Why Do Contractors Need to Buy Commercial Bonds?

Contractors working in the Green Valley, AZ area are required to purchase commercial bonds in order to legally do business in their chosen field, as it is a requisite for being issued a license. This provision provides homeowners and business owners with protection when hiring workers, as it provides surety for unfinished work, unpaid permits, damage done to property, and unpaid subcontracted work up to two years after the last services were performed. Contractor bonds can be purchased through your commercial insurance agency. 

Bond Basics

In Arizona, a professional must apply for a commercial bond amount that corresponds with his or her labor classification. In addition, the laborer will need to project their estimated gross volume for the year and must obtain commercial bonds for approximately that sum total.  Bonds exist in several different types: payment bonds that ensure that subcontractors will be paid, performance bonds that provide surety for nonperformance, and bid bonds that protect project owners from successful bidders who choose not to come under contract. 

Bonds are continuous, are without a termination date, and a contractor may be required to pay a premium periodically to the issuing insurance company. A company can cancel a bond, but they must provide 30 days notification, during which a contractor is required to find a substitute to keep from having their license suspended.  

Insurance Center of Green Valley Can Assist You

If you need to purchase commercial bonds, the Insurance Center of Green Valley is here to answer all your questions. We are experienced in helping the residents of Green Valley, AZ with all their commercial insurance needs, and we consider it a privilege to work for you. Contact us to speak to one of our friendly representatives, and we will find the right commercial insurance package to meet all your needs. 

A Home Inventory can Simplify Your Claim

You never know when a disaster will strike and cause the loss of valuable possessions in your Green Valley, AZ home.  You can, however, be prepared by maintaining an up to date home inventory of your possessions as a record of what you own. A home inventory will simplify making an insurance claim so lost or damaged goods can be replaced faster.   

What’s a Home Inventory?

A home inventory is simply an itemized list of your personal possessions to include shoes, clothing, jewelry, electronics, furniture, artwork, kitchen goods and appliances, sports gear, books and anything else you may own. When making your list, you should pay special attention to valuable items such as heirlooms, posh jewelry and collectibles as these will cost more to replace if they are damaged, stolen or lost. 

Each item should have a brief description stating its condition, where it was bought and make, model and serial number if it applies. Your inventory should include receipts and appraisals for valuable goods to prove their worth and photos or videos to show their current condition. This information will make it easier for an adjuster from Insurance Center of Green Valley to assess your loss and expedite your claim.

How is a Home Inventory Used in a Claim?

Your home inventory can be used to substantiate ownership and condition of the goods you lost. Without proof of ownership, an insurance adjuster may question whether these items existed at all. Receipts, photos or a video of valuable items help verify their worth so you can get full value for them in a claim. Be sure to update your inventory periodically so it will be current when you need it.

Learn more about the benefits of a home inventory by contacting an insurance specialist at Insurance Center of Green Valley, Green Valley, AZ.

What You Need to Know About Workers Compensation and Commercial Insurance

It’s easy to forget that commercial insurance and workers’ compensation are all part of the same package, but it helps to understand how they work together to keep your business safe. Most businesses need to have workers’ compensation included in their commercial insurance policies if they have any official employees. This is so neither employees nor employers are saddled with expensive medical bills should they be injured on the job. Insurance Center of Green Valley wants you to know more about how it works 

Hazards on the Job 

Every job comes with its own set of hazards, though they may be difficult to find sometimes. An office worker is unlikely to hit their head when they’re on the job, but they may develop chronic back pain because they’re sitting in the wrong chair. While an employee does share some responsibility when it comes to their injuries, judges tend to side with the employees (in general.) This is just one reason why it’s so important to choose employees who will be responsible for themselves and for a business’ property at all times. 

Commercial Insurance in Green Valley, AZ

If you have a business in Green Valley, AZ, it’s time to give Insurance Center of Green Valley a call. Our staff can help you understand more about the particular hazards that you need to safeguard yourself against. Far from just walking away with the right policy, you may end up getting the tips you need to make your workplace safer for you, your customers, and your workers. Find out more about what you should have coverage for in order to keep your business thriving — even in the face of a serious injury claim — by calling today to speak with our staff. 

Can all Businesses Benefit from Commercial Insurance?

Owning a business is both wonderful and very stressful. Without the proper insurance you can be liable for any issues that might pop up and can even be responsible for paying damages and more. The question is can all business benefit from commercial insurance. Put quite simply, yes they can. If you live or work in the Green Valley, AZ area the agents with Insurance Center of Green Valley can help you find the policy that is right for your business.

For all businesses some sort of insurance is necessary to protect the business owner as well as the business itself. Without the proper insurance, you can end up not having the coverage you need making it necessary for the business owner to pay all damages out of pocket. No matter what size the business is, it can benefit from commercial insurance.

Commercial insurance not only helps to protect the business, it also helps to protect the items that the business sells, the owner, any employees that you might have, and even the building in which the business is housed. This means that a good commercial policy is going to cover a very wide range of things that can help to make sure your business keeps going even in times when things might seem a bit tough.

In order to find the right policy it is always beneficial to talk with an agent about what amount and type of coverage you might benefit from most. Some policies are not going to do you much good while others are going to be all you need to prosper and do well. A great commercial insurance policy is going to cover all the bases and help you to make sure you have what you need to succeed and to be safe from any issue.  

Planning On Renovating? You Might Need More Home Insurance

Like many homeowners, you’re probably eager to make some changes to make your home more attractive or to increase the value of your property, but do you know how those changes could affect your current homeowner’s insurance policy? If you’ve been thinking about adding some square footage to your Green Valley, AZ home or upgrading it with new features, you’ll need to consider how those upgrades and renovations could affect your homeowner’s insurance policy.

How Big Is Too Big?

Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover remodeling projects that exceed a certain dollar amount. If your renovation plans include major additions such as adding another room or changing the building’s structure dramatically, you will need what is called builder’s risk insurance. Construction of any type generally carries risks – an electrical mishap could cause a fire, or materials or property may become accidentally damaged. Builder’s risk policies protect your property from damage during the construction process that aren’t covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. Talk to your Insurance Center of Green Valley agent to determine what additional forms of insurance may be required.

Are You Adding Value?

If your renovation project will be adding significant value to your property, check your limits. It is possible your new patio or upstairs master bedroom suite addition could add tens of thousands of dollars in value to your Green Valley, AZ property. Your homeowner’s insurance policy comes with a property value limit. Before you start construction, make sure any new additions will be covered by your current policy. If the value has increased considerably and your limits are exceeded you may need to raise your limits.

For more information about how your new dream kitchen or living room addition could affect your current homeowner’s insurance policy, contact the Insurance Center of Green Valley today. We’ll make sure you’re covered before your project begins.

What to do When Your Car’s Check Engine Light Comes On

You might freak out or begin to panic the moment you see the “check engine” light appear. You start to think of all of the costs that could go along with it. The Green Valley, AZ agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley would like to ease your mind by letting you know what you should do when that dreaded light comes on.

Don’t Panic

Unless smoke is coming from the engine or sparks are shooting from the hood, don’t panic. Your on board engine’s computer is simply letting you know that there is some sort of malfunction. It may be something such as a sensor that needs to be replaced. If you’re handy with vehicles you can change the sensor yourself.

Get it Diagnosed

Take your vehicle to a mechanic so they can diagnose the issue. Those who’d like to do-it-yourself can purchase a code reader. Once the code is deciphered, then you can decide if the issue is something that either you or your local professional should handle. Some check engine lights illuminate when you have a faulty or cracked gas cap. It may seem like a small concern, but gas caps that leak can release vapors that alter the fuel system.

Fix the Problem

Just because you don’t panic right away, doesn’t mean that you should ignore the problem. Issues that build up over time can cause more damage. You could spend more money fixing a problem that was compounded with time. For example, if you ignore the light for several months and the issue was the catalytic converter, then your car will eventually stop running.

In Green Valley, AZ, the Insurance Center of Green Valley has expert insurance agents that are available to help you with a new policy or adjust your current coverage.

Commercial Insurance for Small Businesses

It takes a lot to run a small business. You don’t want your company to stop flowing because you didn’t have enough finances to cover you after an accident. There are several different types of liability insurance that you may need for your small business. Insurance Center of Green Valley in Green Valley, AZ has some information you should consider when looking for commercial insurance for your small business.

General Liability Insurance

Your company should think about having general liability because it protects businesses from lawsuits as a result of an injury, accident, or negligence. If your restaurant is responsible for causing several patrons to become ill and they file a lawsuit, you may be responsible for lawyers’ fees, medical expenses, and other costs adjudicated by the court.

Product Liability Insurance

Defective products that are manufactured or sold by your company could make you liable if the product causes injury to a customer. Product liability insurance can be helpful by protecting your business from financial losses.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance covers your business as a result of malpractice, negligence, or errors. Some states require physicians to maintain a minimum amount of malpractice insurance.

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance covers business property from a variety of hazards.

  • All-risk policy – covers everything except what is written in the policy.
  • Peril-specific policy – covers every peril written in the policy.

Home-Based Business Insurance

Many small business owners operate from their homes. Homeowners insurance may not cover items relating to the business.

Check with the independent agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley in Green Valley, AZ to see if your homeowner’s policy covers your business property. You can also get more information on additional commercial insurance added to your current policy or begin a new one.

3 Ways to Avoid Personal Injuries by Visitors During a Holiday Party at Home

Having friends and family members over for holiday events at your Green Valley, AZ is always a good time. However, if someone gets hurt at the party, it can definitely put a damper on the festivities. Plus, you may be facing a big home insurance claim to cover the costs of their injuries. To make sure someone is not injured at your holiday party, make sure you remember these simple rules.

Limit where guests can roam in your home. 

Instead of keeping your entire home open and accessible for every guest at the party, it is a better idea to keep guests contained to only certain areas. For one, this keeps the guests easier to keep tabs on so they do not get into a dangerous predicament, which can be especially worrisome if your guests bring children along with them. You don’t necessarily have to make this an obvious thing; simply lock up doors where guests should not be and use a safety gate to block off stairways to different levels of the house. 

Make sure steps and walkways are free from hazards. 

Slip and fall cases are common with homeowner’s insurance claims, and they are more likely to happen outside of your home in the winter than any other time. In the winter, make sure you use deicing agents on steps and walkways where guests will be walking to get in and out of your home. It is also a good idea to keep the driveway clear of ice and snow. 

Find a sitter for your pets. 

Pets can be a big concern, especially dogs who may get uncomfortable with a bunch of strangers in the house. Therefore, it is a good idea to find a sitter for your pets so no guest gets bitten or injured. If you cannot find a pet sitter, make sure you keep your pet in a kennel for the evening or chain them up outdoors. 

For more information about preventing injuries during a holiday event at home, contact Insurance Center of Green Valley for advice. 

Ride Share Programs

The United States Department of Transportation reports that ride-sharing programs are increasing. This is a good thing. Ride-sharing includes traditional carpooling, vanpooling, and taking turns with your neighbors picking up the kids from school. Ride-sharing also includes the innovative Internet-based car-sharing programs, such as BlaBlaCar, Lyft, and Uber.

Considerations for Ride-Sharing Programs

Before participating in any ride-sharing programs, the experts at the Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ, and the surrounding areas, say there are a few things to consider, which are:

  • Lack of Flexibility – If you use ride-sharing to get to and from your work, you will have to be ready to go at the pre-scheduled times; otherwise, you will inconvenience others in the ride-sharing program with you. This may mean you have to get up earlier than you normally would in order to be ready and waiting when the carpool vehicle arrives at your home. It also means you will have to leave work at a certain time and cannot work late. If the boss asks you to stay at work to get something done, you may be stranded without a convenient way to get back home.
  • Vehicle Maintenance – If it is your turn to drive, you must keep your vehicle properly maintained and clean.
  • Extended work hours – Most people who commute with others find that the commuters begin talking about work almost automatically. The ride to work becomes a kind of casual business meeting.
  • Vehicle insurance – When you are using your vehicle to transport others, your insurance coverage needs to be adjusted for the additional potential liability in the case of an accident. If you are receiving compensation, including from your company, you may need commercial insurance coverage for your vehicle.

Summary

If you use your vehicle for commuting to work and take passengers along with you or if you offer a ride for hire as part of the new social media ride-sharing services, you have special auto insurance needs.

Consult with your agent at Green Valley, AZ, Insurance Center of Green Valley. Even if you do not participate in ride sharing programs, it is always a good idea to conduct an annual review of your auto insurance coverage with your agent to make sure the coverage is adequate.

At What Juncture of Your Business Plan Do You Need To Purchase Commercial Insurance?

What To Do Next?

You have your business plan completed and have an appointment to meet with potential investors and loan officers at a nearby bank. Is this the time to purchase a commercial insurance policy? The ink hasn’t dried on the business plan yet.

Ready, Set, Go?

Wait Just a moment. Before you hang up your shingle, you need to consider purchasing your insurance policy. The right juncture to insure your business is before your first operating day. Build in the costs for insurance with the prospective financing for your business.

From day one there are areas that need to be protected from liability. This is the perfect time to sit down and see what you need to have adequate protection from all of the what ifs that could happen. If this is your first business, you will learn as you go. You may need to add new insurance products along the way.      

To be perfectly honest, commercial insurance is not an easy notion to navigate. There a myriad of nuances involved with having a comprehensive and efficient policy that is going to do what it needs to do to protect your business and your overall way of life. 

Give us a call at Insurance Center of Green Valley. There are plenty of established business owners who call Green Valley AZ and the surrounding areas home that we cater to.  If you reside in this area and you are in the beginning phases of opening your business, we are here to clarify some key issues regarding the type of insurance you have for your company. If you want to come in, call, fax, or email us we would love to set your mind at ease about this critical business topic.