Home Insurance Add Ons to consider

Every kind of insurance comes with an assortment of available add on’s. These add on’s are designed to provide you with extra coverage, based on your individual needs. As each home is different, every home insurance package should be different. At Insurance Center of Green Valley, we are here to help you protect your home in and around Green Valley, AZ. So here are some available insurance add on’s you need to consider. 

Sewage Backup Coverage

This heavily depends on the kind of home you own and whether your plumbing line connects to the city or runs to a septic tank. However, a backed up sewer line can end up costing you upwards of $25,000 to fix. That’s a major chunk of change you can avoid by simply adding on sewage backup coverage to your home insurance plan. 

Flood Insurance Coverage

During monsoon season you know just how bad the rain can come down at once. Because the ground isn’t made to absorb such a large amount of rainfall and the city drainage system can’t handle it either, areas can quickly flood. This kind of coverage is based more on where in town you live and if your home is at the base of a hill, but flood insurance coverage makes sure your property and belongings are protected in the event of flooding. This kind of coverage also protects you in the event of a burst pipe and other man-made issues connected with possible flooding.

When it comes to protecting your home, you need to understand the different kinds of home insurance options you have available. At Insurance Center of Green Valley, we’re here to provide all the necessary advice, answers and assistance needed to protect your home in and around Green Valley, AZ.

How to Prevent Your Car From Being Broken Into This Holiday Season

During the holiday season, crime increases. People are out spending money and shopping and the criminals know this. One of the questions that we at the Insurance Center of Green Valley, serving the greater Green Valley, AZ area, are asked is whether there is any way to prevent a car from being broken into during the holiday season. Here are a few tips that you can use to help keep your car safe. 

Do Not Store Valuables in Your Car

When you are getting ready to go to a mall or shopping center, take valuable items out of your car. This includes money, cell phones, designer sunglasses, your purse or pricey jackets. If your car is empty, there is nothing for a thief to break in and try to get. 

Hide Your Holiday Packages

If you must keep holiday packages in your car, place the items in the trunk offsite. Do not move the items from your backseat to the trunk after you have parked in the parking lot. Thieves can see this. Doing it offsite helps to minimize the likelihood that they will know anything is in the car. 

Park in a Well-Lit Area

The last tip is to park in a well-lit area. Thieves don’t want to be seen and it is more likely they will be if there is a lot of light. Try to park near lights to keep your car as safe as possible. 

Despite your best efforts, you cannot prevent all crime. If a thief wants into your car, they may find a way in regardless. Having the right auto insurance in place helps to minimize the amount you will have to pay out-of-pocket for the items they stole and the damage they caused. If you are unsure if your policy is fully covering you, or just want a new auto insurance policy in the greater Green Valle,y AZ area, turn to Insurance Center of Green Valley. Give us a call now and let us help you with your auto insurance needs. 

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.