Kate Betts

Does home insurance cover hail damage?

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Home insurance may cover hail damage.

Home insurance may cover hail damage.

While hail might seem like a strange phenomenon, it can happen – even in the middle of summer. (It doesn’t seem to make sense, but it happens.) Hail can cause damage to your home as it pelts against the roof and the siding. Since you can’t exactly put a protective bubble around your house to make sure the hail bounces off harmlessly, you might be wondering about another line of protection for your Atlanta home: home insurance. Does home insurance cover hail damage? We’ll explain.

Does home insurance cover hail damage?

Typically, home insurance includes coverage for certain types of damage caused by storms. That can mean things like wind damage, lightning, falling trees, and yes – hail. Your home insurance policy may include coverage for hail damage, but, of course, it’s important to read through your policy to see what is and isn’t covered. It’s also important to know how much coverage you have for your dwelling, your belongings, and so on. (Yes, your policy might look intimidating, but the time you spend reading through it and familiarizing yourself with your coverage is time well spent.)

Home insurance can also include coverage if the roof or wall is damaged due to wind and allows wind-driven rain, hail, or snow to get inside.

Remember, though, that there is your home insurance deductible to consider. Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay if you have a claim – basically you pay your deductible and insurance covers the rest up to your policy’s limit. Anyways, it’s important to find out what your deductible would be if you have a hail damage claim.

What type of storm damage is NOT covered?

Home insurance covers lots of things, but it doesn’t cover everything. As far as storms and disasters go, it’s important to note a few losses that are not covered by home insurance.

Flooding.

Flooding is generally not covered by home insurance. Whether the flood was caused by a heavy rainstorm or a river bursting its banks, it’s not covered. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t protect your home from flooding. You just need to get a flood insurance policy and make sure that you have coverage for both your dwelling and your personal belongings.

Earthquakes.

Earthquakes and earth movement are also generally excluded from home insurance coverage.

Why it’s important to take a home inventory.

When you’re filing a home insurance claim, it can really help to have some current pictures of your home. That way it’s easier to see what kind of damage was caused by something like, say, a hail storm. So, don’t be shy – this is your home’s big moment! Have a photo shoot and snap pics of the exterior of your house.

It’s also important to remember to document your belongings as well. To take an inventory of your personal belongings, go room to room and write down a list of what’s there. And again, take pictures. That can help you make sure you’re not missing anything. Having an inventory can make things easier if you ever have to file a claim, so the best time to take your home inventory is, well, before you have a claim.

In other words – try not to procrastinate!

So, hail damage can be covered by home insurance, which typically includes various coverages for storm damage. But as always, it’s important to read through your policy to make sure you have the coverage you need to protect your home if life throws a curveball – or hail storm – your way.

Looking for Atlanta home insurance? We can help. Fill out our online quote form or give us a call today to get started with your quotes. You can also send us a message on LiveChat if you prefer.

Why do I need to get car insurance in Atlanta?

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Why do you need to get car insurance?

Why do you need to get car insurance?

So, car insurance is a thing. It’s just something you can’t avoid if you want to drive on Atlanta’s streets. And the problem is that it’s a hit to your wallet when you have to cough over the money for your car insurance premium. So, why is that necessary? Why do you need to get car insurance? Well, there are plenty of good reasons, and we’re going to go over four of them.

Why do I need to get car insurance?

1. It’s the law.

States require drivers to carry certain amounts of car insurance. It’s just the law. Georgia, for example, mandates drivers to carry $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per occurrence, and $25,000 property damage liability. These requirements for limits of insurance are meant to protect other drivers on the road from, well, you.

Bodily injury liability can help cover the other driver’s medical bills and pain and suffering if you’re at-fault in an accident, while property damage liability can help with the repairs or replacement of the car. (Basically, it helps you cover your legal obligation to the other driver if you injure them or damage their car in an accident.)

If you don’t have proper car insurance and you get pulled over or cause an accident, you could have some major trouble on your hands.

(Note that we didn’t mention anything about liability insurance protecting your car…because it doesn’t. We’ll get to that in a minute.)

So that’s one (but really two) good reasons why you need car insurance: because it’s the law and because it can help you help those that you could injure in an accident.

2. Car insurance can help you repair your vehicle if it’s damaged by a covered loss.

If you have collision and comprehensive coverage, your car insurance can help you repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged by a covered loss. (Remember, your liability insurance only helps you cover your obligation to the other driver if you’re at fault in an accident – it won’t cover damages to your car. It also won’t help you if your car is damaged by something other than a collision, like fire.)

So, that’s why you ought to consider having collision and comprehensive coverage.

Collision coverage – Helps you repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged in a wreck or by a, well, collision with something.

Comprehensive coverage – Helps repair or replace your car if something other than a collision damages it. Some losses that can be covered are: fire, theft, animal strike, vandalism, and falling objects (i.e. a tree branch.)

While Georgia technically doesn’t require you to have collision and comprehensive coverage, it’s definitely something to think about. It can be a real financial safety net if some sort of calamity befalls your car. Don’t overlook it – your car is a huge financial investment, after all. So, there’s another reason why you need car insurance.

3. Your lender/lienholder may require you to carry collision and comprehensive coverage.

If you have a lender or lienholder for your car (the people who ask politely for money for your car payment) they may require you to have collision and comprehensive coverage for your car. That makes sense – they want to make sure the car they helped you pay for is protected. It’s important that you know what their requirements are and that you get the insurance they want you to have.

4. With UM/UIM coverage, you can be protected if you’re hit by a driver without insurance or without enough insurance.

Let’s say that you’re involved in a car accident and the other driver is at fault. The only problem is that they don’t have enough insurance to cover all of your medical bills resulting from an accident – they’re underinsured. Or what if they don’t have insurance – they’re uninsured. With uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM coverage), your car insurance can help you if the driver who hit you doesn’t have enough insurance (or any insurance) to cover all of your medical bills or the total cost of the accident. (Even if the driver has the legal, required limits of car insurance, those minimum limits might not be enough to cover all the costs of an accident.) As we all know, hospital and medical expenses can be quite astronomical. With UM/UIM coverage, you could get some help covering those bills.

So, those are four compelling reasons to get car insurance. Not only is it the law, but it’s also a financial safety net. Get started with car insurance quotes by filling out our online quote form, messaging us on LiveChat, or calling us.

Does Atlanta home insurance cover solar panels?

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Your home insurance likely covers your solar panels.

Your home insurance likely covers your solar panels.

Atlanta enjoys quite a lot of sunlight, and that might have gotten you thinking about solar panels. If you’re thinking about going green and adding solar panels to your house, you’re probably bracing yourself for the price tag. Those panels are expensive, after all. And since they cost quite a bit, your concern might be how you’re going to protect them. Does home insurance cover solar panels? Will they be protected by your Atlanta home insurance? We’ll explain what you need to know.

Does home insurance cover solar panels?

So, good news –

Rooftop panels are typically considered to be permanent attachments on the house, so your home insurance policy should cover them. You may not need any specific “extra” coverages. The solar panels, if they’re on the roof of the dwelling, may be covered under the “dwelling” section of your home insurance policy.

However, since the solar panels are likely very expensive, it’s important to make sure that they’re fully covered. You may need to raise your limits of home insurance to make sure you have enough coverage to truly cover the solar panels. It’s something to be conscious of if you make the decision to get solar panels.

At any rate, it’s important to talk to your agent to see what your particular policy says and how it handles solar panels. They can also go over your coverage limits and help you make sure you have enough coverage. Be sure to ask what perils your solar panels are protected against – are there any exclusions or types of damage that wouldn’t be covered?

(And while you’re at it, you can ask about your deductible and how much it would be.)

Basically, make sure that you have the coverage you need to by talking things over with your agent. It’s important to make sure to protect your investment.

What are the benefits of having solar panels?

There are a few reasons to consider getting solar panels. Though you might be worried about the cost, there are plenty of benefits to go along with them.

  • You can save money on your electricity bill
  • You can sell electricity back to the power company
  • It’s environmentally friendly because solar power is a renewable resource

So, there you have it. Your home insurance generally covers rooftop panels because they’re usually considered to be a permanent attachment on your home. Be sure to talk to your agent to make sure you have high enough limits of insurance to fully protect your solar panels. They can tell you what you need to know about the coverage for your panels and how to make sure you’re covered. There are lots of reasons to go green – you can really help the environment by taking advantage of the renewable resource of solar energy.

Get started with insurance quotes by filling out our online form, calling us, or messaging us on LiveChat. Our team of insurance professionals would be happy to help you get the Atlanta home insurance that’s right for you.

Does Atlanta car insurance cover hail damage?

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If you have comprehensive coverage, your car should be covered for hail damage.

If you have comprehensive coverage, your car should be covered for hail damage.

Ironically enough, the summer months are a common time for hail. Who would have thought that frozen chunks of ice could plummet from the sky when it’s supposed to be sweltering outside? If your car lives outside and doesn’t get parked in a garage you might wonder – does Atlanta car insurance cover hail damage? It’s a fair question. Hail can wreak havoc on an unsuspecting vehicle. We’ll explain what you need to know.

Does car insurance cover hail damage?

Well, it depends on what coverage you have for your vehicle.

Here’s why:

If you have comprehensive coverage, yes – you’re probably covered for hail. But if you only have liability coverage for your car, you would not be covered for hail damage to your car. That’s because your liability coverage doesn’t cover your car. It’s meant to protect other drivers on the road from you.

There are two portions of liability insurance:

Bodily injury liability – Covers the other driver’s medical bills and pain and suffering if you’re at fault in an accident.

Property damage liability – Covers the repairs or replacement of the other driver’s car if you’re at fault in an accident (as well as other property you might damage with your car.)

Basically, liability helps cover your legal obligation to the other driver if you’re at fault in an accident. It can help you cover your legal expenses if you get sued, too. It’s your financial safety net if you’re ever in an accident where you’re at fault.

It’s not, however, your financial safety net if your car gets damaged by something like hail.

But like we said, if you have comprehensive coverage, you’re generally covered for hail damage. Hail damage can get really expensive because it pummels your entire vehicle, but comprehensive coverage can help cushion the blow.

What is comprehensive coverage?

Comprehensive coverage can help repair or replace your car if it’s damaged by something other than a collision (there’s another coverage for that, which we’ll explain in a minute.)

Losses covered by comprehensive coverage typically include:

So, yes, if you have comprehensive coverage, you should be covered for that unfortunate hail damage and you won’t have to cover all the damage on your own. You’ll probably be out your deductible, though, but better than having to foot the whole bill, right?

Now, we mentioned coverage that can help you repair your car if you’re in an accident. That coverage is collision coverage (appropriately named, right?) It goes hand-in-hand with comprehensive coverage.

What is collision coverage?

Collision coverage is the insurance that can help you repair or replace your car if it’s damaged in a wreck (or if you run into something.) Since liability coverage doesn’t protect your car, it won’t pay to repair or replace your car if you’re at fault in an accident. That’s why collision coverage is so important. It’s a way for you to protect your investment in your car.

Am I required to have collision or comprehensive coverage?

If you have a car payment, your lender may require you to carry both collision and comprehensive coverage. They want to protect their investment in the vehicle. That car is valuable, after all! And things like hail damage aren’t cheap. Make sure that you have the insurance your lender requires.

So, if you have comprehensive coverage, yes – you should be covered for hail damage. But if you only have liability coverage…unfortunately, you’re probably not covered.

Get started with Atlanta car insurance quotes by giving us a call, filling out our online form, or messaging us on LiveChat.

Atlanta car insurance 101: The complete guide to auto insurance

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Test your car insurance knowledge with this auto insurance guide.

Test your car insurance knowledge with this auto insurance guide.

There’s a lot to know about getting insurance for your car. It feels a bit like rocket science sometimes, right? There are all the fancy terms, for one thing. Then there are all the coverages you need to know about, then figuring out what is and isn’t covered. There’s a lot of head-scratching and squinting. To help you absorb some of the need-to-know intel about Atlanta car insurance, we’ve put together a handy-dandy guide to auto insurance.

The complete guide to auto insurance.

  • Part 1: The car insurance glossary.
  • Part 2: Car insurance coverages you need to know about.
  • Part 3: Pro tips for getting car insurance.
  • Part 4: Exploring the factors that affect your insurance rates.
  • Part 5: How to save money on car insurance.
  • Part 6: Car insurance discounts that could help you save.

1. The car insurance glossary.

So, there are some need-to-know words that get thrown around when it comes to car insurance. Before we talk about anything else, we’ll go over some of the lingo. (Insurance-speak is kind of like another language.)

Covered loss: A loss that your insurance will help you pay for. Not all damage/expenses/losses are covered. See your policy for details.

Declarations page: A “cheat-sheet” to your insurance policy. It outlines what coverages you have, how much coverage you have, the cars that are on the policy, and how much you’re paying.

Deductible: The amount you agree to pay if you have a covered loss. You pay your deductible, insurance pays the rest up to your policy’s limit.

Limit: The maximum that insurance will pay out on the various coverages you choose.

MVR (Motor Vehicle Report): Shows your driving history (i.e. license status, traffic violations, license suspensions, accidents.) Your MVR can impact your car insurance rates.

Premium: How much you’re paying for insurance.

Primary use: What you typically use your car for (commuting, business, pleasure, farm, etc.)

2. Car insurance coverages you need to know about.

There are a lot of auto insurance coverages out there, and they can all protect you in different ways. We’ll explain a few common (and helpful) coverages.

  • Liability insurance: Can help cover your legal obligation to the other driver if you’re at fault in an accident. It can also help you cover your legal expenses if they sue.
    • Bodily injury liability: This can help cover the other driver’s medical bills and pain and suffering if you’re in an accident where you’re at fault.
    • Property damage liability: Can help with the expenses of repairing/replacing the other driver’s car if you’re at fault in a wreck. It can also help cover the costs of other property you may damage.
  • Collision coverage can help you repair or replace your car if it’s damaged in a wreck or if you, well, collide with something. (Remember, liability insurance won’t help repair/replace your car if you’re in an accident.)
  • Comprehensive coverage can help you repair/replace your car if it’s damaged by something other than a collision. Typical losses that are covered are fire, vandalism, theft, falling objects, and animal strikes. (Again, liability insurance doesn’t protect your car.)
  • Rental reimbursement can help you cover the costs of renting a car if you’re in an accident and your car has to be in the shop.
  • UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist): UM/UIM insurance can help you cover your medical bills if you’re hit by someone who’s uninsured or who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover all of your expenses.

3. Pro tips for getting car insurance.

The quest for car insurance can be a daunting one. How do you know you’re doing it right? What do you need to know if you’re getting car insurance? We’ve got some tips to help you out.

Consider the coverages you want to get.

The first thing is that you need to know what kind of coverages you want for your car. What losses do you want to protect yourself and your car from? It’s really important to put some thought into how you want your car to be insured. Go over your coverage options, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Get lots of coverage.

The next thing to think about is how much coverage you want. It’s really important that you have high enough limits of coverage to truly protect yourself if you’re at fault in an accident and have legal obligations to the other driver.

Georgia’s minimum limits of car insurance are $25,000 of bodily injury per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability. That might seem like a lot of money, but when you start adding up the medical bills (not to mention a lawsuit) and the costs of car repairs or replacement, that’s not as much as it seems.

Anyways, the point is that you might want to get more coverage than just the state limit. You may want higher limits of liability insurance, and you might want to consider getting coverages such as collision coverage and comprehensive coverage that aren’t required by the state.

Choose your deductible.

If you set a higher deductible, you could see lower premiums. That’s because you’re less likely to file a claim. However, you have to consider your finances and choose a deductible that’s manageable for your situation. You don’t want to set your deductible too high to the point that you’d have a tough time paying it comfortably.

This auto insurance provides an overview of the basics of car insurance.

Do your homework.

Spend some time researching the carrier you’re considering. Find out if they have a good financial standing, a good record for claims handling, and good customer service.

Don’t forget discounts.

Many carriers offer car insurance discounts – yes, the kind of discount that means you save money! It’s not a trick. Find out what discounts you could qualify for and watch your bill get magically smaller. (Don’t worry – we’ll explain a few of the common ones in a second.)

Think about bundling.

Bundling is when you get your home insurance and auto insurance from the same carrier. There are a few reasons to give some thought to bundling. First of all, it’s convenient. Second, you might qualify for a pretty nice discount if you do. Carriers often have a bundling discount that can help you save money on your insurance.

Get quotes.

It’s a good idea to get car insurance quotes so you can go over coverage options and pricing. (You can get started with quotes by filling out our online form, calling us, or sending us a message on LiveChat.)

4. What factors affect my car insurance premium?

It can also be helpful to know what things about you or your car play a part in your auto insurance rates. Insurance companies look at a lot of things when they set car insurance rates, and these factors determine how much of a risk you are to insure and how much your insurance should cost. Some of these factors may be…

  • Your age: Younger drivers might get higher rates because they don’t have much driving experience (and, well, they’re possible daredevils.)
  • Where you live: Your location also plays a part in your rates. If you live in a big city, you might get higher rates than if you lived in a rural area. (There’s generally more traffic and higher crime rates in cities.)
  • Your driving history: Drivers with a record of accidents and tickets can see higher rates because they’re “riskier” to insure. Safe driving can literally pay off.
  • Your car: The year, make, model, and safety features of your car play a part in your rates.
  • How much you drive: The more you drive, the higher your chances of having an accident. The number of miles you cover and what you’re using your car for can impact your rates.
  • Your coverages and deductible: The coverages and deductible you choose can affect your premium.
  • Your credit score: Drivers with better credit scores may see better car insurance rates.
  • Your marital status: If you’re married, you may get lower car insurance rates.

5. Tips to save money on car insurance.

So, here’s an important query as far as car insurance is concerned: how can you save money on your premium? Are there any tips to help your car insurance bill get smaller? Indeed – there are.

Drive safe.

As we explained, your driving record can have a big impact on your rates. Drive safe and keep a clean driving record – your bank account will thank you. Safe drivers often get lower insurance rates.

Have the right deductible.

You might be able to lower your premium by raising your deductible. But don’t outsmart yourself and set your deductible so high that you’d be in a real pickle if you had to pay it.

Think about what car you drive.

If you drive a safe car, you may get better rates.

Use car insurance discounts.

The definition of discount is to get a lower rate, right? So lower your premium by asking about discounts. It’s amazing how savings can add up.

Get quotes.

You don’t have to settle for the first car insurance company you find.

6. Car insurance discounts.

Different insurance companies have car insurance discounts that can really help drivers get lower rates. Here are some of the common discounts that are out there:

  • Multi-car discount: If you insure more than one car with the same carrier, you could get a discount.
  • Bundling: Save money by getting your home insurance (or renters insurance) and car insurance from the same carrier.
  • Safe driver: Your carrier may offer a discount if you go a certain amount of time without a claim.
  • Automatic payments: You might get a discount for setting up automatic payments for your premium. Insurance companies like knowing they’re going to be paid on time. You could also get lower rates by going paperless and handling your payments online.
  • Paying in full: You might get a lower rate by paying your premium all at once instead of in monthly installments.
  • Low mileage: If you don’t drive a lot, you could get a discount.
  • Good Student Discount: Teenagers and young adults can get a Good Student Discount for making good grades in high school or college. (Students with higher grades are less likely to get into accidents.)

So, that’s our guide to auto insurance in a nutshell. Your auto insurance is there to help provide a financial safety net. Driving is risky – it’s important to protect yourself. Make sure you have the right car insurance so you can hit the road with peace of mind.

Get started with Atlanta car insurance quotes by filling out our online form, calling us, or messaging us on LiveChat.

GA insurance commissioner Jim Beck indicted on fraud charges

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Jim Beck, GA insurance commissioner, has been accused of fraud.
Jim Beck, GA insurance commissioner, was accused of fraud and money laundering.
Source: AJC.com

Georgia’s insurance commissioner, Jim Beck, surrendered this morning to federal authorities. He was accused of fraud and money laundering.

What are the charges against Georgia’s insurance commissioner, Jim Beck?

On Tuesday, Beck was charged with a 38-count indictment. The accusation (laid down by a federal jury) is that Beck stole $2 million from his former employer. It was part of a plot to commit fraud against the Georgia Underwriter’s Association (GUA). Beck allegedly used the money to pay credit card bills and his taxes.

It is also alleged that Beck used the money to fund his 2018 campaign for state insurance commissioner. He funded much of his campaign for the GOP primary himself – partly using money stolen from the GUA.

The theft happened from February 2013 – August 2018. Beck was serving as general manager of operations for the Georgia Underwriters Association, which is the state-created marketplace for consumers in need of high-risk home insurance. The GUA is a place for homeowners who are having difficulties getting property insurance from standard insurance carriers to get the coverage they need. In August 2018, Beck left the GUA while in the midst of his campaign for insurance commissioner.

According to Beck’s lawyers, Beck denies the charges and intends to continue his work as insurance commissioner.

The fraud happened by way of four businesses that Jim Beck encouraged his friends to start. They would send invoices to the GUA, but prosecutors question whether the services were actually rendered. From there, Beck used two businesses (Georgia Christian Coalition and Creative Consultants) to direct the money back to himself. Both the Georgia Christian Coalition and Creative Consultants were under his control. At this time, it is not certain whether these friends knew the invoices were false or not right.

What does the insurance commissioner do?

The insurance commissioner’s job is to regulate the insurance companies. His role also includes overseeing the small business loan industry and acting as top fire marshal within the state. Essentially, the insurance commissioner’s job is to protect consumers from unfair practices within the insurance industry.

What happens next?

Should Beck not resign or request to be suspended, the governor can take action after a two-week waiting period if he believes the charges affected Beck’s position as commissioner. The governor would then assign a three-person team to investigate the charges. If this team finds that the charges are connected to his responsibilities as commissioner, the governor must suspend him and tap a temporary replacement. (This is according to state law.) Governor Kemp has so far not made it clear what he intends to do.

The Democratic Party of Georgia has called for Beck to resign.

Source:

https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-georgia-insurance-commissioner-indicted-fraud-case/wIXf1cBgke1qD95KkpAYcM/

What to do if you’re moving and have to leave your Atlanta house vacant

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If you're moving and you're trying to sell your old house, you may need vacant home insurance.

If you're moving and you're trying to sell your old house, you may need vacant home insurance.

If you’re moving, you might have to leave your current house vacant when you pack up all of your stuff and get it to the new house. But what happens then? You still need to sell your old Atlanta house, and it’s still a large investment. It’s worth money, so you want to protect it…but what’s the deal with home insurance? Will it still protect the empty house from loss? We’ll explain what you need to know in this situation.

First things first – look at the home insurance policy.

It’s important to look at the home insurance policy of the house that you’re moving out of. Typically, a home insurance policy will specify a certain amount of time that the home can be vacant. (For example, this limit might be 30 days or something like that.)

There is a reason for this. Vacant homes present more risk to the insurance company because there’s no one home to deter trespassers or vandals. There’s also no one to raise the alarm if a fire breaks out. Insurance companies don’t really like risk, so that’s why they tend to place these limits on vacancy.

Anyways, it’s always a good idea to know what your policy says. A claim could be denied if that time limit is up. And that would be bad – then you’d be on the hook to repair the home and recover from the loss. That could turn out to be a real financial hit without insurance to help cushion the blow.

But that’s not the only reason to know how long you can leave the home vacant if you’re moving and selling the house.

If your Atlanta home insurance carrier were to find out that your home was vacant and it’s past the allowed time, they may cancel or drop the policy. And that’s also not a great situation to find yourself in.

Moral of the story: stay in touch with your insurance company and let them know about your situation. They can help you.

How to insure a home if you’re selling the house and have to leave it vacant.

So, you’re probably wondering what you can do to protect that vacant house while you’re selling it. As we said, talk to your insurance company. They’ll be able to take a look at the specifics of your policy. You can talk about your situation with them and get some guidance as far as how to proceed.

For example, you might have someone moving into your house in a week and it’ll only be vacant for that long – and then it won’t be yours anymore. In that case, you might be fine to just leave your home insurance as-is.

But you might not have someone ready to move into the house. Maybe it appears that it’ll take a good amount of time to sell the home. (That can happen.) That might be a situation where you need to consider a vacant home insurance policy. What’s that? We’ll explain.

How does a vacant home insurance policy work?

To start, you might not be going through one of your super well-known insurance carriers with commercials on TV every ten minutes. You might have to find a different carrier that specializes in writing “riskier” homes – meaning they might write vacant home insurance. (And again, this might not be through the carrier that wrote your original, primary home insurance.)

But what about when someone buys the house and moves in? That’s kind of the goal, right? You don’t want to be in the position where you’ve gone and bought a vacant home insurance policy…only to not need it a month or two later. Insurance carriers are, fortunately, prepared for this very situation.

The first thing to know is that you might be able to get a vacant home insurance policy with a shorter policy period – for example, one month, three months, or six months. That way things are a little more flexible.

The other thing you should know is that you’re probably going to be able to get a prorated refund if someone ends up buying the house during your policy. You’d get reimbursed for the insurance that you didn’t need because the house sold. Ask about how the refund works with the vacant home policy you’re considering – and if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask. At any rate, knowing ahead of time how you would be refunded for the extra vacant home insurance if the house sells can help put you at ease when you’re getting your policy.

So, that’s what you need to know about your vacant home in Atlanta if you’re moving. Make sure that it’s properly covered with the right insurance so you can avoid a major financial loss. You may need a vacant home policy to make sure that the house you’re trying to sell is covered.

Get Atlanta home insurance quotes by filling out our quote form, messaging us on LiveChat, or giving us a call.

8 things to check on your Atlanta home insurance policy this summer

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It's important to check over your home insurance policy.

It's important to check over your home insurance policy.

The summer months are upon us, and that means it’s a great time to give your Atlanta home insurance policy a once-over. (Well, you could do that at any time of year, but why not sooner than later?) It’s important to keep an eye on your home insurance policy to make sure it still suits your needs. To help you with doing an insurance check, we’ve come up with a list of eight questions to ask yourself. (Don’t worry – this is an open notes quiz. We encourage you to dust off your home insurance policy and use it.)

8 things to check on your home insurance policy.

1. Have you taken a home inventory?

A what now?

A home inventory is basically just a list of all the belongings in your home, plus their value. It’s generally easiest to organize it by room. We know that the idea of wandering around, writing down a list of all your stuff might sound excruciatingly boring, but hear us out.

A home inventory can be extremely helpful. If you ever have to file a home insurance claim, you’ll know exactly what needs to be replaced. It can help make the entire process easier. You can even use your phone and create your inventory in Google Drive.

Plus, if you do file a claim, having a nearly-organized inventory can help add credence to your situation. It’s not that the insurance company doesn’t want to trust you and take your word for it; they’re just leery of insurance fraud.

Pro tip: Include photos and/or videos in your inventory.

2. Do you have enough coverage?

It’s also important to make sure you have enough insurance. It’s a good idea to cover your home for its replacement cost, which is the amount it would take to completely rebuild your house from the ground up. (You have to consider things like materials and construction cost.)

Also, make sure that you have enough coverage for your personal belongings. Replacement cost coverage can help you replace your belongings at today’s prices while actual cash value coverage gives you their depreciated value (which may not be enough to replace them.)

And, of course, you can’t forget about liability coverage. Your liability coverage can help you cover your legal responsibility to someone if they get hurt on your property or if you accidentally damage their property. It can help cover things like their medical expenses and your legal bills if they sue.

3. Do you have all the endorsements you need?

You may need to add endorsements (which are simply additions to the policy that amend coverage) to your home insurance to cover certain losses. For example, sewer back up is typically not covered by home insurance – but you can add a sewer backup endorsement to your policy so you’re protected from this, ah, unpleasantly smelly situation.

4. Are your valuables insured properly?

Many home insurance policies have a limit on the amount of coverage offered for valuables such as jewelry. (Sometimes it can be as low as $1,000.) If you have any expensive jewelry, artwork, valuables, or collections, it’s really important to make sure they’re covered. Have you acquired anything recently that might warrant getting some more insurance?

5. Have you thought about bundling your home and auto insurance?

Your home insurance and auto insurance can be bundled together if you get them from the same company. Bundling, or getting multiple types of insurance from the same carrier, isn’t just convenient – it’s also a way to score some possible savings. That’s because many carriers offer a decent discount for bundling. It’s definitely something to think about.

6. Do you have all possible discounts?

Speaking of discounts, have you gone on an epic quest for home insurance discounts? You might be able to save money just by qualifying for a discount. Talk to your insurance agent and see if you’ve added all discounts you’re eligible for. Has anything changed recently that could help you get a discount – for example, have you had a security system installed? (This is a common discount.)

7. Have you had lifestyle changes?

Have you had any recent life events happen? Maybe getting married? It’s important to let your agent know about that sort of thing. Also, if you’ve made any significant renovations to your home, it’s a good idea to let your agent know. It may mean your coverage needs to be adjusted.

8. Have you put together a disaster kit?

Okay, maybe this one isn’t strictly insurance-related, but it’s still important. If you don’t have a disaster kit, now’s a great time to put one together! A disaster kit is basically a bag of all the emergency necessities you would need in case a severe storm happened. Include things like non-perishable food, water, clothes, blankets, a flashlight and batteries, a first-aid kit, and so on.

It’s important to ask questions about your Atlanta home insurance policy and make sure that you have the coverage you need to protect your house. So, take the time this summer to go over your home insurance policy!

Get home insurance quotes by filling out our online quote form, messaging us on LiveChat, or giving us a call.

How does Atlanta motorcycle insurance work?

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It's important to get the right motorcycle insurance to protect your bike.

It's important to get the right motorcycle insurance to protect your bike.

Maybe you’re a big fan of motorcycles and your preferred method of travel is cruising along on two wheels in the fresh air rather than being trapped in a four-wheeled vehicle. But the question is how to do you insure a motorcycle? Well, with motorcycle insurance, of course! How does that work? It’s similar to car insurance, but there are a few extra things to know. We’ll explain what the deal is with motorcycle insurance in Atlanta.

What coverages do I need for my motorcycle?

It’s important to cover all the bases when you insure your bike. Here are a few coverages to consider:

Liability:

Many states require drivers to carry liability insurance to cover bodily injury liability and property damage liability. It helps to cover your legal responsibility to the other driver if you’re at-fault in an accident. It can also help cover your legal expenses if you get sued.

Bodily injury liability – This generally covers the other driver’s medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Property damage liability – This generally covers the repairs to the property of others – for example, the other driver’s car, a fence, or a house.

Collision coverage.

Collision coverage helps to cover damage to your motorcycle if you’re in an accident. You’ll probably pay your deductible and the insurance generally covers the book value of the bike before the loss.

Comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage helps to cover damage to the motorcycle that wasn’t caused by a collision. For example, fire, theft, and vandalism are typically covered losses. Again, you’ll have to pay your deductible and your insurance will generally cover the book value of the bike before the loss.

Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage.

This can help cover damage to you and your bike if a driver who doesn’t have insurance (uninsured) or who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover all of the damages of the accident (underinsured) hits you. It can cover things like medical payments, lost wages, or other damages. Many drivers hit the road without insurance or with very little insurance.

Optional equipment coverage.

So, here’s the thing: your collision or comprehensive coverage will generally cover only factory-standard parts. So, that means if you’ve customized your bike, you may want to ask about optional equipment coverage. It’s fun to customize a bike and all that, but make sure you’re insuring the bike so that you’re protecting the investment you’ve made in it.

What is a lay-up insurance policy?

The thing about motorcycles is that they’re fair-weather vehicles. Which means that you might not be cruising around on your bike if it’s the middle of winter, drizzling cold rain, or even flurrying. (Even in Atlanta, it gets cold enough to make motorcycling not enjoyable.)

So, you might be wondering why you need to pay for insurance when your bike is in storage.

With a lay-up insurance policy, all coverage but comprehensive is suspended for a certain period of time. That way your bike is still protected against losses like fire, vandalism, and theft. The coverage is, therefore, a bit more tailored to your motorcycling habits and takes into account the fact that you might have your bike in storage for part of the year.

Tips to save money on your motorcycle insurance.

So, you love your motorcycle. But the thing is that you don’t want to break the bank paying for motorcycle insurance. How can you save money on motorcycle insurance? Here are a few helpful tips:

Raise your deductible.

You can save money on your insurance by raising your deductible (which is the amount of money you agree to pay if you have the claim.) If you raise your deductible, you’re less likely to file a claim, so you could get lower premiums. However, it’s important not to set your deductible so high that it would be a big problem to pay if you have a claim. Find your deductible/premium balance.

Keep a good driving record.

If you keep a good driving record, you could get lower rates. That’s because, to an insurance company, drivers with clean records are less likely to get into accidents.

Take a motorcycle safety course.

Driving a motorcycle is not the same as driving a car. If you’ve taken a safety course, you’re showing the insurance company that you’re responsible – and that you know what you’re doing.

Get an anti-theft device.

An anti-theft device could help you get lower insurance rates because the whole idea is to reduce the chance of the bike getting stolen.

Ask about multi-policy discounts.

You could also save money by getting multiple lines of coverage from the same insurance company. Lots of insurance companies have multi-policy discounts.

Get started with motorcycle insurance quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat.

Am I covered if I accidentally hit a fence with my car?

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Your car insurance can help if you accidentally hit a fence.

Your car insurance can help if you accidentally hit a fence.

Okay, so you have a bit of a situation. You, umm, accidentally drove over the curb and into your neighbor’s fence. (Yes, the grumpy neighbor, worst luck.) Yikes. So, now you’re wondering what happens now, but you have two main questions. First, will your car insurance foot the bill for repairing your neighbor’s fence? Next, will your car insurance repair the damage to your car? We’re going to answer both of those questions.

If I hit a fence, will my car insurance repair it?

To answer, let’s explain a bit about how car insurance works. Georgia requires drivers to purchase bodily injury liability and property damage liability in order to legally drive on the road. This is to protect other drivers from, well, you. It helps you cover your legal obligation to other drivers if you injure them in an accident or damage their property with your car. It helps you cover your legal expenses if you get sued, too.

Bodily injury liability covers the other driver’s medical bills and pain and suffering if you’re at-fault in an accident and injure someone.

Property damage liability helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing the other driver’s car if you’re at-fault in an accident. It can also help you repair other property that you happen to damage with your car – for example, your neighbor’s fence.

So, to answer the question, yes – generally, your car insurance can help bail you out in this cringe-worthy situation. Hopefully, that helps you explain the unfortunate incident to your undoubtedly irate neighbor.

Is my car covered if I accidentally drive into a fence?

Well…

So, the question is whether your car insurance covers your vehicle if you accidentally run into a fence. You could be facing a significant amount of damage, after all, if your car gets a little banged up by its run-in with the fence.

Now, the answer to the question is it depends.

If you have collision coverage, yes – you should be covered for hitting that darned fence. Collision coverage helps you repair or replace your own car if it’s damaged in an accident or if you crash into something – like a pole or fence or something. So, you should be covered for your fence-hitting misadventure.

If you only carry liability insurance, no – you would not be covered. That’s because liability insurance is only intended to cover your legal responsibility to the other driver in an accident (or your responsibility to a person whose property you’ve damaged.) It’s not intended to cover your car.

Georgia does not require drivers to carry collision coverage (or its buddy, comprehensive coverage), but it’s still an important coverage to consider if you want to protect your investment in your vehicle. And if you have a lienholder or lender, they may require you to purchase both collision and comprehensive coverage.

Anyways, what we’re saying is that cars are expensive. Give some thought to getting collision coverage so that you’re covered in case you hit something.

Side note: What is comprehensive coverage?

We have to take a slight (but still related) detour to talk a little bit about collision coverage’s best friend: comprehensive coverage.

This is another coverage designed to protect your vehicle in case it’s damaged. It covers losses that aren’t caused by an accident or collision.

For example, it generally covers:

Once again, liability insurance doesn’t cover your car, so it won’t help you if you ever face one of the above losses. That’s why comprehensive coverage is also something to think about.

The “oops” factor of hitting someone’s fence might be softened slightly since insurance can indeed help you out. Your property damage liability insurance can help you with the cost of repairing the fence. And if you have collision coverage, your car should be covered if it was damaged. So, there you have it – car insurance to the rescue!

Get started with car insurance quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat.