Coverage You Can Add to a Home Policy so It Protects More

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In St. Augustine, FL, homeowners can protect their homes and personal property against financial loss with a home policy from Tim Huber Insurance. While many people purchase a standard policy, the insurance industry offers numerous options, such as endorsements, which allow policyholders to add coverage. Some endorsements address specific perils, while others protect specific items.

Understanding Perils Endorsements

Most Florida homeowners know that they must add wind coverage, also known as hurricane coverage, to their policy when buying a home. This information is typically part of the home sales process, just like the requirement for home insurance that comes with a federally backed mortgage in the U.S.

Insurance companies in the state offer other perils endorsements. Subsidence coverage protects the homeowner from financial loss due to sinkhole damage. An earthquake endorsement protects against losses from that natural hazard. There’s even a mold endorsement covering mold abatement and repairs after mold damage.

Scheduling Property for Protection

Policyholders can also schedule items on their home policy. Scheduling expensive personal property like jet skis and engagement rings insures them at their full value. Other commonly endorsed or scheduled items include golf carts, home computers, and jewels and furs. Equipment breakdown coverage covers major home equipment, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, boilers, and whole-home generators.

Update Your Home Policy Today

Let Tim Huber Insurance help you customize your home coverage with the endorsements and scheduled property items you need to protect your St. Augustine, FL, home and belongings. Call or email us today for a policy review.

Coverage You Can Add to a Home Policy so It Protects More

Posted on by agentinsure

In St. Augustine, FL, homeowners can protect their homes and personal property against financial loss with a home policy from Tim Huber Insurance. While many people purchase a standard policy, the insurance industry offers numerous options, such as endorsements, allowing a policyholder to add coverage. Some of these endorsements address specific perils, while others protect specific items.

Perils Endorsements

Most Florida homeowners know that they must add wind coverage, also known as hurricane coverage, to their policy when buying a home. This information is typically part of the home sales process, just like the requirement for home insurance that comes with a federally backed mortgage in the U.S.

Insurance companies in the state offer other perils endorsements. Subsidence coverage protects the homeowner from financial loss due to sinkhole damage. An earthquake endorsement protects against losses from that natural hazard. There’s even a mold endorsement covering mold abatement and repairs after mold damage.

Scheduling Property

Besides endorsements, policyholders can schedule items on their home policy. Scheduling expensive personal property like jet skis and engagement rings insures them at their full value. Other commonly endorsed or scheduled items include golf carts, home computers, and jewels and furs. Equipment breakdown coverage covers major home equipment, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems, boilers, and whole-home generators.

Update Your Home Policy Today

Let Tim Huber Insurance help you customize your home coverage with the endorsements and scheduled property items you need to protect your St. Augustine, FL, home and belongings. Call or email us today for a policy review.

What Are The Storage Requirements With Classic Car Insurance?

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Classic car insurance policies often require specific storage locations for vehicles. Insurance companies also consider the storage location and facility when determining rates, as climate-controlled, secure facilities are more likely to limit potential damage to cars. If you live in or near St. Augustine, FL, and have questions about your classic car or other insurance coverage, contact the Tim Huber Insurance team for assistance.

Classic Car Insurance and Storage Requirements

Some insurers will not write policies for classic cars not kept in covered and secured facilities, while others will handle vehicles stored in a driveway or similar location. However, as mentioned earlier, insurance companies will consider your car’s storage conditions when determining your premium. Cars left in the open more easily suffer animal and wind damage, as well as vandalism. Indoor storage can range from a backyard garage to a dedicated outbuilding to a secured facility appropriate for high-end classic cars, and the proper storage often depends on your car’s value.

Insurers also consider your location. St. Augustine is subject to humidity and salt in the air, which can factor into the level of protection your car needs and your insurance pricing. So, the general rule is to match the level of storage your classic car needs with its value. However, if you cannot store your classic car in a protected environment, ask your agent to find a policy that matches where you plan to store your car.

Classic Car Insurance with Tim Huber Insurance

The Tim Huber Insurance team will help you design classic car insurance that meets your requirements. If you live in the St. Augustine, FL, area, call us today at (904) 824-2555 or stop by so we can assist you with all your insurance needs.

Umbrella Insurance for Home-Based Businesses

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Running a business from the comfort of your home in or around the greater St. Augustine, FL area can be incredibly rewarding. But as any entrepreneur knows, it also comes with its share of risks. Whileadvantageousiness owners rely on their homeowners or business insurance to protect them; there’s a gap that many don’t realize exists. That’s where umbrella insurance comes in—a policy that offers additional protection when your primary coverage falls short. At Tim Huber Insurance, we’re here to help you understand why this extra layer of coverage is worth considering.

Why Home-Based Businesses Face Unique Risks

When you operate a business out of your home, your risks aren’t limited to the four walls of your house. For example, if a client trips and falls on your property during a meeting or your business is held liable for an issue related to your services, the costs could easily exceed your standard liability limits. Homeowners insurance and even basic business policies typically have caps that might leave you paying out of pocket. Umbrella insurance steps in to cover those excess costs, so you’re not left financially vulnerable.

The Added Benefits of Extra Coverage

Umbrella insurance doesn’t just protect your business; it safeguards your personal assets as well. In the event of a lawsuit, your home, savings, and retirement accounts could be at risk. Umbrella insurance provides peace of mind, ensuring that your hard-earned assets are protected if the unexpected happens.

Ready to learn more? Contact Tim Huber Insurance, proudly providing umbrella insurance solutions to residents in and around the greater St. Augustine, FL area to explore how umbrella insurance can secure your home-based business and financial future. Let’s create a plan that works for you!

Flood Mitigation – How Coverage Comes into Play

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Your home’s flood coverage may cover many of the needed flood mitigation steps. Learn about some services that your policy may cover.

Inspection Processes

Your home may require one or more inspections after flooding. An inspection will determine the severity of the flood and which mitigation steps will be needed to rehabilitate your property.

New Materials Needed To Rebuild

Your flood insurance policy may cover the materials needed to rebuild your home. One mitigation step is to determine which structural materials have been compromised by floodwaters.

If a contractor has been assigned to inspect your property, they will prepare a list of all the materials that cannot be salvaged. Before the flood mitigation efforts are conducted, you will receive feedback that will allow you to learn about the project’s complexity.

Your flood insurance policy may absorb some of the costs you face. The coverage may handle the cost of replacing flooring, wall materials, and other essentials.

Drying and Cleaning Processes

All the items in your home may not need to be replaced. Some mitigation steps that may be needed could include drying and cleaning items. Your flood insurance policy may cover these steps.

Drying and cleaning processes may be conducted on your property or at a remote location. The contractor who oversees these mitigation steps will consult with you about how they will be conducted.

Contact An Agent Who Serves St. Augustine, FL

Set up an appointment with one of our Tim Huber Insurance agents. An insurance agent will consult with you and discuss your flood insurance policy.

Should You Cancel Watercraft Insurance During the Off-Season?

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Boat owners may sometimes be tempted to cancel their boat insurance during the off-season. However, discontinuing your coverage during these months can lead to significant risks and gaps in protection. At Tim Huber Insurance, we generally recommend that boaters adjust coverages rather than cancel their policy altogether. Here’s why.

Risks of Canceling Insurance

Canceling your watercraft insurance during the winter could leave you unprotected against risks such as theft, fire, or other damage. Your boat and trailer could be stolen, a building’s roof could collapse on the boat during bad weather, or any number of other incidents can occur. Without boat insurance, you would be unprotected in these situations.

Specifically, comprehensive coverage may protect against theft and damage during the off-season. This is one of the primary coverages that we recommend St. Augustine, FL boaters keep, even if they have not used the boat for a while.

Adjusting Coverage Instead of Canceling

Instead of canceling your watercraft insurance during the winter months, you might want to adjust your policy for the off-season.

Many policies allow you to keep coverages like comprehensive coverage while suspending ones like protection for salvaging a sunken vessel. You might also want to maintain coverage for safety equipment, sports gear on your boat, and possibly other protections.

You can then reinstate any suspended coverages when you take your boat out of storage. This approach can ensure you’re adequately protected throughout the year while saving a little on premiums during the off-season.

Get Help Adjusting Your Boat Insurance Policy

If your boat is going into storage somewhere around St. Augustine, FL, contact us for help adjusting your boat insurance coverages. We at Tim Huber Insurance can assist with this and any other boat insurance matters you might need help with.

Does My Condo Insurance Cover My Work-From-Home Business?

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Depending on your homeowners’ association, your HOA may cover your condo’s cabinets, flooring, and similar elements, or you may be responsible for those features. Either way, your condo insurance policy covers only your personal belongings and liabilities. It will not cover business-related tools and equipment, including office electronics and furniture. If you live in a condo and have a work-from-home business, verify your coverage with your insurance provider. The Tim Huber Insurance team, serving St. Augustine, FL, will happily find condo and business insurance coverage that works for you.

Condo Insurance and Working from Home

Condo and home policies offer limited protection for "side-hustle" businesses operating from home. Typically, the coverage limit is only $2,500 in business assets, so you will likely need commercial insurance if you run a business from your condo and any of the following apply:

  • Customers or suppliers sometimes visit your condo
  • You keep inventory or supplies at your condo
  • Your business could be interrupted or lose revenue due to damage to your condo
  • Your employees need Worker’s Compensation coverage
  • You maintain computerized client, supplier, or employee records subject to commercial cybercrime.

Each person’s situation is unique, but meeting one of those conditions suggests you should explore commercial insurance options such as:

  • Adding a business property rider to your condo policy ($5,000 limits are common)
  • In-home business insurance covering property coverage, liability, and other elements for businesses with revenue under $250,000
  • Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) offers broad commercial insurance coverage for businesses exceeding $250,000 in revenue.

Working with Tim Huber Insurance

The Tim Huber Insurance team proudly serves business owners with condos in the St. Augustine, FL, area. Call us at (904) 824-2555 or stop in today to discuss how to protect your personal and business assets adequately.

Should You Carry Life Insurance on Your Children?

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Life insurance for your child offers you and your family a financial safety net in the tragic event your child passes away. At Tim Huber Insurance, we advise customers in St. Augustine, FL, and beyond to consider life insurance for their children for their own peace of mind and their children’s financial security.

What does a life insurance policy on your child cover?

When parents are listed as beneficiaries on a child’s life insurance policy, they can choose how to spend any death benefit. Life insurance policies can cover funeral and burial expenses or give parents time away from work to grieve.

Many policies can be continued and transferred to the child after adulthood. Since children’s life insurance premiums are lower than those for adults, your child can have lifetime coverage at lower rates without taking a medical exam. And if you buy a whole life policy, at some point, it can be converted to paid-up life insurance, borrowed against without regard to credit history, or surrendered for cash.

Types of life insurance for children

We have already mentioned whole life insurance, which accumulates value as long as the premiums are paid. At Tim Huber Insurance, we also write term life policies, which don’t accumulate cash value but have lower premiums, and permanent life insurance that can insure your child as an adult. 

With most companies, even newborns can be insured. But if you have not taken out life insurance on your child, even 17 is not too late.

Wherever you live in St. Augustine, FL, or anywhere else, Tim Huber Insurance can give you the assurance you deserve. Call us today!

Floods are Costly – Flood Insurance can Help

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Floods come in various types and categories. While some floods pose an immediate threat, the good news is most are not life-threatening. However, all floods are expensive. Safety is always the top priority during a flood, but what happens once the immediate danger of the floodwaters has passed? That’s where the assistance of insurance can make a difference. That’s why people in and around St. Augustine, FL, rely on the friendly and professional agents at Tim Huber Insurance for their insurance needs.

Insurance Protection for the Expense of Flooding

Although we may have advanced warnings of a flood, sometimes we can do little or nothing to protect our valuables. During a flood, the safety of our loved ones is always the top priority. However, once the waters recede and the storm passes, the cost of dealing with the aftermath is often more than anticipated.

The cost of a flood can range from issues with the flooring and structural stability to replacing lost items and repairing damaged property. Cleaning up after a flood can be expensive. Fortunately, flood insurance protection can assist with replacing lost items, repairs, clean-up costs, and more, making the recovery process more manageable.

Flood Insurance Solutions in St. Augustine

We can assist if you’re seeking flood insurance in or around St. Augustine, FL, or have queries about flood insurance protection. Floods can be expensive, and so can the clean-up, but flood insurance can provide some relief. Contact Tim Huber Insurance to learn more and schedule an appointment today. We’re here to help once the floodwaters recede.

When to Purchase Home Insurance After Buying a New Home

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For new and seasoned homeowners in St. Augustine, FL, our team of insurance professionals at Tim Huber Insurance is excited to help protect your property. It can be tricky to tell when the best time is to buy home insurance for your property. After all, if you purchase it before you’ve closed on a home, it may feel too early. Buying it after years of homeownership leaves your home at risk. When you want to strike the perfect balance between these two extremes, our suggestions below can help.

What Is Home Insurance?

Home insurance, also known as “homeowner’s insurance,” protects your primary dwelling as a homeowner from liability, qualifying damage, and more. It’s useful to have for any homeowner. In some cases, it may also be legally necessary to hold it.

When to Purchase Homeowner’s Insurance for New Homeowners

Before you buy homeowner’s insurance, you’ll want to research policies and connect with our office to discuss how we can support you in protecting a prospective home. It’s never too early to research home insurance policies and options. In fact, we encourage those interested in purchasing a home to start looking at policies and building a relationship with us as soon as they know that’s a goal they want to achieve.

Once you’ve researched home insurance policies, you’ll want to know when your mortgage lender and other relevant parties require you to have home insurance. Since some lenders will refuse to approve a loan without proof of insurance, it’s best to get on this task sooner rather than later. Of course, it’s better to purchase home insurance late than never.

To learn how to protect your home, call us at Tim Huber Insurance in St. Augustine, FL!