Kate Betts 
Home insurance can get complicated. There are a lot of big, fancy words, exclusions, additions, and fine print to contend with. Sometimes it seems beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. And that’s okay. We’ve got ten things you need to know about home insurance.
Employees are the force that keeps your business going. They’re the heart, blood, and life of your company. But one day you might end up in a situation with an employee that turns into an employment-related practices lawsuit. You might not think that your employees would ever do that to you, and you would never hurt an employee intentionally. But your business could someday be saved by employment practices liability insurance, or EPLI. We’ll go over what EPLI is and why you might want to consider adding it to your business insurance plan.
Flooding is a major problem, especially when you live in Atlanta and get deluges of heavy rain in the summer. Many an Atlantan has encountered a soggy basement due to summer storms (or any-time-of-the-year storms), and it’s very important to go over thunderstorm safety with your family. Lots of floods are caused by poor or blocked drainage, where the water has nowhere to go and just continues to build and build.
But remember that flooding due to heavy rain isn’t covered by homeowners insurance. You’d need a separate flood insurance policy for that. Anyways, we’ve got some tips to help you avoid flooding from surface water in your home.
Your employees are the backbone of your business. They work hard every day to make your company successful. They’re invaluable and dedicated, and they make your business run like a well-oiled machine. But sometimes accidents happen in the workplace. If one of your employees gets hurt on the job, you want to be able to do everything you can to make sure that they get the medical care they need. It’s also important to make sure that they don’t lose too much of their income because of their injury or illness. That’s where workers’ compensation insurance comes in – workers’ comp is a vital part of your business insurance plan.
Now, there are a lot of employees and a lot of different accidents or mishaps that they could encounter at work. Below we’ve compiled some of the questions that you might have about workers’ comp insurance.
In the 1800s, the labor force was increasing, meaning that the number of accidents went up, too. If someone got hurt on the job, they’d usually end up suing their employer. But in 1949, the workers’ comp system was set up. With worker’s comp, employees got benefits to cover their medical expenses and lost work time if they were hurt on the job. The only caveat was that workers gave up their right to sue their employers over work-related injuries. It’s a mutually beneficial system.
Workers’ comp benefits are given to employees who get hurt or become sick because of their job. Let’s illustrate with an example. Say you have a pair of employees—Joe and Stan—carrying a heavy box. They use the proper lifting technique, just like you trained them to, and do everything right. But Joe accidentally loses his balance, and the box falls, landing on his foot. It’s bad. You know right away that he needs to go to the hospital to get an x-ray. It turns out that the foot is broken and that Joe needs some pretty extensive medical care and physical therapy. He could receive workers’ comp benefits.
With workers’ comp, the medical bills can be covered. Any necessary rehab can be paid for, too. Basically, your employees wouldn’t be responsible for paying their medical bills if they’re hurt on the job, so they get to hold on to their hard-earned money.
Speaking of income, let’s visit Joe again. Joe needs to take some time off to make sure that his foot heals properly. Workers’ comp can also reimburse him for a portion of the wages that he lost due to his injury, so Joe’s family is provided for even though he’s not able to work. These are called income benefits, aka indemnity benefits, aka disability benefits. They’re calculated as a part of an average weekly wage (AWW.)
So, thanks to your business’s insurance, Joe gets the medical care he needs, and everything heals well. Now, Joe broke his foot. It hurt and it took a while for it to heal, but in the end, he was okay and made a full recovery. But say that something really terrible happened and one of your employees died in a work-related incident. Workers’ comp would give death benefits to the employee’s family and dependents, so financially they’re provided for.
An IME, or independent medical exam, is an exam given to an injured employee by a different doctor than the one who first provided care. As an employer, you can request an IME to get a second opinion about the original diagnosis and treatment plan, as can the insurance carrier.
The AWW (average weekly wage) is found by taking the total of the employee’s wages for the past thirteen weeks and dividing it by thirteen. A portion of the AWW (determined by the severity of the injury) is given to the employee as their income benefits. In addition to the wages, the employee may also be eligible to receive compensation for any food or housing benefits given by the employer.
Employees who have been injured on the job are entitled to benefits for as long as they are medically “approved” to take time off of work. They would have their medical bills paid and their wages reimbursed for the duration of this “approved time off” period.
As far as workers’ comp goes, there are a few things you have to do as an employer. You are obligated to:
Workers’ comp is essential for businesses. It allows them to help their employees and to provide for them if they get hurt. It also means that employees don’t have to sue their employers anymore, which is appreciated. Basically, workers’ comp ensures that everyone is better off if disaster strikes.
If you want to get a quote for workers’ compensation insurance – or other business insurance – we can help you out with that! All you have to do is fill out our quote form or give us a call today. We’d be happy to help with any of your insurance needs.
You might have heard that insurance companies will deny coverage for homeowners who have “dangerous” dogs – dog breeds that are on the insurance doggie blacklist. That can leave people in the dilemma of choosing their pet or their home insurance, which is a position that no one wants to be in. Your four-legged pal is a member of your family! We’ll tell you what you need to know about why insurance and dogs don’t always get along and what it means for you.
You’ll have to check with your insurance company to see which specific breeds they classify as dangerous, but the most common ones are…
It’s not that insurance companies don’t like dogs, and you may never have had any problems with your pet. It’s not personal against your four-legged friend, or against you. It’s the fact that dogs with tendencies of aggressive behavior are a major risk – they could bite and seriously hurt someone. Many of those bites require medical attention. Bites could mean lawsuits, which insurance companies don’t love.
If you have a dangerous dog, you might have a hard time finding home insurance, and if you do it might be more expensive than if you didn’t have the dog.
Of course, it all depends on your insurance company. If you’re shopping around for insurance, be sure to ask about your dog and what that means for your home insurance. Keep in mind that if you don’t tell the insurance company about your pet when you’re applying for insurance or if you get a canine friend without informing your current insurance company, they could deny future claims.
(You may also want to consider getting additional liability insurance – just in case.)
You might be a dog lover and experienced trainer who can handle one of the above breeds. You need to do your research by calling your insurance company and telling them what kind of canine you’re planning on bringing into your home. You need to ask about any consequences of adopting your new best friend. If they say that they won’t cover you anymore if you get the dog, you’ll need to research how expensive it will be to insure your home and canine elsewhere. The cost may be significantly higher.
Regardless of your pet’s breed, it’s important to be a responsible doggie parent. You need to reduce the risk of aggressive behavior, even if your buddy has never been mean in his or her life. There are a few things you can do to lower your risk.
When you’re walking your dog, use a leash that’s strong enough for your dog. Make sure that you’re always focused on your pup and their behavior. Also, put tags on the dog’s collar – you can even consider microchipping them.
The fence has to be tall enough to keep your dog in. It should be six to eight feet depending on how big your pooch is. Make sure that the fence is in good repair and that there aren’t any ways for your dog to stage a great escape – i.e. holes in the fence or ways they can burrow under. Just be sure that you choose a reputable fencing company to install or repair your fence.
Make sure that your puppy gets familiar with both people and other dogs. Take them to puppy obedience school to ensure that they’re trained properly – the point of the classes is to train the owner, too!
Getting your pet fixed can curb their territorial and aggressive instincts. Plus, it’s just being responsible.
If your dog starts growling or chewing, distract them by clapping your hands. Present them with a toy that’s appropriate for them to play with and chew on. You need to redirect their attention. Praise your dog’s good behavior and don’t reward bad behavior.
Show your canine friend love and kindness while also being a leader for them.
If your dog seems anti-social or unusually aggressive, talk to your vet. They can refer you to behavior professionals that can help you work through the problem. Take extra care when taking your dog out.
If you have a “dangerous” dog breed, you might have a harder time finding insurance. You might face higher premiums. It’s not that insurance companies have anything against dogs or pets. It’s just that they see certain breeds as coming with more risk than others. That’s why the “dangerous dog” list exists.
Need a quote for your home insurance or renters insurance? We’d love to help you out with that. All you have to do to get your free quote is fill out our quote form or give us a call today. We’d be happy to help you with any of your insurance needs and answer any questions you might have.
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You’ve decided to start that business that you’ve dreamed about for years. It’s a small business based out of your home. You’re doing what you love and you’re ecstatic to get started. Everything’s all set and ready to go…except the insurance. How are you going to insure your home-based business? The truth of the matter is that your home insurance probably won’t be enough to cover your business and protect you from all of your risks.
But not to worry – you have options for insuring your home-based business. We’ll go over three of the common options for insuring your business (a homeowners endorsement, an in-home business policy, and a business owners policy – aka BOP) so that you can start thinking about what the best solution is for you.
A homeowners endorsement basically builds on the coverage that’s included in your homeowners policy. Most homeowners policies do cover a limited amount of business equipment, but your limits might not be enough to cover all of your business property. And homeowners insurance might not cover liability for employees or clients who are visiting your home.
A homeowners endorsement adds to your coverage, yes, but it might not be ideal for a business that includes employees or clients who visit the premises. It also might not be best for a business that has much valuable equipment or inventory. It might not give you all the coverage you need.
An in-home business policy is more extensive than a homeowners endorsement. It gives you higher limits of coverage for your business equipment and for your liability.
A Business Owners Policy, more commonly known by its catchy nickname, BOP, gathers property insurance, liability insurance, and even business income insurance into one convenient policy. This is the most comprehensive of the three options presented here. It’s meant for small to mid-size business. Keep in mind that it won’t cover workers’ comp, health, or disability insurance, so those would have to be added separately if you need them.
Your business is unique, so you’ll have to consider the value of all of your business’s property and your specific risks to decide what kind of insurance is appropriate. We have some questions to help you do that.
The answers to these questions can help you identify which risks that you need to protect yourself against. Some of the common coverages that home-based business owners get for their business include personal business property, professional liability, business income, personal and advertising injury, loss of business data, crime and theft, workers’ comp, and auto coverage. But of course, you might not need all of these coverages. Or there might be other coverages that are more suited to your business.
Every business is different, and you have a vision that you want to fulfill, and we want to make sure you’re protected from your risks while you do it. We can help you determine which coverages are right for your business. All you have to do is fill out our quote form or give us a call and we’d be happy to get you a free quote. We can help you design an insurance plan that’s designed specifically for your home-based business and that takes care of all your risks.
You know it’s your job to protect your family and your children from household threats. You do everything you can to keep your loved ones safe, but there’s a threat that you might not have considered because it’s completely invisible. It’s colorless, tasteless, and odorless. We’re talking about carbon monoxide (kind of like carbon dioxide, but with one less oxygen atom.) Carbon monoxide (CO) exposure can cause serious illness and even death. Saying “carbon monoxide is bad” is a severe understatement. Carbon monoxide is dangerous, but there are things that you can do to help reduce your family’s risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. We’ll go over what you need to look out for and how you can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide poisoning often produces “flu-like” symptoms. These can include…
Exposure to CO in high levels can lead to death. CO might not be as fearsome as a tornado, but it’s scary stuff. If you and your family feel these symptoms frequently while you’re at home, do a little test. Leave the house for a few hours and see if your symptoms get better. If they do and you suspect carbon monoxide, you need to do some further investigating to figure out what the source is and how to resolve the problem.
Carbon monoxide forms when fuels don’t burn completely. The fuel can be in solid, liquid, or gas form. Many household appliances, like furnaces, water heaters, stoves, and fireplaces, burn these fuels, so one of the most common reasons for CO in the home is when these appliances are used or installed improperly.
The flame burning on your appliances should be blue, not orange. If the flame is orange, you need to turn off the appliance and enlist the help of professionals ASAP.
It’s a good idea to have a professional come out to check all of your appliances – plus your chimney and grill – once a year to make sure they’re all functioning as they should.
Things like grills should not be turned on in an enclosed space. They give off carbon monoxide, and that could turn dangerous if you bring them inside.
A general rule is don’t use things that burn fuel in a closed space. That could include space heaters if you have a fuel-burning one.
Cars burn fuel, too. Leaving the car running in an attached garage, even if the garage door is open, isn’t a good idea. You’re trapping the carbon monoxide inside.
These things shouldn’t be used to heat the home. They give off carbon monoxide, and by running them for heat you increase your exposure. Make sure that you brush up on your grilling safety.
Since carbon monoxide is colorless, tasteless, and odorless, it’s pretty much undetectable – unless you have a detector. Some tips for CO detectors…
Invest in some CO detectors and outsmart the carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is often called the “invisible killer” because of how sneaky an undetectable it can be. Make sure that you take steps to protect yourself and your family from CO poisoning.
If you need a quote for your home insurance, renters insurance, or auto insurance, let us know! We’ll get you a free quote and help you find the insurance that’s right for you. All you have to do is give us a call or fill out our quote form today.
What kind of coverage does your car have? Do you know what your auto insurance does and does not cover? A car is a pretty big investment…perhaps second only to the insurance! Insurance can get confusing, especially when it comes to vehicles. Today we tackle several questions relating to the car portion of your car insurance – meaning the segment that protects your personal vehicle, not you or other drivers (that’s liability insurance and a story for another day.) If you get into a car accident, your vehicle is going to need some hefty repairs before you’re ready to hit the road again. And that’s where collision and comprehensive insurance are helpful.
The moment has arrived. Your baby is headed off to college. They’re all grown up and ready to venture into the world. You know that it’s time for them to spread their wings. And you’ve got a lot on your mind, too, with your student heading off to college – dorm room decor, last-minute shopping, making sure that your student has all of their textbooks. The last thing you might want to think about is insurance, but it’s essential that your student is covered. We’ll give you some things to think about insurance-wise before your grown-up child starts their first semester and answer some of the questions you might have.
That depends on your policy. Most policies will cover your students’ belongings if they’re in a dorm, so you might have coverage for disasters like theft and fire. You’ll need to do a review of your home insurance policy and think about the particulars of where your student will be living. Make sure that you know what is covered and what the limits of coverage will be for your students’ belongings.
If your student lives off campus in an apartment, your policy will most likely not cover their belongings. You may need to consider getting a renters’ insurance policy to make sure your student has the coverage they need. Make sure to spend some time talking about apartment safety before your student moves out.
This will protect them from disasters like theft and fire, but it will also add liability coverage in case anyone gets hurt at their place. Renters insurance is not terribly expensive, so it might be worthwhile to look in to.
Yes. Let’s be real – when your student comes home for winter and summer break, they’re going to want to borrow the car. And they’ll be able to access the car, so it’s probably a good idea to keep them on the policy.
However, if your student goes to school over 100 miles away and does not take a car with them, you might qualify for a discount on your premiums. Discounts are always nice!
You’ll have to talk to your agent and tell them that your child is taking a car to school with them. It could impact your rates and the coverages that you need. It depends on your particular auto policy.
There are a few things to consider here. Your child can stay on your health insurance until they’re 26, so chances are you can keep them on your plan if that works for you. But if there aren’t in-network providers nearby, you might want to consider alternatives for getting health insurance for your student. It could get tricky if your student is going to college out-of-state, too.
Many colleges offer their own health insurance plans, so you can explore that option. You can also think about getting an individual health insurance plan. There are also college student plans that are specifically for students. It all depends on the coverages that are offered, the cost, what you need, and the network of providers. Do some research on your options and figure out what makes the most sense for you.
Before your child goes off to college, make sure that they have the health insurance they need for if they get sick or hurt, especially if they’re going to be playing sports.
This is an exciting time in your child’s life, but it can also get stressful with all of the insurance details to consider. But just take it one day at a time. Check on your home insurance, auto insurance, and health insurance and figure out what’s best for your family, and you’ll breathe easier knowing that your student is covered while they’re at school. You’re about to be the proud parent of a college student, but they still need your help to make sure that they’re properly insured while they’re studying.
We can help you review your options for covering your student, and we can help you make sure that they have the coverage they need. All you have to do is give us a call or fill out our quote form – we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have and help you find some great rates on your insurance. Our goal is to help you protect your family.
As a parent, you know it’s your responsibility to keep your child safe and making your home a happy, loving place. They count on you to chase away the monsters under the bed, but they also need you to protect them from very real dangers around the house. Sure, you have home insurance to protect your family, but it’s up to you to head off possible dangers before they hurt your little ones. Kids are so naturally curious that they get into everything. To help you make your home safe for your kids, we’ve got some childproofing tips.