to find a sitter for your pets so no guest gets bitten or injured. If you cannot find a pet sitter, make sure you keep your pet in a kennel for the evening or chain them up outdoors. 

For more information about preventing injuries during a holiday event at home, contact Insurance Center of Green Valley for advice. 

Ride Share Programs

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The United States Department of Transportation reports that ride-sharing programs are increasing. This is a good thing. Ride-sharing includes traditional carpooling, vanpooling, and taking turns with your neighbors picking up the kids from school. Ride-sharing also includes the innovative Internet-based car-sharing programs, such as BlaBlaCar, Lyft, and Uber.

Considerations for Ride-Sharing Programs

Before participating in any ride-sharing programs, the experts at the Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ, and the surrounding areas, say there are a few things to consider, which are:

  • Lack of Flexibility – If you use ride-sharing to get to and from your work, you will have to be ready to go at the pre-scheduled times; otherwise, you will inconvenience others in the ride-sharing program with you. This may mean you have to get up earlier than you normally would in order to be ready and waiting when the carpool vehicle arrives at your home. It also means you will have to leave work at a certain time and cannot work late. If the boss asks you to stay at work to get something done, you may be stranded without a convenient way to get back home.
  • Vehicle Maintenance – If it is your turn to drive, you must keep your vehicle properly maintained and clean.
  • Extended work hours – Most people who commute with others find that the commuters begin talking about work almost automatically. The ride to work becomes a kind of casual business meeting.
  • Vehicle insurance – When you are using your vehicle to transport others, your insurance coverage needs to be adjusted for the additional potential liability in the case of an accident. If you are receiving compensation, including from your company, you may need commercial insurance coverage for your vehicle.

Summary

If you use your vehicle for commuting to work and take passengers along with you or if you offer a ride for hire as part of the new social media ride-sharing services, you have special auto insurance needs.

Consult with your agent at Green Valley, AZ, Insurance Center of Green Valley. Even if you do not participate in ride sharing programs, it is always a good idea to conduct an annual review of your auto insurance coverage with your agent to make sure the coverage is adequate.

At What Juncture of Your Business Plan Do You Need To Purchase Commercial Insurance?

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What To Do Next?

You have your business plan completed and have an appointment to meet with potential investors and loan officers at a nearby bank. Is this the time to purchase a commercial insurance policy? The ink hasn’t dried on the business plan yet.

Ready, Set, Go?

Wait Just a moment. Before you hang up your shingle, you need to consider purchasing your insurance policy. The right juncture to insure your business is before your first operating day. Build in the costs for insurance with the prospective financing for your business.

From day one there are areas that need to be protected from liability. This is the perfect time to sit down and see what you need to have adequate protection from all of the what ifs that could happen. If this is your first business, you will learn as you go. You may need to add new insurance products along the way.      

To be perfectly honest, commercial insurance is not an easy notion to navigate. There a myriad of nuances involved with having a comprehensive and efficient policy that is going to do what it needs to do to protect your business and your overall way of life. 

Give us a call at Insurance Center of Green Valley. There are plenty of established business owners who call Green Valley AZ and the surrounding areas home that we cater to.  If you reside in this area and you are in the beginning phases of opening your business, we are here to clarify some key issues regarding the type of insurance you have for your company. If you want to come in, call, fax, or email us we would love to set your mind at ease about this critical business topic. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Auto Insurance Brokers

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As you begin to shop for auto insurance plans, you may discover that some insurance plans are offered through an insurance agent, while others are offered through an insurance broker. This can leave you with many questions. Here are a few of the questions you have regarding auto insurance brokers.

What is an Auto Insurance Broker?

An auto insurance broker sells auto insurance plans. However, unlike an auto insurance agent who works solely for one auto insurance company, a broker works with a variety of companies.

What Are the Benefits of an Auto Insurance Broker?

When you work with an auto insurance broker, they are able to find you the best auto insurance policy for your needs. It may not be with the auto insurance company you think it is with. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of working with an auto insurance agent, which limits their options to one insurance company. Unless you are loyal to one company, a broker can be beneficial.

Can An Auto Broker Help If You Need to File an Insurance Claim?

An auto broker typically sells the policy. They cannot file a claim on your behalf, and because they do not work for the insurance company, cannot help with the status of your claim. However, they can put in a call for you and work to obtain information on your claim or direct you to the right department if you need to file a claim or have questions about an existing claim.

Do you need a new auto insurance plan in the Greater Green Valley, AZ area? If so, Insurance Center of Green Valley can help. Give us a call today to discuss all of your auto insurance needs and let our auto insurance brokers find the right auto insurance plan for you.

In Green Valley, AZ, Does Your Auto Insurance Covered Towed Vehicles?

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In Green Valley, AZ the insurance agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley can provide certain features within a policy to cover certain expenses that may otherwise be overlooked. A good example of this is towing. There are times when the tow bill can be extravagantly high due to the distance the vehicle must be taken. When this is included as part of an auto insurance company, it can dramatically reduce the cost of an accident or breakdown.

To Tow or Not to Tow

Most auto insurance policies are very basic until the agent and owner discuss what they would like to have included. Coverage for towing is not part of a basic policy and must be added as a special feature, especially if it is not a full coverage policy. Many full coverage policies do include a tow package, although it may be limited as to when it can be used. States do not require insurance agencies to carry tow coverage. Clients, however, often ask for the coverage in case of an accident or breakdown. If a policy is being written for anything other than PL/PD, most insurance agents will recommend adding tow coverage in case of an emergency. This protects their client from spending hundreds of dollars on an unexpected to tow bill. 

The agents at the Insurance Center of Green Valley provide services to clients who live throughout the Green Valley, AZ area. They are able to answer questions and offer features that can be included in auto insurance policies that will protect their client from future financial loss. If you are unsure of what your insurance policy covers and what is excluded, call the agents at the Insurance Center of Green Valley to have all of your questions answered. 

Signs You Need Your Brakes Checked

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Whether you travel in the Green Valley, AZ area or anywhere else in the country, your brakes are one of the most important parts of a safe trip.  You do not want to be driving along and suddenly need to stop to realize your brakes are not working properly.  It’s best to have them checked with your regular vehicle maintenance, but sometimes that is not enough.  You need to be aware of warning signs that there may be a problem with your brakes.  Here are some signs that your brakes need to be checked.

  • Obvious signs are the brake warning light on the dashboard or your vehicle taking longer than normal to stop.
  • Brake pads have sensors that will squeal when the brake pad gets low, and if you let them go, you will then start to hear a grinding noise.  Grinding means the pad is gone and it’s metal on metal.
  • If your vehicle pulls hard to the right or left when stopping, then it could mean a caliper is stuck, and it causes it to pull to one side.  It could be other issues, like an unevenly worn tire, poor alignment, or another issue, but it’s a sign to have your car checked.
  • When making an emergency stop with antilock brakes, the pedal pulses, and if this happens during regular stopping there could be a problem with the rotors.
  • A mush pedal, meaning it goes close to the floor before engaging, there could be a problem with the pads or hydraulics.

Insurance Center of Green Valley

At the Insurance Center of Green Valley in the Green Valley, AZ area, we care as much about your safety as making sure you have the right amount of auto insurance coverage for your unique needs.

The Best Home Insurance Additions

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Home insurance is not a one size fits all approach. Everyone uses a different kind of insurance as everyone has different personal and financial needs. When living in Green Valley, AZ, you can depend on the Insurance Center of Green Valley for your particular home owner’s needs. That is why you need to consider these particular insurance additions. 

Valuable Item Insurance

Your home owners insurance projects the home. In the event of a break in your coverage may not extend to what is stolen. So, if you have valuable china smashed up or the thief made off with your entertainment system, valuable item insurance coverage may be a desirable addition to consider. 

Personal Umbrella Insurance

Say someone is attempting to solicit something at your front door. You don’t answer but they slip and fall, injuring themselves as they turn to walk away. Realistically it is their fault, they shouldn’t be on the property and you have no true legal responsibility to the matter. The problem arises if they attempt to sue you. Yes, you’ll likely win, but you’ll also need to pay for an attorney, which is money you are out of. A personal umbrella policy protects you in this case and can cover these kinds of legal situations. 

Flooding Insurance

During the monsoon season around Green Valley, if you live in an area of heavy flooding, you might want to look into flood insurance as the ground simply is not able to absorb this kind of rainfall. 

There are several different insurance options available when protecting your home investment. Depending on what you are in need of these insurance options may change. At Insurance Center of Green Valley, AZ, you can find an assortment of insurance additions to consider. With a team of professionals at your side, we can help identify possible insurance coverage options that will better protect your property in the amount of money you can afford.