Umbrella Insurance for Home-Based Businesses

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

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?

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?

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?

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

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

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! 

Three Things You Need to Know About Classic Car Insurance

Classic car insurance and regular car insurance aren’t the same. For one, getting classic car insurance is impossible unless your car is at least 20 years old. There are also storage requirements and usage limitations to abide by. For instance, it’s important the vehicle gets stored somewhere safe and secure. Secondly, owners cannot use their classic cars to drive anywhere. That’s why you typically see these types of cars only at car shows and other special occasions. Some other significant differences include:

  • Cost: Classic car insurance is usually cheaper than regular car insurance. One reason behind this is that classic cars aren’t usually driven as much as new models.
  • Coverage: Many classic car insurance policies offer specialized coverage options customized for classic cars, such as coverage for expert repair services or vintage parts. 
  • Actual value vs. agreed value: Classic car insurance uses an agreed value to assess the amount of the payout to give you if your car gets stolen or lost. The agreed value is the amount you and your insurer agreed as the value of the car at the start of the policy. Regular car insurance goes by the actual cash value system. In other words, your payout is based on your car’s depreciated value at the time of the claim.

Classic car insurance has a lot of benefits for owners in St. Augustine, FL, but it’s still important to shop around and compare quotes from different insurers to ensure you’re getting the best coverage for your specific classic car at the best price. Our agents at Tim Huber Insurance will walk you through the terms and conditions of your policy so you get a comprehensive understanding of what’s covered and what’s not. 

Who needs to have motorhome insurance in Florida?

Owning a motorhome can be a great idea for many people in St. Augustine, FL. With a motorhome, you will not only have a mode of transportation but also a place to live when on the road or as a permanent residence. If you are going to purchase one in Florida, having insurance is important. There are many situations when someone will need this coverage. 

Those with a Loan

A situation when you will need to have a motorhome insurance plan is when you take out financing. When you are looking to purchase a motorhome, you will find the costs can be significant. While you can finance the purchase with a loan, there are rules that you need to follow. One requirement will be to carry a motorhome insurance plan at all times. Lenders will want you to have this to ensure their collateral is protected. 

Those Looking for Coverage

Even if you are not obligated to carry a motorhome insurance plan, you should still consider getting one. When you have full motorhome insurance, it will provide you with coverage for your asset and liability support. This can prove to be very helpful if you are found at fault for an accident that leads to a liability claim or a covered claim damages your property. 

When you are going to purchase a motorhome in the St. Augustine, FL, area, you need to ensure that you are appropriately insured. As you are ready to start looking for a motorhome insurance plan here, calling our team with Tim Huber Insurance would be smart. Our professionals with Tim Huber Insurance will offer all the guidance you need to build your following policy and protect your motorhome. 

Does a Renovation Impact Homeowners Insurance? Tim Huber Insurance

Transforming your residence into your unique sanctuary is an exciting endeavor. Selecting paint colors, fixtures, and other design elements for your home renovation project is certainly exhilarating. However, amidst the thrill, it’s easy to overlook one critical aspect—homeowners insurance. With Tim Huber Insurance service, based in St. Augustine, FL, understanding and addressing the changes in your homeowners insurance after your renovation becomes straightforward.

How Renovation Impacts Homeowners Insurance

Did you know your home renovation can significantly affect your homeowner’s insurance coverage and premiums? The primary consideration is that a renovation escalates the value of your home, leading to increased replacement costs in the event of damage or loss. Consequently, it’s crucial to inform your insurance provider about any renovations, ensuring your policy mirrors the upgraded worth of your home.

Types of Renovations and Insurance Impact

Certain types of renovations, such as a new swimming pool installation or electrical system upgrades, can alter your insurance rates. These could increase the potential risk linked to your property, leading to adjusted insurance premiums. Noteworthy, specific renovations might qualify you for discounts or special endorsements on your policy, something to discuss with your insurance agent during and after the renovation.

Tim Huber Insurance: Your Insurance Partner in Saint Augustine

Thinking of a home renovation? Tim Huber Insurance is here to help you navigate through homeowners insurance changes. Our dedicated team in Saint Augustine takes pride in ensuring our clients have adequate insurance coverage for their renovated homes. Schedule an appointment with a Tim Huber Insurance agent today.