10 Mistakes Made When Buying Home Insurance

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Most people think home insurance is a one and done, fix-all for their protection, but that is most certainly not the case. From covering your belongings, animals, pool, and what’s going on inside the house, we’ve got ten things for you to keep in mind when you go to meet a representative from an insurance agency. 

Overhead shot of neighborhood via Pixabay user PublicCo

1. Thinking like a “cookie cutter”:

Home insurance is complex, and coverage can differ drastically from company to company. Always enlist the help of a professional risk manager to make sure you have the right coverage for your home. Your most valuable asset, is too valuable for you to make a mistake setting up coverage yourself. Once you have a loss, you cannot go back and amend coverage, so any mistake on your policy could result in you paying for that loss yourself.

Tornado over a castle via Pixabay user TheDigitalArtist

2. The pesky natural disasters: 

Do buy the “Increased Cost Endorsement”. If a catastrophic event occurs such as a tornado, flood, fire, ect., and builders/building materials are in short supply, it will give you additional money to get your property fixed immediately, rather than waiting for prices to come down.

Gold wedding bads via Pixabay user qimono

3. Quick! Save the jewelry!:

If you have valuable items such as jewelry, watches, furs, silverware, firearms, fine arts, collectibles, hobby equipment, ect., they must be scheduled on your policy to have coverage in case of theft or damage. 

Luxury pool via Pixabay user RichardMc

4. Splish splash, it’s a money bath:

If you have a swimming pool, make sure your insurance company is aware of it and lists it on the application. Almost all companies require that the pool be fenced, locked, and sometimes covered when it’s not in use, to provide coverage for the liability arising from your pool. For a moment, imagine the difficulty if the neighbor kids sneak in and use your pool, then tragedy strikes. Your insurance will likely be there for you as long as you have secured it properly and declared it to them, if not though, you could be facing hefty bills to cover something that was never really your fault.

Corgi on traintracks via Pixabay user huoadg5888

 5. The bite is worse than the bark:

Liability coverage for your animals behavior is critical, and varies from company to company; make sure your company is fully aware of your animals and is covering them. A severe dog bite can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and without explicit coverage, you may be on your own to handle the damages caused by your fluffball.

Flooded living room via Pixabay user TheDigitalArtist

6. There’s mud in the water:

Water backing up through the drain or sewer system is not covered by homeowners insurance.  Make sure you have purchased the “Water Backup of Sewers and Drains Endorsement”, otherwise that stinky, mess will be yours to deal with.

House on fire via Pixabay user kolyaeg

7. Your morning sky will not be lit with a burning love:

Make sure you have the “Ordinance of Law” coverage on your policy. If you have a fire and they disconnect the utilities, you will be required to meet modern code to get your utilities back.  Standard policies do not cover that extra cost, so you need to have this endorsement!

Woman on ATV via Pixabay user dlopezok

8. Go-go-karts, scootin’ scooters, and more!:

Vehicles licensed for road use are never covered by a homeowners policy. If you have motorized items not licensed for road use, or used to service the residence premises, such as: boats, ATV’s, mopeds, scooters, snowmobiles, golf carts, go-karts, and so on, inform your agent and they can be covered on your home policy, as long as they are only used on your property.

Cottage home in an open field via Pixabay user JosepMonter

9. Come together, don’t separate:

If you own vacant land, you can extend the coverage from your home, to that land, much less expensively than getting a separate policy.

Clapperboard via Pixabay user Mediamodifier

10. 3, 2, 1, aaaannnnd action:

Always do a walk-through video of your house and its contents. If you have a total loss, it is very difficult to remember everything you lost, and you also need to prove your loss for certain items that you want replaced. Taking a video, narrating it, and then emailing it to yourself in the cloud, will help make your recovery exponentially easier.

We here at Howard Webb Insurance just want to see you be successful and safe in your life, call, (765) 644-8847, or email, quotes@howardwebbins.com, today to discuss your options and any questions you may have regarding your insurance plan! 

** This list is in no particular order. This list is meant as a general guideline to purchasing insurance and does not apply to all insurance agencies and situations. You should always obtain coverage advice that has been reviewed by an insurance professional that is licensed in the state in which you reside. This is purely an informational list for you to consider. **

Article written by contract writer and digital media coordinator: Candace Cox. You can reach her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.

Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator

Wait…I Need Insurance For My Business Too?!

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Here at the Howard Webb offices we receive phone calls all day long of people asking for help with their insurance. Not surprising by any means, but sometimes even we are a little caught off guard by what comes our way!

Cartoon of two people with cleaning supplies via Pixabay user mohamed_hassan

Recently, someone called in and totally floored us! They have been operating a residential and commercial cleaning company for the past forty years, and hadn’t purchased insurance for their business!

They actually didn’t even think they really needed the insurance because they were a small business, but after having recently been told, by a potential client, they couldn’t work for them because of their lack of insurance, they came searching for answers. 

Cartoon of two people with cleaning supplies via Pixabay user mohamed_hassan

The potential client they were in the process of working with told them that because they were uninsured, they wouldn’t be able to work in their offices. Of course this would send anyone with a small business into a flurry, we’re just surprised this individual made it forty years before anyone brought this to their attention!

Cartoon of woman with cleaning supplies via Pixabay user LilyCantabile

The thing is, imagine everything that could go wrong in this particular business, and how this person would be completely liable for any damages or incidents that occurred. 

  1. What if they damaged the property while cleaning? Imagine they were bleaching the counter tops and it spilled onto the hard wood floors leaving behind a bleach stain. They have to cough up the cash to fix the client’s floors now. 
  2. What if they destroyed key documents/invoices that couldn’t be easily replicated? Well, now they’re in the weeds for receiving payment, or responsible for any monies lost. 
  3. What if the vacuum cleaner burst into flames and burned an office building down? They’re going to be in debt to a company for a very long time, possibly their whole lives.
  4. What if the products they used to clean out the refrigerator somehow contaminated the food that someone then ate? If they’re lucky and the person who ate this poisoned food doesn’t have a fatal outcome, they could be sued and in a similar situation to the one above. 

Cartoon of woman with cleaning supplies via Pixabay user mahamed_hassan

We know these all sound like “long shots”, but at the end of the day, no one plans for catastrophe every day of their lives. Without insurance, this business owner would be personally responsible for all damages, injury, and losses caused while they were fulfilling their work duties for the client. 

So the final answer to this question is: YES! You need insurance for your business! No matter how big or how small, you absolutely need to cover your company, clients, and self, under the safe cloak of insurance.

After we explained this to the business owner, they hopped onto the insurance policy and are now covered. For just $35 a month, they have 1M liability coverage, and no longer need to fear the unknown. 

Don’t allow yourself to be surprised by this when it’s too late, contact a specialist now by calling us at (765)-644-8847 or emailing quotes@howardwebbins.com.

Article written by contract writer and digital media coordinator: Candace Cox. You can reach her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.

Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator

Imagine This: Lost Parents

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Take a moment to think of your future with us. You and your spouse have had three beautiful, and dare we say “genius”, children. They were communicating and showing great talent well before their peers. One is playing music, another is a sports star, and the other comes up with the most innovative designs to make life easier. You have truly made a spectacular family together. 

Family via Pixabay user badski007

One summer you decide to send the kids to visit their grandparents, so you two can enjoy a week together alone. All seems well, the children are climbing trees, making crafts, and enjoying their time in the summer sun at the community pool. You and your spouse decide to go for a leisurely drive, listening to the music that you played at your wedding, laughing and dancing in your seats. Unfortunately, another driver wasn’t paying attention and your car was t-boned. Your spouse tried to gain control of the vehicle, but the car spun out and you were struck again. Although you were rushed to critical care and it looked promising, neither of you made it out of the hospital.

Family of swans via Pixabay user pixel2013

Nor you, or your spouse, had life insurance through work, and it seemed that you would always be there for them, so you never thought to purchase it for yourselves. Your children’s’ lives are changed forever. They were once considering prestigious universities and careers to follow, but now they will struggle to even finish high-school. 

Family on beach via Pixabay user Pexels

Don’t let this become your family’s story, and prepare for a better tomorrow today with Howard Webb Insurance. There are dozens of saving options to ensure your children’s futures stay bright; contact a specialist now by calling us at (765)-644-8847 or emailing quotes@howardwebbins.com.

Article written by contract writer and digital media coordinator: Candace Cox. You can reach her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.


Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator 

Boating Insurance 101 – The Basics

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Since we already know that you’re an insurance pro, we’ll save you all the boring details about how boating insurance is a vital necessity that protects you in the case your boat is stolen, lost, sunk, or damaged. How it will cover most all water crafts with motors like pontoon, fishing, and paddle boats, or the bigger boats like yachts. And you of course already knew that boating insurance wouldn’t cover the smaller recreational boats like canoes or kayaks too. *wink wink*

Boat in a euphoria by Pixabay user jplenio

But what may you not know about boating insurance? 

Maybe how it covers collision damage, which would cover the repair or replacement of your boat, but could or couldn’t cover the clearing of the damage caused unless you have paid for additional coverage? 

Boats in the mountains by Pixabay user pladicon2012acasias

What about how property damage liability covers the damage you may come across if your boat hits someone else’s boat, dock, or any other property? 

Have you been informed about the bodily injury liability from a boat accident that covers injury you may inflict on someone else while using your boat? And how this could include medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, legal expenses, and so on?

Yachts at sunrise by Pixabay user strikers

Could it be the comprehensive coverage that provides compensation if the boat is vandalized, stolen, or damaged by an incident outside of collision?

Or you may already know about the additional coverage options for medical payments, oil spills, roadside assistance, if you hit a whale, fishing equipment, personal property, or damage and injuries from accidents caused by boaters who are uninsured or under-insured? 

Boat in a dock at sunrise by Pixabay user 13434535

All of this possible damage could be covered by the compensation you receive for a claim. However, that depends on your deductible, limits, and if your boater’s insurance will cover the replacement cost, cash value, and the agreed upon value. 

Now, we know your a boating insurance connoisseur, but we hope you’ll tune back in for our follow up to this article with more helpful information that you *wink* already know *wink*.

Yacht by the city coastline via Pixabay user Julius_Silver

As always, we highly recommend speaking with your insurance agent before making any purchases for insurance, and we hope to see you popping by our office, giving us a call at (765)-644-8847, or shooting us an email at quotes@howardwebbins.com.

Article written by contract writer and digital media coordinator: Candace Cox. You can reach her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.

 

Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator  

RV Insurance 101 – Motor Homes

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With the infamous rise of COVID-19, and the unfortunate cancellation of most family vacations, it’s no surprise that RV sales are through the roof. 

Motor-homes, fifth wheels, and travel trailers are all in the RV family, but we’ll be diving deeper into the differences of insurance needs for each of these types of RV’s in a later post. Today we are discussing motor homes.

Image of RV under night sky from Pixabay user JillWellington

More and more people are flocking to the classic family vacation of a road trip and camping out in their motor home. It makes perfect sense too! No need to fuss with excessive exposure to others in a hotel, stay in the motor home! Now you can steer clear of restaurants by making your own food in the RV’s kitchen! The world can finally feel big again, as you hike through national parks and swim in all the beautiful lakes and oceans along your trip. 

Sounds like a post quarantine dream, right?

Well it most certainly can be, but you’ll need to remember that insurance is just as needed for your RV, as it is for your home, auto, and life. They’re different types of coverage after all.

Image of RV in the mountains via Pixabay user MemoryCatcher

What Does RV Insurance Look Like?

RVs and motor homes are considered recreational vehicles. So they will be insured similarly to how an ATV or motorbike is insured. This insurance will protect you from out of pocket expenses in the event that your motor home is stolen or it is involved in an accident that causes bodily harm or property damage. It may even be of help, depending on the level of coverage, if you have a roadside breakdown and need to call for help.

Something to keep in mind is that a motor home is a hybrid of home and auto insurance, so you need to have liability coverage for your RV. However, it’s not just any liability coverage, it’s called vacation liability. 

This is to protect you when the motor home is not being used as a vehicle on the road, but when it is parked and you and others are relaxing in the living room of the RV.

Be sure to ask about this when you meet with an agent, because oftentimes it is overlooked or not offered when you go to buy your RV insurance. You’ll also want to ensure that the RV insurance matches your home insurance liability coverage.

Image of RV by the ocean via Pixabay user StockSnap

How Much Does It Cost?

RVs come in three separate classes: A, B, and C. Class A is the most expensive, class C follows in second place, and Class B is the least expensive to insure. (Yes, yes we know it’s weird that it’s out of order, but we don’t make the rules!) 

Depending on how often you drive your RV (occasional recreation, or living out of it full-time), there will be several things that are taken into account for how much it will cost to insure. Your driving record, past claims and accidents, and more may come into play when you are looking for coverage, you’ll need to consult with your agent when coming to a set cost. However, we can give you a ballpark of $1,000 – $2,000+ per year to cover your RV depending on the above stated variables and the deductible amount you choose.

Image of RV in the woods via Pixabay user MemoryCatcher

Do I Need to Have RV Insurance?

Just like any other vehicle, you need to have insurance on your motor-home. Not just because it’s the safe thing to do in order to protect your financial investment, but because it’s the law in every single state.

There are some variations in the amount of coverage you need to have, but you’ll need to discuss this with your agent in regards to what class your motor-home is, your state requirements (this lends to the requirements of states you may be travelling through as well), using it part or full-time, and if you have custom features on your RV.

Image of RV by the ocean via Pixabay user terpoedit

We hope that this has answered some of your questions regarding insuring your RV, but as always, we highly recommend speaking with your insurance agent to ensure that you are covered exactly how is expected of you, and for what you need personally!Come on in to Howard Webb Insurance, give us a call at (765) 644-8847, or send us an email at quotes@howardwebbins.com for a quote and to get your RV insured today!

Article written by contract writer and digital media coordinator: Candace Cox. You can reach her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.

Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator

Tree Branches and Power Lines Make for an Insurance Frenzy After a Storm

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This past Monday a wild storm came blowing through Indiana and hit one of our client’s homes here in Anderson.

The *Smith family was enjoying a rainy evening in their home nestled in the woods when suddenly, everything went dark. Winds from the storm howled outside their windows and caused a branch to break off from the tree in their front yard. The branch fell right onto a power line that stretched from their garage, to the pole on the street.

Video of branch falling on *Smith house.

Regardless of the unfortunate spell of losing power, the family was extremely lucky. The power lines that were affected hadn’t been updated, and had they been connected, they would have caught the house on fire in an instant.

Image of branch on house 1

Now, what did we do for the *Smith family? Well they alerted us right away and called the power company to have them come and assess the problem at hand. The two most important things a client can do in a situation like this. 

Following that we made sure to mitigate any possible damage to the home by asking if there is any interior damage done. We do this to ensure that if there are any issues inside the home, they don’t exacerbate the situation and we can stop any further destruction from happening. 

Image of branch on car 1

Within ten minutes of the accident at the *Smith house, there was a claim filed and the power company was on their way to their home. Because of this quick action, we were able to get an adjuster to come out, assess the damage, and get their claim on its merry way in order to expedite their repairs. 

You see, in an event like this where many families, businesses, and so on are affected, there are going to be dozens of claims with insurance and the power company. With the claim filed expeditiously, you are now at the top of the list to receive repairs!

Image of branch on car 2

The next morning the *Smith family was safe once again, had electricity restored, the branch cleared away, and the old power lines taken from the property. 

If this is ever you in the future you may be wondering what kind of coverage this family had. Lucky for them they had full coverage of auto and home. 

Image of branch on car 3

The truck that was damaged from the collision with the tree was covered by comprehensive insurance. A comprehensive deductible covers their vehicle because it was a non driving event, but was still a collision. This would extend past this event, to your parked car being hit by another driver, or a similar situation in which your vehicle took damage while you were not driving. 

For their home, we made sure they were taken care of in handling the damage done to the exterior of their home and they are even getting new siding put on now! 

Image of torn down power line.

If, in the future, a tree causes damage to your home (is lying on it), or is blocking your ability to enter the property, then the removal will be covered by insurance (if you have full coverage). If there is no damage, or it isn’t blocking entry, then there is no compensation for removal of the tree. In this case, the tree was not blocking their entry to the home or currently on top of the property, so they chose to handle the situation themselves and get a little extra wood for their summer bonfires! 

Image of power lines down and logs next to lines for safety.

So, when catastrophe strikes, you’ll want to be sure that you are fully covered. This could have been a very different story for the *Smith family had they not been covered with Howard Webb Insurance, and we hope that it reminds you to make a call, or visit our offices today.

All information is in regards to the insurance policy the *Smith family has, you should discuss your policy coverage with your insurance agent to make sure you are covered as best as you can be. 

* Indicates a change of name to protect the identities of the family.

Article written by contract writer and digital media coordinator: Candace Cox. You can reach her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.

 

Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator

What DO You Need To Know About ATV Insurance?

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Ah yes, summer is here and we are all rejoicing! We may not be able to return to life as normal yet, but we can enjoy some classic Midwest summer moments. Whether you’re camping out, hitting the lake, hiking around Mounds Park, or snagging a sugary, crisp root beer from Gene’s on Scatterfield, you’re reveling in the summer heat to some degree (maybe 90?).

One of the many wonders that comes with summer is breaking out the ATV and riding through the trails, around the neighborhood, or up to Snow Castle for a cold treat! The thing is, you may be setting yourself up for disaster if you don’t have that ATV covered by insurance.

Here are four main things that insurance will cover with ATV’s, let go!

  1. Liability Coverage: This will protect you in the case of bodily injury and property damage (up to a certain amount) if you have caused the incident. Additionally, it will cover your legal fees if you are sued. 
  2. Collision Coverage: After an unfortunate accident where you drive the ATV into a lake (Ahem, I have done this at least once…) or crash into another vehicle, pole, house, you name it, this coverage has your back to pay for the damages!
  3. Comprehensive Coverage: This one’s generally optional, but it will make sure you’re taken care of in the event that the ATV is stolen, vandalized, or damaged by fire and/or weather. You can’t foresee any of that happening, so it’s probably best to go ahead and stack this on top of your average coverage. 
  4. Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage: Another optional form of coverage that insures you if someone else causes an accident with your ATV and they don’t have the expenses to cover the damage. 

One last thing to remember regarding ATV insurance is the way you have it insured. If you have the ATV covered under your home insurance, then it’s best not to take it off the property. You see, if the ATV is involved in an accident off of your property, then it was technically uninsured, and you may be liable for damages done out of pocket! That sounds like summertime sadness to us. 

Now, if you have the ATV individually insured, then you are free as a bee to drive it all over (abiding traffic and city laws of course, no delinquents here!) town without worry of personal liability in the event of an accident. Everything mentioned above will ensure that you and your ATV are taken care of.

Go ahead and give us a call at or shoot us an (765)-644-8847 email at hwsm@hotmail.com to get a meeting set up with one of our insurance specialists today!

As always, we are looking out for you, your loved ones, and everyone else too! Happy summer!

Article written by contract writer and digital media coordinator: Candace Cox. You can reach her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.

 

Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator

Retaining Customers During (and After!) Coronavirus

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We are all well aware of the current situation and pandemic that has struck the whole world, and if you aren’t…well, all you need to do is look at just one screen for five minutes, and you’ll be somewhat informed.

Anyways, for those of you who have been keeping up with COVID-19 and the numerous hurdles it has brought about, then you may be interested in how it’s been affecting business. 

There are dozens of ways you can ensure that customers will return (and want to return) to your business following Coronavirus, but we’ve done our research and narrowed down a list of XX tips for retaining happy customers!

Proactive Communication:

The number one thing to remember in any relationship, is communication! Seriously, how many times has grandma said this as her token piece of advice when you ask about how her and grandpa have been together for seventy years? Well, it’s because it’s true! Customers understand what’s happening, and won’t fault you for a delay in shipment, pause in taking orders/applications, and so on. They will, however, look down on you if you stay silent about what’s going on with your business. If you plan on reopening at a certain point, tell them! If you plan on closing your doors forever, tell them! All they want, is to know what’s going on. So let them in, just like grandma gets grandpa to open up!

Gift Cards:

Crazy, right? Well gift cards give you a chance to catch your breath while you figure out the next steps for your business. It’s instant cash flow in, without any cash flow going out! This is especially helpful if you have yet to set up an ecommerce store yet, or if you are truly unable to ever do this (i.e. classes, restaurants, gyms, ect.)! Additionally, this little tactic ensures that you will have customers returning to your store when everything lifts and we all go running to the streets to shop, hug, and talk without a mask on! 

Streaming:

This one may seem a little out of your wheelhouse if you’re no attune with social media and online marketing, but it’s pretty vital in getting your customers to stick around. This one sort of relates back to communicating with your customers, by making yourself available to them virtually, they are able to ask questions, see what you’re up to, and feel like they are a part of the business (which means they’ll want to see it succeed too). Bonus, this will probably help your social media grow too, because the more views and engagement you get, the more social platforms will push you to other customers!

Online Events: 

Similar to the previous tip, but make this one more curated. Consider having speakers, creatives and artists, industry leaders, and so on come on your socials for a virtual event that customers can sign up to attend. This will allow you to add them to an email list, which means you can reach them in the future with promotional emails, business updates, and sales. It’s good to build this list because you’ll have people in your circle and be able to foster that communication we talked about earlier!

Discounts:

Oh boy, did you see this one coming? This is a great tool to garner traffic to your site, interest from customers and prospective buyers, as well as attention from others in your niche. Now, don’t go bonkers and hemorrhage your business with sales, but giving a few discounts here and there will make customers feel appreciated because you are understanding their possible financial crises; and, who doesn’t love a sale? This could bring in new customers that are at home, bored, and looking for something new to jazz up their daily walk to the fridge!

As always, we are looking out for you! If you’re looking to insure your business, life, car, home, or anything else, then give us a call at (765)-644-8847 or email us at hwsm@hotmail.com.

Article written by contract writer and digital media coordinator: Candace Cox. You can reach her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.

 

Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator

10 Points to Keep in Mind for Auto Insurance

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Figuring out the right auto insurance policy for your personal needs can be daunting, but we have written up a list of ten important things to remember when you speak with your insurance agent, that way you get the best deal possible. So let’s get to it!

Image of car crushed by stone via pixabay user mabelyeap.

The whole house:

You must make sure that all drivers living in your household are declared. If a resident relative lives with you they must be on the policy. If you have a roommate, they won’t typically need to be declared, unless they do not have their own car and insurance. 

Wanna save a little?…Or a lot!:

Most companies offer a significant discount for paying the premium in full for the policy term. Take advantage of this, as it can save you hundreds of dollars per year.

Let’s do the math together:

Many people look only at the price of auto insurance, without understanding the coverage.  The liability limit you choose is critical in protecting you, and your family’s future(s). For instance, if you have only state minimum coverage of $25,000 per person injured / $50,000 for all injuries in an accident / $25,000 for property damage, you are leaving yourself exposed to potential disaster. If you were to strike a newer vehicle worth $40,000, your insurance would pay up to the $25,000 limit for property damage and you would be responsible for the remaining $15,000. It’s even worse with the possible bodily injuries that could occur. If you injure someone and they have to stay in the hospital, bills can easily reach $100,000. If you only have $25,000 per person injured, you will be responsible for the remaining $75,000! Buying too little insurance is far more expensive than buying the right amount.

Image of paper house, family, and car in front of grass background via pixabay user Tumisu.

A policy can’t always be there for you:

Understand the limitations on roadside assistance and rental car coverage. Many policies only allow a small number of incidents every year, and many will only reimburse you for the expenses incurred, including rental cars needed when your car is in the repair shop due to a claim. Look closely, it may be much better to buy a towing service, like AAA, instead of using an insurance claim to cover it.  

You don’t drive much:

If you drive less than 8,000 miles per year, make sure you let your agent know. There may be low usage classes for your vehicle to help reduce cost, while maintaining the same valuable coverage!

Don’t skimp out:

Buy your insurance from an ‘A’ rated company. This means they have the financial reserves to make sure they can pay any claim. Unrated companies may be cheaper, but they provide far less value. Don’t confuse price and value when buying insurance. If they go out of business and you have a claim, you will wish you had bought insurance from an A rated company. You deserve more value for your hard earned dollars!

Image of luxury home and car via pixabay user ArtisticOperations.

Be diligent:

Set yourself up for success during a claim. If you are in an accident, call the police whenever possible, no matter how little the damage. This single act protects you more than any other. Get the police report number from the officer, take pictures of the license plate and vehicle involved, get contact/insurance policy information from the other driver, and collect witness information from all witnesses at the scene. By doing this, your agent can help file a claim with the other driver’s insurance if it was their fault. If there is a dispute on what occurred, you will have witness names, driver information, and pictures of the scene to back up your claim.

Be proactive:

If you ever get a ticket, or get in an accident, let your agent know immediately. In most states, they will need to file a “Certificate of Compliance” with the BMV to prove you had insurance on that date. If you do not do this, the BMV will suspend your drivers license!

Protect the treasure:

If you have a collectors vehicle, or a high value vehicle, never put it on a standard auto policy with an “Actual Cash Value” payment method. It is far better to use a specialty insurance company and add the vehicle as an “Agreed Value Vehicle”, to make sure you will be taken care of, should it be damaged. Not doing this can cause thousands of dollars in unpaid damage to your prized possession!

Get those savings:

Whenever possible, schedule your ATV, golf cart, motorcycle, or RV on your auto policy for a large savings in premium, versus a stand alone policy. There are times when a stand alone policy is appropriate, especially for high value assets, but most often putting them on the auto policy is the way to go.

As always, we here at Howard Webb Insurance want to see you living your best, most secure life! Be sure to consult your insurance professional in regards to all of these tips, to ensure that you are properly insured. Or reach out to us via phone, (765) 644-8847, or  email, hwsm@hotmail.com, to get you on the road to safe and protected driving today!

** This list is in no particular order. This list is meant as a general guideline to purchasing insurance and does not apply to all insurance agencies and situations. You should always obtain coverage advice that has been reviewed by an insurance professional that is licensed in the state in which you reside. This is purely an informational list for you to consider. **

Article written by contract writer and digital media coordinator: Candace Cox. You can reach her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.

Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator

Imagine This: The Lost Spouse

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We’re introducing a new series here on our blog today to shift your thinking into the possibilities that could befall you if you fail to have coverage on your life, home, car, and more. Please read on with an open mind, and know that we are here for you and your loved ones, always.

Stock image of woman looking out over a mountain at sunrise.

Imagine with us for a moment. You and your spouse have been happily married for five years, and you’ve just had your first child. A beautiful baby girl, congratulations! A few more years pass, and when your husband goes in for a general health check up they find that he has a severe lung disease, and doesn’t have more than a year left. You’re understandably caught up in the grief of this news that you start missing work, your husband can no longer get out of bed and must leave his job, and before you know it you’re dipping into your savings to cover your general living costs, and the outrageous medical bills that show up every month. 

Fast forward a year. Your husband has passed away, you’ve been let go from your job, and your little girl is just about to start school. In all the stress of losing your spouse you come to find that you never set up life insurance to protect your family. You find yourself moving back in with your parents, working odd jobs, and picking up extra hours to cover the bills that continue to stack up. You’re at a loss and it seems like the rest of the world just continued on turning, when all you needed was for it to stop for a minute. 

Before this becomes your story, and we hope it’s never the case, turn to Howard Webb Insurance to cover your life in protection, safety, and security. Set up a meeting with a specialist today, and prepare for tomorrow.

Article written by contract writer, Candace Cox. You can reach out to her at socials@howardwebbins.com or candacecox96@gmail.com.

Candace Cox
Contract Writer &
Digital Media Coordinator