Author: agentinsure

Does Your Boat Insurance Cover Damages Sustained During Seasonal Storage?

Posted on by agentinsure

The agents at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. offer sound advice to Pinecrest, FL residents and those around Florida who have questions concerning boat insurance. We understand that you need sufficient coverage at all times, whether your boat is in the water, on the road, or being stored during the off-season. It’s crucial to maintain coverage throughout the year so that your boat is ready for the water when you are ready to use it.

What Constitutes "Seasonal" Storage?

Seasonal storage is used when your boat is going to remain out of the water for an extended period, normally longer than three to four months. Preparation for seasonal storage includes winterizing the gas lines and any water lines that may be present. The oil is changed, and the boat is cleaned both inside and out, making sure any debris is removed that could damage the interior or dull the finish.

Should Your Boat Be Protected During Seasonal Storage?

Maintaining a sufficient amount of insurance during seasonal storage is important. This type of insurance protects against vandalism, theft, and other forms of damage that can be caused while the boat is in storage. It will also cover damage to the watercraft if the building it’s stored in is damaged by weather. Many times, this results in damage to the vehicles and boats contained inside. Storage insurance is essential and shouldn’t be overlooked, especially if your vessel is still relatively new.

In Pinecrest, FL, residents are encouraged to call Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. if they have questions concerning the limitations of their current boat insurance policy or to learn more about the amount of insurance that is needed to remain adequately protected throughout the year. Don’t leave your boat at risk. Make sure you have the coverage you need at all times!

 

3 Reasons to Buy Umbrella Insurance

Posted on by agentinsure

There are many people in Miami and Pinecrest, FL who have a misconception about umbrella insurance, thinking that it is meant only for the wealthy. Truth is, umbrella insurance can be advantageous for the average Joe. According to Mitch Freedman, a CPA and finance specialist, "As long as you can earn a livelihood, you should have an umbrella liability policy." Why is this? Well mostly, it is because if you find yourself involved in a lawsuit, you can be liable on a personal level, and not just according to your current assets but also according to your future earnings. Here’s a look at three more reasons you should have umbrella insurance. 

Protection In Car Accidents

If you are at-fault for an auto accident and your insurance is exhausted, then you can be held on a personal level to pay for any additional expenses (like medical bills for the other people involved). With an umbrella insurance policy, you can receive additional coverage up to the limits of your policy. 

Protection for Personal Accidents On Your Property

Many people find themselves involved in lawsuits due to a person being injured on their personal property. Your homeowner’s insurance will cover up to a certain limit, but you will have to pay out of pocket for any additional expenses that exceed the limit. With umbrella insurance, however, you can receive extra funds to help cover the cost. 

Protection Against Slander and Libel

Today’s social media world often finds itself in the midst of lawsuits. A single posting on Facebook can be twisted and used against you, leaving you with an enormous bill for legal fees. With an umbrella policy, you can receive coverage to help cover the expenses incurred. 

To learn more about umbrella insurance, contact Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. serving the Miami and Pinecrest, FL area. Our agents can help you build a policy off of your current insurance and answer your questions.

How to Know if You Need to Add Flood Insurance

Posted on by agentinsure

Living in the Miami, FL area, you may not be sure if you need flood insurance for your home. Those living in elevated areas in the United States often miss the potential for a flood in their home, which can be disastrous. More than 20% of claims for flood damage happens in a low-risk area. The best plan to assess your need for flood insurance is by learning about the characteristics of your home and property.

  • Look through your property papers and find the “Natural Hazards Disclosures” from the inspection. Look for a classification of “Zone A” or “Zone B” – meaning the property is in an area prone to flooding by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. You can also locate this information through the county assessor’s office. If your property has either zoning, then you need to add flood insurance.
  • Inspect your property and identify any areas where water run-off could flow onto the property in a heavy storm. If there are storm drains, check to see if they are blocked. Even if your property is not zoned as a high risk for flooding, it could still be flooded.
  • A home built downstream from any flowing water has the potential to be flooded in unusually heavy rains and will need flood insurance.
  • Talk to neighbors to find out the area’s flooding history or if there have been any recent wildfires nearby because this can indicate a need for flood insurance.

Hamilton Fox & Company Inc.

Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. provide flood insurance in the Miami, FL area. After you look at your risk factors for possible flooding to your property, contact a Hamilton Fox agent. The agent will help you to decide if you need to add flood insurance to your homeowner’s policy. Our agents are here to answer your questions and make you feel confident about your coverage.

Building a Deck ?- Is Your Home Insurance Going to Change?

Posted on by agentinsure

At Hamilton Fox & Company, Inc. in Pinecrest, FL, We Want You to Be Better Safe Than Sorry

Once you begin a renovation project that includes digging large holes into your deck, it is important to consider what you may uncover in that beautiful backyard of yours. Some homeowners find that they have sinkholes in their yards which could pose a significant danger to the members of the family.

How the deck will be approached from the main structure of your home is an item that you will want to communicate to your agent. Your agent may ask you some of the following questions about your new deck:

  • How the deck will be exited and how many exits are to be constructed?
  • Will it include fencing?
  • What are the exact measurements of the deck?

Adding a deck increases the value of the home considerably. Having a discussion with your insurance agent is a smart way to learn how this undertaking can affect your policy. If you are adding a spa or other expensive amenities to your new deck area, you may want to add more loss protection and liability components to your policy.  

Your insurer may require that you hire a general contractor who is adequately insured against being a hindrance to your home improvement. Through all of these considerations, it is inevitable that your insurance policy will change, but that doesn’t mean necessarily that the rate will increase.  

Come in today to discuss how Hamilton Fox & Company, Inc. in Pinecrest, FL can help you develop a homeowners insurance policy that will be a comprehensive tool in protecting your Florida home. Whether or not you are considering a renovation at this time, having a great policy is priceless as you assume the responsibility of home ownership. 

The Benefits of Having Commercial Insurance Coverage

Posted on by agentinsure

In many instances, you are not required by law to carry commercial insurance as a small business owner. However, that does not mean that you should not have this coverage. There are many benefits to having commercial insurance coverage. At Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. serving the greater Pinecrest, FL area, we want to help educate you. Here are two of the benefits of having commercial insurance coverage.

Protects You Against Weather Elements

One of the things that commercial insurance does is protects you and your business against unexpected weather elements. These weather elements may include storms, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. It may also include coverage against earthquakes and flooding. If you don’t own the building, you may think that this won’t help you, but this is not true. A large storm can damage your belongings in the store or cause you to have to shut down your business and lose revenue. Commercial insurance protects against this.

Protects You Against People

People do a lot of crazy things that can negatively affect your business. They may rob you, file a bogus lawsuit, or vandalize or damage your store and belongings. If you do not have commercial insurance, you have to pay out of pocket for the crazy things that these people do. Theft, lawsuits, and vandalism can equal thousands of dollars. Having a commercial insurance policy protects you against having to pay for these damages yourself.

Now that you know the benefits, you may be interested in obtaining a new commercial insurance plan in the Pinecrest, FL area. Let Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. help. Call us now to put together the right policy for you and obtain a price quote for your business.

Additional Coverage Options for Florida Auto Insurance Policies

Posted on by agentinsure

Every Florida driver is required to have an active auto insurance policy. This policy must meet certain state-required minimums. Failing to meet these standards could result in certain penalties. Florida is a no-fault state, so you need to have a policy that will pay for injuries or damages regardless of who is at fault.

Florida’s Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements

Florida residents are required to have minimum amounts for the following types of coverage:

•    No-fault or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
•    Property damage liability (PDL) coverage

Personal injury protection will pay for any medical expenses or other liabilities that resulted in a loss of income because of an accident. It can cover your child or any other members of your household. It can also cover any passengers who have been injured because of an accident.

Property damage liability will cover any damage to someone else’s property if it has been caused by an accident in which you have been involved, and it can include any homes or buildings. Be sure to speak to an agent at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. if you’re in the Pincecrest, FL area. We can help you find a policy that will meet these standards and we’ll make sure it fits within your budget.

Optional Coverage for Auto Insurance Policies in Florida

While there are certain state-required minimums, it may be advisable to purchase additional coverage, which can include extra dollar amounts for the required types of coverage according to Florida State Law. You can also purchase the following types of coverage:

•    Comprehensive – Will pay for any damage that isn’t the result of an accident
•    Collision – Will pay for any accident-related damages to your car
•    Towing and labor – Could come in handy if you’re in an emergency situation
•    Uninsured/underinsured motorist – Will pay for any damage that’s caused by a driver who doesn’t have auto insurance according to Florida State Law
•    Rental car coverage – Will cover the cost of renting a car for a specified amount or period of time

If you’re thinking about adding these additional coverage options, you should get in touch with Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. We have been serving the people of Pincecrest, FL for a long time and we can help you get the coverage you need. Be sure to get in touch with someone at our office. We would be happy to sit down and discuss your insurance needs!

Does Your Auto Insurance Policy Protect You Against Floods In Your Car?

Posted on by agentinsure

Generally Speaking, Flood Insurance Is For Your Home – Right? 

Those three hundred dollar headphones were left in your car after the gym and way before you had the chance to view the weather report. Good thing your sister warned you in time, and you were able to move your car out of the general flood zone. What she nor you could anticipate was that the flood zone extended past the normal parameters and your car was flooded. Hamilton Fox & Company staffers are quite knowledgeable on what type of insurance policy would cover the present situation you find yourself in. Located in Pinecrest, FL we serve our town as well as the surrounding areas.

This is not something that happens everyday, but floods are a catastrophe that happens often and requires special insurance usually. When it comes to protecting your car comprehensive auto insurance covers the operation and the damage to your car in the event of a flood. This coverage comes into effect once your comprehensive insurance deductible is paid. If you carry the minimum of liability insurance coverage on your vehicle, the impact of flooding on your car will not be covered at all. It is important to talk with your insurance agent regarding whether or not property in your vehicle damaged in flood would be covered even with comprehensive or full coverage auto insurance. An umbrella policy may be a better arm of insurance to cover for property damage in an auto flood situation.

The agents at Hamilton Fox & Company located in Pinecrest, FL are here to answer detailed questions regarding your policy. Please contact us today to discuss protecting your car before a flood in your area happens – forewarned is forearmed.

When Should You Review Your Commercial Insurance Policy?

Posted on by agentinsure

Is It Time To Review The Commercial Insurance Policy Already – I Just Insured My Business!

Honestly, the helpful and knowledgeable agents at Hamilton Fox & Company Insurance are of the mind that the correct answer to the title question is CONSTANTLY. Don’t think we would want you to take time away from your business to review your policy. You are in business to make money and provide goods and services to your clientele. That is exactly why we are in business as well. Hamilton Fox & Company strives to provide the highest level of service to you. That is what we are here for.

Your business is constantly changing. As a result, your policy evolves accordingly, and our constant review is our pleasure and is critical to keeping you, your company and employees protected.

Here is a short list of things that may arise in your business that will necessitate a discussion with your agent and a review of your commercial insurance policy.

  • You have taken on an additional property.  Whether it is a new building, an addition to an existing location (i.e., the lot next door has become vacant, and you want to assume the lease to expand your business). Take advantage of the sunshine here in Miami FL and stop by our office to discuss how this addition may add to your liability.
  • There has been an increase in your staff. Making certain their needs are met as it pertains to your company responsibility is task one.

If you have a question about your policy and reside here in Miami, FL, come into our offices, and we can personally assist you. If you prefer, email, fax, or telephone, please contact us today to ensure you are on top of your responsibilities as regards your commercial insurance policy.

To Catch a Pest: Home Insurance Concerns And Varment Control

Posted on by agentinsure

Is There A Circus Upstairs?

Unfortunately, If you have owned your home long enough, you have been treated to the personal circus that has visited the homes of millions of homeowners. The circus better known as “squirrels in the attic” has extensively traveled across the country and abroad.  Those agents at Hamilton Fox & Company who own their homes and those who do not are quite familiar with the phenomena.  It is not specific to our location in Pinecrest, FL and we have assisted the locals as well as the clients we serve in the surrounding areas.

When a creature has entered the home, it usually involves property damage to the structure. Homes are made to keep creatures out. Therefore it stands to reason that if something has entered the home without your knowledge, it is due to their being a hole or some other structural damage to the home. Your policy must be reviewed to ensure that the damage to the structure of your home is protected. The agent will review the type of damage. The amount of wear and tear that your home has incurred. The amount of time that has transpired since the section of your home that has been damaged has been initially installed or has been repaired or maintained.

A quick call to your agent is in order before you embark on your catching expedition as many homeowners exacerbate the damage.

Nature happens, but the skilled professionals employed at Hamilton Fox & Company serving Pinecrest, FL and the surrounding areas are trained to ask the right questions and make fair and accurate assessments to ensure that natural wildlife stays on the outside of your home where they belong. After the circus has left town your home will be no worse for a visit.