Purchase enough coverage to replace your home and belongings – If you have too little coverage, you will not be able to rebuild your home or re-purchase the necessities in life.  If you do not know what the best coverage is to purchase, discussing it with your insurance agent can help. 

• Read the fine print and purchase additional coverage – Flood and earthquake insurance is not usually included in a basic homeowners insurance policy.  If you live in an area prone to these types of disasters, extra coverage is required.  Liability coverage offered on your homeowner insurance policy protects you and your resident relative on and away from your property.  Make sure you have sufficient coverage to protect you and your assets from an potential liability claims.

• Consolidate your policies with one company – If you have different providers for homeowners, car or life insurance, you could be paying too much.  When you consolidate your polices, many insurance companies will give you a discount on a total package.

• Consider the deductible vs. the premium – When you carry a high deductible, your premium price will be lower.  However, keep in mind, if you happen to have many claims in one year, having a higher deductible can be more expensive.  Weigh the options before deciding on a very high deductible.

While it is not an insurance specific tip, it is also important that homeowners take the necessary steps to protect their home.  Installing security systems, performing regular maintenance and having protective items such as smoke alarms, can help you to prevent disasters, so you can minimize the costs that you have to incur.  In some cases, installing burglar alarms, smoke detectors and other devices can help you to qualify for discounts as well.  Please contact AIS Insurance for more information and other insurance products.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Homeowners insurance typically covers owner-occupied structures, other structures, all your personal property, your personal liability and medical, higher limits. When you rent out a home, the risk exposure to your home changes. Most owners who rent out their home will have minimal personal property left in the home, usually general appliances such as kitchen appliances, maybe a washer and dryer.  Minimal furnishings mean minimal coverage needed.  Therefore, coverage on your homeowner policy will offer more then what you may want to carry when you rent your home.  

When you rent out your property, you will need to purchase a dwelling fire insurance policy.  A dwelling fire insurance policy typically covers your rental unit (the dwelling), other structures on the property such as sheds, the owner’s possessions (but not the tenant’s possessions), lost rental income if the house is damaged and uninhabitable, and some liability protection for the owner in case of injury or a lawsuit. This is a more broad policy to suit your needs as your main interest as a landlord would be to ensure that you are covering your actual home and liability as the owner of the property.

When purchasing a dwelling fire insurance policy, it is important to read all the fine print, as coverage will vary.  To get more information about a dwelling fire insurance policy and other renters insurance coverage, please call 888-772-4247. To get a quote on renters insurance, visit http://www.aisinsurance.com/california-renters-insurance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Now, if you notice that your policy is increasing in price year over year, it is most likely because you have what is called inflation guard coverage.  Estimating the value of your home is not an exact science. Inflation Guard coverage ensures that you have fluctuation and minimize the possibility of being under insured at a time of a loss.. It bumps up the coverage amount specified in your policy declarations to cover your home.by a certain percentage.  This is done on an annual basis when your homeowner policy comes up for renewal. 

For more information or a quote on homeowners insurance, please contact a representative at AIS Insurance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

If the current policy does not cover a college student or does not provide enough coverage, you should consider adding a policy or rider to cover the student’s personal belongings.  A college student can have some expensive items that would be hard to replace on a limited budget if damaged or stolen.  Laptops, sports equipment, TVs and other electronic devices commonly owned by students can be protected by purchasing renter’s insurance. 

Renters insurance is affordable and will give you peace of mind in the event that something does happen your items.  It is also good to note, that while college students tend to move a lot, it is important to update your policy each time you move to ensure that your policy is current.

For more information on renters insurance, please contact www.aisinsurance.com.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

With summer almost here, families will be hitting the road to visit grandma and other family members or just taking a road trip.  While these trips can be fun, one thing that could ruin it, would be breaking down, or having something go wrong with your car and then having to pay out-of-pocket expenses for the repair.

Being prepared before you make a long drive is the best way to protect your family and your pocketbook from unplanned expenses.  First and foremost, it is important to make sure your vehicle is road trip ready.  Checking out your car before you leave and taking care of any issues will help to eliminate some problems you may face.  Check the following items before you go:

• Tires – make sure the have the proper tread and are free from any nails or punctures.
• Coolant – with summer heat upon us, make sure the coolant system is full and does not have any leaks.  Replace worn or broken hoses immediately.
• Check belts – the belts in your car run various items such as power brakes, steering and air conditioning.  Replacing a worn belt can ensure you are not stuck without air or other essential functions.
• Plan loose routes – while not an actual maintenance tip, having a loose plan of your road trip will help you to find service stations.  Making a rough plan is also good so others will know when to expect you, or when to call for help if you do not arrive.

Another way to make sure you are protected is with a roadside assistance insurance policy.  This policy will help to defer the cost of unexpected costs along the way.  If you breakdown and need towing or a repair service, the roadside assistance coverage will help to reduce the overall cost.

For more information about roadside assistance insurance, please contact AIS Insurance today.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

As always, it is important to review the language of your specific policy, or contact your insurance agent for more details about the coverage specific to your teen who has just acquired their driving permit.

For information about auto insurance or to receive a free quote on a new California auto insurance policy, please see www.aisinsurance.com.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

That begs the question; if both provide coverage, which one pays?  The mantra used to sort this out is that “coverage follows the vehicle” or “coverage on the vehicle is always primary”.  That means that the policy naming the vehicle (yours) pays first.  If, for some reason, it will not pay or the coverage is insufficient then the coverage naming the driver (your friend’s) will pay. 

For example, if your friend is driving your car and is in an accident which is determined to be his fault and causes injury to the other party of $20,000.00.  Your policy would pay first.  If your bodily injury liability limit per person is $15,000 your carrier pays that amount.  If your friend also has auto insurance with higher limits (bigger numbers) of $50,000 per person his insurance will pay the remaining $5000. 

For more information, or to receive a free California auto insurance quote, please visit http://www.aisinsurance.com/california-auto-insurance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Earthquakes are unpredictable.  There is no “season” for them, so you need to be protected at all times.  If an earthquake hits and your house  is damaged in any way, chances are your homeowners policy will not cover the damage, nor will it cover your destroyed belongings.  With earthquake insurance coverage you can feel secure in knowing that you will be protected if one occurs.

Floods tend to be a little bit more seasonal, as they often occur during the rainy season.  Although there are flood warnings, flash floods can happen very rapidly giving you little or not enough time to properly react to prevent water damage to your home and personal property.  Flood damage is not usually covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, so additional coverage will need to be purchased to protect against this natural disaster. 

For more information on natural disaster insurance and other coverages, please visit www.aisinsurance.com.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

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The replacement cost value is typically determined by the insurance carrier, using formulas derived from local building costs, the value of neighboring homes, etc.

You need to determine the value of your home’s contents.  If your home is destroyed, your valuables will need to be replaced along with the structure.  Your insurance company can also help you to figure out this number.  Be sure to declare any high value items such as expensive jewelry or collectable items.  These luxury things may require extra insurance.

You are now armed with the appropriate information to get an accurate quote for homeowner’s insurance.  For more information about California homeowner’s insurance please visit http://www.aisinsurance.com/california-homeowners-insurance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.