Homeowner’s insurance is the best way to protect your home and property from disasters that may befall it.  Not only to most homeowner’s insurance policies cover the structure itself, it also covers the property inside, as well as gives the homeowner liability insurance from accidents that might happen in the home or on the property.  There are many types of homeowner’s insurance policies to fit many situations and protect from many hazards, depending on how much you want your coverage to be.  In addition, the cost of a homeowner’s insurance policy is related to the home and the value of the contents inside you want insured.

The basic homeowner’s insurance policy is called the HO1, and lists 11 hazards or perils that it protects from.  Nearly every time, to get a mortgage on a home, some form of homeowner’s insurance might be required.  While doing without homeowner’s insurance in general is not recommended, for the term of the loan, the HO1 homeowner’s insurance policy will provide enough coverage.  The basic hazards included on the HO1 homeowner’s insurance policy typically include fire, lighting, windstorm, hail, vandalism, theft, damage from vehicles, civil commotion, glass breakage, volcanoes, and personal liability.  To expand what perils are covered for a minimum rate, the HO2 homeowner’s insurance policy can be used.  The HO2 homeowner’s insurance policy provides coverage on an additional 6 hazards, including falling objects, damage due to the weight of ice, snow, or sleet, water damage (not from a flood though), sudden and accidental structural failure (though not collapse), freezing, and sudden and accidental damage from an electrical current.

The HO3 homeowner’s insurance policy is one of the most common policies taken out.  In an HO3 homeowner’s insurance policy, named hazards are actually exclusions, so if something happens to your property, you are covered unless it is one of the listed exclusions.  However, in an HO3 homeowner’s insurance policy personal property is only covered under the hazards in an HO2 policy.  HO5 homeowner’s insurance policies are just upgraded HO3 homeowner’s insurance policies, affording an even greater level of protection.

The HO1, HO2, HO3, and HO5 homeowner’s insurance policies are the most common policies that most homeowners would look at for their property, however there are several policy types for special properties, such as renter’s insurance, condominium insurance, and old home insurance.  If your property falls into one of these categories, contact your local independent insurance agent to learn more.  An independent insurance agency can do most of the shopping for you and help create the best insurance policy for your situation.

About Boardwalk Insurance: Boardwalk Insurance Group is licensed to write homeowner’s insurance policies in over half the United States and has many other insurance solutions available through its affiliated insurance providers.  You can contact a Boardwalk Insurance representative by visiting this website: https://www.boardwalkinsurance.com/online-quote-forms/personal-lines/homeowners/HomeInsurence.aspx

There are several types of auto insurance coverage: liability, comprehensive, and collision, along with several other types of more specialty coverages, such as medical, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and rental reimbursement.  In addition, for commercial auto insurance, other factors need to be addressed, such as the amount of drivers and their driving record.  Otherwise, many factors tied to the auto insurance premium are the same for personal and commercial auto insurance policies.

Liability auto insurance is the basic minimum coverage required in most states; however the value of the minimum auto insurance coverage varies by state.  Liability auto insurance covers injury and property damage to others, but not to the owner of the vehicle itself.  Collision auto insurance is specifically for damages caused in a collision, while comprehensive auto insurance covers vehicle damage from just about anything not collision related: whether it is fire, weather related, or even vandalism or theft.  Medical coverage is for medical expenses regardless of fault resulting from an auto accident.  Increasingly, uninsured and underinsured motorist auto insurance is needed, protecting the insured when the accident is caused by a driver who has no insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover the damages.  As a boutique type of policy, rental reimbursement auto insurance is also available; which pays for a rental car while the primary car is being repaired due to an auto accident.  All these coverages can be mixed and matched to create the best auto insurance policy for your needs.

For business vehicles, commercial auto insurance is a little different.  While many coverages pertaining to personal auto insurance can be used, there are certain requirements for commercial, or work vehicles that must be noted.  The number of vehicles and drivers also can affect a commercial auto insurance policy.  Fleet insurance may also be a better alternative if there are a large number of commercial vehicles owned by the business.  Getting business insurance quotes can help get the best commercial auto insurance for the price.

States are generally doing everyone a favor by requiring motorists to hold an auto insurance policy.  The protection even basic liability insurance affords can go a long way in helping get those affected by an accident back on their feet.  Taking much of the financial responsibility off the insured party leads to peace of mind and ensures those involved in the accident will be helped.  To find the best auto insurance policy, contact a local insurance agent.

The wide variety of homeowner’s insurance policies stems from the wide variety of home use.  Homes that are rented or owned but unoccupied by the named insured parties have their own policies that still fall under homeowner’s insurance, but cover different conditions at the home, such as tenants.  In addition, special properties, such as condominiums and older, historic homes, have special homeowner’s insurance policies.  For many homeowner’s insurance policies, some perils, such as flood and earthquakes, are often excluded and require their own insurance policy.

The types of homeowner’s insurance policies are generally noted as HO followed by a number (ex. HO1) and with the increase in number, generally the increase in coverage.  Basic coverage protects against 11 perils, while the upgraded Broad Form Homeowner Policy covers an additional six.  Both policies name the specific perils they cover, while the HO3 Special Form Homeowner Policy names the specific perils they do not cover.  The Premier Homeowner Policy (HO5) is essentially a beefed up HO3.  Renter’s insurance covers the house and contents from damage even though the policy holder does not own the property, protecting them from the cost of replacing the house and contents if damaged.  Condominium policies are for condominium owners, and are generally for properties that are occupied part-time by the property owner.  For homes where the replacement cost exceeds the market value, generally on older homes, there is an Older Houses homeowner’s insurance policy available.

The makeup of the homeowner’s insurance policy includes five types of coverages and the exclusions.  These five types of coverages include dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, and additional coverages that vary depending on the particular policy.  The dwelling section of the homeowner’s insurance policy covers the actual property being lived in.  Renter’s insurance generally does not have the Dwelling coverage since it is not owned by the policy holder.  The other structures coverage includes other structures on the property not used for business, such as storage sheds or free standing buildings.  Homeowner’s insurance also has personal property coverage for the contents of the property.  Loss of use coverage is for additional living expenses, such as rental expenses, incurred while the property is not able to be used.  Additional homeowner’s insurance coverages are for other expenses and can vary widely, however these depend on the homeowner’s insurance policy.

Sorting through all the options and varieties of homeowner’s insurance can require a fair amount of time and research.  The time put in to investigate the types of homeowner’s insurance coverage can help end the search with the best policy available that meets your needs.

Since there are both commercial and personal aspects to marine insurance, the types of policies and coverage can vary widely.  Commercial marine insurance can include cargo insurance, hull insurance, liability insurance, and freight insurance.  Cargo insurance covers the cargo onboard the ship, as well as the belongings of the people on the ship.  Hull insurance protects the costs of repair to the hull of the ship in case of damage, as well as much of the equipment and furniture on the ship that is not cargo.  Marine liability insurance provides compensation if a ship crashes or collides.  Freight insurance protects merchant vessel corporations from financial responsibility in the event of lost cargo from one of their ships.  These commercial marine insurance policies can be broken down or have variants to allow for merchants the flexibility to create a marine insurance policy that fits the needs of their business.

For more personal marine insurance policies, coverage like cargo and freight insurance is not needed.  However since boats and yachts can be significant investments, boat insurance is necessary to protect the owner from financial responsibility in case of an unforeseen event.  Additionally, many states require boat insurance, just as most states require auto insurance to protect the monetary damages motorists can inflict on each other.  Boat insurance is actually available as a form of marine insurance, or as an additional coverage on a homeowners’ insurance policy.  Water craft liability insurance is the most basic form of personal marine insurance available.  Water craft liability insurance covers damage to people or property due to actions on the boat, whether it is in the water or being towed to or from the water.  Sometimes added to personal boat insurance is a medical payment insurance that covers medical expenses of the operator and passengers in the boat if they injured in an accident covered by the liability marine insurance.  Wreck removal and pollution coverage is another recommended marine insurance addition to the standard boat insurance.  After a boat is wrecked, removal is required in a timely manner.  Depending on the damage to the boat and whether it has sank or not, this can be a costly undertaking, especially since the turnaround for removal must be expedient.  Also, if any gasoline or oil leaks, the owner of the boat will be fined for the pollution to cover the cleanup costs.  Wreck removal and pollution marine insurance coverage ensures these costly bills are not solely covered by the owner of the boat.

Similar to cars, many boating accidents take place within a short distance of the home port, so marine contractors’ insurance can be helpful coverage.  Marine contractors’ insurance covers workers in the port or marina where the boat or ship is docked, sheltering the owner from costs if a dock contract worker is injured while attending to their craft.

Marine insurance can protect one of the most significant investments people make outside of their home.  While the insurance coverage varies depending on the type of boat or ship and the purpose, the insurance can more than pay for itself in the event of an unforeseen accident.  Getting the right coverage and the right marine insurance policy is important, so asking questions to insurance agents to find out all the details is a must.

Hotel insurance is generally a combination of several basic insurance policies, including a contents policy, business interruption policy, and both public and employers’ liability policies.  A comprehensive hotel insurance policy saves hotel owners the need to shop around for multiple policies and possibly pay multiple providers multiple premiums that will almost certainly cost more than a bulk hotel insurance policy.

These different coverages are important to make hotel insurance a complete policy.  Contents insurance protects the contents within the hotel from loss or damage.  With hotels pushing more and better features to attract guests, contents coverage protects anything from the new flat screen TVs in the rooms to the towels and the sheets that sometimes disappear after a guest checks out.  Guests’ property coverage also covers the possessions of guests staying on the property from loss or damage, ensuring the hotel is not on the line for paying for replacements.  In addition, franchised hotels are required to hold excess liability insurance.

Business interruption insurance protects the hotel in case of lost business due to loss of facilities from an accident.  It covers the loss of profits while the property is being repaired due to insured events like a fire, flood, or other catastrophe.  Liability for both the public and employers’ covers accidental injury while on the hotel property.  Public liability protects the hotel and its owners from accidental injury claims from a third party, while employers’ liability protects the hotel from employee injuries while on the hotel property.  Hotel insurance also frequently covers other legal expenses such as the cost of barristers and witnesses and opponents’ costs if the case is judged in their favor.

Other hotel insurance policy options include theft by employee coverage, customer inconvenience remuneration expenses, delivery and service errors and omissions, and lost key coverage.

Most business insurance providers have hotel insurance policies available that cover many situations and business insurance quotes are available from any insurance agency that represents that insurance provider.

Insurance is designed to reduce most of the financial liability or loss of property resulting from unforeseen events.  Auto insurance is no different, shielding automobile owners from the risk of financial harm or loss resulting from a vehicular collision or other vehicular damage.  While the type of auto insurance can vary based on the purpose of the vehicle, most auto insurance policies fall under personal or commercial auto insurance.

Auto insurance in some form is required in nearly every state in the United States except Virginia, where a $500 annual fee is required if liability insurance is not purchased and New Hampshire, where personal responsibility can be proven by meeting certain standards.  Other states require by law some form of auto liability insurance to cover injury or property damage caused.  However, the minimum insurance rarely covers damages to the person at fault, so choosing the right auto insurance policy is very important.

Full coverage auto insurance covers both the operator and the other parties involved in a collision and includes collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, and liability insurance.  Collision insurance will cover repair costs of a vehicle or the cash value of the vehicle if it is totaled.  Comprehensive insurance covers vehicles in situations other than collisions, such as fire, damage from theft, vandalism, or other damage.  Most comprehensive auto insurance policies will also cover “Acts of God” beyond human control, such as floods, tornadoes, or other similar events.

There are several other forms of auto insurance that fit special needs, including uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, loss of use, GAP coverage, towing, and personal property insurance.  Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) ensures the party that is not at fault is not stuck with a bill due to the at fault party’s inability to pay.  While often overlooked, the number of uninsured drivers can be over 30% in some parts of the country, so UM/UIM coverage is very important.  Loss of use coverage reimburses the policy holder for the cost of a rental vehicle while an insured vehicle is repaired due to a loss that is covered under the existing insurance policy.  GAP coverage protects a new car is damaged beyond repair; however the loan is valued higher in the car.  GAP coverage was established as car price increased, auto loans ran longer, and vehicles were leased more frequently.  Towing insurance covers the use of a tow truck when used for non-accident reasons, such as a flat tire or mechanical breakdown.  Personal property auto insurance covers personal items in the vehicle not attached to the vehicle, such as a laptop that was damaged in a car accident.

To cover business property and absorb the financial risk from damage, commercial insurance policies are available.  To cover work vehicles, commercial auto insurance policies can be created.  For most vehicles, commercial auto insurance is not needed, however a vehicle owned by the business and used for more business than personal use, a policy can be advantageous.  Generally, employees using work vehicles are less likely to treat them as their own, and work vehicles are more likely to be put under more stress and in more hazardous situations, so commercial auto insurance could be a very helpful solution, especially in heavier industries.

Nathan Kaufman is a recent graduate from Texas A&M University in College Station.  He is a frequent article contributor in the insurance industry.

Liquor liability insurance protects businesses that sell liquor from liability claims against them as a result of the actions of inebriated patrons.  If a drunk person leaves the bar, liquor liability insurance protects the business that provided the liquor from any damages the drunk person may cause.  Since damage caused by people under the influence, including the possibility of death, can be very significant, businesses that serve alcohol could be required to cover very expensive damages if they do not hold liquor liability insurance.

Monoline & Package Liquor Program

Targeted Classes Include:

• Alcohol Manufacturers
• B&B’s
• Banquet Halls
• Bars/Taverns
• Bowling Alleys
• Casinos
• Caterers
• Comedy Clubs
• Concession Stands
• Convenience Stores/Mini Marts
• Country Clubs/Golf Courses with Club Houses/Restaurants
• Grocery Stores
• Hotel/Motels/Inns
• Karaoke/Hostess Bars
• Lodges
• Nightclubs
• Package Liquor Stores
• Private/Social/Fraternal Clubs
• Restaurants
• Special Events
• Wineries
• Wholesale Distributors

Coverages Available (Monoline or Package):

• Casualty
• Liquor Liability
• Property
• Umbrella/Excess Liability
• Hired and Non-Owned Auto

Features:

• Minimum Premium: $500
• Startups Can Be Considered
• Assault & Battery Coverage Can Be Included with Optional “Silent” A&B

Liquor liability insurance can financially save a business that distributes liquor and other alcohol if alcohol sold at that establishment was determined to play a role in any damages.  To find the best liquor liability insurance, an independent insurance agent, such as a representative from Boardwalk Insurance Group, can do the work of shopping around to find the best liquor liability insurance available.  With 23 affiliated insurance providers and licensed to write policies in over half the United States, Boardwalk Insurance Group has the ability to take the time to understand your needs and create the most appropriate policy for you.  Contact them today for an insurance quote.

Boardwalk Insurance Group

www.BoardwalkInsurance.com

Toll Free: 877-595-4077

Boardwalk Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency specializing in commercial insurance for various lines of businesses and is licensed in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington & Wisconsin.

In addition to garage keepers insurance, dealers open lot insurance protects vehicles on the lot at car dealerships from many different perils.  Both garage keepers insurance and dealers open lot insurance are very important insurance policies to hold, since the value of the vehicles can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more.

This garage keepers insurance and dealers open lot insurance can provide crucial coverage

• Limits up to $5,000,000 in house
• Many classes available:

-          Auto Repair

-          Dealers

-          Self or Valet Parking

-          Condo Associations

If you do not see your business class on this list, contact Boardwalk Insurance Group to see if your profession can be covered.

Garage keepers insurance and dealers open lot insurance provides important protection from the cost of repairing vehicles damaged on a covered property.  To find the best garage keepers insurance or dealers open lot insurance, an independent insurance agent, such as a representative from Boardwalk Insurance Group, can do the work of shopping around to find the best garage keepers insurance and dealers open lot insurance available.  With 23 affiliated insurance providers and licensed to write policies in over half the United States, Boardwalk Insurance Group has the ability to take the time to understand your needs and create the most appropriate policy for you.  Contact them today for an insurance quote.

Boardwalk Insurance Group

www.BoardwalkInsurance.com

Toll Free: 877-595-4077

Boardwalk Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency specializing in commercial insurance for various lines of businesses and is licensed in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington & Wisconsin.

Our garage liability insurance can help you place coverage for dealers involved in selling and services of autos, service operations engaged in repairing, towing, servicing, salvaging, and valet parking of autos.  Garage liability insurance is very important for auto shops, or any business that has an auto shop, including some department stores, gas stations, and auto dealerships.

We can provide coverage for:

• Garage Liability
• Medical Payments
• Fire Legal Liability
• Personal Injury Protection
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage
• Dealers Physical Damage
• Auto Physical Damage for scheduled service units
• Garage Keepers Legal Liability
• Packages are also available!

Unique classes of business we can consider include:

• Antique/Classic Auto dealers
• Auctions
• Bus sales and Service
• Car Wash-Full Service
• Mobile Mechanics
• Motorcycle Service
• Oil and Lube Shops
• Salvage Yards
• Truck Tractor Sales and Service
• Valet Parking Services

If you do not see your business class on this list, contact Boardwalk Insurance Group to see if your profession can be covered.

Garage liability insurance is protect auto shops from many different liability claims that could be brought against them, whether they are from employees or customers.  To find the best garage liability insurance, an independent insurance agent, such as a representative from Boardwalk Insurance Group, can do the work of shopping around to find the best garage liability insurance available.  With 23 affiliated insurance providers and licensed to write policies in over half the United States, Boardwalk Insurance Group has the ability to take the time to understand your needs and create the most appropriate policy for you.  Contact them today for an insurance quote.

Boardwalk Insurance Group

www.BoardwalkInsurance.com

Toll Free: 877-595-4077

Boardwalk Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency specializing in commercial insurance for various lines of businesses and is licensed in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington & Wisconsin.

Professional liability insurance gives IT consultants valuable protection from any damage claims of poor advice may cause.  When IT consultants are working on websites or software, a simple keystroke out of place in a line of code can throw the entire program off.  Professional liability insurance can protect the IT consultant from any loss claims by their client stemming from this faulty programming.  Professional liability insurance can also be called errors and omissions insurance, named since errors and omissions are common sources of claimed damages.

Business Types Covered:

• Website Design
• Software Development
• Database Administration
• Web Hosting
• Software/ Hardware Sales
• Graphic Design
• Telecommunications

Our MicroTek Pak Product Targets:

• IT Consultants with up to $500,000 in revenue
• Up to 3 Professionals

Minimum premiums start as low as $995.

Our SuperTek Pak Product Targets:

• IT Consultants with up to $15,000,000 in annual sales

Policy Highlights:

• Defense Outside the limits of liability
• Broad Form endorsement includes coverage for:
• Personal Injury
• Failure to Prevent Unauthorized Access
• Malicious Code
• Intellectual Property

Professional liability insurance protects individuals and businesses from simple, but potentially powerful, mistakes they make.  To find the best professional liability insurance, an independent insurance agent, such as a representative from Boardwalk Insurance Group, can do the work of shopping around to find the best professional liability insurance available.  With 23 affiliated insurance providers and licensed to write policies in over half the United States, Boardwalk Insurance Group has the ability to take the time to understand your needs and create the most appropriate policy for you.  Contact them today for an insurance quote.

Boardwalk Insurance Group

www.BoardwalkInsurance.com

Toll Free: 877-595-4077

Boardwalk Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency specializing in commercial insurance for various lines of businesses and is licensed in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington & Wisconsin.