Is Commercial Insurance Worth the Investment?

Small business owners agree starting a company takes a lot of effort and time. It also requires patience and a lot of common sense. If you’re considering starting your own company, or perhaps you already own one, and you haven’t looked into the benefits of commercial insurance, it is vital that you do. Here at the Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ, we understand how important it is to protect a small business, and we want to share three reasons commercial insurance is worth the investment. 

Protect Your Contracts

If you operate a business where you go into contracts with your clients, it is imperative these contracts be protected. What many small business owners fail to realize, though, is there are a handful of contracts that won’t hold up in the court of law. And because lawsuits are sometimes unavoidable, you need to have commercial insurance to serve as a form of protection when a contract isn’t viewed as legal in the eyes of the court.

Don’t Let Your Employees Down

If you have employees working for you, your responsibilities become much more substantial. Fortunately, commercial insurance can serve as a viable way to provide you with financial protection in the event you are unable to make payments for labor and wages. The specifics of commercial insurance will vary from one policy to the next, making it vital to discuss your exact needs with a qualified insurance agent. 

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you have workers who use a vehicle to perform work-related tasks, it is essential that you provide commercial auto coverage. If possible, you should consider investing in fleet vehicles and adding commercial insurance to them. Commercial auto insurance can be the difference between keeping your doors open and having to close up shop if one of your workers is injured in an auto accident while performing work-related duties.

To learn more about the advantages of commercial insurance and why it’s worth the investment, contact the Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ.,

Home Insurance Is Critical To Help Fires

Living in Green Valley, AZ is usually a comfortable and relaxing life. However, fires may occur in this hot area, particularly if your home is getting old. When a fire does impact your life, you are going to wish that you had detailed fire coverage added to your homeowner’s policy. Contact us at Insurance Center of Green Valley if you want this type of coverage or read on to learn more about why it is so critical to your home.

Most Home Insurance Policies Protect Against Fire

Thankfully, homeowners insurance is designed to help protect your home from a variety of problems. One of these is fire. A typical policy will cover your dwellings, including the home and its attached structure. This also includes relocation costs while you are waiting to move into a new home, such as hotel and restaurant bills. Detached structures and certain types of belongings are also covered. However, this type of coverage won’t be available if you haven’t paid for it on your policy.

Specialized Coverage Improves Your Policy

While your homeowner’s insurance can help you cover a lot of elements, it isn’t perfect. Specialized fire insurance can help you cover items, such as home furnishings, electronic items, air conditioners, and family heirlooms. These aspects of your home are critical to ensuring because many of them cannot be replaced. And without specialized fire insurance on your homeowner’s policy, you might not be able to get compensation for them. That doesn’t mean your homeowner’s insurance isn’t worthwhile but that it might need some supplemental coverage.

Do You Need Fire Insurance?

While most people in Green Valley, AZ won’t need fire insurance, it can help against total destruction and provide you with extra help to recover. If you want a policy, please don’t hesitate to contact us at the Insurance Center of Green Valley to learn more. We will help you settle in and get the insurance you need to avoid serious loss.

I Unknowingly Let Someone With a Suspended License Drive My Car. Will My Auto Insurance Pay For a Car Accident They Had?

At Insurance Center of Green Valley, serving the greater Green Valley AZ area, we are asked a wide array of questions. One of the questions that we have recently been asked is whether your auto insurance policy will pay for an accident if you unknowingly let someone with a suspended license drive your car. 

First and foremost, it is important to understand that you can be held liable for anyone that you let drive your car. As such, you need to be positive that the person is licensed and a safe, responsible driver. However, you have no way of knowing that a license is suspended unless the driver tells you, so you may not know until an accident occurs that their license was no good. 

In most cases, your insurance policy will pay for the accident, even if the other driver was not licensed. However, there are two scenarios in which they won’t. 

If Your Policy Has an Unlicensed Driver Exclusion

Some auto insurance policies have an unlicensed driver exclusion specifically in them. This exclusion states that any unlicensed drivers, including those with suspended licenses, will not be covered. More and more insurance companies are listing this inclusion in their policies to decrease their liability, so always carefully read through your policy to see if it is there. 

If Your Policy Lists Precluded Drivers

Some auto insurance policies list precluded drivers. If your policy has the driver who was driving your car listed as a precluded driver, or your policy only includes specific drivers, the damage was done by precluded drivers will not be covered. 

Are you in need of a new auto insurance policy in the greater Green Valley, AZ area? If so, the Insurance Center of Green Valley is here for you. Call us today and let us find you the auto insurance policy that is best for you. 

Tips for Making Your Business Safe for Employees

In as much as we abhor disasters and mishaps in the workplace, they still happen. Creating a safe work environment is critical for the success of any business. Here’s is how Green Valley, AZ businesses can help create a safe working environment for their employees:-

Train your employees
Ensure that your employees are trained on the various safety precautions they should observe and the importance of each. Get expert trainers every once in a while to sensitize on the areas that need fine-tuning. Safety in the workplace should be everyone’s business.

Develop a plan
Have a plan in place should a disaster or crisis happen. Have it written out and included in the business’ policies and procedures. Every member of staff should also have a copy. Perform a drill every six months so that each person knows what is expected of them in case of a crisis.

Acquire the necessary safety gear
Each employee should put on their safety gear and protective clothing whenever they are in the workplace. Such gear could include safety shoes, reflective gear, a helmet, gloves, and so on. The type of gear depends on the kind of business.

Streamline your safety policies
Safety policies and regulations should be clearly outlined. As well, each employee should be aware of the consequences of violating each.

Take up commercial insurance for your business

Having an insurance policy for your employees ensure that they will be compensated should an accident happen in the workplace. It also protects your business from employees should they sue you due to the accident.

Observing the above tips will not only help your business achieve a healthy and safe environment but also boost your employees’ productivity. The Insurance Center of Green Valley offers customized commercial insurance plans for Green Valley businesses. Get in touch with us today for more information.

What You Should Know About Homeowners Insurance

Well for one unlike auto insurance, homeowners insurance is not required by the state you live in. However, if you are buying a home, chances are your mortgage lender has requested that you secure a policy in terms of your loan.  Even if you do not have a mortgage, look into homeowners insurance; you do not want to watch your investment go up in smoke with no way to replace it.  So what does homeowners insurance cover?  

One of the most common misunderstandings about homeowners insurance is that it covers anything that goes wrong in your house.  It is important to remember that insurance and home warranties are two very different products. For example, a home warranty may cover your air conditioner malfunctioning, while your insurance policy may cover it if it stops working due to lightning strike or theft.

When it comes to homeowners insurance, there are basic coverages that all companies will cover. Often the product name may be different based on the company, what they provide coverage for are the same.

An HO-1 is the most basic homeowners coverage you can get it. An HO-1 will cover the structure and depending on the policy your stuff inside from the following perils or cause of loss:

  • Fire or smoke
  • Explosions
  • Lightning
  • Hail and windstorms
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Damage from vehicles
  • Damage from aircraft
  • Riots and civil commotion
  • Volcanic eruption

A step above the HO-1, the HO-2 will protect your home and belongings from these additional perils:

  • Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam
  • The weight of ice, sleet, or snow
  • Sudden and accidental splitting apart, burning, cracking, or bulging of pipes and other household systems
  • Falling objects
  • Any damage that is sudden and accidental from an artificially generated electrical current
  • Freezing of housing systems like AC or heating

Then the next level would be a more robust policy such as the HO-3 (this is the most common type of coverage), or the H0-5 will provide additional coverage plus what is listed above.

If you are buying a home in Green Valley, AZ, let the helpful agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley find you the right homeowners policy for your needs.

Does Home Insurance Cover Anything While My House is Being Housesat?

The majority of insurance agencies, including the Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ, agree that your home is safer when it is occupied than when it is left empty. As a result, hiring a house sitter is a smart move.

However, a question that both homeowners and the person taking care of the house may have is – what will the homeowner’s insurance policy cover?

Insurance and Your House Sitter

In the majority of situations, the personal belongings that your house sitter brings with them will not be covered by your homeowner’s policy. However, it is important to note, if you hire a professional house sitter, they will likely have a policy that covers their personal items and adds protection for themselves if their negligence results in damage to the property.

What Do Homeowner’s Insurance Policies Cover?

In most cases, your homeowner’s insurance policy will include a limited amount of coverage for things such as medical payments, if the house sitter is injured while performing their job.

As far as your own belongings, there should not be an issue. As long as your list of contents in your home is up-to-date and you have paid your premiums, then everything you have listed should still be covered (even if damage or theft occurs while the home is being housesat).

However, every insurance policy is different, which means that you need to check with your insurance provider to ensure that your belonging and home will be protected – even when you aren’t there.

Special Coverage Considerations  

Depending on how long you are going to be gone, and if your house sitter is part of your family, you may need to purchase a special policy. These are not always necessary, and it is best to discuss this with your insurance provider to determine if it is needed.

You can learn more about ensuring your home and belongings are covered while you are away by contacting the staff at Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ.

 

Finding the Best Auto Insurance Company for Your Needs

The right auto insurance matters, but it’s not just about the policy. It’s also about the company you’re working with. If you choose a trusted company like Insurance Center of Green Valley for your Green Valley, AZ auto insurance needs, you can have the peace of mind that comes with good insurance and knowledgeable agents. While there are other insurance companies that can provide you with coverage, you want to work with a company you know you can rely on if you ever need to use your insurance policy due to a claim for damages or other problem.

Some companies are much better about customer service than others, and with the right company on your side, you have the opportunity to get the best insurance policy for your needs. You can also make changes as your requirements change, and ask questions if you’re not sure about something on your policy. That’s important to remember because policies don’t stay the same all the time. There are cars removed and added, and the same is true with drivers. It’s also possible that the coverage amounts themselves will need to be adjusted. Getting a company to do that quickly and efficiently can provide peace of mind.

To get strong customer service and the right auto insurance policy for your needs throughout the Green Valley, AZ area, contact Insurance Center of Green Valley today and talk to knowledgeable agents. Then you can get the policy that’s going to actually be right for you, and you’ll be able to have the financial protection that you and your car, truck, or SUV deserve. You don’t want to settle for just any insurance company when it’s so easy to get the one that can really offer you the policy and the service you need and expect.

Home Insurance Options To Consider

Your home is your castle. It’s your safe place where you can kick back and relax. It’s also possible the largest one-time investment you’ve ever made. Due to this, you need to protect your investment with right home insurance. However, there are different kinds of home insurance add-ons, which is why you need to educate yourself on what these differences are. Whether you live in or around Green Valley, AZ, Insurance Center of Green Valley is able to help.

Flood and/or Earthquake Insurance

These kinds of insurance are usually not included in your standard home insurance coverage. Earthquakes are not as common in Richardson TX as what you’d see out along the Pacific Coastline, but it is an option to consider. Likewise, flood insurance protects your home in the event of a major storm. You may also want to consider flood insurance depending on the location of your home if it’s at the base of a hill or is in a region more prone to flooding. 

Accidental Damage Insurance

Some people just seem to be a bit more prone to accidents than others. Maybe it’s tripping and spilling wine on the floor, or accidentally jumping and putting a fist through the ceiling. Whatever accident might occur, this kind of coverage is great for when those little accidents seem to come out of nowhere. 

Home Emergencies Coverage

This kind of coverage can cover when the HVAC system goes out and it needs emergency assistance (because those hot and humid Texas summers are no good without the AC). 

No matter the kind of home you own, how old it is or how long you’ve lived in it, it’s never too early (or too late) to evaluate the kinds of insurance options you have for your home. At Insurance Center of Green Valley, you’ll learn about the different options you can consider for your home and how each may improve the level of protection your home in and around Green Valley, AZ has. 

What kind of insurance am I required to have for my small business?

Having your own business can be a great thing, but it comes with a lot of responsibility. If you have a small business in Green Valley, AZ, you are facing different kinds of risks all the time. The agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley understand how losses can come from unexpected circumstances, so the only thing you can do is protect yourself ahead of time.

Commercial property or rental insurance will protect your property against loss. You can protect everything from the physical structure to equipment and furniture to on-site inventory. General liability insurance protects your business in case of lawsuits for bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses, and other issues like slander and libel.

Product liability insurance protects you if your defective product injures someone, and professional liability insurance covers you if you commit errors in judgment or if you commit malpractice or negligence. You can even purchase business interruption insurance which will cover you in the event that you are unable to stay open through no fault of your own.

Many small or home-based business owners choose a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP). A BOP combines multiple kinds of insurance into one policy, making the policy easier to manage while saving money. Typically, the BOP provides protection for property and liability issues and can be tailored to suit the needs of the client.

If you have a small business in Green Valley, AZ, you hope that you will never have to deal with accidents, natural disasters or lawsuits. But if anything does happen, you can be protected. Call Insurance Center of Green Valley today to find out what commercial insurance policies will best protect your business.

Does Home Insurance Cover Pool Houses?

One of the questions that we at Insurance Center of Green Valley, serving the greater Green Valley, AZ area, are asked is whether homeowners insurance covers structures that are detached from a home. This can include things such as storage sheds, detached garages, barns and pool homes. If you have a building that is detached from your home, here is the information you need to know about whether it is covered by homeowners insurance or not. 

Is It Covered?

Unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to whether a pool house or other stand-alone building on your property, is covered by homeowners insurance. Some insurance policies will cover these stand-alone buildings, while others do not. The best way to determine whether this type of building is covered by your homeowner’s insurance is to carefully read the policy. The policy will clearly state whether detached buildings on your property are covered or not covered under the current policy. 

What Do You Do If It Isn’t Covered?

If your standalone building, such as a pool home, is not covered by the policy, there are two things that can be done. First, an addendum can be added to the current policy to extend coverage to the pool house or stand-alone building. Second, some insurance companies sell stand-alone building insurance coverage, a type of policy that specifically covers the standalone buildings on your property. This may be needed if you have multiple standalone buildings. 

If you have a pool house or other standalone building on your property, you will want to ensure it is covered by insurance. Here at Insurance Center of Green Valley, serving the greater Green Valley, AZ area, we can work with you to help ensure everything on your property is covered and protected.